Archive for the ‘suspense’ Category

Teaser Tuesdays #119 ~ Shadow Of Danger by Kristine Mason

Posted: June 23, 2015 in Romance, Series, suspense, Teaser Tuesdays, thriller
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

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 this week is from

Shadow Of Danger

CORE Shadow Trilogy #1

by Kristine Mason

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My Teaser from page 91 in the Paperback.

Celeste explaining about her garden gnomes:

“I bought one for my garden when I moved in. It was cheap, and I don’t know, it was so ugly it was kinda cute. So I put it in the front flowerbed. That afternoon, the old woman who lives next door came banging on my front door. She told me she hated my gnome, how ugly it was, and that it gave her the creeps….She also told me what flowers I should grow, how to arrange them, that my music was too loud…she just kept nitpicking at me. So I went out nda bought a couple more just to terrorize her.”

I know this was a long one, but I loved it!

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.

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I won this book in the author’s giveaway some time ago.  I shared the excerpt about the gnome because I also won a garden gnome.

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Isn’t he just too cute!

Since then I’ve read other books in the CORE series but realized I hadn’t written my review for this one. It’s the book that kicks off the series.

Stop back by for my Friday 56 post on June 26th to catch my review!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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This is…..Perfectly Twisted by Kristine Mason ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: June 12, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, reviews, Series, suspense, thriller
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PerfectlyTwisted Banner

Perfectly Twisted

by Kristine Mason

PerfectlyTwisted Cover

 

My Review

I’ve read Kristine’s other CORE books and I thought I was prepared for this new venture. She can take a plot, twist it, warp it, throw in a mix of characters that are so out there you can’t help but believe in them, and simultaneously woo you with a romance.

The founder of CORE along with her future step-father, task Lola with putting together her own team. They call themselves ATL (Above The Law) and operate under the radar.

About those characters I mentioned were so out there you couldn’t help but believe in them. This is where the author shines too. Mel works at the ice cream shop. You’d never know she also runs a chop shop and can handle herself in a knife fight. And she’s the go to girl if you need to make a body disappear.

Vlad, ex Russian mob hitman, shows off his pet alligator to the tourists. He really doesn’t have a job, except he does open his mouth and put his foot in it a lot. I feel he purposely used words in the wrong contex. The rascal.

These are just some of them.

Lola and her fiancee, Ryan, using their airboat tours as a cover, wait for their first assignment.  It gets a bit complicated when Ryan’s brother, Shane, joins the business.

Freshly released from a seven year stint in prison, Shane is anxious to rebuild his Everglades aircraft tours while taking groups out on tours with the airboat. It’s here that he meets Beth.

Beth is a sheriff’s deputy working her way through law school. She isn’t looking for romance, but there’s something about Shane, the sexy airboat guide, that keeps her coming back for another ride through the glades.

These two have it tough. Shane learns Beth’s a cop. He doubts she’ll want anything to do with him when she hears he’s a convicted felon.

Beth really likes Shane, but she’s hesitant to reveal she’s a cop. Past experience has taught her men don’t want to date a cop.

Shane begins to suspect something is going on with the business. The employees don’t fit in, they don’t seem to really have a job, and Lola and the team decide to clue Shane in, invite him to join them. They could use a pilot.

All of this going on drew me away from the beginning of the book. A snake handling reverend, really a con man. And a man who turns to necrophilia in order to please his girlfriend.

Once three dead bodies are discovered and Beth steps in to investigate, you begin to see the stories converge. So this is where you brace yourself, as the story gets more twisted, more thrilling, more dangerous. Culminating in a shock and awe ending.

The title Perfectly Twisted is exactly what this book is. You could use this title for all of Kristine’s books. That’s how well she weaves her plots, draws you in, and then blows you away.

 I discovered Kristine’s books through my sister. She read one of Kristine’s CORE books and was so excited about it. She called me up, raved for a long time, and insisted I read her book.

She’s been waiting for me to finish Perfectly Twisted so we can talk about it. Now that I’ve written my review we’ll be rehashing everything about this thrilling read.

I urge you to pick up this seat of your pants thriller.

5 Stars

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BLURB:

What do you get when you mix a snake-handling reverend, a necrophiliac, a cop and an ex-con? Something perfectly twisted…

Sound like the start of a bad joke? Not to Shane Monahan. The ex-con and newest recruit to the underground criminal investigation group, A.T.L. or Above the Law, has it bad for Collier County Deputy Beth Price. But ex-cons and cops don’t mix, especially when this particular ex-con is looking at going back to prison for his involvement with A.T.L.

All Beth wants is a fun distraction from the stress of her job and law school. She thinks she’s found that when she meets Shane during an airboat tour through the Florida Everglades. But Shane’s a felon, a man who could destroy her career as a deputy, and jeopardize her future as an attorney. She doesn’t know what to do—until dead bodies start showing up around the county.

When three abused corpses are found with snake remains inside them, the discovery brings a murderer out of retirement. The Reverend, as he calls himself, doesn’t like his kills being mimicked, especially by a man who abuses the dead—after all, the Reverend does have a reputation to uphold and a congregation to scam. Now it’s time to teach his copycat a deadly lesson…

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Take a peek inside….

Before Vlad dug himself into a deep hole, Shane touched Beth’s arm and motioned toward the wooden ramp leading to the dock. “Don’t mind Vlad,” he said, once they’d distanced themselves from the Russian.

“It’s kind of hard not to when the man said that you’d like to kiss me on the boat.”

“That’s not what he said.”

She stopped when they reached the dock. “That’s what I heard.”

Damn it. He was going to have to have a serious conversation with his brother about Vlad. “I apologize if Vlad made you uncomfortable. I never told him I wanted to kiss you. Vlad has a thing for the Kiss song Beth. He also does this weird thing with peoples’ names. He calls my brother Captain Ryan, and my future sister-in-law Asian Lola.”

“Why does he call her that?”

“Because she’s Asian.”

Beth laughed. “Isn’t Vlad the master of the obvious? I love it. Okay, so Vlad nicknamed me Kiss Beth and you don’t want to kiss me. Gotcha.”

“I didn’t say that.” Smooth, Monahan. Screw it. He wanted to see her away from the boat shop, take her out to dinner, find out more about her and, yes, kiss her.

When her lips tilted in a sexy smile, he relaxed. She turned and climbed onto the airboat, then settled on the cushioned bench seat. “For the record, I wouldn’t turn down a kiss from you,” she said, and reached for the headphones used to block the loud sound of the airboat.

Maybe not right now, but once Beth found out about his past, she would probably run in the other direction. What woman would want to kiss a convicted murderer?

~~~

Author Kristine Mason

PerfectlyTwisted author pic

Kristine 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

 

Perfectly Twisted Purchase Links:

Kobo ~  Nook ~ Amazon ~ Google

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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In the shadows, in the mist…..Madman Across The Water ~ Debut Book Release Blast

Posted: May 14, 2015 in Book Blast, horror, Mystery, New Release, suspense
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Madman Across the Water
By- Caroline Angel
Genre- Horror
 
For generations one family has been haunted by something… something that stalks. It sees and listens, it watches and follows. In the shadows and mist it waits, to take you, to hurt you, perhaps to kill you. And if it doesn’t kill you, you’ll wish it did. 
 
A creepy, suspenseful saga of family, horror, and mystery, this is one story sure to leave you frightened of the woods at night, fog, and all things tall and slender.
 
 

(more…)

The Friday 56 #58 ~ Terror Never Sleeps by Richard Blomberg

Posted: April 17, 2015 in suspense, The Friday 56, thriller, Uncategorized
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Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

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

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from

Terror Never Sleeps

Jack Gunn #2

by Richard Blomberg

24018697

 

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My 56

I actually used page 55 since page 56 was the end of the chapter and only had one sentence.

He disappeared into the dark, screaming, until they heard a splash forty feet below.

Nina screamed hysterically as she scrambled to her bare feet and tried to run to the rail. Only, she made it about ten feet before her leash snapped tight and knocked her to the deck again…”Please let me go. I want to jump. I have to jump. You win.”

Last week I shared the first books in this series, Warpath. It’s getting even more intense in this one.

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Synopsis

Navy SEAL Jack Gunn’s life is turned upside down when terrorists kidnap his family and disappear without a trace. While Jack and his team search frantically for clues in Virginia, half-way around the world, his wife, Nina struggles to survive the terrorist’s daily persecutions.

Terror Never Sleeps is a sizzling tale of Nina’s transformation into a warrior who is fighting for her life, and Jack’s relentless pursuit of the terrorists from Timbuktu to Diego Garcia to Pakistan. A military coup, propaganda, dirty bombs, and the launch of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal with one target—Israel—is all part of the terrorist’s master plan, who are hellbent on blowing the world back to the eighth century. The non-stop action keeps the reader constantly off balance with the bizarre and unexpected.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.

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Something so innocuous, now so deadly ~ Watch The Shadows ~ Tour Review

Posted: April 7, 2015 in Blog Tour, horror, New Release, reviews, suspense, thriller
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Watch The Shadows

by Robin Winter

Watch the Shadows Cover hi res

Publisher: White Whisker Books (April 20, 2015)
ISBN: 978-0-9863265-0-9
Category: Suspense/Thriller
Tour Date: March 16-April 30, 2015
Available in: Print & ebook, 176 Pages

My Review

 Nicole, a high school sophomore,  could be described as a child protege. She prefers the term science nerd. Her father works on the Nasa Panel, traveling a lot, and her mother runs her own lab at the university, so Nicole’s proclivity for science and biology are no surprise.

It soon comes to Nicole’s attention that the crows are leaving her small town of Isla Vista. When people’s pets mysteriously vanish, body parts are discovered, the homeless start disappearing from their sleeping spots in the park, and a strange gooey substance starts cropping up, Nicole uses her smarts to try to solve this deadly dilemma.

This is a truly creepy story. It starts like an average day in small town America and morphs into the truly bizarre very quickly.

The characters, even the minor ones, will become as familiar as your next door neighbors. Living in a small town myself, I could relate to the claustrophobic feeling of everybody knowing everybody’s business. Adding in the homeless people made it more intense. The odd behavior of some and the dangerous outbursts of others built the suspense.

As to what’s causing all of this; you know that saying “can’t fight your way out of a wet paper bag?”  It doesn’t matter if you are the best of the best. When you run into one of these things, you’d better be an Olympic sprinter or your dead.

I’ve always enjoyed horror like this. Something deadly comes to town. You don’t know where it came from, or why it chose your town. The tension and terror builds, slamming forward to that grand face off when you find out who wins or loses, who lives or dies. Once it’s all over your pounding heart finally slows to a normal rhythm and you mull over the story. I did anyway. Wondering what if this happened instead of that? What if so and so lived instead of died? And so on.

I’m also curious how the author came up with the horrific things that attacked the good people of Isla Vista. Well done on giving me something new to be afraid of. I’ll never look at an innocent object the same way again.

4 Stars

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Blurb

In the college town of Isla Vista, California, small, odd things start happening. Science-geek Nicole notes the crows are leaving.  Meg Burdigal can’t find her tabby cat, Schrand. Brian the postman feels uneasy at the rustlings, the shadows he’s seen at the edge of his vision on his delivery route in town. Now Nicole sees fewer and fewer homeless in the park. Using her knowledge of biology and forensics, Nicole searches for answers—but will anyone take the horror she finds seriously?

In this unusual thriller, ‘Watch the Shadows’, author Robin Winter explores where the ordinary slams against the extraordinary.

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Praise for ‘Night Must Wait’:

“’Night Must Wait’ is a knockout. Robin Winter really delivers the goods with her twisting tale.”-Norb Vonnegut, author of The Trust

“The world Robin Winter takes us to in ‘Night Must Wait’ is not the fantasy of Dorothy and Toto, no longer in Kansas; it is the scary, all too-real Africa.”-Shelly Lowenkopf, author of The Fiction Writers’ Handbook

“Readers never know when they pick up a novel if the story will become so compelling that they are taken away to that magical place where one finds oneself inside the world of the book’s characters, conscious of little else. ‘Night Must Wait’ did this for me. I read, forgot that I existed.”– Gina Rose St John, Amazon Reviewer

“Robin’s way around a sentence is nothing short of gorgeous. The beauty of her prose only highlights the tragedies of war and betrayal. In an era when women were still relegated to wife or teacher, Robin’s characters want, and get, more in ways both shocking and violent. I might not want to go to war torn Africa, but I do want to go on more adventures with Robin.”– Kathleen O’Donnell, Amazon Reviewer

Praise for ‘Future Past’:

“Robin Winter’s ‘Future Past’ is an original, meticulously crafted science fiction tale that blends the fantasy of Pinocchio and the hero’s journey with elements of time travel, redemption, and a post apocalyptic world that brings readers to a satisfying, yet unexpected conclusion.”– Matthew J. Pallamary

“Truly imaginative, unique, and gripping — I really really liked it! Robin Winter has a gift for inventing a world we’d be interested in saving, characters we’d be enriched to meet, and ideas about the human condition we’d be wise to ponder.”– John Foran

“Winter shows the strength and versatility of her writer’s voice in ‘Future Past’. Published shortly after her debut novel Night Must Wait, in which the setting offers a strong sense of place as a separate character, the science fiction themes of ‘Future Past’ haunts the reader long after the book is finished. Her first person approach with Ash gives chilling insight into a man-made world with apocalyptic consequences. Winter’s prose is crisp and her pacing sharp, giving fans a science fiction a thrill that is worth the spooky ride.”– Gretel Russell

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About Robin Winter:Robin Winter

Robin Winter first wrote and illustrated a manuscript on “Chickens and their Diseases” in second grade, continuing to both write and draw, ever since. Born in Nebraska, she’s lived in a variety of places: Nigeria, New Hampshire, upper New York state and now, California. She pursues a career in oil painting under the name of Robin Gowen, specializing in landscape. Her work can be viewed at Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara or on-line at www.sullivangoss.com/Exhibits/RobinGowen2012.asp

Robin is married to a paleobotanist, who corrects the science in both her paintings and her stories. She’s published science fiction short stories, a dystopian science fiction novel, Future Past, and Night Must Wait, a historical novel about the Nigerian Civil War.

You may contact Robin or read her blog at:

 

Blog ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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Follow the ‘Watch the Shadows’ by Robin Winter Tour:

Indie Review Behind the Scenes Mar 7 Live I 11 am cst

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 16 Tour Kickoff With Giveaway

Bound 4 Escape Mar 17 Review

Confessions Of A Reader Mar 18 Excerpt

Inspire To Read Mar 19 Excerpt

Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings Mar 20 Review

Devoted Mommy of 3 Mar 23 Review

The Book Diva’s Reads Mar 24 Excerpt  & Giveaway

Books, books and more books Mar 25 Review & Excerpt

Pinky’s Favorite Reads Mar 26 Interview & Excerpt

Mythical Books Mar 27 Review, Guest Post,  & Excerpt

Cassandra M’s Place Mar 30 Review & Giveaway

Kritters Ramblings Mar 31 Review

I Sold My Soul For Books Apr 1 Review, Excerpt,  & Giveaway

Christy’s Cozy Corners Apr 2 Review & Giveaway

fuonlyknew Apr 7 Review

Lisa’s Wordtopia Apr 8 Review & Guest Post

100 Pages A Day Apr 10 Review & Giveaway

WV Stitcher Apr 13 Review

Mary’s Cup of Tea Apr 14 Review

Beth’s Book Nook Apr 15 Review

Rockin’ Book Reviews Apr 16 Review

What U Talking Bout Willis? Apr  17 Review & Excerpt

Celticlady’s Reviews Apr 21 Review

Buried Under Books Apr 22 Review

Deal Sharing Aunt Apr 23 Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For more of my reviews go HERE.

                                                                                   

In The Spotlight ~ Typewriter From Hell by Diane Cox

Posted: April 6, 2015 in Blog Tour, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, suspense
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Lots to share with you today.

The spotlight is on Typewriter From Hell, a paranormal romance/suspense novel.

Come on in, check it out, and enjoy the excerpt.

Beware the haunted typewriter!

Typewriter from Hell

by Diane Cox

 

Genre: paranormal romance, romance suspense

Publisher: Opal Creative Enterprises, Inc.

Date of Publication: November 2013

ISBN: 978-0-9910982-0-0 ebook,

ISBN: 978-0-9910982-1-7 paperback

ASIN: B00GCSL6FC

Number of pages: 147 / Word Count: 20226

Cover Artist: Rebecca Poole

Dreams2Media

 

Book Description:

Unemployed librarian Ellen Brinson submits her steamy manuscript to literary agent Henry Morgan. The only thing they have in common is that they are both desperate for money. Henry believes the unfinished piece is his ticket back to the big time.

His hopes for a winner are thwarted when Ellen falls in love and is offered a cushy job. As her interest in finishing the manuscript wanes, Henry’s desire to get it published increases.

Enter the Typewriter from Hell. Ellen can’t stop writing. The old Corona is a magnet and it’s wrecking Ellen’s new romance. Henry will pull any dirty trick he can think of to win – and he does!

You’ll laugh your way through this fast paced suspense story and you’ll never guess the ending.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFaynWjTZLU]

 

Available at Amazon

 

Check out the Excerpt

Chapter One

Ellen Brinson peered over her half glasses at the messy typewritten page. The ‘e’ on the old Corona was so occluded it looked like a giant dot. She quickly read through the last few paragraphs she’d just pounded out. She had a screaming headache.

Where the Hell was this stuff coming from? It was true she’d always wanted to write. Her MLS in library science was all about Ellen’s belief that she couldn’t write, so being around books was the next best thing. But, this, this stuff she was typing — she’d never done the things, never even known anyone like the people in this story.

It didn’t matter. Six more weeks and her unemployment was going to run out. The stress of not having a job for two years, of trying to find something else she could do to earn a living and getting nowhere, the sheer desperation, was about to drive her crazy. This book was the only hope she had right now, and she clung to it.

Rubbing her eyes, Ellen stretched and the old afghan that covered her lap slipped to the floor. This damn dump was so drafty; she was always cold. Pushing her chair back, she moved to the other side of the room where a row of cabinets and a miniature stove and fridge masqueraded as a kitchen. She poured a cup of hot water from the kettle warming on the stove and dunked a tea bag in it. Then, she reached under the sink and found a pint of vodka, splashing a liberal shot into the tea mug.

The mug cradled in both hands, she plopped down on the rumpled bed that dominated the small room, and leaned back against the wall. Sometimes she felt like she was someone else. Maybe that explained what happened at the typewriter. Or maybe she was just going nuts. That was probably it.

Ellen took a big gulp of the spiked tea, her mind running in circles like a hamster on a wheel. She had to do something, even if it was wrong. She got up and crossed to the rickety wooden table that held her typewriter. She grabbed the messy pages of the manuscript that had been pouring out of her for the past three weeks. Automatic writing, wasn’t that what they called it? Ellen read a paragraph at random:

Serena slid a glance at the senator next to her. With a twitch of her shoulders, she hit him with a blast of décolletage, and then sent her tongue on an exploratory tour of her mouth. She could feel the man heat up like a kitchen stove.

Another sideways glance confirmed that the front of his pants now looked suspiciously like a tent. Turning her head to look directly at him, she lasered him with the 100 Watt Sex Bomb Smile. Tossing her head back, she trailed her long, red fingernails down her arched, white neck toward her bosom. Then she rose and wiggled her way across the room, giggling to herself.

My God, what crap! Where had it come from? All the same, it was so trashy that maybe it had some potential for being published. It reminded her of the stuff written by Isabel Ritter –no, Isabel Rider.

Rider – she got a visual of the author astride a naked man, bucking in unabashed lust. Ellen laughed out loud, then as quickly sobered as the gravity of her situation struck her.

She ran her fingers through her curly hair. What could she do with this stuff? She needed to send it out to somebody, but who?

And, why would they read it? She was nobody, unpublished. She didn’t even have a friend at a publishing house. She knew a few writers, but they were mostly historians. They would be appalled if she asked them to pass this trash on to their agent.

She read through the pages again. What the Hell. It’s worth a try. Taking in a deep breath, Ellen jumped off the sagging bed, pulled her parka on over her sweats, and tugged on some mukluks. Slamming the door to her flat, she descended five floors of walk-up, her mukluks slapping against each step.

A late spring snow was lazily drifting down as she pushed through the front door of her building, cursing as a splinter poked her hand. She hated this dump. She was beginning to hate New York. Ellen had come here with such high hopes, sure she would discover the glamor and excitement that beckoned in so many novels. Instead, the reality was that New York was no fun for the poor.

In spite of her disappointment, the farmhouse in Iowa where she’d grown up still didn’t look good to her. That was something. Her mother would make her life a living Hell if she had to go back home, broke. Only her father had believed in her dream, and he’d been dead five years now.

“Watch where you’re going!” A guy in a plaid wool jacket bumped her as he passed on the busy sidewalk. She turned into the Strand book store, and headed straight for romantic fiction.

About the Author:

Diane Cox

Diane Cox lives in Atlanta, Georgia with two dogs and two cats. She loves to garden, snap photos of her flowers, and dine out with friends. She works hard for her money, so she squeezes in her writing early in the morning.

 

Some years ago she fell in love with the true story of one of her neighbor’s pioneer ancestresses. After seven years of rewrites, she had learned about the craft. Her next tale -“Typewriter from Hell” was a complete departure from the first, incorporating romance, satire and a bit of fantasy. This year she will bring out a third project, and once again writing will be part of the plot.

 

She has been in love with books and reading all her life and has always wanted to write. Finally it has happened.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Youtube ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

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April 6 Spotlight
More Romance Please
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April 7 Interview
Fang-tastic Books
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Fanatical Paranormal Romantical
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Butterfly-o-Meter Books
April 8 Spotlight
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April 9 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
April 9 Spotlight
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April 10 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
April 10 Interview
Eclipse Reviews
April 13 Guest blog
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April 13 Interview
The Mysterious Ink Spot

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Risen II : The Progeny ~ Tour Review ~ I loved every drop!

Posted: March 25, 2015 in Blog Tour, horror, reviews, suspense, Vampires
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Title: Risen II: The Progeny
Author: Krystal Lawrence
Publisher: Telemachus Press
Pages: 281
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Format: Hardcover/Kindle

Risen II 2

goodreads-badge-add-plus for awaken

My Review

When I first starting reading this I was worried becuase it’s the second book in the series and I hadn’t read the first one yet.

It made no difference as the author wove in the back story seamlessly in all the right places.

Imagine this. Lorna is only seven years old. She doesn’t remember much about her abduction by Francis Barclay, the vampire who wreaked vengeance on the town until he was finally destroyed..

Now she’s changing. She has a craving for raw meat, for blood. Being so small, without the strength to take down victims, she must get creative and get her blood with surprise attacks and while the prey is sleeping. Feeding off her baby brother isn’t enough and he’s so tiny she worries she’ll hurt him. Drinking from the homeless drunks in the park works for a while until something finally goes very wrong and Lorna could be exposed for what she is, or arrested for murder.

Risen from the ashes, and now mostly ash himself, Francis is coming back to rescue his progeny, little Lorna. His time is short and he senses she’s out of control. She’s waiting for him, but it might already be too late.

This book is so good. The writing is excellent, the back story is slipped in without slowing the reading momentum, and the characters are real. You can almost picture them.

Lorna is scary. She’s just a little slip of a girl, but her blood lust makes her a monster. With no guidance, she’s vicious, dangerous. She feels no remorse for what she does to get the blood, and she’s so close to reaching the point of no return.

Her mother notices her starnge cravings for raw meat and her change in character, but hasn’t quite connected the dots yet.

Her father is an adulterer. A real loser. Every time it seems like he’ll follow the right path, his other brain lands him in another affair, risking losing his family. I wouldn’t have minded if Lorna had fed on the loser.

New to Alder Lake, Beatrice moved there and opened a small antique shop, looking for a fresh start after her divorce. She begins a tentative romance with Detective Blaze. and she’s soon drawn into the madness when Lorna shows up at hetr door in the middle of the night covered in blood.

Blaze is lead detective in the murders and sees a connection to Francis Barclay. Could the vampire have risen? Was he back?

All of these characters are connected to each other through the murders that are popping up all over town. Each has flaws, some have secrets, and all of them fear Francis Barclay.

I’m always looking for something new in this genre and I got it. Have you ever heard of a vampire dog? I wonder if they can turn other dogs or humans? Lots to learn.

And the ending. Oh boy, it was a bonus all by itself.

You’d think vampire stories would get old, but not for me. Especially with Risen II. I drained this book in a matter of hours, much like a thirsty vamp, and loved every drop of it!

5 Stars

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Sharing some parts I loved!

She fed as quickly as possible, then wiped her lips with the back of her hand. Backing away from the snoring figure, she said softly, “Thank you, sir.”

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“Oh, you have to be kidding me,” he groaned. “Just what the hell is he doing with her?”

“If you have dolls, I can show you,” Bebe spat with pure venom.

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Synopsis

Producers take note! Francis Barclay is back and he’s ready for prime time.

 

Fans of horror/suspense masters Stephen King and Dean Koontz are sure to delight in the return of Francis Barclay, the vengeful and bloodthirsty vampire resurrected from the dead after 200 years, in RISEN, by the “Mistress of Macabre,” Krystal Lawrence. Barclay, cremated at the end of RISEN, has once again returned from the ashes — and this time he’s not alone!

In Lawrence’s riveting sequel, RISEN II: THE PROGENY, Barclay is working his slow and agonizing way back to Alder Lake, determined to save the child he accidentally sired.

RISEN began the tale of Francis Barclay’s return to Alder Lake to avenge the centuries old

murder of his family. In this spellbinding sequel, Barclay is determined to save his progeny. When last we left Alder Lake, seven year-old Lorna was waiting patiently by the window for her blood-father’s return. Her wait is now over. She has inherited Francis Barclay’s luminous glowing eyes as well as his taste for blood.

Alder Lake is once again plagued by murder. Only this time, the suspect will surprise everyone!

The “Risen” books may remind readers of the SOOKIE STACKHOUSE NOVELS by Charlaine Harris or Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT series, but Lawrence reaches farther back for inspiration in the undead genre. She calls her novels “vampires for grownups,” in the manner of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, the most famous bloodsucker of them all.

The main similarity of the RISEN novels to Harris’ and Meyer’s books lies in their rich potential to be adapted into the kind of theatrical or television films that can’t miss in attracting hordes of dedicated fans.

For More Information

Risen II 3

Book Excerpt:

The sun was sinking behind the mountains as the dead boy walked on, every bone in his

over-taxed body aching from strain. The constant cloud of dust and ash that floated about

him like a grimy halo made flagging down car rides impossible. This journey would be

made on foot, and there was a very long way to go, especially for a boy who should have

been resting peacefully in his grave for some three hundred years.

 

As the boy felt the rising breeze lift his long hair from his brow, he raised his hands

to his face and groaned. He watched in silent horror, as his fingers dissolved into fine

grains of ash and floated off into the mild California evening. If he did not find shelter for

the night soon, there wouldn’t be much of him left to lie down tonight at all.

 

Five years before, Francis Barclay had been cremated and interred in a vault one

hundred miles east of his hometown. Though he was no stranger to rising from the dead,

the first time around he was given a fully formed body to work with. This time he was

comprised of hundreds of thousands of tiny flakes of burned ash, and they didn’t stay put

when the wind grew restless. Worse was the odor clinging to him like an unwanted lover.

He smelled like a poorly tamped-out brush fire, lingering cinders smoldering on his skin.

 

Francis stumbled. He watched with dismay as his left foot began evaporating into

fine powder, swirling in the air before him. It turned to mist, and rose into the sky above

him like a departing soul, taking that miserable burnt smell with it.

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Author Krystal Lawrence

Risen II Krystal Lawrence

Krystal Lawrence was born and raised in Southern California, where she was a child actress. In her late teens and early twenties she redirected her creative energy into radio, and hosted a successful talk show in Las Vegas for many years. She is the author of two previous books and numerous short stories. She now lives in Seattle where she is working on her fourth novel, PHONE CALL FROM HELL.

 

Her latest book is the horror/suspense, Risen II.

For More Information

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Tour Schedule

Monday, March 2

Interview at The Writer’s Life

Tuesday, March 3

Book Feature at My Life, Loves and Passion

Wednesday, March 4

Book Feature at Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews

Thursday, March 5

Book Feature at Confessions of a Reader

Friday, March 6

Book Feature at Bound 2 Escape

Monday, March 9

Character Interview at The Literary Nook

Tuesday, March 10

Guest Blogging at Bookingly Yours

Wednesday, March 11

Interview at As the Page Turns

Thursday, March 12

Book Review at Books, Reviews, ETC

Monday, March 16

Character Interview at Pimp That Character

Tuesday, March 17

Book Feature at CBY Book Club

Wednesday, March 18

Guest Blogging at Mythical Books

Thursday, March 19

Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Monday, March 23

Interview at Examiner

Tuesday, March 24

Book Feature at Undercover Book Reviews

Wednesday, March 25

Book Review at My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews

Book Review at fuonlyknew

Thursday, March 26

Book Review at Kristy Centeno

Friday, March 27

Book Review at Quirky Book Reviews

 

risentour

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Teaser Tuesdays #107 ~ Southern Heat by David Burnsworth

Posted: March 24, 2015 in Debut Novel, Mystery, suspense, Teaser Tuesdays
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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

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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 Tease for this week is from

Southern Heat

by David Burnsworth

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My Tease is from page 88 and 91  in the hardcover.

“You guys have this all planned out, don’t you? It’s a good thing my uncle wants to be cremated because he’d turn over in his grave if I let any of that happen.”

***

Shelby tried to come in with me but I stopped him.  He looked at me like I’d just snatched a steak out of his mouth. “I’ll make it up to you boy.”

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Synopsis

Gunshots echo down an antebellum Charleston alley. Brack Pelton, an ex-racecar driver and Afghanistan War veteran, witnesses the murder of his uncle, Reggie Sails. Darcy Wells, the pretty Palmetto Pulse reporter, investigates Reggie’s murder and targets Brack.
The sole heir of his uncle’s estate, Brack receives a rundown bar called the Pirate’s Cove, a rotting beach house, and one hundred acres of preserved and valuable wetland along the Ashley River. A member of Charleston’s wealthiest and oldest families offers Brack four million dollars for the land. All Brack wants is his uncle’s killer.
From the sandy beaches of Isle of Palms, through the nineteenth-century mansions lining the historic Battery, to the marshlands surrounding the county, Southern Heat is drenched in the humidity of the lowcountry.

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I’m reviewing this for a tour in May and had to take a peek inside it.

I live on the Gulf Coast and can’t resist a southern setting.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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A Mighty Good Man ~ Interview with Author Rebecca E. Neely

Posted: March 10, 2015 in Book Blast, Interview, Romance, suspense
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Welcome to the blast for A Mighty Good Man by Rebecca E. Neely.
I din’t have time to read this before the tour but the author is here for a quick Q&A!
Come on in and get to know Rebecca and check out her Romantic Suspense novel.
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Please tell us about yourself using 3 verbs, 1 quirk and a pop culture addiction

Verbs – learning, laughing, persevering

Quirk – I have a very bad habit of getting a new glass every time I get something to drink. I have no idea why. It drives my family crazy. I even buy disposable glasses and I burn through them.

Pop culture addiction- The Voice. I love watching the blind auditions, and hearing the stories of the people who are pursuing their dreams, and following their passion. I feel a kinship with these fellow artists; the contestants and the judges inspire me as a writer to work hard and never give up.

Who do you consider the most swoon-worthy man in the literary world? How about on tv/in the movies?

In the literary world, I’m going to go with a few of my favorite characters – Jay Gatsby, from The Great Gatsby, Fitzwilliam Darcy, from Pride and Prejudice, and Cameron Quinn, from Sea Swept
My favorite TV personality is Anderson Cooper. Believe it or not, I first remember seeing him on the show, The Mole. He’s incredibly talented and well spoken. His coverage of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 moved me; he was broadcasting amid the destruction and chaos and at times he was so choked up he could barely continue. I applaud him for doing what he does. His killer blue eyes don’t hurt either!

In the movies, I’d have to say Matthew McConaughey. He’s got a hint of a drawl in his voice and a smile that won’t quit. I especially liked him in the movie Contact, with Jodie Foster.

What’s the last song you listened to?

The last new song I heard was Skinny Love (Birdy), performed on The Voice. It mesmerized me. The last older song I listened to was “One Flight Down” by Norah Jones. At the end of a crazy, busy work day, she takes me to my happy place.
Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?

Write a book you would love to read. Read Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain. Then read it ten more times at least. Set goals. Be prepared to work hard, make mistakes, suffer setbacks, and never, never give up.
This or That-

*Paranormal or Dystopian? Paranormal

*Winchesters or Salvatores? How about Rachael vs. Guy? I’m a huge Food Network fan! And I can’t decide…I love them both 🙂

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A Mighty Good Man
By- Rebecca E. Neely
Genre- Contemporary Romantic Suspense
 
‘Hank’ Jerry…Her personal and professional life on the skids, a family emergency forces her to return to the small town, and the aunt, she left behind.
 
Jack ‘Gent’ Darcy…Fresh out of prison, he’s bent on cutting ties with the Creds, but when you’re a war counselor in a national gang, they don’t let you just walk away.
 
Injured and on the run, Jack lands on Hank’s doorstep, and makes her a proposition she can’t refuse: write his story about life inside one of the most powerful gangs in the country. It’s simple – she’ll get her career groove back, and he’ll bury the gang, then disappear – his version of freedom.
 
Only problem is, they can’t help falling for each other, and they’ve both got something to hide that could blow up in their faces. With time running out and gang enforcers closing in, will the trust they’ve forged survive the ultimate test?
 
On Sale NOW for just 99 Cents! 
(Limited Time Only) 
  

(more…)

Never, Never Go…..In The Woods by Nancy Gideon ~ Tour Review & Giveaway

Posted: March 6, 2015 in Blog Tour, horror, reviews, suspense, thriller
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Tour Banner - In the Woods

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In the Woods (Based upon the original screenplay by Lynn Drzick)
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Suspense
Published by: Katharsys Pictures Publishing
Release Date: January 17, 2015
Length: 201 Pages

My Review

Horror is my favorite genre. Adding in something supernatural, not human, makes it even better. I had a great time reading In The Woods.

The very title, In The Woods, is scary. I can’t think of anything good coming out of there, and something very very bad does in this book.

Evil was born into the world a long, long time ago. A foul bargain was struck. One brother was rewarded, one condemned, and payment was made.

When the brothers clashed on the battlefield, a fiend from Hell was unleashed. To stay the beast, another bargain was struck. Again, payment was made. One beast is tasked with guarding the remains of the other. Deep in a forest, it keeps it’s vigil.

One day, many many years in the future, two firemen are out hunting and stumble upon a grave deep in the woods. They know a serial killer is stalking the people of their town, so they dig up the grave, sure they’ll find one of the killer’s victims. Instead, they find the bones of a beast, something that shouldn’t, couldn’t be. Now they’ve awakened the guardian, and luck is on their side when they escape it’s wrath. Or do they?

The beginning takes place long in the past and introduces the beast. Then you move into the present when the creature is unleashed again.

It gets creepy really quick. Something is leaving gifts for Alex, one of the firemen that survived the encounter in the woods. A bloody torso here, part of a shoulder there. Kind of like when a barn cat brings you the mice it kills. Such a pleasant surprise it is. My cat used to leave the feet and the tail by my bed. It was so gross when I’d get out of bed and step on the tiny body parts. I can only imagine how gruesome and terrifying it would be to find human body parts.

Soon the whole town is in danger. Don’t forget there’s also a serial killer out there, stalking his next kill too. The author ratchet’s up the suspense and thrills.

Alex goes from victim to suspect and the local chief of police has got his killer. Once he focuses on Alex, he looks no further. This could be big for him. Get his name in the papers, get him elected to a higher office. He’s such a jerk, you love to hate him.

Poor Alex. How can he prove he’s not the killer? Can he stay alive long enough to do that? Why is the beast following him, leaving his bloody gifts?

From the very beginning, I ate this book up, tearing through it, rubbing my hands together in glee. Creatures, a serial killer, suspense, thrills, terror. All things I love to read about.

I loved this bloody book and can’t wait for the movie!

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Hundreds of years ago their battle began . . .

In an age of knights and sorcery, a good king must raise a monster to protect his people from the demon unleashed by a dark-hearted enemy determined to claim his kingdom. But once called forth upon blood-drenched fields, can such evil ever be truly laid to rest?

To a present day community held hostage by fear, a serial killer will soon be the least of its worries after two off-duty firefighters enter a forest and find a grave. What they dig up isn’t a victim or family pet. When they race from the woods, they bring a timeless hell with them . . .

Based upon the original horror screenplay IN THE WOODS by Lynn Drzick, now an independent motion picture.

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About Nancy Gideon
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Author Picture - Nancy Gideon
With over 58 sales since her first publication in 1987, which was written in long hand then typed up on a manual Smith Corolla, Portage, Michigan author Nancy Gideon’s writing encompasses romance genres from historicals and regencies to contemporary suspense and the paranormal.Under her own name, she’s a bestseller in contemporary romantic suspense, has written an award-winning vampire romance series, and has a six book shape-shifter series with Pocket Books. Also listed on the International Movie Database (IMDB), she collaborated on Indie horror films In the Woods and Savage with screenwriting and ADR script credits, and even played a small role, that of “bar extra.”Writing historical romance as Dana Ransom, she’s a “Career Achievement for Historical Adventure” and “K.I.S.S.” award winner with books published in Romanian, Italian, Russian, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, French, German, Icelandic and Chinese.
As Rosalyn West, she’s a HOLT Medallion winner with nominations for “Best North American Historical Romance” and “Best Historical Book in a Series.”

A prolific writer, Nancy attributes her creative output, which once peaked at seven novels in one year, to her love of history and a gift for storytelling.  She also credits the discipline learned through a background in journalism and OCD.  The due date for her third book and her second son were on the same day . . . and both were early!  When on deadline, she turns on the laptop between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. to get a chapter in before heading in to her full time job as a legal assistant. She’s a member of GDRWA, MMRWA, FF&P and dotes on her critique group.

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Website 3 Blogger  Twitter Facebook Google+ Pinterest Goodreads  Amazon

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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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