Archive for the ‘YA’ Category

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

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Free Computer Seeks photo and picture

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I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

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 The Boyfriend

by R.L. Stine

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Genre: Horror / YA

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MY REVIEW

I don’t have to like a main character to enjoy a book. That’s good because I loathed Joanna. She was mean and narcissistic to the nth.

The plot was kind of predictable. Then it wasn’t. Joanna dumped her boyfriend. He died. But he came back. I wondered why. Things got pretty far out after that. I didn’t no whether to knock some heads together or laugh.

Bravo Mr. Stine. You took this to a whole new level. Never saw it coming.

4 STARS

~~~~~

Synopsis

Sometimes, love is murder.

Too bad about Dex. He was in love with Joanna. She broke up with him. And then he died.

Joanna’s sorry, of course. But it’s not her fault he’s dead, is it? Besides, she never loved him. Boys are just toys, to be used and thrown away.

But this time, Joanna’s gone too far. Because Dex is back. From the dead. For one last date with her….

Amazon

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

     

     

     

     

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Today Ellis K. Popa and Rockstar Book Tours
are revealing the trailer for DAWN TO DUSK, the second book in her YA thriller
series book which releases November 26!

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Check out the awesome trailer and enter the giveaway!

 

On to the reveal!

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About The Book:



DAWN TO DUSK (The
Awaken Saga #2)

by Ellis K. Popa

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Pub. Date: November 26, 2024

Publisher: And Fire Books

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 431

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Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/DAWN-TO-DUSK-POPA 

 

She thought they’d never find her.
She was wrong.

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Kat and Maksim have been hiding in a
sleepy Mediterranean town. It’s paradise, heaven on earth… So then why is
Maksim eager to send Kat home? And why has he been acting strange since making
contact with a certain hacker?

.

Kat is determined to find out, but when a misstep in her “investigation”
infuriates the hacker and her crew, the fallout puts Kat and Maksim on a
collision course with the crime syndicate that’s been hunting them down. With
nowhere else to turn, they seek asylum in Paris with an old friend of Maksim’s,
hoping for a place to lie low. Things seem calm, hopeful… until a
heartwrenching betrayal by Maksim comes to light.

As the evidence piles up, Kat is forced to rely on the kindness of his old
friend, a Frenchman who’s there to help pick up the pieces of her broken heart.
But not everything is what it seems in the City of Light, and Maksim isn’t the
only one keeping secrets. Kat’s intuition, her instinct, even her vivid,
foreboding dreams are no match for this game of cat and mouse.

The chess pieces are in place. The crime syndicate is closing in. Will Kat wake
up to the truth before it’s too late?

Dawn to Dusk is the thrilling continuation of The Awaken Saga, a YA crossover
series that begins with a cryptic scavenger hunt and transitions into an
action-packed thriller. Perfect for fans of The Bourne Identity, Angels
& Demons, 
and Holly Jackson novels like The Reappearance
of Rachel Price
 and Five Survive.

 


“Ellis K. Popa (delivers) an
amazing story full of mystery, intrigue and romance.”
 – John Benedict, Bestselling Author of Adrenaline ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“A gripping and unforgettable read that heralds Popa as a rising star
in the genre…”
 – Elicia Meairs, Netgalley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Get ready for an exhilarating ride that will keep you guessing until the
final, breathtaking conclusion. Perfect for fans of puzzle mysteries like Inheritance
Games 
and Da Vinci Code and clever crime fiction like
‘Sherlock’, The Reappearance of Rachel Price, and A
Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
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Awards & Recognition for Awaken the Dawn: The Awaken Saga, Book
1…

Cascade Awards – 1st Place
Blue Seal Awards– 1st Place
The Selfie Awards UK (London Book Fair) – Shortlist: Top 8
The Wishing Shelf Awards UK – Finalist
Page Turner Awards UK – Finalist
Killer Nashville Readers’ Choice Awards – Finalist: Top 6 (All Genres)
Claymore Awards – Finalist: Top 6
Silver Falchion – Top Pick
Writers’ League of Texas – Finalist
Badge of Honor – 1st Place (Fiction) / Runner Up (All Genres)
Write to Publish – 2nd Place
Serious Writer’s Writer of the Year – Semifinalist


Worldwide praise for Awaken the Dawn


“Go ahead, go add this to your TBR!”– Books with Cats
(Europe)
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This book blew me away. It was thrilling.” – Mark M.,
Goodreads (US)
 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This is an absolutely delicious book. I both devoured it in one day,
and savoured every word!”
 – Charlotte, Blue Fairy Bugs Books
(UK)
 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The book was absolutely amazing and I couldn’t get enough of it. I
can’t wait to see what happens next.”
 – Scarlet Le Clair,
Horror & Romance Author, Editor + Netgalley Reviewer (UK)
 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

About Ellis K. Popa:

.

 

When Ellis
isn’t moonlighting as a coffee aficionada, you might find her adventuring
through Transylvania, doing photoshoots in Old Town Bucharest, or otherwise
trying to talk her husband into moving to Eastern Europe. She’s a lover of
history with a penchant for World War II and the Cold War, and her favorite
places in the world are Wallachia in beautiful Romania and the Dalmatian Coast
of Croatia. She’s also an award-winning writer and budget-minded travel expert.

Sign up for Ellis’s
newsletter!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

.

Free Computer Seeks photo and picture

.

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

 The Girlfriend

by R.L. Stine

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Genre: Horror / YA

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MY REVIEW

Scotty did that bad thing that many young men do. He cheated on his girlfriend, Lora. And now he’s gonna pay for it. The other girl, Shannon. won’t leave him alone. She’ll go any lengths to keep him. “You’re my baby now.”

Scotty made me angry. He cheated on his girlfriend. I was surprised that he turned into a sympathetic character for me. It was a common mistake where you whether you were young or older but not wiser. I started to feel sorry for him. Especially when Shannon got more and more determined to make him hers.

R. L. Stine always promises a good scare. Beware…… This one is scary good.

4 STARS

~~~~~

Synopsis

She’s bad. So bad…

Scotty has the perfect life. And the perfect girlfriend. But one weekend while she’s away, Scotty goes just a little…astray.

Suddenly he has a new girlfriend. One who won’t go away. His one wild night has become a nightmare.

Because his new girlfriend has decided that she loves Scotty…to death.

Amazon

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

     

     

     

     

 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2023! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

.

Free Computer Seeks photo and picture

.

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

 Savage

by Thomas E. Sniegoski

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Genre: Horror / YA

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MY REVIEW

The synopsis and cover had me itching to read this. Had my fingers and toes crossed that it would live up to those. Sadly, I wasn’t wowed. It was okay. Just didn’t quite give me what I needed.

A violent storm is headed for the island. People were scrambling to find safety from it. But, there was more than the weather to worry about. Animals started running amok, attacking anyone they encountered. The deaths piled up. What caused the animals to act so strangely? Would anyone survive?

As I mentioned, the story didn’t wow me, but I did like it. There were some exciting attack scenes. Just needed something else. Not sure what though.

3 STARS

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Synopsis

Sidney and her friends must race to find the origin of a storm that has hit their small island home—turning every animal into savage weapons—in this suspenseful thriller from New York Times bestselling author, Thomas E. Sniegoski.

The future is looking bright for Sidney Moore as she as she gets ready to leave the small island of Benediction behind for one of Boston’s top veterinary schools. Only a few small bumps in the road to navigate before she can go—her father’s recovery from a debilitating stroke, and her own guilt for ending her relationship with her high school sweetheart. But she’s always been strong willed, and she’s not about to let anything stop her from achieving her goals.

Now a storm is bearing down on Benediction, a hurricane that will bring devastating winds and rain, rising tides…and something else. Something deadly; something that will transform all the things that creep, crawl, and flutter into instruments of terror and death.

The future is looking bright for Sidney Moore…if only she can survive the storm.

Amazon

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

     

     

     

   

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.



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Spellcaster Wild Card

by Nikki Jefford

 

Publication date: October 1st 2024
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

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Win the game. Change the world.

Winning the show means living forever. It is the golden ticket to fame, fortune, and a place among the vampire elite.

Being remade isn’t on my wish list. I like being me, and with nearly a million online followers, it’s working. My parents and big sister are the do-gooders in our family who want to make the world a fair and just place for all humans and paranormal creatures. I just want to finish high school and keep doing what I do best—sharing hair and beauty tips while discussing Spellcaster and how the show’s vampire judge Malachi Rayne is the hottest male on the planet.

Then, life as I know it ends. There are evil forces who will stop at nothing to maintain world dominance—indefinitely.

It’s hard to care when I’ve become dead inside and out.

After my family is violently attacked, the host of Spellcaster insists I audition for Season 13. For the first time in the show’s history, they want to represent every species of paranormals. That’s me now. Not human. Not vampire. Not the class of creature anyone EVER cheers for.

This season’s prize is power beyond anyone’s imagination. It is the kind of reward that contestants and their sponsors would kill to possess.

Let the other contestants and judges underestimate me. They can gossip all they want about the hotshot wizard and the alpha werewolf behaving as though I’m another prize to be won. And if Coach Malachi can’t handle a bold influencer with abilities, then he can suck it. I preferred watching him from the other side of the screen. He’s about to discover that Haylee Hutchins is a force to be reckoned with. The whole world will.

Someone thought they could silence my family for good. Instead, they created a monster. I’m still here, and I am much harder to kill.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

Everything is spinning. My body. My vision. My brain. I clamp my mouth shut to keep from vomiting. The cleaning crew just got the stage cleaned. Then there’s the second reason I keep my lips pressed tight. I refuse to beg Malachi for mercy.

My hands flail and grasp for something to hold on to, but the wind rushing between my fingers is no help. If this is what flying feels like, then it’s highly overrated. I lean forward in an attempt to go vertical, which has the ill effect of pitching me forward so I catch a brief view of how far I am from the stage. My body flips around another time. I don’t want to land on my feet and crush my ankles. I certainly don’t want to land on my head and shatter my skull. I don’t want to break anything on my body!

If I won this season’s prize, I could defend myself instead of swirling helplessly like the roof of a house caught in a tornado.

The wind rips out my hair tie and blows my braid out in an instant. Blond hair whips me in the eyes. My body begins to descend slowly, while the spinning continues in full force. The tornado fades little by little into the stage until I am set down gently and it disappears altogether. I try to remain standing while the theater seats and stage continue to spin, but I tilt to one side and misstep. Thump. I fall to the stage, sprawled out on my side. It could have been worse, though. Way, way worse.

It’s a little hard to feel grateful as partially digested lunch rushes up my throat. I swallow it down.

Malachi stomps over. “What the hell was that, Hutchins?”

Great. He’s using my last name. The coaches never use contestants’ last names. I must be in trouble.

It’s a serious effort to get to my feet, which takes outstretched arms to keep my balance, but I’m not about to listen to this lecture in a crumpled heap on the stage.

My loose hair tickles my cheeks. I swallow again and cover my mouth with my hand. Malachi’s not in my face, but I don’t want him scenting my vomit breath. Well, not technically breath, but whatever foul waft might originate from the leftover taste on my tongue.

Malachi doesn’t wait for me to answer his question before drilling into me. “First rule of magical combat—never lose hold of your wand.”

“You lost yours,” I mutter, which is the wrong thing to say.

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About Author Nikki Jefford:

Nikki Jefford is a third-generation Alaskan nomad married to an amazing Frenchman. She loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt! Books, travel, TV series, hiking, writing, and motorcycle riding are her favorite escapes. The dark side of human nature fascinates her, so long as it’s balanced by humor and romance.

To get in on the fun and adventure, visit Nikki at her website for release alerts, updates, exclusive giveaways, and a free story when you subscribe to her newsletter: https://nikkijefford.com/newsletter/

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2024! I missed doing this the last couple of years due to Covid and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

.

Free Computer Seeks photo and picture

.

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

 Don’t Let The Forest In

by C.G. Drews

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Genre: Horror / Fantasy / YA/ LGBT / Gothic

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MY REVIEW

So, I finished this amazing book. Then it was time to write my review. I thought about it before I fell asleep. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up. When I was at work, all these thoughts rolled around in my head. When I got home I fired up my laptop and began typing. Before I knew it, I had a huge review written. Then, I began to read it. Oops, my review was full of spoilers and I’d basically related the entire story. Scrap that review. I started a new one. Same thing. Spoilers and too long.

Next attempt. I talked about the writing. Another long rambling review. I cut it down to this. When an author can write gruesome scenes that can make me cringe and then write scenes that make my heart hurt, I want others to read the book too. Experience it and tell me how it made them feel. That’s what made Don’t Let The Forest In a winner for me. So…. let the forest in. I’ll sum up my feelings about it with one word….

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

5 STARS

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Synopsis

Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him.

Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him.

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.

But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won’t say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork—whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew’s wicked stories.

Desperate to figure out what’s wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster—Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator…

Amazon

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Men Of The 65th organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Talia Aikens-Nunez will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Men Of The 65th

by Talia Aikens-Nunez

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Genre: YA nonfiction

Synopsis

Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.

Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?

In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.

 

Enjoy this peek inside:

The Borinqueneers successfully defended the 1st Marine Division’s retreat, but they soon realized this was only part of a much larger withdrawal of UNC [United Nations Command] troops. As the retreat continued into mid-December, news came that the enemy buildup had accelerated. Chinese and North Korean forces were gathering and converging on Hungnam. The UNC’s worst fears were coming true: they were losing ground in the war.

They had to accelerate their plans in response to protect their troops and evacuate the Korean refugees that had fled to Hungnam. They ordered troops to board ships, division by division, and sail south to Pusan… Meanwhile, the 65th and the 3rd Infantry Divisions would hold the main line of resistance, providing enough cover for everyone to make it safely out of Hungnam…With each withdrawal, the enemy continued to push the Borinqueneers and the 3rd Infantry Division.

…They were exhausted from several days of fighting…The soldiers of the 65th were some of the last to leave Hungnam. They were hurried and squeezed tightly onto the final boats. Finally, they could rest and relax. Once they left, the military would destroy the port so the enemy could not use the equipment and facilities against them.

…After they loaded onto the final ship and set sail, the dynamite detonated. The soldiers looked back and watched the port explode…everything – erupted in smoke and flame.

About Author Talia Aikens-Nunez:

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Talia Aikens-Nuñez writes chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction for children. Her daughter inspired her to write her OMG Series of books about an accidental little witch. She and her husband live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter and son.

Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Crossing Day organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author William A. Glass will award a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Crossing Day

by William A. Glass

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Genre: Young Adult / Alternate History

Synopsis

It’s been one hundred and sixty years since the Confederacy won its independence at the Battle of Altamaha Crossing. Slaves of African descent still perform most of the work in the South. This seems normal to Ryan Walters and his friends who attend high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Like teens everywhere, they enjoy sharing videos, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. Jaybird’s drive-in is their favorite gathering place. There, they befriend Mish, a slave girl who works as a car hop. When the drive-in’s owner sells Mish to a dirty old man, Ryan and his friends awaken to the injustice around them. Despite the danger, they decide to help Mish escape. Will they succeed?

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MY REVIEW

Imagine if Hitler had won the war. And then imagine the German’s helped the Confederacy to win their war. Now flash forward 160 years. Modern times in Huntsville. Alabama. Kids play video games. Teens fall in love. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you live the good life. If you’re not, it’s poverty, slavery and, often, death.

I was first drawn to this book because it takes place in Alabama. That’s my stomping ground. I thought it would be intriguing to read about something that’s modern yet also dystopian. Something with an alternate history. The story was very compelling. There were lots of genuine characters. And the idea for the story was well played out.

When a book has me still thinking days after I finished it. Still with those what if thoughts, that really satisfies me. If it was ever made into a movie, I’d surely watch it.

4 STARS

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The referee blows her whistle and points to the Joseph Johnston High School goal. It’s a foul, just outside the penalty area. Hastily, several defenders form a wall. Liam Larsen, the goalkeeper, shouts directions.

“Block that kick, block that kick,” the Johnston cheerleaders yell.

Melanie Montgomery, wearing her purple and gold cheerleader outfit, catches the eye of one of the boys on the squad. He nods as she runs toward him and then leaps, placing her foot into his waiting hands. Melanie’s world dissolves into a swirl of color. She comes to earth with a thud.

“Nice landing,” the boy says.

“Thanks.” Melanie glances at the scoreboard and sees that despite their efforts, another goal has been added to the visitor’s tally. “I hate these German schools,” she pouts.

“Yeah, they act like they invented the game,” one of the other cheerleaders exclaims.

There’s no injury time added in high school soccer, so the match comes to a screeching halt when the clock winds down and the buzzer goes off. Most players line up to shake hands, but three of the Germans laugh and walk off. Their coach gives a Hitler salute to the Johnston stands. A chorus of boos greets his gesture.

“Everyone on the line,” Sam Gorman, the Johnston soccer coach, shouts. He crosses his arms and glares at his players threateningly until the whole team is on the touchline. “All right, Ryan,” he says to the team captain, “cool down.”

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About Author William A. Glass:

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Bill is a retired business executive who now lives in a small southern town with his wife, Bettina. She’s a retired high school German teacher. Bill coaches soccer at a small college. Often, Bettina, who has a commercial driver’s license, pilots the soccer team bus to away games.

Bettina and Bill have three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon who have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers. Instead of having an empty nest, Bettina and Bill now host three rescue dogs. They enjoy finding promising hiking trails to explore with their dogs.

Author Links: Facebook / Instagram / Twitter/X / LinkedIn / Goodreads / LibraryThing

Purchase Link: Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.



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Wish Upon A Streaming Star

by Krissi Dallas

 

(Season 1 Volume 1)
Publication date: July 7th 2024
Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

He’s an internet star.
She can’t stand him.
Together they just went viral.

Daisy McEntire might seem like an uptight control freak, but it’s only because she’s trying to graduate high school, support her cancer-fighting mother, and save her family’s riverside campground. The last thing she needs is her obnoxious neighbor, internet star Caz Cortéz, keeping everyone up with his late night video stunts and ridiculous pranks. Forget that they grew up as best friends—that was before he relentlessly obsessed over his hair and stats.

But when Daisy accidentally botches one of Caz’s pranks on livestream, the video goes viral, endangering his sponsorships and throwing her into an unwelcome spotlight. As if the overnight attention isn’t enough, half a million dollars in an unbreakable lockbox mysteriously appears. The key to unlock it? Reenact a series of cliché Hollywood movie scenes together within 48 hours.

The catch? It all has to be done live on the Internet—no rehearsals.

Daisy needs the money. Caz needs the stats. Surely they can work together long enough to complete the challenge, split their earnings, and then get back to ignoring each other from across the property line.

The one challenge they can’t control, though, is the one that could jeopardize it all—falling in love.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“Is that what you’re wearing?” Caz and I asked at the same time. Clearly there had been a breakdown in communication. I had only found time to wash my face, brush my teeth, and throw on a fresh t-shirt before I was supposed to report to his driveway for our first movie scene challenge.

“We’re supposed to look like kick-A action heroes… not middle school girls about to try out for the basketball team.” Frowning at my athletic shorts, he pulled himself up from where EJ was bent over a long, thick PVC pipe hooked up to a contraption I’d never seen before.

“Sorry, all my superhero clothes were at the cleaners, Indiana Jones.” I mean, really. He was wearing a leather jacket and jeans when it was still ninety degrees in the evening. All he needed was the whip and hat. “The challenge just said we have to reenact it, not dress like it. You know this isn’t a real movie, right?”

“Wow, Daisy. Could you stop being so fun?” His sarcasm made my eyes narrow. Being typecast as the party-killer was gonna get old really fast. “Did you at least bring your sunglasses?”

I held them up pointedly, suddenly catching Rocco in my peripheral vision with his camera. “Hey! Are we live already?” I held up a hand to block my face. That kid was sneaky.

“No, I’m collecting behind-the-scenes footage of Caz’s life this summer.” He walked in circles around Caz and me.

“And why would you do that?” I had to know even though I was sure I’d regret asking.

“I’m capturing the master at work. Then I’m going to edit it all together and do a special documentary on my own channel. Hopin’ someday I’ll be an influencer like him.”

Caz seemed extremely satisfied by the look of disgust on my face.

“Will you at least tell me when you’re recording behind the scenes?” I asked.

“Nope. Just treat him how you normally would. Pretend I’m not even here…”

Literally impossible to do, but whatever. I could be on my best behavior for two days. Just. Two. Days.

To demonstrate my self-control, I gave my attention back to Caz and asked nicely, “Would you like me to change?”

“Your clothes or your attitude? Because that is a loaded question—”

“Caz…” I growled. “You said to just be me.”

“That I did, for better or for worse.” He checked his watch. “It’s almost time to go live. Bailey, can you bring the papers for Daisy to sign?”

“Papers for what?”

Bailey shoved some documents and a pen in my face. “Gives us permission to use you in our videos, that we’re not responsible for any damages or injuries, and basically, that you won’t sue us someday.”

“Are you kidding?” An incredulous laugh escaped me. He sounded so business-like. “Sue Caz for what? The twelve dollars in his bank account?”

Bailey smirked and opened his mouth to say something, but Caz interrupted. “It’s just standard procedure, Dais.”

I paused and looked back and forth between the two of them before signing my privacy and life over to—what?—Caz Cortéz Industries? Apparently his ego followed him into his paperwork. Bailey stopped me when I got to the date. “Could you back-date that to Sunday? You know, since that was the first time you appeared live?”

I sighed and did as he asked. He took the papers and addressed Caz. “Ready to go when you are, boss.”

I watched Bailey curiously as he loped away. “How much do you pay your friends to worship you the way they do?”

Caz made a tight-lipped mocking sound. “You ready?”

“Are you gonna explain what we’re doing?”

“On camera, yes.”

In no way did I feel ready for this. I glanced behind me. “Will there be actual fire back there? I mean, how safe is this?”

“Fireworks and an air cannon—nothing too dangerous.”

“A cannon?” I squeaked, thinking back to the papers I just signed giving Caz reckless permission to mess with my life.

“Okay, we’re rolling in three, two, one—” Bailey pointed at Caz.

He took a minute to explain again about the anonymous challenge we received and encouraged his viewers to go back and watch the video he had most recently posted. All the while, he seamlessly guided me and the camera down the driveway. I could hardly see Bailey behind the fuzzy microphone and lightbox attached to the camera’s tripod, which he lifted and shuttled around almost effortlessly.

“Let’s take a look at how we’re going to create our explosion effect tonight. Bailey, show the viewers our air cannon.” I was certainly curious about it myself, so I leaned over EJ to see what they had built. “We’ve got the PVC pipe hooked up to a sprinkler system, repurposed for our effects, of course, and then we’ve attached this 3-liter bottle to it using Stick-Ease Beyond Glue.” Rocco reached out and, suddenly, a tube of Stick-Ease was on display in Caz’s hands. “Let me tell ya, Daisy, this stuff is truly beyond any glue you’ve ever tried. It’s always good practice to use gloves when handling Stick-Ease for all your sticky needs unless you want your fingers glued to your project.”

“Good to know.” I played along, impressed with how fluidly he had given air time to his sponsor’s product. Caz handed the tube back to Rocco, giving me the opportunity to ask, “So, how does the air cannon work exactly?”

“Rocco has a detonator which will trigger a blast containing all the debris we placed inside the bottle.” I peeked into the sliced and glued Dr Pepper bottle where he pointed. “We basically use a lot of flour, some good ol’ Texas dirt for coloring, and—”

“Rocks? Are those rocks I see?” What if they pummeled us? What was he thinking?

“Ah, not rocks. Sponges cut up and painted to look like rocks.” Caz produced a little black plastic ball from his jacket pocket. “We’re going to pretend this is a grenade. I’ll count to three and toss it over my shoulder. That will trigger the explosion and Daisy and I will strut away like the bosses we are. Everybody ready?”

I donned my sunglasses and watched him out of the corner of my eye. “Three… two… one!” Caz casually threw the “grenade” over his shoulder and I started to march forward.

BOOM BOOM BOOM.

I don’t know how it happened, but the explosion behind us was so loud and startling that I somehow ended up tangled against Caz, my heart pounding a rhythm worthy of an electronic dance remix.

~~~~~

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About Author Krissi Dallas:

Krissi Dallas loves pop music, mismatched socks, and Tex-Mex food. She is wife to Dr. Sam Dallas, mom to two strong-willed little boys and a mini goldendoodle, and former junior high teacher of sixteen years. When she’s not busy serving in her church and community, Krissi gives herself over to daydreams and writing. She has five books in the Phantom Island series with the sixth and final installment on the way. Her Kindle Vella novel, Icarus Flight School, spent eleven weeks as the #1 Top Faved story in Teen and Young Adult and just released in paperback and hardcover. Her ongoing serial romantic comedy, Wish Upon A Streaming Star, is currently a Top Faved story on Kindle Vella where new episodes release every weekend. She’s a proud member of the writing community at Art House Dallas and loves nothing more than connecting with readers and writers of all ages.

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Carved From Wood

by Brendan O’Meara

 

(Crafting Humanity, #2)
Publication date: June 6th 2024
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

James and his team head South after witnessing the BlankZone decimate the city of Midway. Their self-ascribed mission is to explore the most dangerous place on the planet – the new BlankZone border in the Southern Federation.

While conspiracies drive the narrative in the North, James and his team set out to learn about the Federation’s mysterious aggressors. Jump back into the adventure as James and his friends discover new families, build allies, and come face to face with the enemy threatening their existence. Secrets, lies, and manipulation are exposed as James gets closer than he ever imagined to their greatest threat.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Next up.

Stacie did not give anyone else the chance to go ahead of her and within seconds her back was against the wall next to Deck. Another sign from Deck signaled it was James’s turn to go.

Why the hell did I have to follow Stacie, he thought tensing his stomach muscles, crouching as low as his body would allow, and sprinting to the edge of the camp. His heartbeat remained taut while he walked the tightrope of slim shadows under the glare of the floodlights until he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Stacie. Deck signed to them:

You two get the intel. I’ll handle the rest of the team.

Stacie and James nodded in unison and walked to the edge of the tent. Stacie held up her hand to stop and in one swift motion brought it down. Time to move.

James followed her, sticking close to the shadows. They reached the front of the tent.

No sentry, thank God, James thought, and Stacie guided them farther into camp. They discovered a natural hiding place behind racks of ion shield emitters where they could regroup to locate intel. James scanned the tents. Deck wasn’t kidding about erring on the more side. Four barracks stood side by side on one half of the camp while the outer ring housed functional buildings indicated by their standard Federation insignias etched into the front flaps. Vehicles were lined up in an orderly fashion, their headlights gleaming in the dimmed lighting. Beyond the barracks lay a long flat strip of asphalt accompanied by a tower with a beacon alternating white and green flashes.

Do they have a runway? James thought, wondering how temporary this camp actually was.

He felt a tap on his arm and Stacie pointed at one of the tents. It looked like nothing at first, but when James looked closer, he saw the telltale generators stacked outside its doors likely there to fuel HOLO emitters. The front flap bore a compass rose with swords as the directional points indicating intelligence in Federation icons.

That’s where we need to start, James thought, scanning the area around the tent and evaluating their options to move closer.

Stacie placed her hand on top of one of the shield emitters and James knelt next to her ready to sprint when he was blinded by light accompanied by a loud CRACK.

James reacted, dropping flat behind the emitters. He reached out, finding Stacie’s shoulder, rolling her behind the shield with him. He regained his vision while purple and blue dots popped up in his sight line. He shifted another one of the emitters in front of him while Stacie grabbed the other, penning them inside the bunch. Overhead sirens blared and the shouts of a military camp coming to life roared around them.

Someone must have tripped an alarm. They woke up the entire camp.

His hands curled into fists and his leg muscles tensed ready to spring.

Stacie leaned over and whispered in his ear above the cacophony and chaos surrounding them, “We’re fucked.”

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About Author Brendan O’Meara:

Raised in White Plains, New York, Brendan O’Meara formed a love of stories and books from a young age. He has spent his free time over the last decade crafting his debut novel, Cut From Stone, book one in the Crafting Humanity series.

It began in Philadelphia where he attended college daydreaming about a dystopian reality. With a vivid imagination (as described by his middle school teachers) and a passion for adventure, Brendan’s novels will transport you to a different life and capture you from cover to cover.

Brendan lives in Washington, DC with his daughter, wife, and two dogs. You will find him on the weekends drinking a beer watching the Packers and Notre Dame football games. He is an avid reader with a specific interest in sci-fi, anything dystopian, fantasy, history, and all levels of fiction.

Brendan would love to hear from you, feel free to contact him any time at brendan.omeara@craftinghumanity.com.

Finally, visit craftinghumanity.com and sign up for our email lists for news, updates, and information on the rest of the Crafting Humanity series. We will not spam you!

Website / Goodreads / Bookbub / Twitter / Instagram

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.