bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

This is my own version of a weekly book haul and all things new on fuonlyknew.

Another fun way to share your book news and enjoy others is The Sunday Post hosted by

Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Head on over and leave a link to your Sunday Post and hop around to visits others.

~~~

Some chit chat.

It’s kind of a dog day afternoon. Mostly cloudy and breezy and lots of looming rain clouds. Even my dog, Quigley, and my cat, Sheba, know when it’s a day to chill. To do what they love best. Sheba is so funny. Quig will be all stretched out and there will be just a tiny space on the sofa. She’ll eye it and meow. Then she’ll jump up and turn round and round looking for room to lie down. Quig will lift his head, softly rumble, and she’ll settle down. They are such a pair.

pets and poetry books 003

I’ve been reading a bunch of books and felt like I needed a break. So I’ve spent a lot of time going through Netflix, watching some obscure and low rated movies. I was surprised to find a few that were pretty good. And a bunch that were god awful bad. LOL  And guess what? Now I”m kind of burnt out on watching television. So what am I doing now? Well, I’ve been working crosswords, playing some video games, and I actually started playing solitaire with an actual deck of cards. Plus I’ve pulled out a few crafting projects that needed to be finished.

I think it’s time to get out of the house and do something fun. So what do you do when you can’t focus on one thing?

I’ll be hopping over to check out your Sunday posts so be sure to leave me your link!

~~~

Here are my new books for review.

23876717  22965853  25397036

I was contacted by the publisher about reading The Anatomy Of Melancholy. I was intrigued by the cover and had to check it out.

I just couldn’t resist Kittens Can Kill. Just look at it! LOL

And Drop Dead Punk sounds just twisted enough for me.

~~~

New ones just because.

After buying my new Paperwhite last week I tried to resist buying some new books. I did pick up a freebie that looked fun.

On my Kindle

12432696

~~~

And here are some freebies for ya!

Click on the covers to get yours and remember to make sure they’re still free before you click that buy button.

20574832   

   

     

   

~~~

Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers for my reviews.

18351878  16088697

21810611  23265731

~~~

Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

20983429    18068418

23249684 

~~~

What I won.

re takes 009

I won these awesome books from the April Mystery Box Giveaway on Book Hounds. Thanks a bunch Mary!

~

re takes 004

And I won these cool comic books from a giveaway on Mymcbooks Blog. Thanks Ella!

~

These books I won from the Spring Cleaning Giveaway on The Howling Turtle. Thanks so much Larissa!

~~~

Other Posts on my blog this week.

Things get mighty hot in… Southern Heat by David Burnsworth ~ Review and Giveaway

Teaser Tuesdays #114 ~ The City of Blood ~ A Paris Homicide Mystery

Ghost Love by Nelli Rees ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

2 ghosts bought on eBay ~ Ghost For Sale by Sandra Cox ~ Cover Reveal

It’s a mad world… The Publicist by Christina George ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

#T4T Two For Thursday Blast & Giveaway ~ Reaper’s Rite Series by Dorothy Dreyer

In the shadows, in the mist… Madman Across The Water ~ Debut Book Release Blast

From boy to man…Anthony by Harold J. Fischel ~ Tour Review & Giveaway

#M9B Friday Book Trailer Reveal & Giveaway ~ Joshua and the Lightning Road

The Friday 56 #61 ~ Jill Kismet: The Complete Series

Unleash The Undead ~ Tour Review & Giveaway

~~~

Have you joined TSU yet?

Click on the widget to friend and follow me!

tsu-logo

~~~

Fora list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free books updated daily go HERE

For all of my giveaways go HERE

~~~

So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

I’d love to know and thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

UnleashThe Undead banner

It’s summer here on the Gulf Coast and you know what that means? It’s zombies time!

I don’t know why, but it seems I read a lot more apocalyptic stories, especially ones featuring zombies, in the summer.  And have I got some goodies to share with you today.

Unleash The Undead is a collection of stories compiled by Samie Sands.

All kinds of zombie goodies in it!

Check out my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Oh yeah! Watch out for zombies. They be prowling this post! zombies photo: zombie EatBrainsEatBrainsEatBrains.gif

~~~

Unleash the Undead

Compiled by Samie Sands

UnleashThe Undead cover

My Review

Lots of zombies in this one.

So many different contributions, from short stories, to flash fiction, to poetry.

And there are some great illustrations sprinkled throughout these stories. It made the reading even more fun.

I had some I enjoyed more than others but all in all a very solid collection.

I’m huge on the apocalyptic genre and zombies so I read this cover to cover without pausing.

I cringed. I laughed.

It may sound morbid, but the ones I liked the most had the worst endings. I know, I’m a sucker for the shockers and who expects a happy ending when the shuffling horde is out to eat ya. LOL I’d be disappointed if some of the main characters didn’t meet a grisly end, and these authors didn’t disappoint me.

Now that I’ve sampled these authors I’ll be checking to see what else they have to offer.

4 Stars

zombies photo: ZOMBIES Zombie-At-Tiffanys-By-Marion-Cromb.gif

 

BLURB:

Delve into the horrifying world of the zombie apocalypse, as bought to you by the following authors and artists: J.L.Drake, Marina Hume, Matías Andrés Bravo Jara, Ana Prundaru, J.H., Dale Herring, Jonny Graham, Klarissa Del Rossario, Saadia Ammad, Akash Sagar, Rob Shepherd, Rhys Curtis-Thompson, Kayleigh Edwards, Diego Tonini, Lachelle Redd, Victoria Pagac, Noel Osualdini, Glen Holman, Mathias Jansson, Kyle Flack, Ceri Matthias, Gia Berryman, Max Ferreira, Diana Alexandru, Kevin S. Hall, Art Pic, Zoja Vladisavljevic, B.S. Purwanda and Samie Sands.

~~~

zombies photo: zombies 4 zombies-6.gif

Enjoy the excerpt

Along with the thigh-high PVC boots, Lucy was also wearing a long-sleeved leather body suit and a pair of PVC goggles. Anna smirked; she looked like the lovechild of the steampunk genre and a member of Marilyn Manson.

“Well what was I meant to do? He came at me, all chompy and toothy so I stamped in his eye.” Lucy shrugged, moving to examine a shelf crowded with accessories.

“No, not Colin. I wouldn’t have blamed you for stamping in that pervert’s eye even if he wasn’t one of them.” Anna replied, rolling her eyes as Lucy found, and snapped on, a pair of leather gloves.

“He was my best customer.” Lucy grumbled. zombies photo: zombie gif 08.gif

“I mean the outfit.” Anna explained, shaking her head. “I realise you run a sex shop whilst moonlighting as a dominatrix, but do you really have to dress like that now? We’re in the middle of an apocalypse; you don’t need your uniform.”

“It’s an underwear shop! And this outfit is for practicality. It’s nearly impossible to chew through this stuff. I’ll have the last laugh when your jeans are in tatters and your legs have been eaten off, and there’s barely a scratch on me.” Lucy smiled, grabbing a bullwhip from the wall and coiling it around her forearm.

zombies photo: More Rights For Zombies zombie.gif

~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Samie’s debut novel, Lockdown has been published by Triplicity Publishing, and she is currently working on the sequel. She has a degree in Media and loves to gain inspiration for her writing from travelling. Check out her website http://samiesands.com

Lulu ~ Smashwords ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Samiesands ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.

The more you comment, the more chances to win.

Goddess Fish Promotions

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from

Jill Kismet

The Complete Series: Books One thru Six

by Lilith Saintcrow

jill kismet series 002

 

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My 56 is a bit different this time as this is six books in one. I’ll be choosing a page with the number 56 from each book.

Page 56 Night Shift

“Don’t say a word,” he groaned, leaning back in his chair. “Not one f#!king word, Kiss. I’m warning you.”

Page 356 Hunter’s Prayer

The doorbell rang, but I ignored it. Anyone knocking at my door would either come in and get shot or go away.

Page 556 Redemption Alley

Even among normal humans with no scent of the nightside, there are killers.

Page 856 Flesh Circus

“If she keeps killing Cirque performers there’s going to be trouble.

Page 1056 Heaven’s Spite

He was making a slight crooning sound, too, like a child trying to entice a reluctant dog.

A nasty, sociopathic little child.

Page 1256 Angel Town

“I remember what I did now,” I whispered. ” I damned myself. Didn’t I.”

~~~

Synopsis

Not everyone can take on the things that go bump in the night.

Not everyone tries.

But Jill Kismet is not just anyone.

She’s a Hunter, trained by the best — and in over her head.

Welcome to the night shift…

The omnibus edition of Jill Kismet contains: Night Shift, Hunter’s Prayer, Redemption Alley, Flesh Circus, Heaven’s Spite and Angel Town.

~~~

I couldn’t believe my luck when I spotted this on a shelf at my favorite used book store. I’ve read the first book, Night Shift, and loved Kiss. She’s kick ass. And now I have the complete series in one ginormous book. I wonder how much it weighs?LOL There are 1364 pages and a glossary too. It’s over two and a half inches thick. And I just went and weighed it. It’s over two and a half pounds.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.

M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are featuring the book trailer for

Joshua and the Lightning Road by Donna Galanti

presented by Tantrum Books/Month9Books!

There are two (2) giveaway opportunities available.

Find out more information at the end of the post!

Check out the trailer!

Joshua and The Lightning Road

Stay away from the window, don’t go outside when it’s storming and whatever you do, do not touch the orb.

Twelve-year-old Joshua Cooper’s grandpa has always warned him about the dangers of lightning. But Joshua never put much stock in his grandpa’s rumblings as anything more than the ravings of an old man with a vast imagination. Then one night, when Joshua and his best friend are home alone during a frightful storm, Joshua learns his grandpa was right. A bolt of lightning strikes his house and whisks away his best friend—possibly forever.

To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road to a dark place that steals children for energy. But getting back home and saving his friend won’t be easy, as Joshua must face the terrifying Child Collector and fend off ferocious and unnatural beasts intent on destroying him.

In this world, Joshua possesses powers he never knew he had, and soon, Joshua’s mission becomes more than a search for his friend. He means to send all the stolen children home—and doing so becomes the battle of his life.

add to goodreadsTitle: Joshua and the Lightning Road
Publication date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Donna Galanti

Pre-order Links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

about-the-author

Donna Galanti

Donna is the author of the Joshua and The Lightning Road series and the Element Trilogy. She is a contributing editor to International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine and blogs at www.project-middle-grade-mayhem.blogs…, a cooperative of published middle grade authors. Visit her at www.donnagalanti.com and www.ElementTrilogy.com. Donna wanted to be a writer ever since she wrote a murder mystery screenplay at seven and acted it out with the neighborhood kids. She attended an English school housed in a magical castle, where her wild imagination was held back only by her itchy uniform (bowler hat and tie included!). There she fell in love with the worlds of C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, and wrote her first fantasy about Dodo birds, wizards, and a flying ship (and has been writing fantasy ever since). She’s lived in other exotic locations, including her family-owned campground in New Hampshire and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives with her family and two crazy cats in an old farmhouse and dreams of returning one day to a castle.

 

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

iPad-Promo-JOSHUA-Web

To enter: Pre-order Joshua and the Lightning Road from your favorite bookseller and email proof of purchase to LightningRoadContest@gmail.com.

First Prize: Apple iPad Mini 16GB

Second Prize: $25 B&N Gift Card

Third Prize: Signed map of the book’s world, the Lost Realm

Proof of purchase must be received before May 17th, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. EST to qualify. Open to U.S. residents only. Winners will be chosen using a random number generator and notified by May 22, 2015.

Button

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Harold J. Fischel

Anthony

by Harold J. Fischel

21810611

Publisher:  Harold J. Fischel (April 3, 2014)
Category: New Adult, Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction
Tour Date: May/June, 2015
Available in: Print & ebook, 309 Pages

My Review

Compelling. That’s the word I’m looking for. This story is compelling.

There isn’t a lot of action, no weird plots. It’s a story about a boy and the events that make him a man.

A shy, somewhat pudgy young boy, Anthony discovers swimming and as his body matures, he grows into a strapping young man.

During those years, he faces many adversities, suffers a tragic loss, and is involved in a taboo affair. The shadows of his past follow him as he goes off to college. There he makes friends, finds his path, and falls in love.

But the past catches up to him. Now he could lose everything. Perhaps love can save him.

This is another of those stories I call life fiction. From boy to man, you follow this character. Feel his insecurities and doubts. His sadness and pain. His hope.

I mentioned compelling. I opened this book, started reading, and the writing compelled me to continue. I read a chapter, then another, and another. Soon, I reached the end. It read almost like a movie. Flashing from scene to scene through the years as Anthony grew up.

A wonderful story.

4 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

Life has never been easy for Anthony, the secret love child of a well-known US general and his beautiful mistress. After his father perishes in a plane crash, his cancer-stricken mother, Yuni, is forced to move with him to a tiny New York City apartment. And to make matters worse, he’s flagged as an easy target for neighborhood bullies, who constantly terrorize him inside and outside of school.

But after a brutal attack prompts him to fight back in a fit of rage, things start to turn around for the young boy. He shows promise joining the swim and wrestling teams in school, and begins to grow into the tall and physically fit body he inherited from his father.

Just when Anthony’s situation seems to be getting better, however, tragedy strikes his life yet again. In order to put the pieces back together, he turns to some of the strong female figures in his life. But it’s the one girl whom he least expects who may have the power to heal him—shedding his image as the illegitimate son through the magic of love and helping him leave his tragic childhood behind.

~~~~~

Praise for Anthony by Harold J. Fischel:

“It’s not often that I find a book that truly moves me, but Anthony may have just been it. Anthony is so real…such a realistic and poignant character. He is bitter, confused, sad, angry, and while his experience is not necessarily the norm of a typical young adult, you can easily relate to him. What a transformation. Anthony goes from a scared and weak child to a fierce, understanding, and competent young man. Fischel writes with skill and craftsmanship that is a joy to read. I would read anything else he has to offer in a heartbeat.”- Katelyn Hensel, Readers’ Favorite

“The young boy, Anthony, captures your heart in the first few chapters, and you will want to continue with him through his happy, frightening, joyful, daunting journey toward manhood. A good read from start to finish.” J. Herrick, Amazon Reviewer

“New Adult, Coming of Age, Contemporary Fiction’s coming of age story, Anthony, is inspiring and heartwarming. Fischel’s writing style is accomplished and smooth, and I quickly became immersed in this athletic and ethical story of triumph over adversity. Anthony is a marvelous book and is highly recommended reading.”- Jack Magnus, Readers’ Favorite

“Loved the story line, could not put it down. Although it is listed as a novel, it is sad to think this is reality for some kids.”- Donna Connely, Amazon Reviewer

“Anthony by Harold J. Fischel is a wonderful coming of age novel. I loved the story of Anthony,…  I welcomed all the surprises and I loved all the characters. Anthony was resilient and strong, even when he was still a kid. Everything he experienced growing up only made him stronger, some of the things that happened to him even made me cry. All the supporting characters also played big roles in Anthony’s success. Overall, a good book with great characters.”- Lorena Sanqui, Readers’ Favorite

~~~~

About Harold J. Fischel

Hal at Hunt Ball Sally M

Harold J. Fischel, a graduate of Washington & Lee University and the NYU School of Law, has lived and worked on four different continents. His family fled the Netherlands shortly after the Nazi invasion, moving to Curacao and Aruba before settling in the United States in 1952.

After law school, Fischel served the US Army in Germany, later retiring as a captain. Since then, he again lived in the Netherlands, before returning to the United States to work for the US subsidiary of a Chinese company.

Fischel is now retired and living in Michigan with his wife, Jan, and their  beloved Labrador retriever. He has two daughters, five wonderful grandchildren, and two great sons-in-law. Since retiring, he has published two novels and is working on a third.

Facebook ~ Goodreads

Buy Anthony by Harold J. Fischel

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository
Kobo

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have one copy of Anthony to giveaway. Winners choice of eBook or Print.

Print copy is US only.

To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

“If you could go back and live your life over, would you?”

~~~

Follow the tour for more fun posts!

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus  May 5 Spotlight & Giveaway

aobibliosphere™ May 6 Review

Cassandra M’s Place May 7 Review & Giveaway

IndieWritersReview May 8 Excerpt

Indie Review Behind the Scenes May 9 Live Interview  11 am Centeral

Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings May 11 Review

Inspire to Read May 11 Interview

What Jenna Thought May 13 Review

fuonlyknew May 14 Review & Giveaway

What Jenna Thought May 14 Interview & Giveaway

Binding Addiction May 15 Excerpt

Housewife Blues & Chihuahua May 18 Excerpt

Random Musesomy May 21 Review & Giveaway

Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews May 25 Review

Confessions Of A Reader May 27 Review

The Book Lover’s Lounge May 29 Review & Giveaway

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus June 1 Review

Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews June 1 Guest Post

Rockin’ Book Reviews June 5 Review & Giveaway

What U Talking Bout Willis? June 15 Guest Post

Jersey Girl Book Reviews June 19 Review & Guest Post

The Mama Games June 23 Review & Giveaway

Deal Sharing Aunt June 26 Review & Giveaway

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

.
Madman Across the Water
By- Caroline Angel
Genre- Horror
 
For generations one family has been haunted by something… something that stalks. It sees and listens, it watches and follows. In the shadows and mist it waits, to take you, to hurt you, perhaps to kill you. And if it doesn’t kill you, you’ll wish it did. 
 
A creepy, suspenseful saga of family, horror, and mystery, this is one story sure to leave you frightened of the woods at night, fog, and all things tall and slender.
 
 

Read the rest of this entry »

T4T-Banner

Hello and welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

The Reaper’s Rite series by Dorothy Dreyer!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

My Sister's Reaper

Sixteen-year-old Zadie’s first mistake was telling the boy she liked she could bring her dead sister back to life. Her second mistake was actually doing it.

When Zadie accidentally messes with the Reaper’s Rite that should have claimed her sister Mara, things go horribly wrong. Mara isn’t the same anymore—Zadie isn’t even sure she’s completely human, and to top it off, a Reaper is determined to collect Mara’s soul no matter what. Now Zadie must figure out how to defeat her sister’s Reaper, or let Mara die … this time for good.

add to goodreadsamazon B&N

What Readers Are Saying:

I felt that the author did a great job with her character developement. She was very vivid in her details and I felt like they were people I would meet on the street.” – Michelle, Goodreads Reviewer

“My Sister’s Reaper was a great paranormal, YA novel. Dreyer did an awesome job at creating Zadie’s linage and having it make complete sense.”Tyler, Jolley Chronicles

“Okay, reapers, zombies, and death? Yeah, I was definitely reading this one.” – Kelly Hashway, Author

~~~~~

My Tethered Soul

 

Months have passed since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, during which time she’s been under her mentor’s magical protection. But now that she’s turning 17, that protection is about to run out. When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she’s manipulated into committing unspeakable acts. With her friends and family at risk, Zadie must try to use her powers to break free from the Reaper’s grasp, or surrender to the Reaper’s Rite, which can only lead to death.

add to goodreadsamazon B&N

What Readers Are Saying:

“The series is magnificent and should be on the best sellers list!!”Holly, Author

“Dorothy Dreyer continues the fast-paced, heart pounding journey she started in My Sister’s Reaper, delivering a YA paranormal romance filled with believable characters battling unbelievable odds.”Katie, Author

“Ms. Dreyer has upped the ante in terms of characterization, suspense, some down-right spooky scenes, and a playful sense of humor, particularly in the dialogue between her teen protagonists.” Stuart, Author

About-the-Author
Dorothy Dreyer

Dorothy Dreyer has always believed in magic. Born in Angeles City, Philippines, to a Filipino mother and American Father, Dorothy grew up a military brat, living in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Guam, New Jersey, and New York. She now lives in Frankfurt, Germany, with her husband, two teens, and two Siberian huskies. Dorothy not only writes books with some element of magic in them, but has a fondness for reading those kinds of books as well. She also enjoys movies, chocolate, take-out, and spending time with family and friends. She’s known to make a pretty sweet cupcake when she has the time. She also tends to sing sometimes, so keep her away from your Karaoke bars.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

~~~

Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

iRead Book Tour Logo Medium

For today I’m sharing the covers and blurbs for all three books and my review for The Publicist, Book #1. Be sure to stop by next week on May 20th for my review of The Publicist, Book #2 and the following week on May 27th for my review of The Publicist, Climax, Book #3.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a Kindle or #100 Amazon Gift Card!

~~~

The Publicist (Book One)

.
The Publicist New Cover Book 1
.
My Review
.

Beware. You are now entering the publishing zone!

First things first. I had a bit of a rough patch with Kate and Mac. He’s married, after all. I don’t condone that behavior one bit. But there are special circumstances here. I actually found myself hoping these two would get their happy ever after. This is the first of three books so I was pretty sure it wouldn’t happen soon. And the author throws in Nick. He’s just as sexy as Mac, and single. Who knows where it will go.

What a lovely mess is the world of publishing. As a publicist, Kate has to deal with some crazy stuff. From authors faking 5 star reviews, to stage fright, to squeezing that next book out of them, she’s always stressed out. I bow to her tenacity. No matter how impossible some things seemed, she found a way, often making me laugh at her ingenuity.

I read a lot of  books and have come to know many authors and some of their experiences with being published. Now I have a peek into the other side of that process. I don’t envy either. It can be cut throat and you need a tough skin and lots of patience. And sometimes, a heart.

Many characters are introduced. A few secondary ones really had an impact. And there are some I’d gladly show to the door.

The chapters are short, making it a fast read. I read this straight through in one night. I started it, got sucked in by the smooth writing and genuine characters, and kept thinking I’d read just one more chapter. It was the wee hours when I finished it and I kept looking at the second book, but I resisted and did get some sleep.

I recommend this to authors, publishers, and word lovers everywhere.

“It’s a mad mad mad mad world.”

4 Stars

~~~~~
Synopsis
Behind every book, there’s always more to the story. Can one woman change an age-old institution like publishing? Probably not, but Kate Mitchell sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system, books that don’t always sell (at all) and author egos that are often, well, as big as the island of Manhattan.Enter the star Editor, MacDermott Ellis. Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author, now as forgotten as yesterday’s news; and his nephew Nick, who wants to sweep Kate away from New York for another coast, California.

As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, the over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn’t on the bestseller list this week”, she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.

​Shelf Life (Book Two)
.
Shelf Life New Cover
 .
​It’s an industry of out-of-control egos, unrealistic expectations, and unfulfilled promises.This is publishing and it’s Kate’s world, but maybe not for long.When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. With the shelf life of her career and her love affair quickly expiring, Kate sets off on a new adventure…Starting over in California is easy but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn’t. Nick Lavigne is eager to help her forget but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis.As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she’s welcomed back with open arms.But at the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she’d been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart.Behind the book, there’s always more to the story. Welcome to Publishing, the ego has landed.
Climax  (Book Three)
.
Climax__the Publicist_Part_1_2 Bundled Set Cover (2)
 .

Kate Mitchell has never forgiven herself for breaking Nick Lavigne’s heart. Now he’s back and he’s moved on, and it’s affecting Kate’s life more than she’s willing to admit.

Kate Mitchell has everything. She’s the head of a crazy successful publishing house, engaged to the traffic-stopping sexy Mac Ellis and she’s about to sign one of the biggest authors of her career.

And that’s when everything falls apart.

Everything is perfect…until it’s not.

In a city of 8 million people Kate manages to run into someone she never expected to see again.

Nick is handsome, impossibly kind, every girl’s dream, and Kate’s former fiancé. He’s also the brother of the rising star author she’s trying to sign. Now that Nick’s back in town and has moved on he insists he’s over Kate, but part of him still can’t get past how amazing they were, and his sister won’t let anyone forget how brutally it ended.

When Mac is dealt a life-changing blow, it forces Kate to question every single choice she’s made.

Follow Kate as she embarks on a journey of life and love, navigating through the decisions that will change it all forever.

Author Christina George

Christina George

Christina George has worked in publishing for twenty years (give or take). Here’s what this book isn’t. It’s not a slam against publishing (though it is broken) and it’s not a slam against authors (though some of them are crazy). This book is not autobiographical though many of the stories are true. No you won’t know which ones, cause it’s more fun to guess, right? George continues to work in publicity and helps authors because at the end of the day she does love books, she loves publishing, and she loves authors. She hopes you’ll enjoy this romp through Kate’s world as much as she enjoyed creating it.

Connect with Christina: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~ Goodreads
Where to buy the book

Amazon

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~

Follow the tour for more fun posts!

May 4 – Working Mommy Journal – review of Shelf Life / giveaway
May 4 – Book Nerd – review of The Publicist 
May 5 – XoXo Book Blog – book spotlight / interview or guest post / giveaway
May 5 – Working Mommy Journal – review of Climax 
May 5 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 5 – Book Stop Corner – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 5 – T’s Stuff – review of Climax / giveaway
May 6 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of Shelf Life
May 6 – Book Stop Corner – review of Shelf Life
May 6 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of The Publicist 
May 7 – For Life After – review of Climax
May 7 – Book Stop Corner – review of Climax
May 7 – The Bookish & The Romantic – review of Climax
May 7 – The Booksnake Etc – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 8 – Book Nerd – review of Shelf Life 
May 11 – The Booksnake Etc – review of Shelf Life
May 11 – Julia Piccolo – review of Climax
May 13 – fuonlyknew – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 13 – Back Porchervations – book spotlight / interview or guest post / giveaway
May 13 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of Shelf Life 
May 14 – Book Nerd – review of Climax
May 14 –  Vic’s Media Room – review of The Publicist
May 15 – The Book Fairy – review of Climax / giveaway
May 15 – Vic’s Media Room – review of Shelf Life
May 15 – The Booksnake Etc – review of Climax
May 18 – Vic’s Media Room – review of Climax
May 20 – fuonlyknew – review of Shelf Life
May 20 – Coffee *Book* Mom – review of Climax
May 27 – fuonlyknew – review of Climax
May 27 – Stuck in YA Books – review of The Publicist / giveaway
May 28 – Stuck in YA Books – review of Shelf Life
May 29 – Stuck in YA Books – review of Climax

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Ghost for Sale Book Banner

Who knew you could buy ghosts off of eBay. I guess they sell anything!

Check out the cover for Ghost For Sale!

~~~

Ghost For Sale

Title: Ghost For Sale
Author: Sandra Cox
Publisher: Lyrical Press

 Synopsis

Caitlin King can’t believe that her shopaholic cousin actually bought two ghosts off of eBay. But she can’t ignore the truth when she starts seeing sexy Liam O’Reilly, who’s been dead for over a hundred years. He’s a fascinating specter, and the more time Caitlin spends with him, the closer they become—sending them both spiraling into a star-crossed tailspin. No matter how desperately they long for each other, there’s just no future with a guy who’s already stopped breathing.

In order to help Liam and his twin sister, Anna, leave their earthly limbo and cross over into the light, Caitlin must find the ghost of Anna’s fiancé. But a malevolent spirit is dead set against Anna moving on. Now Caitlin will have to unravel the mystery surrounding the twins’ past lives in order to keep Liam’s spirit safe—even if it means sacrificing her heart in the process.

 

PRE-ORDER INFORMATION

Ghost for Sale  is available for pre-order at Apple,  AmazonB&N,  Kobo and Google Play

~~~~

Author Sandra Cox

Sandra Cox

Multi-published author Sandra Cox writes YA fantasy, historic and paranormal romance and metaphysical nonfiction. Sandra lives with her husband, a menagerie of pets, and an occasional foster cat in sunny North Carolina. To see the brood go to her website www.sandracox1.com and click on the cat tab.

For More Information

Visit Sandra’s website.

~~~

Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Ghost Love Banner 851 x 315_thumb[1]

Ghost Love

Nelli Rees

Genre: Romance (with a hint of the paranormal)

Publisher: Phaze

Date of Publication: 20th January 2015

ISBN: ISBN-13 978-1-60659-849-8 / ASIN: B00SNYRXH8

Number of pages: 332 / Word Count: 90,000

Cover Artist: Niki Browning

Book Description:

In the madcap, chaotic days when Communism crumbled in the USSR, Tonia meets and falls in love with Englishman, Peter Monroe. Despite the protests of her family and the more strenuous

objections of the KGB Tonia agrees to marry Peter only for him to mysteriously disappear.

Twenty years later a life-toughened Toni must revisit these bitter-sweet memories when she finds herself and her daughters endangered by the consequences of that love affair.

In her despair Toni comes to realise that true love really does conquer all … even death.

Available at Phaze Amazon BN ARe

~~~

Excerpt

Present Day: Dorset, England

Excitement being a kindred spirit to fear, Toni was undecided as to whether it was a trickle of fear she felt shivering down her spine or a trickle of excitement.

As she sat staring at the screen of her laptop, the darkness shrouding the room seemed to draw in on her: her head swam, her palms became clammy. Tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked them away, hoping that by doing so the message on her screen would disappear. It didn’t.

Peter Monroe wants to be friends on Facebook.

Hesitantly she maneuvered the cursor over the ‘connect’ button and pressed ‘enter.’ The screen mutated to show the Facebook page for ‘Peter Monroe.’ It was Peter! She recognized the profile photograph instantly. She’d taken it. She remembered posing him in front of the bandstand in Gorki Park on that spring day back in 1990, remembered laughing at the stupid faces he pulled, remembered the way his long chestnut hair flopped over his forehead, remembered…

How could she forget? He had been her one true love.

Love. A word made empty by misuse…by overuse. She wondered how many had ever endured the touch of real love, that soul-eviscerating sensation that comes when you know you have found your soul-mate. Very few, she decided. Perhaps this was all for the good: true love brought anguish in equal measure to joy. As the last twenty years had taught her, finding true love was a bitter-sweet blessing. Her fingers trembled as she typed.

Is it really you, Peter?

The reply was instantaneous.

Yes…I’ve missed you, Tonia.

She couldn’t stop herself: the tears flowed down her cheeks.

But…

She paused, terrified that what she would type next might cause this marvelous mirage to vanish.

But I thought you were dead.

The seconds ticked by, then:

I am.

~~~

About Nelli Rees

clip_image004_thumb[2]

Nelli Rees, born in Moscow, trained as a linguist and a musician. With her future husband Englishman Rod she worked and travelled around Russia, finally coming to live in England in 1998. Nelli has had several successful careers: recording a critically acclaimed nu-jazz album “Jazz Noir”, becoming an award-winning jewellery maker, writing a book “Glass Bead Jewelry Projects”, and doing all this whilst being a mother and a wife. “Ghost Love” is Nelli’s first novel and draws heavily on her own experiences as a young woman in Soviet Russia and the obstacles she and her husband-to-be faced during those difficult times.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

.

~~~~~

Video of Nelli performing “Falling In Love Again”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2J5Phukc8Y]

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Look at the awesome prizes!

clip_image002[4]_thumb[1]

Prize 1: “Pink Flowers” Necklace from Nelli’s “Jewelry for All Seasons” collection (handmade lampwork beads, sterling silver findings, crystals and hand dyed silk ribbon);

clip_image004[6]_thumb[1]

Prize 2: “Malachite Mystery” Pendant and earrings (handmade lampwork beads, sterling silver findings and chain, crystals);

clip_image006_thumb[1]

Prize 3: “Tiger! Tiger!” Earrings (handmade lampwork beads, sterling silver findings, crystals);

clip_image008_thumb[1]

Prizes 4-7: Bookmarks with glass bead ornamentation (handmade lampwork beads, crystals, steel dividers);

Prize 8: Signed paperback copy of ‘Ghost Love’;

clip_image010_thumb[1]

Prize 9: Signed copy of Nelli’s book ‘Glass Bead Jewelry Projects’;

Prize 10 – 14: Signed promo copies of Nelli’s album ‘Jazz Noir’.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg