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
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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Watch The Shadows
by Robin Winter
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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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.
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 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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Follow the tour
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
Title: Risen II: The Progeny
Author: Krystal Lawrence
Publisher: Telemachus Press
Pages: 281
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Format: Hardcover/Kindle
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.”
**
“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.
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
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
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
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 🙂
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.
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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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
I enjoy a good suspense thriller and Ribbons Of Death sounds exciting.
Science, myth, and legend clash.
Is the curse real? Can it be explained away? Are they doomed?
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Title: Ribbons of Death
Author: Edita A. Petrick
Publisher: Solstice Publishing
Pages: 371
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Format: Paperback/Kindle
The ancients believed that once in a Blue Moon a child with Peacetaker powers is born. Such child, when grown to maturity, can seed murderous madness in people’s minds by merely walking amongst them. A simple amulet activates the Peacetaker’s powers. When a horribly scarred man knocks on the door of Stella Hunter’s ramshackle cottage in upstate Montana, she lets him in. What’s there to lose? The book critics killed her chances to warn the world about myths and legends behind the myths and legends.
But once the man pushes a book smudged with bloody fingerprints across the table, Stella sees a glimmer of hope. She may re-establish her credibility within the scientific community and vindicate her ‘peace-taker’ theory. She may also be murdered by anyone standing next to her if her theory is correct because the ancient curse is anything but extinct. In fact, the ancient curse has a new attitude….
Ribbons of Death is available at Amazon.
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About Author Adita A. Petrick
By profession, I’m an engineer and ten years ago, I left a corporate job to concentrate on writing. It was perhaps the scariest thing I’ve done. Of course, there were other considerations at the time, life, kids, economy and my mother who was battling cancer. I wrote as means of staying grounded because I had to hold it together. There was no one else to pitch in. There wasn’t a single moment that I didn’t have doubts about whether what I was doing was the right thing or not, but doubts come and go, while the need to write goes on forever. Since 2005 I’ve published 5 books and this year alone I have 6 new ones coming out. I live in Toronto with my family and our two pets – wheaten terriers. And whenever I’m tempted to look back, and start second-guessing my past decisions, I sit behind the computer and start another book. At least for me, that’s a cure-all.
Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
I am so excited to share my reviews for The Adelheid Series.
Please bear with me as the post is a bit long! LOL
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You’ll get to see how Sadie interviews demon summoners, and lawyers for her agency, which was a fun way for the author to introduce new characters.
And you get to meet Dakota, the bounty hunter from hell. Still not sure what she is.
I had a really fun time getting to know the characters of Adelheid, the largest supernatural community in all of New England.
For a not so long book, this one is packed full of back story mysteries, budding romance, lethal investigations, and a look at the politics of a preternatural town.
A great beginning to this series which the author wraps up nicely, but hints at answers to some lingering questions, which leads you to the next book.
Vampires are people, too.
Cameron’s Law has made all supernatural creatures legal citizens, and the boy next door has suddenly become the werewolf next door. With Sadie Stanton, vampire and one of the public faces of the legislation, calling the little town of Adelheid, Connecticut home, it can’t help but be a focal point for these once mythical beings.
But when vampires start attacking werewolves without provocation, Adelheid draws the attention of those that would seek to have Cameron’s Law repealed and would send the preternaturals back into the shadows they used to hide in, but without the safety of their anonymity and their law.
Can Sadie keep the city’s two biggest species from descending into chaos and war before it brings all of them to harm? And can she do it when she herself gets thrust into the spotlight?
Forever is a long time.
The life of a hunter is a lonely one. Perhaps more for Dakota than others in her line of work. Not only is she better than anyone else at chasing down the things that go bump in the night, but her past chases her with the same tenacity.
She’s built walls around her solitary existence and that’s the way she likes it, but the past never sleeps. When she’s hired to hunt an ex-lover for murder, it’s just the first in a string of memories that will bring Dakota’s past, present and future into a collision course.
And when she agrees to take on a second case and hunt down an Ancient, a vampire over one thousand years old, it unleashes circumstances onto that collision that will shake the foundation of everything she’s built and force her, for the first time in a long while, to look to others.
Can she survive it, like she’s survived these past four centuries? Or will the weight of it all finally crush her?
I read one book each night and had a fun time doing it. I never had to wait for the next release and all of my favorite characters made appearances, like old friends stopping by to visit.
I caught myself wishing there was a town like Adelheid, a town of supernaturals and humans living side by side. I think I’d like it there. Who knows, maybe there is.
Sometimes, life doesn’t begin until after you’re dead.
Days stretch out in a series of predictable steps. A to B to C to A. Work. Friends. Life. But for some people, it’s not enough. It’s not enough for D. Possessed of a ravenous hunger for more, he’s at a loss for how to find it.
Until he meets Cielle. She’s everything he’s looking for: new and exciting.
And a vampire, which he’s less crazy about.
But when “new and exciting” Turns him, D is forced into an undead life he never anticipated. Trying to adjust to this new existence is hard enough, but he’s about to get more than he ever bargained for.
Will it be enough to sate his hunger?
Any ordinary person would buckle under the pressure. But Nyck is strong and determined, while also being nurturing and vulnerable.
With her and her sister being pretty much the only humans living in Adelheid, she somehow feels safe there. Cameron’s Law, giving supernatural beings the same rights as humans, has made Adelheid the largest community of all kinds of beings, from vampires, to shifters, and others.
You get to see some familiar characters from other books in this series. That always makes it more genuine and entertaining for me. I get to see what’s up with them and Mia is great at bringing them into the picture in just the right moments.
With each book I read in this series I think, this is the best one, this is my favorite character. Then I read the next book, and think the same thing!
I wonder who I’ll think is my favorite next?
One word can change the story of your life forever.
Abduction. Torture. Surrender.
Eleven months from her adolescence have framed thirty-one years of Detective Nykk Marlowe’s life. Despite the trauma of her past, and the unique physical scars it left her with, she’s built a career as a detective for the Adelheid Police Department.
Her personal life might only consist of caring for her sister and a pet rabbit, but she accepts that.
She accepts that she’ll never be able to be like “normal” people, even the supernatural ones. As long as she can keep the past where it belongs, she’s okay.
But when the body of a teenage girl shows up with the same scars that Nykk sees in the mirror every day, her “okay” life gets turned upside down and she’s forced to confront the past she’s been looking away from for sixteen years.
And when it turns out there’s already more than one victim, the pressure’s on to stop the killer before any more girls are tortured, mutilated, and murdered.
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Disposable People
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My Review
It’s been a while since I read the first four books in this series but everything came rushing back thanks to references to past events. Mia kept them brief and placed them perfectly to not interrupt my reading enjoyment.
I’ve had such fun with this series and couldn’t wait for Detective Vance Johnston to have his own story. His rough and tumble relationship with Sadie, a vampire, was such fun to read and I’ve been curious how that was going.
It looks like things are going great between Sadie and Vance, despite her reservations about the weretiger. He knows she’s got a thing about her being a vampire and him being a shifter. About her immortality and watching him grow old. But he’s not given up on her. There’s hope and they are happy.
Vance becomes involved in a double homicide with preternatural elements and his happy world falls apart.
This was so suspenseful. Vance’s homicide investigation lead to his kidnapping. He’s put in a situation that goes against everything he believes in. Forced to do things he has no control over was gut wrenching.
I felt so bad for Vance. He’s a cops cop and a good man. His agony over what he’s forced to do is hard to read. His guilt is heavy even though it’s not like he had a choice.
His sensitivity for the others trapped with him along with his faith that his friends will rescue him revealed a softer side, one usually saved for Sadie, and had me hoping along with him.
As with her other books, Mia deals out the mystery, drops you into the action, and has you crossing your fingers and toes for a happy ending.
Some of the characters from the other books make an appearance. The one I wanted the most, Dakota, didn’t actually feature in this story but the mere mention of her name caused a ripple throughout the story. Actually, she scares me. She has that affect. LOL
I just love this series and hope to read more about Adelheid and keep in touch through further books.
5 Stars
Synopsis
Even Adelheid has a dark side…
Detective Vance Johnston has a lot going for him. He’s got good friends, a job he likes, gets to play tiger every now and then, and is getting ready to propose to his long time girlfriend, Sadie Stanton. Things are looking pretty good.
That is until a shocking turn of events sends him into a case at the last minute that threatens not just everything in his life, but his life itself. Thrust into the seedy underbelly of the preternatural organized crime world, Vance is trapped, a prisoner to the entertainment and money of a darkness threatening to undermine Adelheid.
But he’s not alone. Not just in the prison he’s kept in, but on the outside too. He just has to hang on until help comes, but that’s going to be anything but easy as his own beast within is used against him.
GOODREADS / Amazon / Barnes & Noble
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