Archive for the ‘suspense’ Category

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Welcome to My Monday Minis.

This is where I review short stories and flash fiction.

For today I’ll be telling you about Stickman

by Dennis E. Yates

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My Review

Put yourself in Doug’s shoes.

He’s waiting in the car outside the store for his girlfriend, Jane, to return with a bag of ice. What was taking her so long?

Do you ever notice how long a few minutes, or even one minute, are when you’re the one waiting.

He happens to notice someone lurking around the parking lot, scoping out the vehicles. Doug figures the guy is looking for something to steal. He wonders if he should call the police, but decides to wait and see what the guy does.

He can’t believe it when the guy breaks into the back of a van parked right in front of his car. Now, Doug knows he has to do something. Unfortunately, after taking pictures with his cell phone all day, the battery is all but dead. He manages to take some pictures of the license plate and the bumper sticker,  and actually gets the guys face peering out the back window.

You know those stickers people put on the back of their vehicles? The ones depicting the father, mother, boys, and girls, plus pets as stick figures? This van has one and it pings Doug’s radar. He’s read about the serial killer dubbed The Stickman. Could this guy be him?

Now Doug has to act. But what should he do. His cell phones dead and there’s no security guys to be found. Once the family gets in the van, he’s forced to do something. Anything.

This story reminded me of a movie, Amber Alert. Three friends observe a young girl in a car and it  looks like she’s in trouble. They recognize her face from an Amber Alert, so they follow the car.

 I wonder what I’d do in this situation. It’s such a surreal moment.  The decisions you make aren’t easy. Your thinking on the fly. Unless you are trained to react, it’s not something that comes naturally.

Stickman made me pause and wonder. I shared Doug’s indecision about what to do. As events whirled faster and faster, my feelings turned to trepidation. I felt like I was with Doug and my anxiety hit overdrive.

All the way until right at the end  I was deeply engaged in this story. The words flowed smoothly and characters and events felt genuine.

I would have given this more stars, but somewhere near the end, I felt some confusion. Like I’d missed something. I reread the end and again I felt something had been left out. Maybe it was just me. I still liked this one and will be reading more from Dennis.

3 Stars

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About Dennis Yates

Dennis Yates (born 1963) is an American writer of novels and short stories. He is a native of Portland Oregon, and a fan of long road trips, animals, engaging literature and independent films. He often dreams of escaping the Oregon rain clouds to the scorching sun and red canyons of the American Southwest.

Dennis enjoys writing psychological thrillers and dark comedy. On the lighter side, his quintessential, quirky road-trip novel The Teriyaki Samurai was a quarter-finalist in the 2013 Amazon Breakout Novel Award contest. Dennis draws deeply from his love of nature and the American landscape, which he firmly believes must play an important character in all of his writing.

He is a huge fan of such authors as Daniel Woodrell, Cormac McCarthy, Annie Proulx, William Gay, Frank Bill, John Rector, Blake Crouch and many others.

Dennis can be reached at yates.author@gmail.com  and on Twitter at @YatesScribe.

Tainted Waters Tour

We may not get snow here on the gulf coast, but we do get some dang cold weather.

What better way to spend a few hours, than to grab a good mystery and roast your toes before a roaring fire. The crackle of the flames as they devour the sweet-smelling teak wood lulls you and frees your mind, allowing you to lose yourself in Tainted Waters.

Pull up a chair, sip some hot cider, and let me tell you about this exciting mystery.

While you’re here, enjoy the character bios and enter the giveaway!

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Title- Tainted Waters

By Maggie Thom

Publication Date- April 30th, 2013

Synopsis

He didn’t commit suicide but who’s going to believe her…

Frustrated at being fired from her latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been since her dad committed suicide there twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s good at but someone seems to be taking offense to her looking too closely at what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up, may be false. Keegan who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book is also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before, died of natural causes or was murdered? The descendants of the four families who own the land around the lagoon are dying off. Since Sam and Keegan are the only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from their deaths? Why would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake? To stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before more people are killed… including them.

“This is a book that will have you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think the story is over, think again.” Read Your Writes Book Reviews

Buy Links

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

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My Review

Samantha, Sam for short, was only seven when her father killed himself. Now, 20 years later, she’s no closer to figuring out what her place in life is.

Flitting from job to job, about fifteen of them, she’s fired from her latest and retreats to the family lake house to lick her wounds and be alone. While there, she begins to question whether her father’s death was a suicide or murder.

Also visiting the lake is Keegan. He’s come to his grandfather’s cabin to get away from everything and try to get some writing done. He’s pulled into the mystery of whether his grandfather truly died of a heart attack or was he murdered. He begins to suspect the latter.

It figures. Sam may have finally found her calling. She’s good at ferreting out information and asking the right questions. Maybe too good as someone tries to kidnap her.

Thrown together, Sam and Keegan continue to dig into their mysteries. They know their getting closer to some answers as more attempts are made to kill them. The race is on to get their answers before someone gets them.

I felt a close connection to Sam. I too flitted from job to job, never really sure what I wanted to do. Some people are lucky and know what they want to do or be. Not me and not Sam.

What endeared me to Keegan was his need to protect Sam. He would be a great older brother and an even better beau.

You’d be right if you thought these two would become romantically entangled. But the romance is just budding and the story is powered more by the danger and intrigue.

I love a good mystery thriller. Each time I thought I had it figured out, I was way off, and back to the drawing board I’d go.

One of the biggest mysteries was what was going on at the end of the lake. I didn’t have a clue and was surprised when I found out.

There are a few mysteries going on in this book but you’ll never lose track of the story. The writing is down to earth and easy to follow and the story flies. Before you know it, you’ve reached the end and gotten your answers. Some of them will set you back on your heels wondering, “How did I not see that coming?”

Tainted Waters has murder, suspense, intrigue, and some well written misdirection that keeps you engrossed and guessing. A really good who, what, where, when, and why.

4 Stars

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Character Bios

Samantha gets fired from her latest job as a reporter. She’s not too happy as she was enjoying it and finally felt like she’d found her calling. She’s never been good at holding down a job mainly because she didn’t like the work or those who she had to work with. She’s struggled her whole life with figuring out who she is and what she wants. She’s never been one to back down from a challenge or been someone who takes any guff from others. She’s an in-your-face kind of person and has no problem telling others who she feels or what she thinks of them. As you can imagine this has gotten her into trouble more than once. She`s the middle child of five kids and has a pretty good relationship with her siblings and her mom but since she`s the only one who doesn`t have a profession or a steady job they are a little over the  top protective of her and on her case about it. To get away from her consolatory family, Sam decides to move out to the family cabin that hasn’t been used since her dad had committed suicide when she was seven. She never understood how he could do that, how he could leave her. Especially when they were best buds. She’s just starting to realize how much that has colored her life when she discovers someone wants her dead.

Keegan is an author and has moved out to his great grandfather’s cabin at the lake for quiet so he can write his latest book. He grew up in a professional household, both his parents had phd’s and expected him to follow suit. He tried but realized that University wasn’t for him. So he followed his dream and started to write nonfiction books. He`s the youngest of three – an older brother and older sister, who have both run their own professional businesses. He`s never told his family that he had met his great grandfather at the age of twelve and had spent time getting to know him. He had left the cabin to Keegan along with a lot of boxes. When Keegan finally goes through them he learns that his grandfather may not have died of natural causes. He’s always wanted a close knit family so when he meets Sam and her family, he’s more than willing to help her figure out what’s going on.

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Author Maggie Thom

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Maggie Thom took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a full time twenty year career in management, to write full time. After her initial panic that she might need a straight jacket,

she published her first book Captured Lies, October 2012. And now is excited to release her

second novel, Tainted Waters, April, 2013. Her third book, Deceitful Truths (sequel to Captured

Lies) available fall of 2013. An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the

monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. Married to her best friend, she is

learning that humor, love and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years.

Her motto: Escape to read and Read to escape. “Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced

with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!” InDtale Magazine

Author Links

Goodreads / Amazon Author Page / Facebook

Twitter / Website / Pinterest / google +

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Grand prize giveaway
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$15 Gift Card
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Winners Choice ~ Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Smashwords
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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the present below.

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Welcome to the tour for Christopher Meeks’ Blood Drama.

Looking for some mystery, some thrills, a bit of dark comedy, and some drama? Look no further.

Check out my review of Blood Drama and learn more about Christopher and his books.

Thanks to Teddy Rose for another fantastic tour!

And thanks so much Christopher for your exciting book!

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Publisher: White Whisker Press  (June 15, 2013)

Category: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense, Crime Thriller

Tour Dates: November 12-27, 2013

Available in: Print & eBook, 242 pages

Everyone has a bad day. Graduate student Ian Nash has lost his girlfriend in addition to being dropped from a Ph.D. program in theatre at a Southern California university. When he stops at a local coffee shop in the lobby of a bank to apply for a job, the proverbial organic matter hits the fan. A gang of four robs the bank, and things get bloody. Ian is taken hostage by the robbers when the police show up. Now he has to save his life.

FBI Special Agent Aleece Medina’s analysis of the bloody bank heist drives her into the pursuit of a robbery gang headed by two women. She doesn’t anticipate how this robbery will pit her against both the bandits and the male higher-ups in the FBI while the media heats up during a giant manhunt.

The robbers are about to kill Ian, and all he has at hand is his knowledge of the stage.

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My Review

Freshly let go from his job and his girlfriend, Ian thinks it can’t get any worse. He’s wrong.  Filling out an application for a job he’s over qualified for, he ends up taken hostage by some bank robbers.

While held captive, Ian gleans all the information he can about the robbers, just in case his luck changes and he can escape. With a little help, he does, and takes something with him. Something one of the robbers will kill for.

I’m a big fan of character driven novels. So Blood Drama was a must read for me.

Ian is a down on his luck, sorta handsome guy, with no job and no girlfriend. He’s the kind of guy that grows on you. He’s funny, intelligent, and can laugh at himself. I laughed at him and with him.

Aleece Medina, Special Agent,FBI, is assigned the bank robbery case and gets to work trying to find out who the hostage is. She’s been chasing the Busty Bandit and her gang for awhile, and now that they’ve killed some people, she’s more determined than ever.

Aleece is confident and tough. She’s in a man’s world in the FBI and has to deal with all the baggage that comes with it. After Ian escapes his kidnappers, circumstances have Aleece partnering up with him to track the robbers.

There are two of the kidnappers that stand out to me.

Owen seems so Hollywood, but make no mistake, he’s maniacal and killing is nothing but a necessity to him. Get in his way and you’re dead.

Zetta, the Busty Bandit, is what you’d call a criminal with a heart. A few things she did made me like her, but remembering what she was, I knew things didn’t look good for her, no matter why she did what she did.

There is no one thing that stood out for me in Blood Drama. It was an accumulation of events and characters and their stories that kept me coming back for more. Well written and fast paced, Blood Drama was a lot of fun. I had a few chuckles, said ‘ you go girl’ a few times, and right until the last chapters, didn’t see how it would end.

Blood Drama is appropriately titled and the cover art is perfect. Well done Christopher.

4 Stars

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Praise for Christopher Meek’s Love at Absolute Zero:

ForeWord Reviews’ BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Top-Ten Best Fiction 2011 at Book Chase: “It is impossible not to like Gunnar Gunderson. As he progresses from one disaster or near miss to the next, one views him with a mixture of compassion and laughter.” Sam Sattler, Book Chase

Winner 2011 Red Adept Reviews Indie Award-Romance: ”The author hit a home run. It’s a very good story, very well told.”- Jim Chambers, Red Adept Reviews

Winner 2011 Noble Award (not Nobel): ”The tension between science and emotion has never been more keenly felt.”Carolyn Howard-Johnson

“Thermodynamics are nothing; it’s that love thing that is so frustrat- ingly hard to figure out. Love at Absolute Zero is an excellent read that is very much worth considering, highly recommended!”- Midwest Book Review

Here’s what Some of the Reviewers Said From the First Tour of Blood Drama:

“What sets this novel apart from other thriller is the development of the characters.  Not only is Medina more complex than the stereotypical FBI agent found in many suspense novels, but Nash is a new type of victim.  His theater and academic background give him an interesting perspective.  This is definitely a suspenseful, can’t-put-it-down thriller.  Clear your calendar in order to have time to read this from start to finish!”Tammy, The Self-Taught Cook

“Blood Drama was highly entertaining and extremely enjoyable. It is a combination black comedy and crime novel. The characters of Ian and Aleece are memorable, quirky, and unique. I  reveled in Ian’s quoting David Mamet (or some other playwright or work of literature) to deduce and interpret the information he had to ascertain where the clues were leading them.   Meeks is a gifted writer. He has a pleasing way of propelling the action forward while developing his plot and characters. I enjoyed Meeks Love at Absolute Zero quite a bit, but I liked Blood Drama even more. I’m hopeful that Meeks will bring back Ian and Aleece to solve another crime.”Lori, She Treads Softly

“This is one action packed thriller that you don’t want to put down. The author doesn’t waste time with the trivial, he gets right to the action and stays there. Just when you think things are as bad as they possible could get…wrong!

This was different from most thrillers I read in that it also has a little humor, I absolutely loved that aspect of the book.  The characters are well written, they seem like real people, flaws and all. There’s also romance in this book, which gives you a little relief from the gripping adventures.  I liked this book very much and so I will be checking to see what other books this author has written.”Vicky, I’d Rather Be At the Beach

“This story had me hooked just out of pity for the poor guy, but when things turned from bad to worse I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next. This was far from the typical suspense/thriller. Yes, it does follow the MOs you expect in some areas but the characters make it so unique.  I loved these characters. They were so unique that I could see them as real. They had their quirks and secrets that revealed their flaws and their vulnerabilities Nothing is really too farfetched. Yes, there is one character you might argue is but I live in a huge city. Trust me, it is not farfetched. Can’t say more or I let a big secret slip which is a no-no in reviews.  If you love suspense/thrillers that have some humor, you’ll love this book. Yes, it kept me riveted. You have to read this book. You’ll enjoy it and want more. Plus you’ll learn to appreciate your own days a little bit better.”Rebecca Graf, A Book Lover’s Library

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About Christopher Meeks:

Christopher Meeks first published short fiction in a number of literary journals, and the stories are available in two collections, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea and Months and Seasons. Recently, he’s focused on novels. The Brightest Moon of the Century is a story of a man who yearns for love and success, covering over thirty years—a tale that Marc Schuster of Small Press Reviews describes as “a great and truly humane novel in the tradition of Charles Dickens and John Irving.” His last novel, Love At Absolute Zero, is about a physicist who uses the tools of science to find his soul mate–and he has just three days. Critic Grady Harp calls the book “a gift.” The new novel, Blood Drama, has him edge into a thriller. Meeks also runs White Whisker Books and publishes four authors.

Christopher at the Red Room /  Christopher’s Website  /

Christopher on Facebook / Christopher on Twitter

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Nov 12 Spotlight & Giveaway

 Rebecca Paperback Writer Nov 13 Guest Post

Joystory Nov 15 Review

I’m a Voracious Reader Nov 18 Review

Kate Eileen Shannon Nov 19 Review & Giveaway

Kate Eileen Shannon Nov 20 Interview

Deal Sharing Aunt Nov 20 Review

Celtic Lady Reviews Nov 21 Review

Teena in Toronto Nov 22 Review

The News in Books Nov 25 Review

The News in Books Nov 26 Interview

FU Only Knew Nov 26 Review

Sweeps for Bloggers Nov 27 Review & Giveaway

Buy Blood Drama:

Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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A psychic medium and a homicide detective. I’m sold!

Something Wicked sounds ‘wicked’ good.

Check out the yummy excerpt. You’ll be wanting more, just like me.

Also, remember to enter the giveaway!

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Something Wicked by Angela Campbell (The Psychic Detectives Series #2)

Can be read as a stand-alone

Published by: Harper Impulse /  Publication date: October 31st 2013

Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

Psychic medium Alexandra King is sick of being pestered by her boss’s dead mother demanding help to reunite her two estranged sons. Determined to get some peace and quiet again, Alexandra follows a lead in finding the younger Collins brother to Charleston, South Carolina, where she immediately meets the hottest man she’s ever laid eyes on and finds herself a willing participant in seduction. Of course, her one-night-stand turns out to be none other than Dylan Collins — her boss’s younger brother and a homicide detective who believes psychics are a complete waste of time.
All Dylan wants is a few hours of pleasure to take his mind off of the case haunting him. A serial killer is stalking the streets of The Holy City — a killer who calls himself The Grim Reaper. When the woman he’d just spent the night with turns up and offers her services as a psychic consultant on the case, his ardor quickly cools. Last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a con artist.
It doesn’t take long for Dylan to realize Alexandra is the real deal – and the killer’s next target. Dylan’s protective instincts battle his reluctance to get too involved with a woman he isn’t sure he can trust. As they get closer to finding the killer, they also grow closer to one another, but will Alexandra’s secret agenda destroy their chance at happiness — if the killer doesn’t strike first?
Purchase links:  Amazon / B&N
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Check out this glimpse inside Something Wicked
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“It must be your lucky night, hon.” A woman’s voice drew her attention.

Alexandra blinked up at her waitress as the young woman slid a mug of beer in front of her. Did the girl seriously just call her hon?

The redhead nodded over her shoulder. “The hunk at the pool tables bought you a drink.” She winked. “Enjoy.”

Oh, no. Not only were the dead people around here clamoring for her attention, so was some a-hole on the prowl. She bit back a groan and lifted her gaze to give the man a polite shake of her head, a silent thanks but no thanks and –

Hello, Mr. Delicious.

He was hands down the most criminally sexy man she’d ever laid eyes on, and for a woman who worked with some serious man candy these days, that was saying a lot. He studied her from the billiards area as he chalked up one of the cues. He was the only person over there, playing a solitary game while most people congregated at the bar. A slight smile teased his mouth as she managed to lift the mug and nod. So what if she hated beer? She’d gulp the whole thing in one go if that sex god wanted to watch. He nodded back, gestured to the pool table beside him, and—

Oh, yeah. She was tempted to saunter over there and see what happened. Beyond tempted. She’d never had a one-night stand in her life, but maybe this was as good a time as any.

“Well, I’ll be! He sure seems to have struck yer fancy.”

Oh, no. She scrunched her brows and shook her head. She had a bad feeling about this.

The ghost wooted. “Oh, but I think he has.” He glanced toward the billiards. “And I dare say he has taken quite a fancy to you, miss. Comes in here a lot, that one does. Never been able to spook ‘em though.” Derby Hat Guy abruptly stood and started walking toward the other man, saying, “Let’s give ‘em a game. Have a bit of fun with the rascal.” He rubbed his hands together.

“Wait! Uh,” Alexandra jumped to her feet and realized a few seconds later she was practically on top of the pool table when Mr. Delicious said, amused, “Whoa now. I’m guessing you like a good game of pool?”

Among other things.

She bit her lip and tried to ignore the ghost bent over the other end of the table, reaching for two of the balls that had been scattered near a corner pocket. She’d made this poor, delicious man a target of the ghost’s tomfoolery. Oh dear. She needed to fix this.

“Pool?” Her eyes widened when Derby Hat Guy picked up the white ball behind Mr. Delicious and moved it clearway across the table. There was no orange glow to it, which meant the ball had actually moved. Had anyone else seen that? This ghost was an old and smart one. Not many could move objects like that. “Yeah. Yeah, I love pool. Game on.” Leaning over, she slapped the green felt and flicked her fingers a few times toward the wall, trying to convey the message to Derby Hat Guy to get lost.

Mr. Delicious held out a cue stick to her in offering, distracting her from the ghost past his shoulder. “Great. We’ll start a new game. I was getting tired of losing to myself.” He looked her up and down where she still leaned against the table and seemed to like what he saw. His smoldering blue eyes burned with heat so intense, she felt her insides ignite. He wriggled the cue in his hand. “You know how to use this thing?” His smile was kicked up to full charge on the suggestive meter.

Oh, my, he was flirting, and that was a game best played by two. Accepting the wooden pole from him, Alexandra arched a brow and slowly ran a finger along its length. “I can handle a stick pretty good.” She pursed her lips, blew at the chalk on the end, and slowly batted her lashes when she looked at him again. “Besides, what woman doesn’t love to bust some balls every now and then?”

He gave an appreciative chuckle. “All right.” He began setting up a new game and she sighed, watching his taut backside move deliciously against his faded jeans as he bent over. Damn. Levis should pay him a royalty. Who looked that good in jeans, besides Calvin Klein models? No one, except this guy. Maybe he was a Calvin Klein model. He definitely had the face and body for it.

And maybe she should offer to buy him a drink or something—you know, to apologize for making him a target of the resident ghost.

“Can I get you a beer?”

“Nah. I’m good.” His back muscles stretched against his black t-shirt when he rested his elbows on the table, highlighting some serious muscle definition beneath.

“Something else? Whiskey?” She tilted her head at him. Me?

“No thanks.” His eyes twinkled with amusement as he straightened and moved closer. “Girls take advantage of me when I drink. I can see I’ll need to keep my wits around you.”

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Angela Campbell
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Author Angela Campbell is an overachiever with a soft spot for men who dress funny. Superman, Charlie Chaplin, Dracula, Doctor Who, Elvis – those are her kind of heroes. An eclectic reader who loves almost every genre, Angela read her first romance novel at 16 and immediately endeavored to write one, too. Many offbeat attempts (and a couple of decades) later, she published her first novel through Carina Press. Her new romantic suspense series is being published by Harper Impulse. With every story she pens, Angela aims to build in a paranormal element to a contemporary and recognizable world with characters who find love in oftentimes humorous and extraordinary situations.
A mild-mannered reporter with almost 15 years experience as a general assignment reporter, features editor and graphic designer, Angela has also worked as a production assistant in TV and film.
Learn more about her books at www.angelacampbellonline.com.
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Author links:
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Grand prize giveaway
 Open internationally
–$50 gift card to Amazon and a copy of both ebooks in this series (On the Scent and Something Wicked)
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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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I’ve attached the other stops on the tour. Be sure to check them out!

November 18th

deal sharing aunt >> Guest post

Not Everyone’s Mama >>  Excerpt

November 19th

Not Everyone’s Mama >>  Review

Mythical Books >> Interview

Why I Can’t Stop Reading >> Review

Ebook Escapes >> Review

November 20th

The Solitary Bookworm >> Review

The Demon Librarian >> Review

November 21st

Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews >> Review

fuonlyknew >> Excerpt

Snarky Mom Reads… >>  Review

November 22nd

Bookish Things & More >> Guest post

Sassy Book Lovers >> Excerpt

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the present below.

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What better way to celebrate her new release than with a giveaway!

A. Rosa’s Emotionally Compromised is now available!

I just love the cheeky lass on the cover. I bet she knows how to use that gun!

Can’t wait to find out.

Read the excerpt to get to know more.

And remember to enter the giveaways!

Did I forget to mention there are two giveaways?

ECCover

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Emotionally Compromised by A. Rosa
Publication date: November 15th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense
Synopsis:

“A smile will get you far, but a smile and a gun will get you farther” –Al Capone.
Federal Agent Alex Turner deals better with guns than boyfriends, and prefers it that way. Her emotional range is bleak, but her aim is damn near perfect.
Thinking saving the world is a far easier task than dating, Agent Turner springs at the opportunity to prevent young scientist Marcus Gibbs from selling his biological weapon to the highest bidder. With her goal in sight, and Marcus eating out of the palm of her hand, an obstacle she doesn’t see coming interferes. Meet Jeremy Hunt — the distractingly handsome CEO of Sunscape Biotechnologies, and Marcus’s boss and best friend.
A man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, Jeremy’s never been one to take no for an answer, which has Agent Turner realizing for the first time that her wit might get her farther than her weapon. With no protocol or training to reference when it comes to matters of the heart, she worries that this might be her hardest assignment yet.

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Book Trailer:
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Enjoy this guest post by A. Rosa
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Pretty Package With a Bad-Ass Bow.

A. Rosa

I had one goal in mind when writing my first novel:

I wanted a strong, kick-ass female character. Period.  (No transitioning hormonal female pun intended).

While making it a point to read a lot of books last year, I realized I had pretty much only read Romance —this was an accident, but I found myself such a sucker for the genre. Who doesn’t love: girl-meets-boy, girl-falls-in-love with boy? *Fans-self* “Oh-Oh! ME!”

However, there was something frustrating about half of the books I read.

Their leading lady was flimsy, and at the whim of her leading man. The build of her confidence would be slow, and overwhelmingly frustrating to me, and all I thought was:

When does the girl get to take the wheel on this weird road of love?

Well, the truth of the matter is, men never let woman drive.

I needed to change that.

Finding that my first novel fit nicely into the genre of “Romantic Suspense” I found a home for my gun-wielding, witty main character, Special Agent Alex Turner, who’s lack of patience was a perfect characteristic for a woman who made her own destiny rather than simply let things happen.

I think Agent Turner, gives the female lead, and the avid romance reader, hope.

A main character perfectly flawed, but driven to do better, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Not to mention I wanted my main character to have the emotional range of a teenage boy, because let’s face it, not all girls know what the hell to do with their emotions.

Okay, I must confess something though, because my main character is not only emotionally underdeveloped, but a federal agent; trained to kill on a whim, her morality hits a grey area constantly when it comes to the value of a human life, and on top of everything else she openly prefers her gun to a boyfriend.

So, is she an impressively strong female lead, or an emotional nightmare? I like the dichotomy.

This is why I fell in love with the idea of this novel.

You’re suddenly being lead by Agent Turner, and you want her to succeed in a myriad of different ways. In Emotionally Compromised, she struggles to do her job, somehow manages a potential love interest, while at the same time keeping her sense of self, and doing the right thing —whether that means pulling the trigger, or taking down her emotional wall to do something as simple as telling her boyfriend how she feels. She’d argue pulling the trigger might be easier.

With Emotionally Compromised I wanted a pretty package with a bad-ass bow to place on top of it. I wanted a fluid combination of personal growth, wonderfully complicated emotional range, and heartfelt struggles of a powerful woman that could kick the butt of the average female lead.

I think I might have done it, and I hope the readers think so too.

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About A. Rosa
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A. Rosa lives in San Diego, California. When she isn’t scouring city parks or cafe’s to write she is more than likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her resume consists of coroner, to working at a zoo, and most recently as an executive assistant, but finds her home amongst words, whether it be in books, or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it.
Author Links:
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I have one ebook copy of Emotionally Compromised to give away.
To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question,
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“What book do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?”
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Grand Prize
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Open Internationally
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One signed copy of Emotionally Compromised and two book swag bundles
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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
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Thanks once again to Xpresso Book Tours for putting together another fun Blitz. If you’d like to see more tours or become a tour host, click on the banner below.
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Xpresso Book Tours
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
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To see all of my giveaways click on Mr. Wolf below.
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I live on the Gulf Coast and I’m always looking for stories written about this area. The lush marshlands and eerie bayou’s make for great storytelling.

I fell in love with the cover art for Unstoppable. Once you read the synopsis, you’ll see how well it compliments the story. And it’s just so startling in its clarity.

I’m adding this book to my Santa List!

Panthers and vipers and gators and…..the prey.

Unstoppable

Unstoppable by S.R. Johannes

After everything that has happened, Grace goes to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee. Even though she is now home-schooled by her bird-obsessed grandmother, the move gives Grace time to relax. She learns to scuba dive and starts boating with old man Rex, Birdee’s casual friend/boyfriend.

One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace rescues an abused Florida panther, currently on the endangered list. The more she dives into the animal’s horrific condition, the more she ventures into the underground world of the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for the law. Eventually, she stumbles upon one large roadside zoo filled with a variety of endangered and illegal animals.

Before she can gather evidence and report her findings to the authorities, she is kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge. Only this time, Grace is the prey.

During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace is offered one chance at survival. With a one-hour head start and very little supplies, time and skill are now all that stands between the hunter and the hunted.

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sr johannesAuthor S.R. Johannes

S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling thriller series, The Nature of Grace. Johannes is currently repped by Lara Perkins at ABLA. For foreign rights on the Nature of Grace series, contact Jennifer Custer at AM Heath (London).

S.R. Johannes is the YA advisor of ALLi and a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult category) as well as a Silver medalist (2nd place) in the IPPY awards for YA Fiction. She was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category), a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult of 2012, and a YA Finalist in the US Book News Best Book of 2012.

After earning an MBA and working in corporate America doing marketing for over 15 years, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Newsletter | Bilan Inc

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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Ends 12/5/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways click on the image below.

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into the hollow banner

Who doesn’t wish for some horror for Christmas?

Into The Hollow is on my Santa list!

Check it out, read the Dexism and the excerpt and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

And don’t forget to pick up some stocking stuffers.

Twelve books, twelve days, only .99 cents.

Follow the tour for more!

Into the Hollow cover

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Title: INTO THE HOLLOW (EIT 6)

Author: Karina Halle

Release date: October 23, 2012

Age Group: Mature NA/Adult

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Horror

Links to find/buy your book (if available):

GoodreadsAmazon / B&N 

 

Book Description:

Perry Palomino has fought her demons – and won – but the battle is far from over. She’s now left broken and on her own, leaving behind her life and family in Portland to focus on giving Dex Foray – and the Experiment in Terror show – a second chance. But their past mistakes continue to tease and test their relationship, as does the wild and desolate terrain of the Canadian Rockies.

The snow-covered peaks and ravenous forests hide an urban legend too unbelievably frightening to be true and the only way the duo has a chance of surviving is if Perry can let in the very man who sent her to hell and back.

Rated 16+ for lan­guage, gore and sex­ual content

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Excerpt

“Ah, well if Bigfoot erotica is catching on, we better get to it,” I joked, shaking my head.

“You and Dex will go ip to the mountains, spending a few days there chasing around some llamas and maybe you’ll get footage of a bear or something. I don’t know. But it’s something and I want it to happen. And it’s a job. And, last time I looked, Bigfoot wasn’t a ghost.”

“Sasquatch,” I corrected him with a sigh. “Look, I’ll have to think about it. I don’t think I could even keep a straight face if I was on camera.”

“So don’t be on camera,” he said. “Put Dex on camera. You do the filming.”

My heart slowed and I raised my brows at Dex who was leaning on his thighs and tapping his foot. He probably had no idea of what was just suggested.

“Um, what?”

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GIVEAWAY:

 2 EIT Swag Packs

To enter click on the rafflecopter below.

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About the Author

                       

Karina Halle is the USA Today Best Selling Author of The Artists Trilogy (On Every Street, Sins & Needles, Shooting Scars, and Bold Tricks) published by Hachette, the Experiment in Terror series, and The Devil’s series published by Diversion.

The daughter of a Norwegian Viking and a Finnish Moomin, Karina Halle grew up in Vancouver, Canada with trolls and eternal darkness on the brain. This soon turned into a love of all things that go bump in the night and a rather sadistic appreciation for freaking people out. Like many of the flawed characters she writes, Karina never knew where to find herself and has dabbled in acting, make-up artistry, film production, screenwriting, photography, travel writing and music journalism. She eventually found herself in the pages of the very novels she wrote (if only she had looked there to begin with).

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiance and rescue pup.

Karina is represented by Scott Waxman of the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency

Author social media links:

http://experimentinterror.com

http://khalle.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/ExperimentinTerror

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karina-Halle/

www.twitter.com/MetalBlonde

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle

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To follow the tour for fun reviews, guest posts, and excerpts click here or the tour button below.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the elf below!

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Sierra 99 cents

I’ve read every book Taylor Dean has written. She’s a favorite author of mine and I’m always looking for her next book.

Once you read one of her stories, you’ll be like me, excited and bursting to tell someone about it.

Sierra is Taylor’s favorite of her books and it’s mine too.

Read my 5 star Review Here.

I was lulled by the cover art but that was just the outside of the book. What happens once you begin reading is a romantic suspense that grabs you and spins you out of control. Setting you down only to grab you again.

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sierra cover

Sierra by Taylor Dean

Have you ever been lost in the woods?

Alyssa Fontaine’s life, loved ones—everything familiar and dear—are brutally taken from her.

Taken captive by two men, she endures a horrific nightmare. A new life is forced upon her and even a new name.

Just when it appears that no hope is in sight, she is saved by an unlikely twist of fate. Trapped in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains, life will open its arms to her again and she will embrace it. She will find love such as she never knew existed.

Sierra is a heart-wrenching story of the power of the human spirit to survive amidst impossible circumstances and severe losses. It is a story of survival . . . and hope.

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Smashwords / Amazon

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Excerpt from Sierra:

This is one of my favorite scenes in Sierra. It’s a pivotal moment, wherein Alyssa’s life can change for the better–or for the worse. After facing extreme cruelty, she is faced with utter kindness. I love the marked difference between her experiences. ~Taylor Dean

“Please sit,” he whispered. Her eyes were drawing him in. She didn’t seem to be scared of him, she seemed to know he wanted to help her. First, he filled a glass with water and held it to her lips. She drank thirstily, but then shook her head negatively when he wanted her to finish all of it. At the sink, he filled a small plastic tub with warm water, grabbed shampoo, and went back to Alyssa. The kitchen sink doubled as his bathroom sink. He had all he needed to clean her up, including a small first aid kit. He knelt in front of her. Once again, he gently touched her chin and lifted her face to his. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. She had the biggest brown eyes he’d ever seen.

“Just relax and let me take care of you, Alyssa,” he whispered softly.

She responded with a slight nod. Sitting in the kitchen chair, he had her slowly lean her head back till it was resting just above the tub. He gently began to wash her hair, first getting it wet and then massaging the shampoo into her scalp. She winced when he touched the spot where dried blood matted her hair, so he was extra gentle there. Her long hair was tangled and filled with dirt and bits of dried leaves. It took some time to get it clean and several refills of warm water in the tub as he rinsed. Alyssa closed her eyes and relaxed for probably the first time in days. He worked conditioner into the long locks and then had her sit up as he gently combed through it, removing all of the snarls. He then parted the hair where the wound on the scalp was located and took a look at the gash. It was angry and red, and it needed stitches, but would have to wait till he could retrieve his medical supplies from the supply room. He disinfected it with alcohol and moved on.

He again knelt in front of Alyssa. Her eyes opened and stared deeply into his, desperately trying to communicate without words. A lone tear fell, drizzling down her cheek. He brushed it away with his fingertips. This was harder than he thought. He knew this was the first gentle touch she’d felt in days. The abuse she had suffered was obvious to him as he noticed her many bruises. He grabbed his kitchen stool and sat before her. Using a washcloth, he began to wipe her face clean. As he worked, their eyes met and held. Ever so gently he wiped the dirt and grime away from days spent outdoors. And with it he wiped away tears and pain.

“Please help me,” Alyssa whispered.

Alex stole a glance at Pa and Adam. Pa’s eyes were closed and a soft snore emanated from him. Adam was wide awake, his shotgun pointed at Alex, but he stared into the fire sullenly. Alex leaned forward to grab the tube of anti-biotic ointment on the table. With his lips to her ear as he brushed past, he whispered, “Everything’s going to be all right, Alyssa. I won’t let them take you, I promise.”

Alex then applied the salve to the small cuts on her face and lips. Each and every one of his ministrations clearly brought relief to her. Every time Alex looked her in the eyes, she met him with eyes that spoke volumes. He refilled the tub and washed her arms and hands and then took his time cleaning her fingernails, occasionally massaging her hand as he looked into her eyes. He also applied cortisone cream to her numerous mosquito bites. Next, he decided to tend to her neck and wrists. He cringed inside at the raw, bloody skin underneath the ropes. The first thing he’d wanted to do was cut the ropes, but he didn’t want to push his luck. However, now it was time. He went to the kitchen counter and unsheathed a kitchen knife. The sound of the knife being unsheathed brought Adam to his feet immediately.

Shotgun aimed at Alex, he yelled, “Put it down, Doc.”

Alex faced him without flinching. “I’m cutting the ropes. They’ve rubbed her skin raw and it’s going to get infected,” he said with steel in his voice. “You can have the knife when I’m done.”

Pa awoke from his snooze in the commotion. “Sit down, Adam. Doc’s right. Let ‘em fix her up,” he growled.

Adam continued to stand, anxiously waiting while Alex cut the rope on her neck and freed Alyssa from her leash. He then cut the other ropes and freed her wrists. She closed her eyes and Alex could see the relief on her face. He wondered just how long she had been bound. He handed the knife to Adam roughly and stared him in the face. “Satisfied?”

“Won’t do any good, I’ll just be puttin’ the ropes back on ya know,” Adam taunted.

Not if I have anything to say about it, thought Alex.

Book Trailer

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Praise for Sierra:

Every now and then you come across a novel that profoundly takes your breath away, and Sierra is that novel. -Kathleen of Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Riveting from beginning to end. Be prepared to read straight through. -Sherry of Fundinmental Book Reviews

I thought I had read romances before, and books like “Jane Eyre” and “A Tale of Two Cities,” I had always considered the peaks of romantic literature. Let me say this. This is the most romantic book I have ever read in my 38 years on this planet! -Ruth of My Devotional Thoughts

What I like most about Sierra was how Taylor lulls you in the beginning, then she shreds the peaceful scene to pieces. It happens so fast you barely have time to comprehend what is going to happen. Just like in real life. -Laura of FUONLYKNEW Book Reviews

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TaylorAuthor Taylor Dean

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.

Social Media Website Social Media Facebook Social Media Twitter Social Media Goodreads

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BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/22/13

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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You can read my reviews of other books by Taylor Dean by clicking on the titles.

Lancaster House

Lancaster House 

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The Middle Aisle (Lancaster House)

The Middle Aisle

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I Have People

I Have People

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Reviewing shortly.

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Finished reading and will review soon.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go HERE.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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My Teaser for today is from Cemetery Girl

by David Bell

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My Tease from page 152

I knew. I knew I knew I knew. I didn’t want to hear it, but I knew.

Synopsis

Four years after Tom and Abby’s 12-year-old daughter vanishes, she is found alive but strangely calm. When the teen refuses to testify against the man connected to her disappearance, Tom decides to investigate the traumatizing case on his own. Nothing can prepare him for what he is about to discover.

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Jennifer Anne Davis is celebrating her release of The Power To See, a thrilling tale of family loyalty, love, and betrayal, by offering it for the amazing low price of 99 cents!
The sale is for today only, so head over to get yours now!
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Read on to learn more about The Power To See and where you can get a copy of your own.
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The Power to See
By- Jennifer Anne Davis
Publication Date- October 24th, 2013  
 
At first glance, twenty-two-year-old Brianna’s life seems perfect. But she harbors a deadly secret—her father is the leader of a ruthless drug cartel. Brianna struggles to find her place in a world her father meticulously controls, and believes she is nothing but a pawn in her father’s deadly games. 
 
After graduating from college with an enormous debt, Dominic finds himself lured by money and power into a job that appears too good to be true. He doesn’t realize he works for a drug cartel until he’s in too deep. Trying to keep his family safe, he takes a deal offered by Brianna’s father and agrees to marry Brianna while continuing to work for the cartel. 
 
Brianna and Dominic must rely on one another as their lives become further entwined in the lethal drug world. When Dominic discovers a deadly secret, he begins to question everything and turns to Brianna for support. However, Brianna’s heart belongs to another man—an undercover DEA agent. 
 
The DEA closes in on the drug cartel, forcing Brianna and Dominic to choose sides, igniting a battle between family loyalty, love, and survival. Brianna soon realizes that she may be the only person capable of bringing down her father’s empire—if she can find a way to outsmart the master manipulator, without losing herself, and her heart, in the process.
 

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