The Tribal Wars by Stella Atrium ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: April 17, 2024 in giveaways, Interview, Science Fiction
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“First rate sci-fi novels. Atrium’s worlds compel both in their alien detail—and what they reveal about our own world.” — BookLife

HOME RULE was named a finalist in the Book Excellence Awards announced in April 2024.

**All books are half price at $1.99 in celebration!**

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The Bush Clinic

The Tribal Wars Book 1

by Stella Atrium

Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

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A space colonization story about seeking independence and home rule in the face of corporate greed. Tribal women bind together in a war zone where they are discounted as not important enough to save or keep safe.

On Dolvia, Lt. Mike Shaw demands Dr. Greensboro’s doctoring skills at the hospital, forcing the closure of her bush clinic. She witnesses forced labor, forced migration, and the threat of an epidemic from bad water. She sees how tribal women–often wearing burkas–find solutions for saving the children in a conflict zone, and she commits to the their cause for Home Rule.

Brianna Miller is an isolated girl–a mixed-blood orphan–among the Dolviet tribes. With the lessons from Dr. Greensboro, the abuse from soldiers, the sisterhood among victims, Brianna prepares for a future she will choose for herself. But first she must travel offworld.

**On Sale for Only $1.99!**

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The Body Politic

The Tribal Wars Book 2

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Brianna Miller returns to Dolvia where tribal women protest the oppressive rule of Rabbenu Ely by self-torchings in the Cylay Square. Brianna re-establishes her tribal schools and takes on assistant Kelly Osborn who is mixed blood and also a poet.

Kelly visits a neighboring planet Cicero where her aunt Carline Bryant takes over her education. While returning to Dolvia, Kelly meets the Australian adventurer Hershel Henry who has signed on for a tour of Dolvia as a photo-journalist. Henry takes an opportunity to interview the khalif on the opposing side of the tribal wars.

**On Sale for Only $1.99!**

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Home Rule

The Tribal Wars Book 3

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Brianna Miller and rebel leader Karlyhi emerge as leaders uniting the tribes against the offworld mining cartel. Reporter Hershel Henry opens a local newspaper to report a more honest version of events leading to regime change. But will bringing down Rabbenu Ely only stir more violence and unrest?

Unity starts at home. How can the tribes bind together as a nation-state after fighting among themselves for generations? Inspiring leaders are needed, and a flashpoint act that binds individuals to a single cause. When Henry witnesses (and broadcasts) the ninth death-by-fire, this one by respected teacher Kecouroo, all the tribes feel the outrage and call for Rabbenu Ely to step down.

**On Sale for Only $1.99!**

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Tribal Logic

The Tribal Wars Book 4

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From Paris, Jesse Hartley jumps back to Dolvia in the galaxy’s Westend. A bloodless coup on Stargate Junction interrupts her travel plans and sends her in a different direction. Hershel Henry is tasked with rescuing abandoned conscripts after the abusive Company withdraws from asteroid mining.

A change in leadership on Stargate Junction makes all characters question how the future will shape. How to survive the shifting loyalties among the city-states? Will my home even be there when I return?

While on a deep space rescue mission, Hershel Henry misses karsci on Dolvia the Abydian khalif steps down. Within the turmoil, will Henry connect with Jesse Hartley, or is that romance lost forever?

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**Get it for Only .99cents or free in KU! **

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What book do you think everyone should read?

 

The Little Prince is a classic for readers of all ages.

 

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? 

 

Some characters are added to a scene so the action work, but later they step forward a primary characters. I’m often as surprised as the reader.

 

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book? 

 

Today’s writers are lucky with internet research so that details can be vivid and follow the laws of physics (at the very least).

 

I like to develop magic out of found-in-nature wonders, such as Utcan’s talisman that is a serpent pouch based on a “mermaid’s purse,” shaped in nature by a shark for a developing fetus. Utcan can spy though a hole drilled in the head of a dead fetus in the pouch and view the universe. No lie; true story.

 

What do you think about the current publishing market? 

 

Self-publishing changes every 18 months, and the services play follow the leader. If one group focused on direct sales from the writer’s website, soon enough all groups are offering the same. It’s all pay-for-play, so be certain that you have enough capital stashed away to afford the next steps such as offering audible books.

 

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

 

I like humor and romance and action, but not so much dark apocalyptic setups where everybody dies after torture. Set-ups begin to bore me. I do find that when writing a long scene, I start the think that somebody has to die soon so the sequence can end.  LOL

 

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

 

Don’t even get started. Writing is a life style choice. All your days are spent with characters that other people cannot know yet, and at the sacrifice of parties or friends or long walks with the dog.

 

Do you believe in writer’s block?

 

Writing is a daily discipline. There are many tricks to get past the dread of facing the blank page. One principle that I found was that when a scene isn’t working, the problem may reside with earlier scenes where better action is required for continuity. The later event is an outgrowth of a previous action.

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Stella Atrium presents planet stories about female protagonists of diverse ethnicities who encounter obstacles relatable to our lives today. How do women in a conflict zone gain voice in the public square using the few tools available to women?

THE BUSH CLINIC received an Editor’s Pick from BookLife, a 2022 Artisan Book Review Award, and a 2023 Independent Press Award for Science Fiction.

The second novel titled THE BODY POLITIC also received an Editor’s Pick from BookLife and a Artisan Book Review award.

HOME RULE debuted in the Top Ten Amazon rankings for the genre category in August 2023, securing an Editor’s Pick from BookLife, a Literary Titan medallion, and another coveted Artisan Book Review Award for Science Fiction.

TRIBAL LOGIC: Book IV of The Tribal Wars was released in January 2024.

Also be certain to pick up Atrium’s standalone novel SEVEN BEYOND that won a 2014 Reader’s Favorites Award in Science Fiction.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a 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.

Raising The Dead by Jayne Lisbeth ~ Review And Peek Inside

Posted: April 17, 2024 in Mystery, reviews, Supernatural
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 Raising the Dead is the journey of a naive young woman who grows to maturity through the love and mentoring of friends, both living and dead.

 

 

 

Title: Raising the Dead

Author: Jayne Lisbeth

Publication Date: August 15, 2023

Pages: 330

Genre: Paranormal Fiction / Supernatural / Mystery

A naive 20-year old bride, Emeline,  is grief stricken after the deaths of her beloved parents. She believes she has made a grave error in moving with her husband 3000 miles from her beloved California Delta childhood home to Charles Town, Virginia, to be closer to her husband, Randy’s,  mother. Emeline is bereft in sorrow, marooned in grief until a mysterious woman, Felicity,  wanders into her life and changes her world forever.  When Felicity disappears as mysteriously as she arrived, Emeline is determined to unearth her older friend’s whereabouts. What she ultimately discovers forces her to question her sanity, world, memories and newfound joys.

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MY REVIEW

I like my main characters, especially women, to be self confident and strong.  Emeline was not that woman. At least not at first. She was only twenty, married and grieving the loss of her parents.  And now she’s moved across the country to start her new life. I understood her insecurities, her naivete. And I was thrilled to see her bloom into that strong woman through the help of a mysterious older woman, Felicity, who took on the role of a guiding, nurturing mother.  But then Felicity disappears and Emeline is driven to find her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story.The characters were well developed and believable with flaws and all. And the  writing was compelling, inviting me to turn each page. It was also so visual, making faces and scenery easy to see. Emeline’s search for Felicity was moving. I so wanted her to find the woman who she dearly loved. That was a mystery in itself that I kind of figured out and then thought maybe I hadn’t. As for the ending. It was all I could have hoped for.

4 STARS

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REVIEWS OF RAISING THE DEAD

Author: Jayne Lisbeth, Cover Artist: Tim Gibbons

Publisher Austin Macauley: “Raising the Dead is a deep and emotional account of Emeline’s introspective journey, with a wholesome, spiritual supernatural angle. An inspirational, assured novel that is sure to resonate with the target audience. The poignant plot, very well-structured, the assured writing style and the events that unfold unveil a strong narrative arc Ultimately, it is thought to be a worthy addition to the genre, sure to appeal to a wide audience.”

Mary Lea McKennan, Idaho: 5 Stars:

“I just now finished the final pages of Raising the Dead!!  ‘Awww’, is what I said aloud along with shedding a few precious tears of joy! The characters within this book have rekindled the love in my heart for all of my own friends and family, current and past, who are there to guide us and teach us throughout our lives. You’ve done a wonderful job of weaving the ups and downs of everyday life into a heartwarming tale that will strengthen all who read it.”

Roberta Flowers Dillman, St. Petersburg, FL: 5 Stars:

“Raising the Dead is like a delicious layered dessert. Just when you think you got to the best part you turn the page to a more delightful part. I loved this journey and I love a deep read that’s easy to read. Raising the Dead is both. Great work, Jayne.”

Howard Gordon, Eugene, Oregon, 5 Stars: “Blew me away”

“This book was given to me by a friend and when I began reading my first impression was that it was too descriptive. Details, details, details. As I continued to read I found that these details as the story goes on formed a basis for an intriguing story of thoughtful and surprising characters. It turns out that I couldn’t put the book down.  I was bounced from sadness to joy to wonder at the author’s use of words and changes of mood. I was then flummoxed by the addition of a second story contained within the book which made everything crystal clear. I had read Ms. Lisbeth’s previous book, Writing in Wet Cement, and this one convinced me that there is an upcoming bestseller in the future.”

Paula Stahel, Breath and Shadows Productions, Tampa, FL

“A Lovely Read“”  Jayne Lisbeth has conjured a sweet story of a young, naive newlywed whose world opens to new ideas, skills, and the discovery of fulfilling friendships after an unexpected mentor literally walks into her life. And ultimately comes to understand the lasting power of love.”

Click here to read more reviews.

Buy Links:

Amazon  | B&N | Kobo | BooksAMillion

 

 

Book Excerpt:

 

 

One hundred and fifty-five years after Mildred Hanson’s death, Randy Upswatch carried his bride, Emeline Jannison Upswatch, across the threshold of Cabin #25. Randy gently set Emeline down on the heart pine kitchen floor. The windows let in bright splashes of the morning light through the wavy old glass. An antique black wood stove squatted in a corner, next to a small fireplace with an open hearth. The original porcelain sink had been retained but over the years the plumbing had been modernized. Across the room, an old gas stove nestled adjacent to a vintage Frigidaire. A scarred wood plank shelf was built into the wall between the stove and refrigerator, with drawers installed beneath. Knotty pine cabinets and shelves provided plenty of room for Em’s collection of antique bowls and pitchers. Next to the fireplace, a pantry with floor to ceiling shelves completed the kitchen, empty storage begging to be filled.

Emeline’s heart lifted, then sank, when she remembered the days she and her mama, Cleo, had filled their own pantry shelves. Mother and daughter would process their Sacramento Delta crops into jeweled jars of vegetables, relishes, jams, pickles and chutneys. Her eyes teared up, which she quickly hid from Randy. She scolded herself. Damn, girl, it’s been two years since Mama’s passing…[TG1] isn’t it time for you to move on? She thought to herself.

“Sure, wish I’d paid more attention to Mama’s cooking,” she said aloud.

“What?” Randy asked.

“Oh! I didn’t realize I said that out loud. Just thinking that Mama always needed my help with jamming and canning, but never taught me to cook. She really wanted her kitchen all to herself.”

But Randy didn’t hear this response as he was busily exploring the rest of the cabin. “Holy Shit, Em, lookit this!” he exclaimed. Emeline followed Randy down a central hallway leading to other rooms. At one end of the central hall was a large bedroom. Windows sparkled as lacy light fell through the trees surrounding the cabin. A smaller bedroom at the opposite end of the hallway seemed forlorn. A large tree shadowed the room, darkening the interior. In the center of the hallway and next to the kitchen was a small bathroom boasting an enormous clawfoot tub. A window over the tub with a deep sill would be perfect for African Violets and geraniums, Em thought.

Off the center of the long hallway was the living room. It was just big enough to hold their old couch, her mama’s ancient Lincoln rocker, and two end tables. An old black stove, sitting on a raised platform of bricks was nestled in a corner of the room. At the far end of the room were glass French doors, obviously an addition to the original structure of the cabin. Throughout the cabin, light scattered through many antique windows. Emeline pushed Randy aside and walked through the French doors. “Randy, it’s the best part of the cabin!”

Through the doorway, she had spied bookshelves. Views of the surrounding pastures were idyllic portraits framed in the old windows. Directly in the center of the room was another door to a back garden. It would be perfect for cross ventilation when both the kitchen and library doors were opened. Wildflowers of all colors were woven into the bucolic pasture in the distance. The flowers gently danced in the spring breezes from the surrounding hill, transporting the outside world into this inner sanctum. Shadows from a large willow tree quivered as the tree shook its slender green leaves on delicate branches, nearly touching the ground. Em was reminded of children around a maypole, all wearing long green dresses. “Oh, Randy, there’s a window seat!”

The cozy seat under the large window was laced between the bookshelves. A stone fireplace beckoned in the corner. Em lifted the lid of the window seat and a smoky scent of old fires wafted up to her. It was the most peaceful room in the cabin, exuding warmth and history. Em imagined the hours other occupants had sat on this window seat, immersed in a book. She walked to the door. “Randy! It’s a Dutch door!”

“A what?”

“A Dutch door, see, the top and bottom open separately. We can just open the top and get the breezes and leave the bottom latched. Oh, I’ve always wanted a Dutch door!”

Em turned to Randy and enveloped him in her arms. “It’s a perfect home for us. It’s beautiful. This room is where I bet I’ll be spending my time. It’s the jewel of the cabin. What a special place. It’s a library, Randy.”

“Oh, yeah. My mom told me the lady who built all these cabins insisted her people led educated lives. She had a little school where she taught the kids how to read. Imagine that, teaching slaves to read, even giving them places like this to live. Mom said everybody in the town thought the old lady was nuts. They couldn’t stand the way she treated her slaves. She didn’t even call them slaves! She actually paid them, as her ’employees’. That was 200 years ago. Things have certainly changed since then,” Em said thoughtfully.

Emeline felt as though she were in the middle of a pumpkin with the cabin’s knotty pine walls, the colors of burnt sienna and sunsets. She felt the rooms had been warmed by years of sunlight, woodsmoke and the fingertips of many inhabitants, completing the warm embrace of each room.

Emeline caressed the beautiful wood paneling as she returned to the living room where Randy stood next to the small Franklin stove. “I had no idea these cabins were so lovely. Mom just said they were old. She didn’t tell me anything about what great shape they’re in.” The glow on his face helped to light up the room.

“We should set up our bed and try it out in our new home, don’t you think?” Randy said with a bright smile.

Em’s mind was elsewhere, busy with all she would do to make their new home a nest she could feather with her dreams.

They returned to a slower examination of all the rooms. The antique pine floors creaked beneath their feet. In her mind’s eye, Em began placing their furniture in each room.

She lingered in the smaller of the two bedrooms as Randy left to retrieve boxes from their U-Haul. The entire cabin was infused with rainbows of light except for this small room at the end of the hallway. This room was darker, more somber. An enormous tree towered above this end of the cabin, blocking out the sunlight. The room seemed more silent than the others, with their creaking floors and squeaks. This room had a sad, lonely, uninhabited feel to it.

–Excerpted from Raising the Dead, by Jayne Lisbeth. Austin Macauley, U.K., 2023. Reprinted with permission.

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Jayne Lisbeth was born in NYC and continued her life’s journey from Long Island, to New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, California and Tampa, all places featured prominently in her writing.  Her first book, a memoir, Writing In Wet Cement has been published internationally by London based publisher, Austin Macauley. Jayne’s second book, Raising the Dead, a work of historical fiction, mystery, friendship and the supernatural, was published in 2023, also by Austin Macauley.  Ms. Lisbeth publishes monthly “Food for Thought” blogs on her website, Jaynelisbeth.com. Her “Food for Thought” blogs are based on her reflections of  life, friendship, love, and topical subjects of interest. Ms. Lisbeth’s non-fiction, poetry, and short stories have been published from Vermont to California to Tampa, Florida where she has received awards at the local level. She has been published locally in Pages of Our Life, volumes I and II which is currently part of the USF, Tampa, Geriartic Studies Programs. Ms. Lisbeth’s short stories have been published in the LEC Phoenix Anthologies, 2015-2023. Jayne’s interests include writing, reading, exploring, traveling, calligraphy, gravestone rubbing, entertaining and cooking.  Jayne’s author’s website is Jaynelisbeth.com.

Ms. Lisbeth and her artist husband, Tim Gibbons, are the owners and founders of Funky As A Monkey Art Studio, providing art in public places and launching new and emerging artists in exhibiting their art.

Author Links

Website | Amazon Website | Publisher’s Website | Facebook | Instagram Booksigning Event at The Corner Club

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Sponsored By:

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and!

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 Tryst List by Kaylene Winter ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: April 16, 2024 in Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance, giveaways
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The Tryst List

by Kaylene Winter

 

Publication date: April 11th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When a man, haunted by secrets, reunites with the only woman who’s ever ignited his soul, he’ll do anything to prove he’s more than his mistakes.

From the moment I laid eyes on her in Vegas, I knew tattoo artist Jordan Deveraux was my destiny.

Our chemistry was too fiery to ignore, one night of passion could never be enough.

Walking away was agony.

Easily, the biggest regret of my life.

Years later, I’m successful and rich but still crave my siren of the sea.

Her game of pretend doesn’t mask the heat still smoldering between us.

Little does she know, I have the roadmap to turn her fantasies into reality.

Stranded in my boat, the waves aren’t the only things rocking.

Her ability to resist me sinks faster than a lead anchor.

Here’s the catch—my past isn’t as spotless as the buildings I design.

And my secrets threaten to pull us under.

Can we navigate these turbulent waters to find a future?

Or, will my mistake capsize everything?

The Tryst List is a sizzling, standalone, billionaire, enemies to lovers, forced proximity tale of second chances, where the ink of passion and the scars of the past collide.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The hum of tattoo machines is always music to my ears. It’s the sweet, sweet sound of success.

Something I don’t take for granted. Hard work and fortitude is in my blood.

I’ve managed to turn my art degree into a gold mine. I graduated from Cornish College of the Arts many years ago, but it took a while for me to find my way. Did the starving artist thing—tried to sell my paintings while paying the bills as a server and barista. Then came a corporate stint in commercial design, which I absolutely hated. Leaving me with freelancing—a nightmare through and through.

A career in the arts seemed out of reach. Well, maybe for me. I was going nowhere.

On a whim, I sold my belongings and fled to Europe for a year-long backpacking excursion.

Within the first couple of weeks, I met a group of tattoo artists at a collective in Amsterdam. Immersing myself in their world, I changed my plan. Rather than aimlessly traveling, I apprenticed and soaked up the culture.

By the time I returned home to Seattle, I’d developed my own style and had a small following. A few months later, I won a contest in Las Vegas and haven’t looked back since.

Rather than work for someone else, I presented my pops with a business proposal. It worked. He staked me with enough funds to open my shop, The Salty Siren. Jace taught me how to cultivate a social media following. Within a few months, I had a waiting list, paid back Dad’s loan and bought a condo.

It blows me away how far my schedule books out in advance.

For the most part I’m happy, but recent life changes have me reconsidering a few things.

“Merc, who’s on the books today? I’m pretty sure it’s a long-ass appointment, if memory serves.” I approach Mercury, my best friend and shop manager. “Let me guess. Someone wants a mermaid sleeve.”

Merc, as everyone calls him, with his silver hair and piercing blue eyes, shoots me a glare. “Careful. You’re not exuding gratitude today. Your mermaids are legendary. People wait for over a year to get inked by you.”

Appropriately put in my place, I flip through my sketchbook past pages of intricate flowing tails and ethereal faces. “Oh, I know, but I like to mix it up. Keep my chops up.”

“Well, today’s your lucky day, babe. New customer. The guy booked over a year ago.” Merc peruses the shop’s master calendar on his tablet.

I’m barely paying attention because my fingers pause on a page in my notebook. Amongst my designs is a list I started after Cameron and I broke up. The “Tryst List” is my secret rebellion against the monotony of my love life. Merc’s eyes follow mine, and he raises an eyebrow.

“Oooh. What do we have here?” With a mischievous glint in his eye, Mercury’s hand claps over mine, stopping me from turning the page.

I feel my face redden. “Uhhh…my plan to live a little. Or a lot.” I offer a wry smile. “I’m thinking of making up for lost time, you know, after Cameron.”

“Cameron. Ugh. Your couple vibe was definitely more cookouts and beer than fireworks and passion. Maybe it was his uniform of khakis and button-down shirts.” He rolls his eyes in disgust.

I can’t help but laugh. Of course, Merc would feel this way given our affinity for grommets, leather, and chunky boots.

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About Author Kaylene Winter:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

 

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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 Equinox Test ~ School For Unusual Magic by Liz Montague ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: April 15, 2024 in giveaways, middle grade, reviews
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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE EQUINOX TEST by
Liz Montague Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

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Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!

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Title: THE EQUINOX TEST

Author: Liz Montague

Pub. Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-EQUINOX-TEST 

 

Three friends discover magic and
mayhem around every corner of their school in this brand-new illustrated series
from New Yorker cartoonist and NAACP Image Award nominee Liz
Montague that’s perfect for fans of Witchlings and The
Wizards of Waverly Place.

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Welcome to the Brooklyn School of
Magic, where seeds of enchantment are planted and magic sprouts in every
corner. And where each fall, fifth years must pass the Equinox Test if they
want to move up to Middle Magic.

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Rose is worried. She’s never been the
best student. And if she doesn’t pass with flying colors, Principal Ivy says
she may have to transfer to a boring, non-magical school. Amethyst knows she’s
got the skills to ace the test. But to really impress her mom, she’s got her
eye on the school’s top prize. Lavender just wants to fit in. Even after a few
years in the States, he still feels homesick. All. The. Time. Passing the test
might just be his ticket back to the island.

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But with best friend battles, a
cheating scandal, and trouble brewing in the magical community, the Equinox
Test may not even be the biggest challenge these Magic Bearers will face this
year…

 

 

MY REVIEW

I read a lot of children’s books ranging from beginning readers  all the way up to middle grade and above. I’d say this book would be a fun story for the later elementary and middle grade readers. I had so much fun myself. I may be an adult but I read this with my inner child and connected easily with the characters and enjoyed the dialogue and social interactions.

A bonus is the magic. Who doesn’t wish they could go to a school that teaches magic. It makes the messages and life lessons that Rose learns at the Brooklyn School Of Magic that much more fun. “Double, double toil and trouble….” And let’s not forget the illustrations. They are too cute. The cherry on top is the adorable cover art. She’s all wrapped up in a plant and the look on her face is priceless. I love it.

4 STARS

 

 

 

About Liz Montague:

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Liz Montague
began as a cartoonist for The New Yorker in 2019. She is the
author-illustrator of the graphic novel Maybe an Artist, which was
nominated for an NAACP Image Award, the picture book Jackie Ormes Draws
the Future, and the middle grade series Magic for Beginners. Liz is
passionate about nature and emotional literacy. She lives in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, with her husband Pat.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

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1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE EQUINOX TEST, US Only.

Ends April 23rd, midnight EST.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

3/26/2024

Comic
Book Yeti

Guest Post/IG Post

3/27/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

Guest Post/IG Post

3/28/2024

@dharashahauthor

IG Post

3/29/2024

onemused

IG Post

3/30/2024

Review Thick AndThin

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

3/31/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

4/1/2024

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

Review/IG Post

4/2/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

4/3/2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

4/4/2024

Country
Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

4/5/2024

nerdophiles

Review

4/6/2024

Paws.Read.Repeat

Review/IG Post

Week Three:

4/7/2024

@pickagoodbook

Review/IG Post

4/8/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

4/9/2024

Callisto’s calling

IG Review

4/10/2024

@dana.loves.books

IG Review/TikTok Post

4/11/2024

The Book Critic

Review/IG Post

4/12/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

4/13/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

Week Four:

4/14/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

4/15/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

4/16/2024

One
More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

4/17/2024

Karma Zee Readz

Review/IG Post

4/18/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

4/19/2024

Two
Points of Interest

Review

 

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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.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Dirty Books by Carissa Knight

Posted: April 15, 2024 in comedy, Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: , , ,
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Dirty Books

by Carissa Knight

 

(The One Night Stand Club, #2)
Publication date: April 12th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

SOMETIMES, LIFE CAN BE STRANGER (AND HOTTER) THAN FICTION.

Carlie Taylor, a shy and (often clumsy) erotic romance author, decides to walk on the wild side at Club Nocté’s latest event – a masquerade party. What’s the harm in a little anonymous fun? Well, when that fun leaves you with flashbacks of a stranger’s kiss and the world’s most baffling case of déjà vu, things get interesting.

Enter Adam, a personal trainer with abs that deserve their own Instagram account (oh wait, they have one). When he starts training Carlie, the sparks fly—but not just from the workout burn. There’s something strangely familiar about those biceps, but where could she have seen them before…?

Cue the drama: Adam’s Insta-famous life is like a soap opera, complete with a villainous ex who could give Cruella a run for her money. As Carlie and Adam’s flirty banter turns into something more, the world watches, likes, and comments. But can their fledgling romance survive the glare of the spotlight and the ghost of masquerades past?

The plot thickens like a good protein shake when Carlie has her ‘aha!’ moment. That mysterious, dreamy guy from the club? Yup, it’s Mr. Six-Pack himself. Now, the question isn’t just about enduring a tough gym session, but whether they can flex their hearts into accepting that their one-night stand might just be the real deal.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Carlie Taylor doesn’t exist—not tonight. 

Instead, I’m gonna shed her like a skin—leaving behind the woman fraught with self-doubt, obsessed over every curve, and prone to clumsy missteps. Of which there are many.

No, tonight, I am Zoey Cummings, a veritable sex goddess, armed with unshakeable confidence and a voracious appetite for adventure.

Zoey takes what she wants—from whoever she wants it. 

No burdens to bear. No repercussions.

At least, that’s the plan.

Nestled in the familiar sanctuary of my car—just a whisper away from the venue, in fact—I retrieve the invite from my purse.

A shaky breath escapes my lips, and for a fleeting moment, I’m lost in the tactile dance of my fingers over the sumptuous dark paper—a detail I would have lingered on in one of my novels, painting the scene with words.

The gravity of the impending night makes my heart flutter as if I’m on the precipice of my own story’s pivotal scene.

I can only wish.

No—no thinking like that. Not tonight.

Shaking my head, I refocus on the invite.

The beautifully handwritten letters spell out ‘Zoey Cummings’—a pseudonym that promises a night of liberation if I can just get my head in the game—truly.

This invite is more than just paper and ink—it’s a golden ticket to an evening of seduction.

Hell, who am I kidding?

It’s a spell to forget, too.

Am I truly ready to be untethered to the past? To my stupid ex?

The wounds from him are still raw, his memory a lingering shadow in my mind and on my heart.

No, I need this.

I need to obliterate the ghost of him, even if just for one ephemeral night.

Such a great word, ephemeral. It’s really not used often enough,

Focus, Carlie—er, Zoey.

Fucksake. 

With shakier hands than I care to admit, I turn the envelope over and gently pull out the card. Sparkly silver scrolling glistens on the black silky paper, and I read over the words once more, confirming the details that are already etched in my mind.

“Zoey, it is under the veil of night…” I whisper out loud, then fall into silence as I read on.

 

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About Author Carissa Knight:

Carissa Knight is all about bringing the heat in every romance she writes, but making the journey as angsty and awkward as possible. (Because come on! What could be more fun than making the characters squirm?)

While she’s a new kid around the romcom block, Carissa’s actually been kicking out books for over a decade as award-winning & international bestselling author, Carissa Andrews. If you like paranormal or urban fantasy, check her out.

In the meantime, get ready for her brand new steamy romcom series, “The One Night Stand Club!”

Be sure to sign up for Carissa’s email list to stay on top (wink, wink) of her releases!

Website / Instagram / Goodreads

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Not Quite A Scandal by Bliss Bennet ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: April 14, 2024 in giveaways, Guest Post, historical romance
Tags: , ,
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An inheritance lost. A betrothal threatened. A scandal brewing…

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Not Quite a Scandal

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Audacious Ladies of Audley Book 2

by Bliss Bennet

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

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An inheritance lost. A betrothal threatened. A scandal brewing…

Outspoken Quaker Bathsheba Honeychurch knows how difficult it is for an unmarried woman to successfully champion political change. Her solution? Wed best friend Ash Griffin as soon as he comes of age and begin remaking the world. But when Ash’s urbane, aloof cousin arrives with inconceivable news, Sheba’s future dreams are suddenly at risk…

The death of the Earl of Silliman reveals an appalling lie: it is not Noel Griffin, but his long-lost cousin Ash, who is the true heir to their grandfather’s title. Raised to place family above all, Noel accepts his grandmother’s bitter charge: find Ash, disentangle him from his religious community, and train him to take on the responsibilities and privileges of a title that Noel had been raised to believe was his. Noel certainly won’t allow a presumptuous, irritating Quakeress to thwart him in doing his duty—no matter how fascinating he finds her…

When scandal threatens both their reputations, can Sheba and Noel look beyond past dreams and imagine a new world—together?

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Author Guest Post

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True Lovers’ Knots: The Quaker Love Letter

 

Caption: A True Love Knot. ca. 1840. Philadelphia Free Library. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/6700]

 

This knot of love which I do send

Is, like love, without an end.

Its turns and crosses many you see

So hath your love, dear, challenged me.

Yet thoughts by day and dreams by night

Rest still on you, my heart’s delight.

Mountains shall melt, the seas run dry

The stars run lawless through the sky,

The sun at midnight shall appear,

Ere I prove false to you, my dear.

Turning arms, exchanges kisses

Each partaking others’ blisses

Laughing, weeping, still together

Bliss in one is Mirth in either.

Never breaking, ever bending,

This is love and worth commending.

Still beginning, never ending,

This is love and worth commending.

From Not Quite a Marriage

 

Have you heard of a true lovers’ knot? Not the rope kind, but the romance kind? Several English folk ballads about lovers parted by death—“Barbara Allen,” “Lord Thomas and Fair Annet,” “Fair Margaret and Sweet William”—end with the image of a rose growing from one lover’s grave, a briar from the other’s. The briar and the rose meet and twine about each other, echoing the shape of a rope knot that has long been known as the true lover’s knot or true love knot. In such ballads, the knot formed by the briar and the rose symbolizes the faith and fidelity of the lovers, even after death. You can listen to an American version of “Fair Margaret and Sweet William” by Appalachian folksinger Jean Ritchie here.

 

Caption: From C. S. Hall’s The Book of British ballads (1842)]

 

But a far less tragic version of the true lover’s knot also exists: the love knot as love letter or valentine in the form of a labyrinth. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, paper true love knots became popular amongst some Pennsylvania Quakers, not as symbols of romantic fidelity after death, but as actual romantic declarations to a living beloved. A parallel form to the fraktur, or illuminated folk art, common amongst the Pennsylvania Dutch in the same period, the Quaker true love knot includes handwritten romantic verses that twist and turn inside the outline of an endless knot. You can start reading the text at any point and the love declaration still makes sense. But you have to rotate the paper to read the poem in its entirety.

 

Some Quakers created true love knots to declare their affection to a beloved; others offered them as artistic proposals of marriage.

 

Caption: True Lover’s Knot by Hugh Pugh, sent to Mary Fisher, 1801. True Lover’s Knot blog by Meg Schultz]

 

Here is one example by Quaker schoolmaster Hugh Pugh, created in 1801 for one of his pupils.

Handcrafted using quill, brush, and compass, its poetic declarations of devotion wind through various geometric shapes. Since Friend Pugh was 54, and his student Mary Fisher only 20, his proposal seems not to have been accepted, although Mary kept the beautiful love knot her teacher designed. It is now owned by her great-great-great granddaughter, Meg Schultz.

Extant examples of true love knots are quite rare. The one pictured at the top of the page, as well as the one below, are both from the Philadelphia Free Library, one of the few collections that includes several original nineteenth-century true love knots.

Caption: “To Miss Harriet Walker, as a Token of Remembrance.” Ca. 1840. Philadelphia Free Library.]

When I drafted the verses for the true love knot that my book’s protagonist, Noel Griffin, creates for Quaker Bathsheba Honeychurch, I borrowed lines from several real true love knots of the times, so that they would sound historically accurate. Unfortunately, I’m not of an artistic bent, so I haven’t made a physical replica of Noel’s valentine. But I enjoy imagining what it might look like while I admire these and other examples of True Love Knots from the past.

You can find more examples of true love knots on my Pinterest page for Not Quite a Scandal. https://www.pinterest.com/blissbennet/not-quite-a-scandal/

Buy Link: https://blissbennet.com/p_nqas_b2r]

Bliss Bennet writes smart, edgy novels for readers who love history as much as they love romance. Bliss’s Regency-set historical romances have been praised as “savvy, sensual, and engrossing” by USA Today, “catnip for the Historical Romance reader” by Bookworlder, “romantic, funny, touching, and extremely well-researched” by All About Romance, and “everything you want in a great historical romance” by The Reading Wench. Bliss’s latest book is Not Quite a Scandal, the second book in The Audacious Ladies of Audley series.

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Before Sheba could offer an objection, Noel set himself in front of her. “Shall we try a simpler dance? A waltz, perhaps, M. de Brunhoff?”

A look of relief passed over the poor dancing master’s face. “As you wish, monsieur.”

The restlessness Noel had felt all afternoon, being in Sheba’s company but not the focus of her attention, settled as soon as he guided her hands up to rest against his shoulders. Unlike the more demure society misses with whom he typically danced, she kept her head held high, eyes not shying away from his. But the pink tint of her cheeks blazed nearly scarlet when he set his hands not on her elbows, as she was obviously expecting, but more daringly against her waist. That elusive scent of honeysuckle enticed his nose, and he could almost swear he felt the pulse of her blood coursing beneath his fingers, even with the weight of her silk gown and stays and his gloves between them.

“March, march, march, march, then messieurs, pirouette, mesdames, pas de bourée, pas de bourée, pas de bourée. Up, up, up on the toes, oui, oui…”

A satisfaction bone-deep settled over him at finally having Bathsheba Honeychurch in his arms. At being able to allow his eyes to roam without embarrassment or restraint over the sweep of her pert brows, the stretch of her lush mouth, the expanse of her graceful neck below that tip-tilted chin, confident and defiant in turn. He’d never had much sympathy for Goethe’s self-indulgent Werther, but the romantic hero’s assertion that “a maiden whom I loved, or for whom I felt the slightest attachment, never, never, never should waltz with any one else but with me” struck him as painfully apt.

He twirled her carefully, silently, unwilling to allow meaningless small-talk to distract him from a pleasure he feared he’d never stop craving.

She, too, remained quiet as the slow notes of the waltz enveloped them in a bubble of awareness, her blue eyes roving his face as his roved hers. She blinked, and blinked again, as if she could not quite understand what she was seeing.

Might she be beginning to recognize, even if she could not quite yet allow herself to believe, that the man standing opposite her might be more vital to her happiness than the one dancing on the other side of the room?

Yes, this was how he would win her. Not by wooing her with words, but by allowing her to see the truth of what he felt.

“Ah, yes, my lady, with what elegance you dance!” M de Brunhoff cried as Ash and Delphie twirled past him. “Now, let us vary the posture, eh? Messieurs, place your right arm fully about your partner’s waist, et mesdames, rest your hand and arm on your partner’s shoulder.”

Noel swallowed, then laced his arm behind Sheba’s waist. Although he kept her at a decorous distance, the heat of her warmed his entire side. And when her hand crept up his shoulder, her corseted breast mere inches from his chest, that warmth turned molten.

He felt, as well as heard, Sheba’s breath catch in her throat as his fingers tightened against her side.

The beat of the music, the tap of their slippers against the polished floor, the hum of pleasure he could not quite keep contained—Noel spun, and spun, dizzy with the turning, near giddy with longing.

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Bliss Bennet writes smart, edgy novels for readers who love history as much as they love romance. Despite being born and bred in New England, Bliss has always been fascinated by the history of that country across the pond, particularly the politically-volatile period known as the English Regency. Though she’s visited Britain several times, Bliss continues to make her home in the States, along with her spouse and an ever-multiplying collection of historical reference books.

Bliss’s Regency-set historical romances have been praised as “savvy, sensual, and engrossing” by USA Today, “catnip for the Historical Romance reader” by Bookworlder, “romantic, funny, touching, and extremely well-researched” by All About Romance, and “everything you want in a great historical romance” by The Reading Wench. Bliss’s latest book is Not Quite a Scandal, the second book in The Audacious Ladies of Audley series.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a 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.

Red Pines ~ The Trapnell Thriller Series by Jill Hand ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: April 13, 2024 in giveaways, thriller
Tags: ,
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The South’s wealthiest, most dysfunctional family is back,

with old scores to settle and a surprising houseguest.

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Red Pines

Trapnell Thriller Book 3

by Jill Hand

Genre: Thriller

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“In this hilarious third installment, Jill Hand gives us the weirdest, funniest family saga yet.”

–Wayne Turmel, author of Johnny Lycan: The Werewolf PI series

The discovery of the bodies of two “honky-tonk hitmen” on land belonging to a former relative brings the Trapnell siblings, self-centered Aimee, indolent Trainor, and brilliant Marsh, back to White Oaks, their opulent ancestral home. FBI Special Agent Carson Burns is tasked with protecting them, something she finds increasingly difficult, as sinister events keep occurring which barely avoid being fatal.

Adding to the confusion is a deposed dictator who has eluded his Secret Service watchdogs and is pretending to be Marsh’s valet.

It becomes clear that someone intends to murder the Trapnells, but who? And why? A rapper called Baby Patty Cake insists the Illuminati are to blame, but that can’t be true, can it?

What readers are saying:

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Author Jill Hand has crafted a thriller that offers the ideal balance of humor and suspense to create a delightfully entertaining experience filled with quirky characters and unexpected twists. The dysfunctional dynamics of the Trapnell family are an absolute joy and a great foil to play off during the biggest surprises of the plot, while the witty dialogue and eccentric scenarios provide plenty of laughs along the way. The clues unfold at a great pace to allow us to figure things out alongside Agent Burns, yet the reader is kept in a fair amount of suspense about the true motives behind the attempts on the Trapnells’ lives, leading to a satisfying and surprising conclusion. Overall, Red Pines is a captivating read that offers equal parts humor and suspense, making it a must-read for fans of comedic thrillers everywhere.

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Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Dooley Voight drove them the thirty-five miles from the airport to Cobbs, a sleepy village not far from the Florida border. Cobbs had been the domain of the Trapnell family for generations. On the outskirts of town was their plantation house, White Oaks. It sprawled, vast and palatial, under the late afternoon sun, its meticulously tended green lawns, columned portico and dazzling white façade a vision of opulence.

Holy cow, thought Burns, stunned by the sight. It’s a genuine Georgia plantation. Leave it to Bad Choices to own a plantation.

As if he had read her thoughts, Marsh said, “A penny for your thoughts, Agent Burns.”

“My thoughts aren’t worth a penny,” she replied.

“I sincerely doubt that. I’ll show you around later. There are many interesting things to see at White Oaks. There’s a graveyard that’s supposed to be haunted, and a room where one of my ancestors kept his wife imprisoned for twenty years. The story goes that it stemmed from the having a disagreement over a game of whist. The scratches are still visible on the back of the door, where she clawed at it in a futile attempt to escape.”

“Great,” said Burns. “Can’t wait to see that.”

“I sure do enjoy comin’ out here to y’all’s stately home,” Dooley said to Marsh as he piloted his Lexus up the mile-long drive paved with white oyster shells. The shells crunched under the car’s tires as it rolled along at a sedate five miles per hour.

Dooley had the air-conditioning turned up. The thermometer on the dashboard registered eight-eight degrees Fahrenheit. That was considered normal, even a bit cool for Cobbs in late May. It would be another month before the real heat would set in, causing all outdoor activity to grind to a torpid, tropical crawl.

Aimee was already having reservations about returning to her ancestral home. The last time she was there, she and Marsh and Trainor, as well as their stepsister, Karen, had almost been murdered. The time before that, Trainor had allowed their father to strangle a sideshow performer Bad things had a way of happening at White Oaks.

Aimee resolved to watch her back. She hoped the level-headed presence of Special Agent Burns would be a calming influence.

“This is the second time today I been here,” Dooley remarked as they approached the circular turnaround in front of the house. In the center a marble fountain in the shape of a pod of dolphins sent jets of water into the air.

Pulled up to the portico steps was Blanton’s white 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith. Its tall, stainless steel radiator grille was topped by a sculpture of a crouching woman, her robes billowing out behind her. “Nellie in her Nightie,” was how jocular Rolls-Royce factory workers used to refer to the mascot, although its official name was the Spirit of Ecstasy. Parked behind the Rolls was a cherry-red BMW XM sedan.

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Black Willows

Trapnell Thriller Book 2

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A mysterious cowboy is stalking the eccentric Trapnell siblings. Is he a supernatural entity or a hired killer? To complicate things, the will making them heirs to their billionaire father’s estate is missing and a relative has returned from a watery grave.

Last time, the Trapnells saved the world from destruction. This time they may not be able to save themselves. Black Willows is a darkly funny Southern-fried adventure, complete with Voodoo, arson, and alligators.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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“And then,” Palmer Trapnell told an architect named Chase Merriweather, “An alarm will sound, one of those that goes aoogah! aoogah! The room will start filling up with ice-cold water and everyone will have to swim to safety. What do you think of that?”

Merriweather looked over Palmer’s shoulder to where her husband stood. Trainor Trapnell was shaking his head and frantically waving his hands, as if to say, No way! That’s insane!

“Well,” the architect said cautiously. “It’s an interesting concept.”

“I know! Escape rooms are popular right now. My friend Chandler Woodbury has one. It’s at Lakeland Mall, between Razzle-Dazzle Doughnuts and Sweet and Sassy Lingerie, where that store that sold things like blacklight posters and lava lamps used to be. You have to find clues to figure out how to escape from a room done up like a library in a spooky old mansion. This will be much better.”

Palmer beamed complacently. Her sandy blonde hair was cut in an asymmetrical style popularized by an actress with a starring role in a daytime television drama. Palmer was a former dog groomer who had advanced several rungs up the social ladder by marrying Trainor. With her bright pink lipstick and Lilly Pulitzer twin set, she was the apotheosis of an affluent young Atlanta matron.

Palmer and Chandler Woodbury, ostensibly friends, were locked in a mortal combat of one-upmanship. If Chandler had an escape room then Palmer wanted a better one.

“But the logistics,” Trainor said desperately. He drew up a chair and seated himself next to his wife at the polished mahogany conference table in Merriweather’s office. He spread his hands in mute appeal to the architect to put an end to this nonsense. “That’s what they’re called, right? Logistics? Ways of doin’ things? You can’t fill up a room up with water and make people swim out. It’s not safe. What if somebody drowns? And how do you empty the water out afterwards? I don’t see it.”

He turned to Palmer who had folded her arms across her chest and was pouting. “I’m sorry, Chicken Legs, but I think it might be illegal.”

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White Oaks

Trapnell Thriller Book 1

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“An ingeniously dark comic thriller about greed, gluttony and murder that is destined for the big screen.” –Best Thrillers

Aimee Trapnell reluctantly leaves her apartment on Manhattan’s Central Park West to return to her childhood home in Georgia for her father’s ninetieth birthday. Also on hand are her two brothers, wily Marsh and ne’er-do-well Trainor. With a forty-billion-dollar inheritance at stake, they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make the old man happy.

To their shock they learn that what their father wants for his birthday is to kill someone. He doesn’t care who it is. He just wants to know what it’s like to commit murder.

Betrayal, double-dealing, and fast-paced action set the Trapnells on a collision course with an unexpected villain. Their journey takes them from the swamps of Georgia, to Italy’s glittering Amalfi coast, to rugged Yellowstone National Park.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Chapter 31 – What Peewee Pelletier Found

Earlier that morning a man named Pewee Pelletier drove his pickup truck through a gap in the tall privet hedge in front of White Oaks. A discrete metal sign, white letters on a forest green background, declared it to be the service entrance to the estate.

The truck’s tires crunched on the gravel roadbed as Pewee drove past the kitchen wing, past the greenhouses and the water cascade, water burbling over its stone steps, and down beyond the old slave graveyard. He parked beside the white granite mausoleum. TRAPNELL was carved in stern block letters in the triangular pediment above the door.

It’s only seven-fifteen and already it’s hot as a crotch, Peewee thought, squinting at the white disc that was the sun, blazing mercilessly above the tangle of trees marking the beginning of the swamp. He wanted to finish the day’s work early and go fishing. He’d sweep out the mausoleum and get it looking shipshape for Blanton Trapnell’s big sendoff. Then he’d swing by Holy Redeemer and White Knoll cemeteries and cut the grass before knocking off for the day. With any luck he’d be on the lake in his bass boat by noon, along with a cold six-pack and a container of minnows from Buzzy’s. Perhaps he’d get Gordon Buzzy to sell him a bottle of Old Rocking Chair. He bit into the egg salad sandwich his wife had made for him.

Chewing egg salad on white bread liberally smeared with mayonnaise he looked at the mausoleum and snorted in contempt. The damn thing probably cost more than his house. Rich people, he thought resentfully. At least rich people died, just like everybody else. Blanton Trapnell wouldn’t be driving his Rolls-Royce through town anymore, not deigning to wave at Pewee when Peewee drove past going the other way in his truck.

Peewee always waved when he encountered other drivers. It was the neighborly thing to do, but Blanton Trapnell thought he was too good to acknowledge people like Peewee who weren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Blanton Trapnell wasn’t neighborly. Now he was dead and good riddance. Let’s see what Saint Peter would have to say about his lack of neighborliness when he showed up at the Pearly Gates. Peewee bit into the dill pickle his wife had packed along with the sandwich. Pickle juice ran down through the beard stubble on his chin as he smiled, thinking of Old Man Trapnell being denied admission to Heaven and instead being cast, shrieking, into a lake of fire.

He crumpled the pieces of wax paper the sandwich and the pickle had been wrapped in and stuck them in the hip pocket of his green Carhartt work pants. Then he took the key hanging from a cardboard tag marked ‘Trapnell’ that Chapman had given him and went to unlock the door.

Leaving the bronze door open to let it air out inside, Peewee got a push broom and a pry bar out of the truck. He carried them into the cool interior of the mausoleum and sniffed cautiously. It smelled musty, like closed-up spaces always did. He also detected the unmistakable stink of decomposition.

The decomp odor wasn’t coming from any of the corpses in the crypts. Those were embalmed and would be as dry as old leather. It was something freshly dead, most likely a possum or a raccoon that had crawled through the ventilation shaft on the roof. Pewee figured he’d find whatever it was lying in the shadows, paws-up. He drew on a pair of rubber work gloves and patted the black plastic trash bag tucked in his belt. Ms. Possum or Mr. Raccoon would be going into the bag. He just hoped they weren’t too gooshy.

A stained glass window in the rear wall threw splashes of red, blue and green over the stone floor. The window’s subject was utterly inexplicable to Peewee: not Jesus or some saint but three naked men being attacked by huge snakes. Peewee stared at it, trying to recall which Bible story it could have come from. There were several involving animals. There was Daniel in the lions’ den, and Jonah and the whale, and one about a talking donkey that got pissed off when its owner kept hitting it with a stick, but he couldn’t think of anything involving snakes, other than the Garden of Eden thing.

“Rich people,” he muttered shaking his head.

He leaned the broom against the wall inside the door. He’d sweep the floor before he locked up.

The double crypt where Blanton Trapnell’s coffin would go was on the left wall, down near the snake window. Trapnell’s second wife was in there and he would be going in beside her. The late Mrs. Trapnell had been a terror. Peewee wouldn’t want to wait for the last trumpet to blow while lying beside a bitch like Deirdre Trapnell. Fortunately he wouldn’t have to. He’d be buried out at Holy Redeemer with his wife and his mama and daddy and the rest of his family. The Trapnells could keep their old mausoleum with its bizarre naked-men-and-snakes window, thank you very much.

Pewee intended to use the pry bar to remove the granite slab known in the funeral trade as a shutter from the front of the double crypt. The shutter was inscribed with Blanton’s name and date of birth, as well as his wife’s name and her dates of birth and death. A stonecutter would add Blanton’s final date and it would go back in place and be sealed, after his bronze casket went in.

The casket was a model called the Chancellor made by the Batesville Casket Company. It cost $25,000. It had a variety of high-end features, including a rounded glass seal, bronze swing-bar handles, fully adjustable inner bed with head and foot velvet pillows and matching velvet blanket and a hidden locking mechanism.

Blanton’s purchase of the most expensive casket among those on display in Chapman’s showroom had been a red letter day for Lycott and Joelle Chapman and their two children. The family celebrated by taking a trip to Jekyll Island, where they’d gone to a water park.

Peewee walked down the center aisle, pausing to kick at a drift of leaves that must have blown in under the door. As he kicked at the leaves, scattering them, his work boot came in contact with something unyielding. He looked down to see what it was and found it was a foot, clad in a narrow, polished black shoe.

The pry bar hit the stone floor with a clatter as Peewee turned tail and ran.

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Jill Hand is a member of International Thriller Writers. Her Southern Gothic novels, White Oaks, and Black Willows, are available on Amazon and from the publisher, Black Rose Writing.

Advance readers called White Oaks a fast-paced, hilarious account of three siblings who are competing for their father’s forty-billion-dollar fortune while trying to prevent the destruction of Planet Earth.

Diane Donovan, senior reviewer from Midwest Book Review praised White Oaks, calling it, “an unusually multifaceted tale that holds the ability to prompt laughter from thriller-style tension.”

A sequel to White Oaks, Black Willows, follows the adventures of the squabbling, dysfunctional Trapnell family. Red Pines, third in the series of Trapnell family thrillers, was just released in April 2024.

Facebook * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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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.

Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher And Terrie Farley Moran

Posted: April 13, 2024 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage
by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

 


Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage
Cozy Mystery
58th in Series
Setting – Edmonton in Alberta, Canada
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (April 2, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593640756
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593640753
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CHDKVL78

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The newest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.

Jessica Fletcher’s British cousin, Emma MacGill, will be traveling to Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, to perform with internationally famous star of stage, screen, and television Derek Braverman in an old-fashioned musical review. Emma would love for Jessica to join her there and suggests she bring along some friends. Having just finished her latest book, Jessica is ready for a vacation and is delighted to agree. Dr. Seth Hazlitt and Sheriff Mort Metzger are huge fans of Braverman, so they are eager to tag along, and their fanboy behavior gives Jessica and Mort’s wife, Maureen, more than occasional cause to roll their eyes.

Upon arrival in Edmonton, Jessica is quickly outed as mystery writer J. B. Fletcher, and despite numerous protests, a hotel staffer arranges a book signing for her. This and touristy adventures arranged for the group make for a much busier trip than Jessica was expecting. When a hotel bartender, who also happens to be a stagehand for Emma’s play, turns up dead backstage at the theater, Jessica’s fun and relaxing vacation quickly becomes anything but.

About the Authors

Along with Jessica Fletcher, Terrie Farley Moran co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series including  Murder, She Wrote: Killer on the Court. She is the author of the Read ‘Em and Eat cozy mystery series and also co-writes the Scrapbooking Mysteries with Laura Childs. Recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer Awards, Moran has published numerous mystery short stories. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is hanging out with any or all of her seven grandchildren.

Author Links – Webpage   Facebook 

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse

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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 Wedding by Kelly Smith ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: April 12, 2024 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways, Interview
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Book Details:

 The Wedding by Kelly Smith
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +) , 240 pages
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Friendship
Publisher:  Sunny Day Publishing
Release date:  September 2023
Content Rating: PG-13: A small amount of sec scenes 

Book Description:

Four friends, one city. Grace, Piper, Sydney and Rachel navigate life, careers, and love in Boston. Each woman is newly single and looking for a fresh start. As their work lives start to look up, they each meet a new man who may be “the one”—or may not. The bond the four women share helps them make better sense of their lives, but at times their friendship causes more issues than it solves. New couples form, and one of them is headed for the altar. But which of the women is about to be a bride?

All along the way, Grace, Piper, Sydney and Rachel are each other’s biggest fans and cheerleaders. The Wedding explores the bond women share and the love they seek.

Buy the Book:
Amazon 
Add to Goodreads
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Interview With Author Kelly Smith:
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There are many books out there about love and romance, what makes your different?

The thing that makes, The Wedding, so different from other love/romance books is that in The Wedding the reader follows the journey of four friends who are falling in and out of love while they are trying to build careers and maintain their own friendships. What is special about The Wedding, is that while the reader is reading, they are also solving a mystery. Who is getting married?? Reading to the end will earn you a wedding invitation to THE wedding!

Do you ever get writers block? How do you overcome it?

I do get writer’s block. I find it pops up when I am feeling stressed out or anxious about something in my life. Sometimes a drive will help to get the words flowing again, at other times I have to let my stress or anxiety pass before I can continue to create.

What is your next project?

I am working on a short series about the effects of being a serial womanizer from the male’s perspective. The reader will tag along with my main character as he discovers how his promiscuous ways can lead to his life in turmoil, but can a serial womanizer really change?

Where can readers purchase your books?

Readers can purchase all my books:

Signs in the Rearview Mirror Leaving a Toxic Relationship Behind

Out of the Darkness

The Wedding

On Amazon, Kindle, Audible, Barnes & Noble (online), Target (online), Book People, and of course my website

www.kellysmithauthor.com

If you could have only one season, what would it be?

I love the fall. I am not sure if that’s because I grew up in New England, or because my birthday is in October, but nothing beats the smell of sharpened pencils, crisp air, and fresh apple cider all in the same day. Late September through Halloween you walk through crunchy fallen leaves and pull your sweater a little tighter around you as you make your way to either the local high school football game and sit in the stands with hot coco or take photos with friends and family as you pick way too many apples at your towns local farm that gives you the encouragement to make a variety of apple desserts. Fall is when the leaves change, and winter begins to knock on your door for alerting you to prepare to huddle in before the freezing temps take over and its time to huddle in to keep warm. Fall is my happy place.

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Meet Author Kelly Smith:

Kelly Smith, a three-time published author, first came on the scene with her debut novel, Signs in the Rearview Mirror Leaving a Toxic Relationship Behind. After healing from her toxic relationships, she soon realized dating after a toxic relationship was difficult, which then led her to write Out of the Darkness. Out of the Darkness, her sophomore book is about her experiences with healing after abuse, dating, and finding love again. Sunny Day Publishing published all of her books.

Smith, an award-winning writer, writes for Elephant Journal and HuffPost. Smith is a dating expert for the online relationship and dating magazine, GoDates.

Smith is a certified relationship and dating coach who works with clients who are trying to rebuild their lives after an abusive relationship ends, or after a long-term relationship ends.

Smith is a Boston native who moved to the Austin, TX area in July 2003 with her three sons.

Media Expertise Kelly can speak on topics including domestic violence in teen dating, narcissism, and toxic relationships, women as the abusers, recovering from an abusive relationship, dating again after an abusive relationship, narcissism in both men and women, and living as an adult child with a narcissistic parent.

​Connect with the author:   Website  ~  X/Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

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THE WEDDING Book Tour 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.

Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon ~ Spotlight And Giveaway

Posted: April 11, 2024 in Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Book Details:

​ Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  436 pages
Genre: Coming-of-Age Fantasy
Publisher: Peace Tigers, LLC
Release date:  October 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 for one f-word, mild romance, and battle scenes.

Book Description:

IS REALITY REALLY WHAT WE THINK? A BLEND OF SCIENCE AND THE SUPERNATURAL MAY HOLD THE KEY.

Reality, as we understand it, is about to be redefined. Malcolm Tilden, a former DC native and reluctant initiate in a Tibetan monastery, embarks on a journey to meet his fate. In the wake of a global catastrophe, Malcolm and his best friend, Aimi Ueshiba, must face of against the sinister Music Man and his reptilian army to fulfill a prophecy as old as civilization. It isn’t as glamorous as it sounds, and the conflict isn’t over.

Fortunately, they have some quirky but powerful mentors. To succeed and live to train the next generation of initiates, they have to embrace a blend of ancient and modern mysteries, joining their heads and their hearts in a shared destiny to bring peace back to their neighborhood–and the world beyond.

Peace Tigers is an engaging blend of science fiction and spiritual exploration, challenging us to the true nature of our purpose. Come discover these enigmatic secrets one lesson at a time.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N
​add to goodreads
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Meet Author Dave Martelon:

Dave Martelon is the author of Peace Tigers. A technology executive by trade, Dave never aspired to write a novel. Nevertheless, in witnessing the trend of separation in society, he was compelled to the pen. Inspired by three lifelong interests–the Japanese martial art form Aikido, quantum physics, and world peace–Peace Tigers is a call to action to solve what ails us, a call for more Peace Tigers.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads 

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PEACE TIGERS Book Tour 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.

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