Archive for the ‘thriller’ Category

Looking for a good thriller? I have just the book for you!

Check it out!

Title: House of the Hanging Jade
Author: Amy M. Reade
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Thriller
Format: Ebook

A dark presence had invaded the Jorgensens’ house. On a spectacular bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, something evil is watching and waiting . . .

Tired of the cold winters in Washington, D.C. and disturbed by her increasingly obsessive boyfriend, Kailani Kanaka savors her move back to her native Big Island of Hawaii. She also finds a new job as personal chef for the Jorgensen family. The gentle caress of the Hawaiian trade winds, the soft sigh of the swaying palm trees, and the stunning blue waters of the Pacific lull her into a sense of calm at the House of Hanging Jade–an idyll that quickly fades as it becomes apparent that dark secrets lurk within her new home. Furtive whispers in the night, a terrifying shark attack, and the discovery of a dead body leave Kailani shaken and afraid. But it’s the unexpected appearance of her ex-boyfriend, tracking her every move and demanding she return to him, that has her fearing for her life . . .

 

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Meet The Author:

Thanks for visiting!  I grew up in Northern New York, just 30 miles from the St. Lawrence River.  I live in New Jersey now with my husband, three kids, dog, and two cats, just a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean.  I love being near the water, whether it’s a river or an ocean or just a stream.  My favorite place on Earth is Hawaii, where I’m surrounded by the blue waters of the Pacific.

I also love wine and music.  You’ll find wine recommendations on this website from my latest favorites, as well as playlists to go along with my books.

Please visit my blog at http://amreade.wordpress.com/

I am on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/amreadeauthor

I am on Twitter @readeandwrite

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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The Berlin Package-Book#2

by Peter Riva

Berlin Package by Peter Riva

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My Review

I enjoyed the first book in this series and was curious where the author would take it next.

Pero Baltazar, a film producer, thinks he’s going to be producing a film in Berlin. What he doesn’t know is, he’s been drawn back into work for the CIA and State Department. He’s to deliver a dangerous package. Failure to deliver will be his death.

Peter gives you great characters. They have depth, are emotionally compromised, and he throws them into situations no one could be prepared for.

The action is like shots of speed.  Fast, violent, and intense. At any given time, someone could die.

Bringing back old characters and introducing new ones, The Berlin Package has you deep in a thriller with ties to Nazi gold, dirty bombs, and danger around every corner.

What I most enjoy about this author is his ability to write visually. I could see so many scenes like they were on the big screen. I even found myself trying to choose who would play the different characters.

The intrigue starts right away, then the story slows a bit while you are given some pertinent details, and then picks up speed as events unfold. A thrilling read right to the end.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Film producer Pero Baltazar thought he was taking a Berlin filming assignment. He needed the work, needed to get back in the saddle after fighting off a life-threatening experience in East Africa—alShabaab had attacked his crew, intent on a much larger terrorist attack. Suddenly he finds himself under orders from his part-time employers at the State Department and the CIA when he is handed a mysterious package. It’s an assignment he doesn’t want. The problem is, it’s a job contracted by mysterious patrons who are prepared to kill him if he doesn’t deliver.

Pero—now in far too deep—turns to friends, old and new, to help him unravel the mystery of the package, uncover connections to Nazi concentration camp gold recently sold by the US Treasury, and thwart the ex–Stasi chief, now head of a powerful banking group.

In this fast-paced sequel to Murder on Safari, Pero calls on Mbuno, his friend and East African safari guide, to anticipate the moves of his enemies as if they were animals—dangerous vermin—who have kidnapped both the film star and director. Mbuno’s tracking skills may keep them from getting killed—provided Pero can rope in more help and keep the CIA at bay.

Exhilarating and expertly crafted, The Berlin Package (Yucca Publishing; April 2016) is a gripping, page-turning thriller set in post–German reunification Europe.

Praise for  The Berlin Package

“An explosive radioactive thriller written with intelligence. . . . The reluctant spy motif works grandly. . . . An extremely thoughtful and terrifying exposure of the dangers inherent in a nuclear world.”

 —Ron Lealos, author of Pashtun and Don’t Mean Nuthin’

Buy the book:  Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Book Depository   Chapters / Indigo

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Murder on Safari – Book#1 

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You can read my review HERE.

Synopsis

Only a reality TV producer and an expert safari guide can stop a terrorist attack.

Every adventure starts at the fringes of civilization. For expert safari guide Mbuno and wildlife television producer Pero Baltazar, filming in the wild of East Africa should have been a return to the adventure they always loved. This time they’d be filming soaring vultures in northern Kenya and giant sea crocodiles in Tanzania with Mary, the daughter of the world’s top television evangelist, the very reverend Jimmy Threte.

But when a terrorist cell places them in the crosshairs, there is suddenly no escape and they must put their filming aside and combine all their talents to thwart an all-out al-Shabaab terrorist attack on Jimmy Threte’s Christian gathering of hundreds of thousands in Nairobi, Kenya.

Buy the book:     Amazon    Barnes & Noble     Chapters/Indigo

Author Peter Riva

Peter Riva

Peter Riva has spent many months over 30 years travelling throughout Africa and Europe. Much of this time was spent with the legendary guides for East African hunters and adventurers. He created a TV series in 1995 called Wild Things for Paramount. Passing on the fables, true tales, and insider knowledge of these last reserves of true wildlife is his passion. Nonetheless, his job for over forty years has been working as a literary agent. In his spare time, Riva writes science fiction and African adventure books. He lives in Gila, New Mexico.

Connect with the author:   Website   Twitter   Facebook

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow The Tour

April 25 – The Autistic Gamer – review of The Berlin Package

April 25 – #redhead.with.book – book spotlight / giveaway

April 25 – Bookishly Devoted – review of Murder on Safari / giveaway

April 26 – Books Reviews, Nature Photos – review of Murder on Safari

April 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book spotlight

April 27 – 3 Partners in Shopping – review of Murder on Safari

April 27 – Zerina Blossom’s Books – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

April 28 – Vic’s Media Room – review of The Berlin Package

April 29 – Heidi’s Wanderings – review of Murder on Safari / giveaway

April 29 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – review of The Berlin Package / guest post / giveaway

May 2 –    A Book Geek – review of The Berlin Package

May 2 –    The World As I See It – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 3 –    Deal Sharing Aunt – review of Murder on Safari / giveaway

May 4 –   Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine – review of The Berlin Package

May 4 –   fuonlyknew – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 5 –   Sahar’s Blog – review of Murder on Safari

May 5 –   First Impressions Reviews – review of The Berlin Package

May 6 –   Heidi’s Wanderings – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 6 –   Create With Joy – review of Murder on Safari / giveaway

May 9 –   Mystery Suspense Reviews – guest post

May 9 –   3 Partners in Shopping – review of The Berlin Package

May 10 – Library of Clean Reads – review of Murder on Safari / giveaway

May 10 – Working Mommy Journal – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 11 – Readers’ Muse – review of Murder on Safari

​May 11 – Life as Leels – review of The Berlin Package

May 12 – Nighttime Reading Center – review of Murder on Safari / interview / giveaway

May 12 – Sahar’s Blog – review of The Berlin Package

May 13 – Olio by Marilyn – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 16 – Olivia’s Catastrophe – review of Murder on Safari

May 16 – Ali – The Dragon Slayer – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

May 17 – Books Reviews, Nature Photos – review of The Berlin Package

May 17 – Deal Sharing Aunt – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 17 – Library of Clean Reads – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 18 – Cover2Cover – review of Murder on Safari / giveaway

May 18 – Olivia’s Catastrophe – review of The Berlin Package

May 18 – Create With Joy – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 18 – Book and Ink – review of Murder on Safari / giveaway

May 19 – Readers’ Muse – review of The Berlin Package

May 19 – Seasons of Opportunities – review of Murder on Safari

May 19 – Bookishly Devoted – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 20 – Cover2Cover – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 20 – Nighttime Reading Center – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 20 – Book and Ink – review of The Berlin Package / giveaway

May 20 – Seasons of Opportunities – review of The Berlin Package

May 20 – Jessica Cassidy – review of The Berlin Package

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Welcome to My Monday Minis Reviews where I share short reviews of books I’ve read. For today I’ll be sharing my reviews of three books from my TBR shelves.

Descent

by Tim Johnston

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

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My Review

It was supposed to be a fun family vacation. The last one before Caitlin went off to college. Her parents are also hoping it will give them time to reflect and maybe repair their failing marriage.

When Cailtlin’s younger brother, Sean, is hurt while he and Caitlin are on an early morning run in the hills, a stranger stops his vehicle and offers to take Caitlin to get help. Torn between knowing better and doubting herself, Caitlin makes a choice that echoes through the family, setting them all on different paths.

I’ve often wondered why people do what they do. Caitlin knew better than to go with a stranger. But think about it. What would you do? Your little brother is seriously injured. You need to get help for him fast. There’s someone offering to take you. She could have been thinking, it won’t happen to me. Everything will be fine. Or, what else can I do? So many things must have gone through her mind in a flash. Then, to know she made the wrong choice.

This is much more than just a story about an abduction. It’s a families journey. The brother is overcome by guilt. If he hadn’t got hurt, Caitlin would be okay. The parents are torn over letting the kids go off by themselves. Didn’t they stress to the kids enough about the dangers out there.

As time passed and doubt and guilt wormed their way through this fractured family, they all changed. They all coped with it differently. And the author takes you inside their heads and hearts. Helps you see the hows and whys of each characters actions.

Powerful, disturbing, suspenseful, emotional. All are just words to help describe this story. You need to read it and experience what these characters go through. I was asking myself questions long after I finished this book.

 5 Stars

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Synopsis

The Rocky Mountains have cast their spell over the Courtlands, a young family from the plains taking a last summer vacation before their daughter begins college. For eighteen-year-old Caitlin, the mountains loom as the ultimate test of her runner’s heart, while her parents hope that so much beauty, so much grandeur, will somehow repair a damaged marriage. But when Caitlin and her younger brother, Sean, go out for an early morning run and only Sean returns, the mountains become as terrifying as they are majestic, as suddenly this family find themselves living the kind of nightmare they’ve only read about in headlines or seen on TV.

As their world comes undone, the Courtlands are drawn into a vortex of dread and recrimination. Why weren’t they more careful? What has happened to their daughter? Is she alive? Will they ever know? Caitlin’s disappearance, all the more devastating for its mystery, is the beginning of the family’s harrowing journey down increasingly divergent and solitary paths until all that continues to bind them together are the questions they can never bring themselves to ask: At what point does a family stop searching? At what point will a girl stop fighting for her life?

Written with a precision that captures every emotion, every moment of fear, as each member of the family searches for answers, Descent is a perfectly crafted thriller that races like an avalanche toward its heart-pounding conclusion, and heralds the arrival of a master storyteller.

AMAZON

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Forest Of Memory

by Mary Robinette Kowal

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

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My Review

In an unspecified future where everyone is connected, Katya, a dealer in Authenticities, items from the past, falls off the grid. This is her account, typos included, of what happened during the three days she was off the grid. Believe it or not, she swears its true, even though she has no proof, technical or physical.

Such a riveting tale. The synopsis tells you a lot, but actually reading the story from Katya’s point of view was fun. She rambled a bit and apologized for her typos. Once I could shut off my editing filter, I found it quite fun.

A mysterious hunter, alias – Johnny, kidnapped Katya and revealed to her what his involvement was with the missing deer in the forest, and at this point the story took me down the proverbial rabbit hole.

Science fiction and futuristic technology along with intriguing characters captured my imagination. But I had some difficulty navigating the ending. It felt somewhat abrupt and I reread it, trying to squeeze more of a conclusion out of it. If the author chose to, she could make this part of a larger book and I’d gladly reenter this world.

3 Stars

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Synopsis

Katya deals in Authenticities and Captures, trading on nostalgia for a past long gone. Her clients are rich and they demand items and experiences with only the finest verifiable provenance. Other people’s lives have value, after all.

But when her A.I. suddenly stops whispering in her ear she finds herself cut off from the grid and loses communication with the rest of the world.

The man who stepped out of the trees while hunting deer cut her off from the cloud, took her A.I. and made her his unwilling guest.

There are no Authenticities or Captures to prove Katya’s story of what happened in the forest. You’ll just have to believe her…

AMAZON

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West Of Dead

A Nathaniel Caine Adventure #1

by Eric Bahle

Genre: Horror/Western/Zombies

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My Review

I love a good zombie story. Throw in the unique challenge of dealing with them in a western setting, with less technology and none of the fancy weapons of modern day, and my curiosity gets tweaked.

Early into the story, I knew I wanted to know more about Nathaniel Caine. He wasn’t that surprised about the idea of flesh eating zombies, so I wondered what else he might have bumped up against in his past.

It’s an odd group of passengers sharing the stage coach. Most don’t detect anything wrong when they pull up to the deserted way station. A few know right away somethings wrong. It doesn’t take long for the zombies to attack and its a humdinger to get out of there alive.

I was imagining how bad it is when zombies attack you in your car. Think how much worse to be in a windowless stagecoach pulled by horses. Zombies like horse flesh too. I remember how bad it went for Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead show when he was riding a horse through town.

The only place even close to them might not be safe either. The zombies had to come from somewhere. And one passenger seems to know a whole lot more than he should about the phenomenon.

This was a fun one. There were some interesting characters, a new twist on zombies, and a super villain. There has to be a villain in an apocalypse, right? This guy was a real scum bag. Made it interesting to see whether he made it out alive or eaten, or maybe turned into one of the undead.

There’s a second book available with Nathaniel as the main character and I plan to see what he encounters next.

Solid writing made this an easy read and even though it was a short story, it felt big.

4 Stars 

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Synopsis

Fans of Joe R. Lansdale, Robert Davis, and Adam Millard will love this fast paced tale of the Weird West.

What good is a six-shooter against a horde of the undead?

Nathaniel Caine wants to forget the War and see the frontier, and a trip by stagecoach seems like the perfect way. When the stage pulls into a deserted way station with obvious signs of violence, but a disturbing lack of bodies, he suspects things are going bad. Things go from bad to worse when the passengers fall under attack by people that should be dead, and Caine must call on old skills just to survive. He’ll also need the help of a fellow passenger who knows more than he’s telling if the restless dead are to be put back in the ground.

AMAZON

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Title: FREE OF MALICE
Author: Liz Lazarus
Publisher: Mitchell Cove Publishing LLC
Pages: 274
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
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Synopsis
Laura Holland awakes in the middle of the night to see a stranger standing in her bedroom doorway. She manages to defend herself from the would-be rapist, though he threatens to return as he retreats. Traumatized with recurring nightmares, Laura seeks therapy and is exposed to a unique treatment called EMDR. She also seeks self-protection— buying a gun against the wishes of her husband. When Laura learns she could have gone to prison had she shot her fleeing assailant, she decides to write a
hypothetical legal case using the details of that night. She enlists the help  of criminal defense lawyer, Thomas Bennett, who proves to be well versed in the justice system but has an uncanny resemblance to her attacker. As the two work together to develop the story, Laura’s discomfort escalates particularly when
Thomas seems to know more about that night than he should. Reality and fiction soon merge as her real life drama begins to mirror the fiction she’s trying to create.
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For More Information

Book Excerpt:

Run. Run faster. As much as I strained my legs to move, they were immobile, like I was waist deep in
quicksand.
Why can’t I move?
I tried to scream for help but my mouth was full, like it was stuffed with cotton—no sound would escape.
I felt something clutching my shoulder. No, it was someone. He was pushing me forward and then yanking me back. I tried to jerk away but he had a tight grip, like a vice.
I have to break free.
The tugging got harder, more forceful. He was calling my name— over and over. He knew my name.
“Laura, Laura.”
I jolted awake—my husband’s hand still on my shoulder.
“Honey, wake up. You’re having another bad dream.”
Slowly, I turned over in bed and looked at him—his dark brown eyes were fixated on me. I could see them clearly as the light from the bathroom brightened our bedroom.
For a month now, we had slept with this light on.
I could see the small wrinkle on his forehead. I loved that wrinkle though wished he didn’t have good reason to be so concerned. I was enduring the nightmares, but he had to deal with my
tossing and mumbling in terror.
I remember when we first met—ten years ago in chemistry lab at Georgia Tech. He had walked up to me with those warm eyes and a charming, confident smile and asked, “Want to be partners?”
Two years later he took me to Stone Mountain Park, rented a small rowboat and, in the moonlight, he pulled out a diamond ring and asked me again, “Want to be partners?”
Life had seemed just about perfect.
Until now.
We looked at each other for a moment. Then he propped himself up on his elbow and said softly, “Laura, I feel so helpless. I know it’s only been a month, but…”
He hesitated.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s just as bad as that first night. After it happened. Look, I want to make you feel safe again, but I
don’t know how.”
He rubbed his eyes and looked away. I waited, staring at him.
What isn’t he saying?
“I know you don’t want to see a therapist, but seeing someone doesn’t mean you’re crazy. Therapists don’t treat just crazy people. They help people who have been through traumas and you have. Hell, no one even has to know.”
He paused for a second.“Don’t be mad at me, but yesterday I made an appointment for you. I was going to talk to you about it in the morning if you had another bad dream. I found a woman who is downtown by my office. She’s been practicing for about twenty years, got her doctorate from Emory and comes with really good patient reviews.”
He looked for my reaction and continued. “I made the appointment for you at 4:00 so we can go to dinner afterward. You know what you always say. You’ll try anything once, right?”
“I told you I don’t want to see a psychiatrist,” I pushed back. “I just need more time. I’ll bounce back.
You know I almost came in the house on my own today. Besides, if I see a psychiatrist, on every job application I complete in the future, I’ll have to check the ‘Yes’ box when they ask if I’ve had mental health treatment.”
“Jesus. No you don’t. You’re too innocent sometimes.”
He gently tapped me on the nose.
“You can check the box ‘No.’ Besides, if that’s the only thing stopping you, I think you should give it a
try. Her name is Barbara Cole. I’ll take you to Houston’s afterward,” he added.
I ignored the bribe. “But what can she do that you can’t? All she’ll do is listen and you do that for me
already. Psychiatrists are for people who don’t have friends or husbands to talk to.”
Chris shook his head.
“Please? Do it for me.”
The tone in his voice was different—more helpless than normal. Chris had been so understanding, so
comforting this past month, especially considering I had been waking him every night. How could I refuse his request?
I sighed. “Okay,” I relented. “I’ll go.”
“One visit. That’s all I’m asking. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go back. She’s a psychologist,
by the way, not a psychiatrist. She does therapy, not drugs.”
He glanced at the clock. It was 3:30 a.m.
Chris grabbed Konk, my stuffed animal gorilla that I won at the state fair by outshooting him at the
basketball game. He had sworn the scum running the game couldn’t take his eyes off my butt and let me win.
“Here’s Konk,” he said. “I’m going to finish my presentation since I’m up. I’ll just be in the office. Want
the door open?”
“Yes,” I said as I wrapped my arms tightly around Konk.
“Hey, we’ll celebrate your first therapy visit and my signed contract, I hope, this evening.”
“You mean you hope my first visit?” I said with a playful smile.
He gave me a look—he was in no mood for jokes.
“Fine. Fine. I’ll go,” I assured.
“If you’re asleep when I leave, just come by my office after the appointment and we’ll head to dinner.
Try to get some sleep. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”

 About Author Liz Lazarus

Liz Lazarus is the author of Free of
Malice, a psychological, legal thriller loosely based on her personal
experience and a series of ‘what if’ questions that trace the after effects of
a foiled attack; a woman healing, and grappling with the legal system to
acknowledge her right to self-defense.
She was born in Valdosta, Georgia, graduated from Georgia Tech with an engineering degree and
the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern with an MBA in their executive
master’s program. She spent most of her career at General Electric’s Healthcare
division and is currently a Managing Director at a strategic planning
consulting firm in addition to being an author.
Free of Malice is her debut novel, set in Atlanta, and supplemented by
extensive research with both therapists and criminal defense attorneys. She
currently lives in
Brookhaven, GA, with her fiancé,
Richard, and their very spoiled orange tabby, Buckwheat.
.
For More Information


Giveaway

Lis is giving away a $25 B&N Gift Card and
an autographed copy of Free Of Malice!
.
Terms &
Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 B&N Gift Card or
    one autographed copy of FREE OF MALICE
  • This giveaway begins April 11 and ends on May 11.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on May 12.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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For a list of my reviews go HERE

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Welcome to my Saturday Screams.

Normally, I share horror book reviews on this meme.

This week I’m going to share some movies I’ve watched recently.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve watched any of these.

The Hateful Eight

The Hateful Eight [Blu-ray]

With a cast of beloved actors, I knew this was gonna be good. Holy shit! That’s all I can say. LOL

I’ve loved westerns ever since I was young and would stay up late watching them with my dad. Such actors as Charles Bronson, Bruce Dern, Clint Eastwood, and my all time favorite, John Wayne, filled my television screen well into the wee hours.

Many more actors have joined my list over 40 years of watching cowboys shoot from the hip. Some epic movies are watched over and over again.

But, The Hateful Eight shocked the shit out of me. Excuse the grammar. No better way I can describe it. They aren’t called The Hateful Eight for nothing!

I loved every ugly, nasty, bloody bit of it. From one to ten, I give it a ten!

AMAZON

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Black Mass

Black Mass (Blu-ray+ DVD + UV)

I love Johnny Depp. Such a sexy bad boy. I couldn’t wait to see him as Whitey Bulger. I can only think of two other movies where Johnny was a true bad guy. There was Sweeney Todd and Secret Window. Both favorites of mine.

Black Mass is in your face gritty. Murder is committed like it’s just business. How could the FBI ever think an alliance with Whitey would be anything but a bad idea. In all the years they protected him from prosecution, he used them to become a major crime lord, only giving them one thing that was of any real value.

Casting Johnny as Whitey was brilliant. He gave me the shivers with his dull, clouded stare and callous disregard for human life. He was a criminal through and through.

From one to ten, I give it an eight.

AMAZON

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John Wick

John Wick [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD]

I didn’t have much of an idea who John Wick was before I stared the movie. My son filled me in on that.

Keanu Reeves has grown on me over the years, and he nailed his part in this one. To think it all started because some entitled, punk wants his car. Hell came down in all ways bloody when they messed with John.

Surprisingly, there was one scene that made me cry. From then on, I was with John every step of the way. Give em what they deserve, and clean house!

From one to ten, I give it a nine.

AMAZON

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For a list of my reviews go HERE

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(more…)

 

Has she already fallen prey to the vicious stranger hunting her?

 

Publication Date: Jan 26, 2016
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Crime Fiction

Life turns from barely tolerable to complete hell when Maddy Eastin’s impulsive plan to win back the attention of her absentee father backfires. Word of her scheme spreads through her high school, but when mockery escalates to cyberbullying, Maddy and her failed stunt become headline news. But the worst is yet to come…

A disturbed man is fighting the overwhelming urge to surrender to his true nature—a moral code molded by a sadistic father who taught him that a girl needs proper training to become the perfect subservient woman. As he watches Maddy on the evening news, his already fractured psyche completely splinters. She’s the girl he’s been waiting for.

When Maddy disappears, she’s labeled a runaway even though her mother believes it was foul play. Will the two detectives investigating Maddy’s disappearance find her before it’s too late? Or has she already fallen prey to the vicious stranger hunting her?

This psychological thriller unfolds through the viewpoints of five deeply flawed characters. Each is on their own emotionally charged journey that ultimately intersects in a collision course of devastating consequences.

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Enjoy this Excerpt

Lily unlocked the craft store’s two front doors, then stood aside to allow a couple of impatient women to enter.

Gotta get your early morning scrapbooking fix, don’t you, ladies?

She forced the biting retort to stay firmly in her mind. Outwardly, she smiled, greeting the women, who were already racing down the center aisle.

When did I become so bitter?

Lily had always thought of herself as a pleasant person, the type to consider another person’s feelings over her own. She believed she was the sort of friend others wanted in their corner. One who would roll up her sleeves and jump in during the tough times. So how was it that she could deal with other people’s problems so well, yet completely fall apart during the rough patches in her own life?

It seemed to her that having single-mom status thrust upon her had been the tipping point. She didn’t know how other women did it. There was no time to grieve over a spouse walking out when every waking moment was either spent trying to earn enough income to keep their whole house of cards from crashing down or being an emotional cheerleader for Maddy in order to get her through.

When Tom had still been part of the family, at least there had been someone else to pass the baton to once in a while. He may have travelled a lot with his job, but whenever he was home, he and Maddy were always together. Those were the times Lily could take a break. Take time for herself, to recharge and in turn have something to offer back to her family. Lily had been running on empty for so long now, she had nothing left to give.

At least I don’t have to listen to someone constantly belittle me anymore.

She was glad for that, but still felt sad when she thought about no longer having a man in her life who loved her. She didn’t know which was worse—Tom’s stinging verbal attacks or being alone.

            What would happen if I just sat in the middle of this store and refused to move?

Lily cracked a smile as she pictured herself plopping down on the floor in full tantrum mode.

Maddy got to do it, why can’t I?

.

Kelly Miller grew up shivering in Illinois but now enjoys the year-round sunshine in Tampa, FL. Her debut novel, “Dead Like Me,” won second place in the best mystery category of the 2011 FWA Royal Palm Literary Awards competition. It was also named a semi-finalist in the mystery category of The Kindle Book Review’s 2013 Best Indie Books Awards competition. The Detective Kate Springer series continues with the second book, “Deadly Fantasies.” In Kelly’s newest book, “Splintered” which is a 2015 Kindle Scout winner, she introduces her readers to a whole new cast of characters. Visit www.kellymillerauthor.com to get a glimpse into the inner workings of her writing life.

 

 

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What did you think of that excerpt? Sound like something you’d enjoy?

I love psychological thrillers. Getting into peoples minds. Reading about what makes them tick.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB at Books And A Beat.

 

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!

.

My Teaser for this week is from

Red Dot

by Eugene Linn

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Genre: Science Fiction/Thriller

My teaser is a breaking news broadcast scene from the ebook.

The female anchor added, “From at least ten states, Canada, Mexico, countries in Europe, Japan…” “And reports are still coming in, flooding in, about, well…” “Some kind of red dots.” “You can see the video here, from, from where? From outside Washington, .C. Lots of confusion and panic. A red circle about ten feet across. Yes, some kind of red dots, circles on the ground and on surfaces.”

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My Review

What would you do if you knew aliens were real and a space craft was nearing Earth? Would you panic? Would you think they were friendly or hostile? Would you believe what your government was spinning?

That’s what this book is about. The characters portrayed come from all facets of the population. From your average Joe to the higher ups in government, all are wondering what will happen.

Scenarios range from a crumbling of society, people panicking and looting, to turning to their church for guidance, to eagerly awaiting the aliens arrival.

While keeping an eye on what they thought was a comet, it comes as a shock when the object is observed changing trajectory and speed. It leaves no doubt this object is being controlled and we now know we are not alone in the universe.

In the coming weeks, as people wait for the alien to arrive, mysterious red dots appear all over the world. They are small to medium patches of red on the ground. No harm comes from stepping on them, no dangerous emissions are detected. Their purpose is unknown.

Contact is also established. Though it’s difficult at first, people at NASA slowly establish a dialogue. This is released to the public to try to stem the rising panic.

I’ve often wondered how we’d react to contact from aliens. I’ve watched the movies. read plenty of other books about it.

While there isn’t a lot of action in this story, there is a slow build of suspense as the day of contact approaches.

If I’d connected more with the characters I would have enjoyed this story even more. I just didn’t get that little bit extra I needed for these characters to endear themselves to me.

That aside, I did enjoy this and would definitely read more if the author chose to continue with his story.

4 Stars

Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

An extraterrestrial craft will enter Earth’s orbit on October 16, 2022—forty-four days from now. The question is: will there be any humans left when the aliens arrive?

NASA scientist Claire Montague is a single mother in her thirties who’s leading a special team near Washington, DC, assigned to handle the approaching spaceship and report their findings to President Al Douthart.

News of the impending ET encounter spreads after a tumultuous National Security Council meeting, causing social, economic, and political upheaval around the world. Just as governments are beginning to calm the chaos of their countries, thousands of unexplained red dots appear on the ground all over the globe.

As the countdown continues, Claire and her colleagues struggle to make sense of the mysterious dots and determine what the extraterrestrials’ plan is once they arrive on Earth. But as the questions go unanswered and global tensions erupt into violence, President Douthart wonders who will be more harmful in the end—humans or aliens?

Red Dot is a thought-provoking sci-fi thriller complete with a remarkable cast of characters and an intriguing portrayal of alien life. Expect the unexpected and you’ll still be surprised.

AMAZON

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Author Eugene Linn

Eugene Linn

I graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature, before I joined the US Army.

After studying Chinese Mandarin at the Defense Language Institute, I served as a Chinese language voice intercept operator. Upon leaving the armed forces, I attended the University of Kansas, earning a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in East Asian studies, with a focus on Chinese language and politics.

I went on to become a freelance reporter, working out of Hong Kong for UPI, Business China, Asian Business, and numerous others. Some of my specific writing assignments have included an annual report on China’s government social insurance system for Watson Wyatt Worldwide consulting and special contributor articles on China stocks for equities.com.

I now live with my wife in the Philippines, writing novels and editing academic papers.

Goodreads

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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

 I have some exciting news to share with you about The Lie by Ashley Fontainne.  Did you know production for the movie is complete!  It’s titled Foreseen. To check this out on Facebook, click on the widget below.

foreseen movie pic

Read on to learn how you can win some books!

After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental for more and check out her review. Two chances to win!

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The Lie

by Ashley Fontainne

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My Review

After feinting on national television during an interview, famous author Karmen Moncrille flees her public embarrassment. Along with her best friend, she retreats to the family cabin, isolated in the woods outside of her home town.

The television host wasn’t supposed to ask her about where she gets her inspiration. That’s a question even Karmen isn’t sure of. As her dreams bleed over into real life, Karmen fears she’s losing her mind.

Karmen writes one more book. One that terrifies her. Will it save her or destroy her?

I enjoy reading stories about writers. Always find it fascinating to read about their struggles to write that bestseller, to get over writer’s block, deal with the trials of getting it published. With The Lie, I enjoyed the supernatural elements of Karmen’s writing process. Learning how she gets her inspiration and how she writes her stories is an integral part of the plot.

The eerie supernatural events start and escalate once Karmen arrives at the cabin. Weird noises, a strange light in the woods, and manifestations from Karmen’s dreams lend an aura of suspense and horror that stays with you until the end.

As answers were revealed and events unfolded, I realized how perfect the title, The Lie, was for this book. Betrayal occurred from unexpected sources and shocked this reader.

Strong writing, an eerie plot, and an explosive ending have me hoping the author will continue Karmen’s story.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Karmen Moncrille’s name has been known throughout the world since the age of sixteen when her first book shot to the top of the bestseller’s list. Now everything she writes is an instant hit, and her legions of devoted fans eagerly await her next release.

The mysterious Karmen always blamed debilitating panic attacks as the reason she avoided publicity and has become a recluse. Which is exactly what she wants the world to think. Only Karmen knows the truth behind her introverted nature. Terrified of being asked where her ideas come from, she fears being branded a raving lunatic.

Now just a week before her twenty-third birthday, Karmen’s world implodes. The madness that haunts her dreams spills over to her reality and she questions her sanity. Suddenly everything has changed and now the world will transform with her. Her last book will unleash the truth and alter mankind—forever.

Is Karmen’s ability to write a gift or a curse? She’s about to find out if her entire life is a lie. And why she was destined to write it.

Amazon

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Author Ashley Fontainne

Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne is an avid reader of mostly the classics. Ashley became a fan of the written word in her youth, starting with the Nancy Drew mystery series. Stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters that lurk within us are her favorite reads.

Her muse for penning the Eviscerating the Snake series was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Ashley’s love for this book is what sparked her desire to write her debut novel, Accountable to None, the first book in the trilogy. With a modern setting to the tale, Ashley delves into just what lengths a person is willing to go when they seek personal justice for heinous acts perpetrated upon them. The second novel in the series, Zero Balance. focuses on the cost and reciprocal cycle that obtaining revenge has on the seeker. For once the cycle starts, where does it end? How far will the tendrils of revenge expand? Adjusting Journal Entries answered that question: far and wide.

Her short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five, touches upon the sometimes dangerous world of online dating. Number Seventy-Five took home the BRONZE medal in fiction/suspense at the 2013 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards contest and is currently in production for a feature film.

Her paranormal thriller entitled The Lie, won the GOLD medal in the 2013 Illumination Book Awards for fiction/suspense and is also in production for a feature film entitled Foreseen.

Ashley’s decided to delve into the paranormal with a Southern Gothic horror/suspense novel, Growl, which released in January of 2015. The suspenseful mystery Empty Shell, released in September of 2014. Ashley will be teaming up with Lillian Hansen (Ashley calls her mom!) to pen a three-part murder mystery/suspense series entitled The Magnolia Series. The first book, Blood Ties, released the Summer of 2015.

Whispered Pain released in October of 2015 and Night Court released December 13, 2015.

Blog

Author Website

Foreseen Movie Website – See the trailer

Number Seventy-Five Movie Website

       

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Ashley Fontainne has a fantastic giveaway for you! Multiple books and two chances to win ebooks or audiobooks, your choice. We will have 3 (three) winners on each blog. Check out this list of books for the winners!
Blood Ties
The Lie
Growl
Number Seventy-Five
Night Court
Whispered Pain
Tainted Cure
All you need to do to enter is answer the question below and leave your email so I may contact you if you win.
“Do you like to read the book before you see the movie?”
For a second look and another chance to win, go to Sherry @ Fundinmental.

Giveaway will run from 3/1/6 – 3/11/16.

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

Now hop on over to fundinmental, check out Sherry’s review, and enter for another chance to win  HERE.

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Books by Ashley Fontainne



Download your FREE copy of the International Bestseller, Accountable to None, at the following sites:

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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iRead Website new logo

I wish I’d had time to read all of the books in this thrilling series. Alas, I only got to one, but it sure was good.

Check out the Sami Rizzo thrillers.

Enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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They Never Die Quietly: Book #1

They Never Die Quietly

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Synopsis

They Never Die Quietly tells the story of homicide Detective Sami Rizzo, who is assigned to head a task force investigating serial killings in San Diego. Simon, the highly intelligent, cunning, and deceptively charming villain, redefines the depths of human evil. He believes God has given him absolute authority to purify his unholy victims through a ritual that ends in a grisly crucifixion. Driven by warped religious beliefs and guided by his dead mother, very much alive in his subconscious, Simon abducts “chosen ones” and holds them captive in a Room of Redemption. There, the victims helplessly await their crucifixion. Detective Rizzo urgently yearns to solve the case and gain the respect of her male colleagues, but her obsession to apprehend the killer on her own clouds her thinking. When Simon outsmarts Rizzo and captures her, determined to make her his next victim, she must employ all her resources—both physical and intellectual—to outwit the villain at his own game.

Buy the book:  Amazon

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 Resuscitation: Book #2

Resuscitation cover

Synopsis

Two years ago, Detective Sami Rizzo narrowly escaped a brush with death at the hands of a serial killer. After apprehending the killer and bringing him to justice, this life-changing event compels her to resign from the police force. In her heart of hearts, however, she struggles with the decision. But a second serial killer—a well- respected doctor gone astray—uses his charm to seduce his victims and then performs horrific surgical experiments on them. In a final act of depravity, he scatters their mutilated bodies throughout San Diego County. Feeling a sense of duty and obligation, Sami Rizzo appeals to the police chief and mayor, and they reinstate her as a homicide investigator. As the body count grows and the killer’s experiments become more and more brutal, Sami follows one dead-end lead after another, while trying to deal with a sickly mother and a turbulent relationship with her lover. But then the killer makes a crucial mistake: one of his victims survives. Sami does everything to protect the barely alive victim, but the killer has a different plan.

Buy the book:  Amazon

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A Piece of You: Book #3

A Piece of You

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My Review

Wow. This was some kind of twisted. Have you ever sympathized with the killer in a story? It was hard not to in this book. I resisted though. It didn’t matter the circumstances, or that some of the potential victims weren’t all that likable, murder was murder, and this killer was determined to wipe out an entire family.

While this is the third book in the series and I haven’t read the other books, I had little trouble jumping in. The author gave some brief info on past events in the right places, without slowing down my reading momentum. I zipped through this mystery in one night.

While I liked Rizzo, I had some trouble with how she handled and accepted some situations. Perhaps going back and meeting her in the beginning will help me see why she reacted and thought like she did. That’s the only hiccup in reading this book first.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and he kept me entertained for several hours. I’ll be reading more of his books, for sure.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Homicide Detective Sami Rizzo is at it again! She never dreamed “America’s Finest City,” would be tormented by yet another serial killer, but for the third time in the last five years a depraved maniac is stalking the streets of San Diego. Based on her qualifications and prior successes dealing with multiple murders, who else would Captain Davison assign to head the investigation?

Different from Sami’s past experiences, this fanatic is like no other. His methods of killing defy everything profilers think they know about serial killers. As an intense investigation begins and bits and pieces of evidence emerge, no one can understand his motivation. He’s merciful, yet brutal. And just to make things even more confusing, all of his victims are blood-related. Is he settling a vendetta? Did he randomly pick a name out of the phone book and begin a rampage? Or is there a deeper story?

Based on very little evidence and a lot of gut instincts, Detective Rizzo pieces together a complex puzzle and narrows the field of possible suspects. She learns that the killings may connect in some way to powerful people within the judicial system and doesn’t know who to trust. Ultimately, she comes face to face with the killer for a battle of brain and brawn. Can she outwit the shrewd killer, or will she be his next victim?

Buy the book:  Amazon

Author’s Bio

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Daniel M. Annechino, a former book editor specializing in full-length fiction, wrote his first book, How to Buy the Most Car for the Least Money, in 1992 while working as a General Manager in the automobile business. But his passion had always been fiction, particularly thrillers. He spent two years researching serial killers before finally penning his gripping and memorable debut novel They Never Die Quietly.

​His second book, Resuscitation (Thomas & Mercer 2011), a follow-up to his first novel, hit #1 in Kindle sales in the UK and reached #26 in the USA. He is also the author of I Do Solemnly Swear (Thomas & Mercer 2012) and Hypocrisy. A Piece of You is his fifth novel, the third in the Detective Sami Rizzo series. A native of New York, Annechino now lives in San Diego with his wife, Jennifer. He loves to cook, enjoys a glass of vintage wine, and spends lots of leisure time on the warm beaches of Southern California.

Connect with the author:    Website    Twitter    Facebook

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Win 1 of 20 print (or gifted Kindle) copies of A Piece of You:  A Sami Rizzo Thriller

(open to USA & Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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