Archive for the ‘YA’ Category

Progeny by Tosca Lee ~ Interview and Giveaway

Posted: April 3, 2018 in Author Interview, giveaways, thriller, YA
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The release of the paperback edition of Firstborn, the second book in the thrilling House of Bathory duology is March 20. New readers will want to begin their journey with The Progeny. Check it out!

The Progeny

by Tosca Lee

The Progeny by Tosca Lee

Series: Descendants of the House of Bathory (Book #1)
Category:  YA Fiction,   352 pages
Genre:  Thriller, (YA-leaning), Slight paranormal
Publisher:  Howard Books
Release date:  May 2016
Tour dates: March 26 to April 13, 2018
Content Rating: PG

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Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee comes a story of love, ancient secrets, and survival. Book 1 in the House of Bathory duology.

When you wake up, you remember nothing. Not your name, or where you were born, or the faces of the people you knew. Just a single warning written to yourself before you forgot it all:

“Emily, it’s me. You.

Don’t ask about the last two years… Don’t try to remember and don’t go digging. Your life depends on it. Other lives depend on it.

By the way, Emily isn’t your real name. You died in an accident. You paid extra for that.”

You start over in a remote place with a new name, a fresh life. Until the day a stranger tells you you’re being hunted for the sins of a royal ancestor who died centuries before you were born.

You don’t believe him, until they come for you. Now you’re on the run.

Every answer you need lies in a past you chose to erase. The only thing you know for sure is that others are about to die and you need those memories back.

But first, you have to stay alive.

Purchase Links: Amazon / Author’s Website

Add To Goodreads

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Check out the interview.

On The Writing Trail With Tosca

Tosca Lee image for guest post

  1. The Progeny is so fast-paced, filled with vibrant young characters, masquerade raves and so many costumes—it seems like it must have been fun to write!

It was super fun. I love bringing readers to new places, tugging them to the edge of their seats, and filling their minds with vivid, electric scenes.

 

It was also fun because my then-fiancé (now husband) and I had so many great   conversations about the story’s impossible situations as I wrote it and its sequel, Firstborn. These books represent such a great time in my life—getting engaged, married, and becoming an instant mom to four—that when I look back at them, I not only see the stories, but the events in my own life that unfolded during their writing.

 

  1. The story travels from the U.S. to several locations in Europe. Did you actually travel to all these places?

I did. I went to Hungary, Croatia, Vienna, Slovakia and Italy. Best of all, I got to take my mom with me. My mom and I have a history of globetrotting together, so it was a fun adventure to go tromping around through castle ruins and churches and city streets with her once again. And YOU can visit each of those places in the story with us as you read at: https://www.pinterest.com/toscalee/real-life-progeny/. (Boards for all my books can be found on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/toscalee.)

 

  1. Is there anything funny/strange/interesting happen to you while doing research for the book?

Yes! The novel’s backstory is based on the real historical figure of Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer of all time… whom I learned I was distantly related to. (Ack!)

 

  1. Your books are enjoyed worldwide. How did you get started?

I was writing for a long time before I ever thought of it as a thing. As a young teen, I was an aspiring ballerina and spent my summers dancing out of state. When it became clear that it wasn’t going to pan out for me, I went off to college thinking I’d go into business school as my father did. But talking to Dad during a trip home my freshman year, I blurted out: “I’d really like to write a book.” My dad made me a deal: he’d pay me what I would have made that summer as a bank teller (which I was horrible at) if I’d devote myself to writing my first novel and treat it like a job. So I did. I never sold that book—it’s in the basement with the skeletons—but I sure learned a lot!

 

  1. What’s the coolest place you’ve been as part of your writing career?
  2. Tosca Lee image 2 for guest post

Israel. That was a big part of my research for my novel, Iscariot, but also highly significant to me personally.

But because I’m a nerd, I also have to say Comic-Con. 😀

 

  1. What are you working on now?

Another thrill ride coming this winter. Get ready to hold on to your hats!

 

Do you love to write? Join From the Asylum, Tosca’s newsletter just for writers, here: http://bit.ly/subscribetoTosca

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Praise

“Be warned: once you start this book, it’s impossible to put down!” 
– Maria V. Snyder, New York Times bestselling author of Poison Study

“Intriguing and romantic, I literally couldn’t put it down.”
– Jennifer L. Armentrout # 1 New York Times bestselling author

“Irresistible…”
– Publishers Weekly

“[A] complex thriller with various turns and twists…A great choice for readers who enjoy their psychological thrillers with a historical twist.”
– Library Journal

“Exciting…action packed…intriguing.” 
– Romantic Times Book Reviews

“Filled with intrigue, romance, and reversals fans are sure to love.”
– Family Fiction

“The Progeny has risen to the top of my favorites list…I devoured every word of it.”
– Book Reporter

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Excerpt

The Center

No one speaks when you enter the Center for the last time. There’s no need. You’ve gone through the counseling, tests, and a checklist of preparations to get the plastic bracelet you wear the day of treatment. The one that saves a life. They don’t need to know why you’re doing it any more. Or that you lied about it all. Just the scratch of the stylus as you sign your name on the screen one last time.

A nurse takes me into a room and I lie down on the table. I give her the sealed packet—the only thing I brought with me. There’s cash, meds, and an address inside, the one for “after.” It’s a thousand miles away. She’ll pass it to the companion assigned to me. No point meeting her now.

I’m 21 years old and my name doesn’t matter because it’s about to be erased forever. I’m choosing to forget the ones I love, and myself, in the process.

They say your life flashes before your eyes when you die. But they don’t tell you that every detail comes screaming back to life. That you taste each bite of every meal you savored, feel the shower of every rain you walked in… smell the hair against your cheek before that last, parting kiss. That you will fight to hold on to every memory like a drowning person gasping for poisoned air.

Then everything you knew is gone. And you are still alive.

For now.

Continue reading the first four chapters FREE.

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Author Tosca Lee

Tosca Lee

 “Superior storytelling.”  – Publishers Weekly

“One of the most gifted novelists writing today.” -Steven James, bestselling author

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the House of Bathory Duology (The Progeny and Firstborn, currently in development for television), Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker (Forbidden, Mortal, Sovereign). A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, eating bacon, playing video games and football with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband.

You can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the snack table. (And be sure to check out Ismeni, the free e-short prequel to The Legend of Sheba!)

Get your copy of The Progeny here: http://toscalee.com/product/the-progeny/ (Kindle readers: now you can enjoy special insights in the author’s highlighted comments!)

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

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Follow The Tour HERE.

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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

The Unbelief Series by C.B. Stone Tour and Giveaway

Posted: March 20, 2018 in Dystopian, giveaways, YA
Tags: , ,
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Rehabilitation
Unbelief Book 1
by C.B. Stone
Genre: YA Dystopian
171 pages
 

Darkness has a name…

From the ashes of destruction, the Elite rose up as the ruling power of
the New World, enforcing new laws. 
Those laws are broken at great peril.
When she witnesses her best friend taken by force in the night, she knows
he is destined for a fate worse than death.
She’s heard the rumors, the whispers of what happens in
Rehabilitation.
She’s seen the dead looks in the eyes of those who return.
If they return.
But she can’t ignore what she’s witnessed…
No matter the danger.
How can she abandon her best friend to such a fate?
She must try to save him…
No matter the cost.
This is a dystopian series set in a post-apocalyptic world with hints of
romance. Books should be read in order. May be cliff hangers.
 
 
Ruin
Unbelief Book 2
161 pages
 

What happens when your eyes are opened to truth?

I dream that night of walking through the ruins. Strangely, I’m
barefoot. Yet the snow beneath my feet doesn’t feel cold, I don’t
even feel cold. Somehow though, I’m going the right way, I know I
am. I’m not sure how I know… it’s just a knowing I feel deep
down in my bones.
Sinna has stumbled into a world unlike
any she’s ever known. Her eyes have been opened and there’s no
going back. She’s never considered herself a Believer, she always
left that to Jacob, but things are happening fast. 
 
Is there something to this faith stuff after all?

 

And if there is, is it strong enough to see her through what’s coming
next?

 

This is a dystopian series set in a
post-apocalyptic world with hints of romance. Books should be read in
order. May be cliff hangers.
 
 
Revelation
Unbelief Book 3
165 pages
 

She can’t walk away now…

This plan—this crazy, stupid, impossible plan—could work. At the very
least, it will serve to get the boys back into the folds of the
Elite, so they don’t come to any harm for helping me. 
And it’ll get me back inside so I can try to save my father—but then
what? How will I get him out? We have no guarantees this will even
work…
Sinna is headed back to Rehabilitation.
Like it or not, she doesn’t see any other alternatives. She can’t just
pretend everything is okay, and hide out in the Garden.
But how will they get back there?

 

And what will happen when
they do? Will they be able make it back out alive a second
time?
Sinna isn’t at all sure about any of it, but her
conscience won’t let her back out now.
 
 
God Wars: The Beginnings
Unbelief Book 4
188 pages
 

In the Beginning…

Believing wasn’t always a crime. 
Faith in God wasn’t always illegal. 

 

In the glory days of the Old World, there were
many who lived out their faith in full view of all, and taught their
children, and their children’s children about God, their beloved
Creator.
In those days, prayer was still allowed in
schools, church was still held on Sundays with picnics and family get
togethers afterward, and the spare change that jangled in everyone’s
pockets still carried the words ‘In God We Trust’.
Then the God Wars happened. Life was never the same again.

 

This is a prequel. It’s highly recommended to read the Unbelief Trilogy first.
 
 
C.B. Stone is sometimes called author, writer, or purveyor of stories. One
might even dub her a yarn spinner if you will. It’s very possible she
might be considered just a little left of normal by most, but she’s
cool with that. Really, she’s too busy avoiding normal to care. On
any given day, you might find Stone pounding away at a keyboard in
sunny Florida, contemplating waves, contemplating life and dreaming
up more exciting stories to share with readers. 
Except Sunday’s of course. Sunday’s are God’s day, so you’ll often find her
making her best “joyful noise” with her local church praise
team. When not pounding poor fingers to bloody nuggets and
reinventing the definition of eye strain, C.B. Stone enjoys living it
up, doing the family thing, the kid thing, and the friend thing. And
in her downtime, reading the minds of fans.
Also being invisible. Being invisible is fun.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!
 

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

Sneaking Out by Chuck Vance ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted: March 6, 2018 in giveaways, Mystery, YA
Tags: , , ,
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Sneaking Out
Chuck Vance
(Chased, #1)
Published by: Dunemere Books
Publication date: March 6th 2018
Genres: Mystery, Young Adult

Could you sleep next to a murderer?

Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.

For fans of “A Study in Charlotte” and boarding school lit, “Sneaking Out” (book one in the “Chased” series) immerses readers in the privileged prep school world, with a mystery that exposes the dark side of life on a residential high school campus.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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Enjoy the excerpt:

Luke stood up and held out a hand to help Pippa up. He didn’t let go after she rose, and he clasped it firmly as they walked together. It didn’t feel awkward—he’d already held her hand a couple of times. He felt protective. They walked along in silence.

They passed a mailbox, its hinge squeaking in the wind. The wind had picked up a plastic bag, which was scraping along the road, dancing with the fallen leaves. Every noise was amplified.

Luke pulled Pippa toward him to avoid a ditch. It was then that Luke sensed something. He glanced over his shoulder, and saw the flash of someone jump behind a tree. Luke’s muscles tensed. They were being followed.

“Don’t turn around, but someone is behind us,” warned Luke. “On foot.”

He saw Pippa’s neck stiffen. “Who is it?” she whispered.

“Not sure, but let’s speed up.”

They started walking as fast as possible without running. Luke felt as if there was a bullseye on his back. Was the person who was following them crazy enough to do something to harm them? What if he had a gun?

They were about a block away from the nearest streetlight. Luke feared that if they walked under it, they would be completely exposed to whoever was following them. It seemed safer to remain in the shadows. He abruptly pulled Pippa diagonally across the street. They picked up their pace and stayed on course.

“We’ll be able to see who it is when they pass the streetlight,” said Luke.

“Do you think he crossed, too?”

Luke pricked his ears. He could hear a distant tap, tap. Footsteps. “No, he’s on the other side.”

They walked past the streetlight and up about thirty feet before stopping short and turning around. For a split second, they saw a figure bathed in the light, but then it darted to the side. It looked like a man, in a baseball hat. But he was too fast for them. Luke grabbed Pippa’s hand tightly.”

“We need to run.”

Author Chuck Vance

Chuck Vance is a pseudonym for a bestselling writer of both adult mysteries and novels for young adults. Vance attended boarding school in Connecticut and graduated from Columbia University. Vance has lived in New York, Moscow, London, Paris and Los Angeles and is frequently on the move.

Website / Goodreads



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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

A Girl Called Monster ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Posted: February 18, 2018 in giveaways, urban fantasy, YA
Tags: , , ,
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A Girl Called Monster
by Paige Lavoie
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
 
Where she came from there were no windows. The sounds of buzzing
equipment and the doctor’s shouting rang through her ears daily. It was too
uncomfortable to call home and too familiar not to be. Like it or
not, she was an experiment.
Filled with childlike wonder and innocence, she took pleasure in
stories, imagining what it would be like to live in those pages.
A longing growing deep inside her.
She knew she’d never have that life… Not in the lab. Not with
them studying her every move. So she decided to do something terrifying.
 
 
 
 
Paige Lavoie is a writer, comic artist and self-proclaimed queen of silly
faces, with a passion for bring her characters to life with the power
of storytelling (including the undead ones) Paige spends her days
hiding underneath a parasol in sunny Orlando FL. and frolicking
through bustling convention centers, theme parks and farmers markets
with her husband and their fluffy dog named Oliver.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

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

12 Days Of Fantasy For Christmas ~ Fire Tablet and ebooks Giveaway

Posted: December 1, 2017 in giveaways, Mystery, Supernatural, YA
Tags: , , ,
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On Tour with Prism Book Tours

 

12 Days of Fantasy for Christmas
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Day 1: Deep Dark Secrets by Sarra Cannon
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Deep Dark Secrets
(The Spiritwalkers #1)
by Sarra Cannon
Young Adult Supernatural Mystery

ebook, 321 pages
August 23rd 2017 by Dead River Books, LLC

The deadliest secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves…

One year ago, seventeen-year-old Marayah Freeman nearly died in a tragic car accident that also took the life of her best friend, Hailey.

Memories of the accident plague Marayah, but no one believes they’re real. They say there was no shadowy figure on the bridge that night. No oil-black tears running down Hailey’s face. No guy who appeared from a bright light in the forest.

Frustrated, Marayah locks those memories away and tries to focus on the future, but the past keeps pulling her back. A guy who looks like the stranger from the forest enrolls in her school, and her nightmares are getting worse. But when she finds a note in her locker, the mystery of the accident becomes more terrifying than ever. The note is from Hailey.

“Marayah,

If I’m dead—

it wasn’t an accident.”

Excerpt
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He was real.And he was gorgeous.

I straightened and walked toward him, but the closer I got, the more I realized that he wasn’t quite the guy from my dreams. I shook my head, unable to make sense of it. He had the same tall, muscular build. The same copper skin and dark eyes. The braid running down his back was exactly the same as the one I’d seen in my dreams.

But his face was slightly different. Younger with higher cheekbones.

Those eyes, though.

The way he stared at me sent shivers across my skin. His eyes were the same.

“Did you follow me?” he asked, glancing toward the school.

“Yes,” I said, working to catch my breath and still my heart. “Sorry, I can’t explain it. I thought you were someone else.”

My hand raised to the medallion at my throat, and his eyes followed. His gaze narrowed. Darkened. His jaw tensed.

“Who?” he asked.

“What?” He had me completely frazzled. There was something incredibly intense about him, and it turned my brain to mush.

“Who did you think I was?”

I shook my head and my cheeks warmed. He looked angry, and I guess I couldn’t blame him. We were complete strangers, and I’d just chased him down.

“I don’t know,” I said, letting my hand drop to my side. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

I turned to head back to the school, embarrassed and confused. Maybe I was going crazy.

“Wait,” he said. “You’re her, aren’t you? The girl from the accident? You’re Marayah?”

I stopped and turned back slowly. Something about the way my name sounded on his lips was so familiar, it made me dizzy.

“How do you know about me?” I asked.

He shrugged, but his dark eyes stayed sharp as he stared at my face. “A lot of people have been talking about you,” he said. “Wondering if you would be coming back to school this year.”

“Do you go to school here?” I asked.

“I just transferred,” he said, not offering any further information.

“Oh.” If he’d just moved here, he couldn’t possibly have been there that night a year ago. Still, this couldn’t be a coincidence. “Well, I’m sorry I chased you down.”

I wanted to turn and walk away, but something about the way he looked at me held me to the spot. He was a stranger, but I felt he knew a lot more about me than he was saying.

“I have to go,” he said finally. His eyes dipped again to the medallion at my throat, but he didn’t say another word. He simply got into his truck and drove away.

“Who are you?” I whispered, but he was too far away to hear.

 
About the Author
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Sarra Cannon writes contemporary and paranormal fiction with both teen and college-aged characters. Her novels often stem from her own experiences growing up in the small town of Hawkinsville, Georgia, where she learned that being popular always comes at a price and relationships are rarely as simple as they seem.

Sarra recently celebrated seven years in indie publishing and has sold over half a million copies of her books. Her most popular series is The Shadow Demons Saga.

She is a devoted (obsessed) fan of Hello Kitty and has an extensive collection that decorates her desk as she writes. She currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her amazingly supportive husband and her adorable son.

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Tour Schedule
November 30th: Launch
December 1st: Sarra Cannon
December 2nd: W.R. Gingell
December 3rd: Nikki Jefford
December 4th: K. D. Jones
December 5th: M. L. LeGette
December 6th: Belle Malory
December 7th: Melissa McShane
December 8th: Sara C. Roethle
December 9th: R.K. Ryals
December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood
December 11th: Melissa Wright
December 12th: Morgan Wylie
December 13th: Grand Finale

 

Tour Giveaway


1 winner will win a FIRE HD 8 TABLET from Amazon along with the following ebooks:
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– TRITON’S CURSE by Sarra Cannon
– MASQUE by W.R. Gingell
– AURORA SKY: VAMPIRE HUNTER by Nikki Jefford
– A WHITE SO RED by K.D. Jones
– THE TALE OF MALLY BIDDLE by M.L. LeGette
– THE TWELFTH KEEPER by Belle Malory
– SERVANT OF THE CROWN by Melissa McShane
– THE XOE MEYERS TRILOGY by Sara C. Roethle
– TEMPEST by R.K. Ryals
– CRAVING BEAUTY be Jennifer Silverwood
– THE DESCENDANTS SERIES by Melissa Wright
– REAWAKENED by Morgan Wylie

Open to US residents or those who are eligible for the Fire Tablet in their area (those who are not, can receive cash value through PayPal)
Ends December 17th
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Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

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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

Saturday Screams #43 ~ Passing Strange: The Well

Posted: November 25, 2017 in Mystery, reviews, thriller, YA
Tags: , , , , , ,
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Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that, well, make you scream!

I’ve got a creepy little story to share today. Caught me by surprise.

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Passing Strange: The Well

by P.W. Creighton

36186960

Genre: YA Mystery / Thriller

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My Review

Aidan is spending his summer break volunteering at the archaeological dig located on the Parish Cove Historical Society property. Some interesting things are being discovered, especially in the well that was uncovered, and it beats sitting home. One night while walking past the property he catches sight of a light prowling around the site and that’s when he first meets Maddie. She’s a bit odd, but he can’t resist her attempts to draw him into the mystery of the towns dark history. And soon the entire town is in danger. Something has awoken in the well and it’s very, very angry.

I love stories about archaeology and couldn’t resist reading this book. Learning about the towns history and the evil that dwells in the well was exciting and got the creepy vibes going.

Aidan and Maddie are like oil and water. Their personalities don’t really mix. But they soon become friends and get themselves into the pickle of all pickles.

The author never once missed a step with his character’s. The young teens acted their age and as they dealt with the creeping horror from the well, I thought their actions were quite genuine. Their curious nature and acts of heroism rang true. No one can know how they’ll react to situations like this and I’d like to think I would act half as brave as these kids did.

I felt a sense of mystery right from the beginning of the story and once Aidan and Maddie started digging into past events the story flew by. I read it in one sitting, feeling the sense of adventure, the glee of discovery, and the terror of a threat that seems unstoppable.

The ending was an exciting showdown and leaves things somewhat open to interpretation. I went with my first impression.

While I think this might be aimed at a younger reading audience, it still managed to give me the willies. And if the ending is any clue, I’m sure we’ll be seeing more Passing Strange mysteries in the future.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

For Fourteen-year-old Aidan Reynolds, the archaeological dig at the Parrish Cove historical society is the only thing making the summer interesting.

That is until he meets Maddie, an unusual girl who has just moved to town and is convinced that there is more to the local legends surrounding the historical society than even he knows. While Aidan may not believe her, the strange artifacts that are recovered from the dig force them into exploring the dark, twisted history of Parrish Cove and its strange doctor…a man who vanished over a century ago.

Together, they uncover a town secret that has been forgotten for centuries, and discover that there are some things that should stay buried.

Amazon

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Teaser Tuesday #225 ~ Passing Strange: The Well

Posted: November 14, 2017 in Mystery, Teaser Tuesdays, thriller, YA
Tags: , , , , ,
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Welcome to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Ambrosia  @ The Purple Booker.

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

Passing Strange: The Well

by P.W. Creighton

36186960

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: YA Mystery / Thriller

 My teaser from page 43 in the paperback.

 “There’s this place a little north of town that sunk under the water after an earthquake in like the 1800s. You can still see the remains of the houses when the tide is low and some say you can still see the people under the water.”

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Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

For Fourteen-year-old Aidan Reynolds, the archaeological dig at the Parrish Cove historical society is the only thing making the summer interesting.

That is until he meets Maddie, an unusual girl who has just moved to town and is convinced that there is more to the local legends surrounding the historical society than even he knows. While Aidan may not believe her, the strange artifacts that are recovered from the dig force them into exploring the dark, twisted history of Parrish Cove and its strange doctor…a man who vanished over a century ago.

Together, they uncover a town secret that has been forgotten for centuries, and discover that there are some things that should stay buried.

Amazon

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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

Thread Of A Spider by D.L. Gardner ~ Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted: November 11, 2017 in Fantasy, giveaways, Historical, YA
Tags: , , ,
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Thread of a Spider
by D.L. Gardner
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
 
TEENS ENLIST THE FAE TO WIN A WAR IN IRELAND
When all attempts to save her fiance fail, Ailis must rely on the magic
of the forest folk. 
Following an ambush at the Upton Rail Station in 1921 Ireland, British troops
burn Ailis’ home to the ground and arrest her fiancé, Liam, for
murder. She and her younger brother Paddy flee to an enchanted glen.
Lured by a haunting song, Paddy is abducted by forest folk. Perilous
obstacles, and a questionable stranger, hinder Ailis’ attempts to
find her brother or free her fiance, until her only hope for survival
rests on the magic of the Fae.
˃˃˃ A bitter uprising in Ireland is taking place and two siblings are
tossed in the battle, facing death, believing in love, and hoping in
magic. 

1920 found Ireland at the peak of tensions that had been building for
centuries. Famine, tyranny and strife robbed the Irish of their
homes, their lives and their country. Four years after the Easter
Rising, pressure became so great, that the southern Irish took up
arms against the British and fought for a free nation. Thread of a
Spider, a historical fantasy, weaves history and Irish myth together
to tell a story about two teenage siblings caught in the war and
swathed in the legends of Erie.˃˃˃ A fantasy based on history
woven with rich Irish lore.
 
 
 
With a passion for a good wholesome story, Gardner dives into the adult
and young adult fantasy genres. She is both a best selling author and
an award winning illustrator who lives in the Pacific Northwest, USA.
Dabbling in screenwriting, she’s won screenings and a trophy for some
of her film projects. 
She loves a tale that ignites imaginations, strengthens friendships,
spurs courage and applauds honor. Though she targets her stories for
young adults, her books are enjoyed by all ages.
D.L. Gardner is a columnist for the science fiction and fantasy
publication Amazing Stories Magazine
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Blitz and Giveaway ~ Pen & Xander

Posted: November 2, 2017 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways, YA
Tags: , ,
6

 

Pen & Xander
Laekan Zea Kemp

Publication date: October 31st 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis

Pen Prado has a passion for cooking. Specifically, cooking her father’s food in her father’s restaurant. It’s the heart of their immigrant neighborhood, a place where everyone belongs, and second chances are always on the menu. Except for Pen. Despite the fact that there’s something almost magic about her food, her father can’t imagine anything worse than her following in his footsteps. And when Pen confesses to keeping a secret from her family, he fires her, ensuring she never will.

Xander Amaro is undocumented but that doesn’t stop Ignacio Prado from offering him a job at his restaurant. For Xander, it’s a chance to make amends and to sever his toxic relationship with the druglord, El Cantil–a man whose been like a father to him since his own disappeared. Soon after, his mother abandoned him too, leaving behind a void that not even his abuelo can fill. Until he meets Pen.

Both seeking a place where they feel like they truly belong, they end up finding each other, and in the face of tremendous fear and self-doubt, they end up finding themselves.

Goodreads / Amazon

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~~~~~

Check out the excerpt.

The parking lot hasn’t changed; the science building looks the same as that first day of school five months ago. But as I sit in my car, watching girls I met during orientation skip up the steps, hugging their bags, excited to play nurse, I try to convince myself that something inside me has. That today I’ll actually be able to go inside. That today I will stop lying and be the person they want me to be.

Class starts in approximately seven minutes—the class I should have taken and passed last semester, moving me one step closer to a degree in nursing.

Six minutes.

I sit in the parking lot, watching the clock tick down. The car is in park but I can’t bring myself to turn off the engine.

Walk inside.

I turn off the car, reminding myself how much I’ve already wasted on tuition and books.

You can do this. You can.

I reach for my bag.

Get. Out. Of. The. Car.

And then I can’t breathe.

My mother’s shoes.

All I can think about are my mother’s shoes.

How they’ve sat in the same spot by the door for almost twenty years. Scuffed and cracked, the shadow of her foot pressed to the leather even when the laces are loose. I imagine every hallway they’ve ever walked down, every door they’ve propped open, every mess they’ve ever stepped in, every second they’ve held her up when all she wanted was to collapse. Because one of her patients couldn’t remember her face or their daughter’s name or how to speak.

When she lost one I’d wake to the knock of the rolling pin and the smell of dough warming on the hot plate. Sometimes I’d try to take the pin from her but there was something about the force, about the rhythm that reminded her how to breathe. We’d work in silence and three-dozen tortillas later she’d wrap them in foil and drive them to the family. The family that only visited once a month. That would accept my mother’s food without acknowledging that she was more family to the deceased than they were.

And then the next day she would go back to work.

For almost twenty years. She went back.

And if I step out of this car, if I walk up those steps, if I sit at that desk and pretend…how long will I be sitting there before I realize I’m trapped?

I take a deep breath, the scent of a thousand shifts at the restaurant tucked into the fabric of the front seat. Mango and cilantro and epazote, tomatillos and roasted pepitas and tortillas. I can’t sleep without those smells tangled in my hair, without those flavors still on my tongue.

So I have to decide what’s scarier: living a life that doesn’t belong to me or losing the one I love. If the truth breaks my father’s heart, I know he’ll take it from me. But if it doesn’t, if he understands, if I can make him understand, I can be free.

I weigh each option, simmering in the anxiety they provoke, in the hope. Because I have to do what scares me. It’s the only way to ward off the helplessness. To stay in control. I always have to be in control.

Which means that today is not the day I go inside.

My stomach drops, my hand reaching to put the car in drive again.

Today is the day I tell them the truth.

 

Author Laekan Zea Kemp

Laekan is a writer and explorer extraordinaire who grew up in the flatlands of West Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech with a BA in Creative Writing and is the author of the multi-cultural New Adult novels The Things They Didn’t Bury, Orphans of Paradise, Breathing Ghosts, and the Young Adult Paranormal series The Girl In Between. Her upcoming contemporary romance is slated for release during the summer of 2017!

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

 

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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

Winter’s Siren by Krystal Jane Ruin ~ Blitz and Giveaway

Posted: November 1, 2017 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, YA
Tags: , ,
14

 

Winter’s Siren
Krystal Jane Ruin

Publication date: November 1st 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis

For the last five years, Fawn has been the star soprano of a secluded opera house, forced to sing for her kidnapper.

His daughter, Devi, waits patiently in the shadows, hiding a face so horrible that no one who’s seen it will look at it again.

As Fawn plots her escape, whispers spread through the shaded corridors of dark sorcery, warning her that she must flee by the next opening night.

But when Fawn draws close to the exit, it’s Devi who’s standing in her way, leading Fawn to suspect that Devi has something to gain if she fails.

(a dark reimagining of Swan Lake)

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside.

Frosty air nips at my nose. I stand almost knee deep in fresh fallen snow, letting the diffused sunlight hit my face. There is no sound. Peace settles over me. In this moment, I truly feel like I’m in the middle of nowhere.

Something cold and wet explodes on the back of my neck. For a moment, I fear the worst. A boil. Pus. My father’s description of my mother’s face plays out in my mind.

But then I hear Andrew laughing behind me. I touch the rough skin on my neck and bring a shaky and damp glove to my face. Snow. It’s just snow.

It’s the middle of the day, and my face is uncovered. To make everything worse, it’s bright outside. Freezing and overcast, but bright.

My hands fly to my face automatically.

“Are you going to let me get away with that?” Andrew laughs again.

I twist around and peek at him through my fingers.

He stands before me, his arms spread wide. A thick coat covers his arms, and in his gloved hands, he holds another snowball. “You have two seconds to stop me!”

I flip my hood over my head and drop down to gather snow in my hands.

Another snowball bursts against my head. The wetness plasters my hair to my face. I hurl my deformed ball in his direction. It misses him completely.

Another wad of snow lands on my neck while I gather a larger, rounder ball of snow. “Cheating!” I throw my handful at him. It lands weakly by his knees.

“Here, let me help you.” He climbs towards me and gathers a nice, solid ball in his fist. He hands this to me, and then stands back and spreads his arms wide again. “Try again.”

I throw it square at his nose.

“Ow!” He covers his face and cries out dramatically. “It’s in my eyes!”

“Stop it! Are you serious?” I navigate closer to him, and he falls back into the snow. I run to his side and hear laughter bubbling out from behind his hands. “Jerk!” I shovel snow over his body, and he laughs all the while.

Then he goes still. I stop.

“Andrew?” I lean in close. “Andrew?”

He lunges out of his shallow grave and tackles me to the ground.

A panicked scream leaves my body as he lands on top of me, heavy and warm. Then a strange sound comes out of my mouth. Something that’s never come out of it before. Laughter.

His braid hangs down, inches from my sunken cheek. Suddenly aware of how close his head is to mine, the laughter dies in my throat, and I slap my gloves to my cheeks.

“You have such beautiful eyes,” he says.

My breath is trapped in my chest. It hurts. I don’t know how much he can see of my face—my hood is pulled low and my hair and hands cover everything else—but I fear it’s too much.

“Andrew . . .”

 

Author Krystal Jane Ruin

Krystal is the author of supernatural and paranormal fiction, living in the Tennessee Valley with a collection of swords and daggers. When she’s not hoarding stuffed pandas, hourglasses, and Hello Kitty replicas, she can be found in YouTube hole or blogging about books, writing, and random things at KrystalSquared.net.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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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

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