Posts Tagged ‘collection’

Get your Furr on with……. Summer Snoops UNLEASHED

Posted: July 15, 2019 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Mystery
Tags: , , ,
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Summer Snoops Unleashed

14 Furr-ocious Mysteries and Cozy Crimes

by Judith Lucci, Anna Celeste Burke, Colleen Mooney, Fiona Quinn, Maria Grazia Swan, Kelly Hashway, Kim Hunt Harris, Susan Boles, Lisa B. Thomas, Emily Selby, Ava Mallory, Chelsea Thomas, Sam Cheever and Joanna Campbell Slan

Summer Snoops Unleashed: 14 Furr-ocious Mysteries and Cozy Crimes
 
Cozy Mystery
Release Date – July 23, 2019

Summertimes Murders are RUFF

ALL BRAND NEW STORIES!

Looking for cool cozies for hot summer days? Then you’ll love this purr-fectly paw-some cozy mystery boxed set from fourteen USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon best-selling authors.We’ve pulled out all the stops with Summer Snoops Unleashed! Enjoy hours of fun sniffing out clues on sandy beaches, shimmering waterways, and at small-town celebrations in these brand-new stories full of wily sleuths, cagey plots, and un-fur-gettable tails!Fetch your copy now to get these furr-ocious new cozy mysteries and woof it up with us!

They’re howlingly good reads!

All preorders support best lives for pets!

Here’s a sampling of stories…

WSJ and USA Best Selling Author Judith Lucci – The Most Glittery Crime of the Year: The Jewel Heist – An Artzy Chicks Mystery

WSJ and USA Today Best Selling Author Anna Celeste Burke ¬- Radical Regatta! Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery #4

WSJ & USA Today Best Selling Author Colleen Mooney – Fireworks, Forensics & Felonies

USA Today Best Selling Author Fiona Quinn – YOURS. No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Amazon Best Selling Author Maria Grazia Swan – Pies, Lies and a Last Goodbye

USA Today Best Selling Author Kelly Hashway – You Can’t Judge a Crime by its Aura

WSJ & USA Today Best Selling Author Kim Hunt Harris – Yankee Doodle Deadly: A Trailer Park Princess Novella

WSJ & USA Today Best Selling Author Susan Boles – Death in Mercy

Best Selling Author Amazon Lisa B. Thomas – Sharpe Pain: A Corpse in the Cabin

Amazon Best Selling Author Emily Selby – Death and Taxes on a Cloud

Amazon Best Selling Author Joanna Campbell Slan – Ruff Justice: Second Chance Adventure #5

WSJ and USA Today Best Selling Author Ava Mallory – High Heel Homicide: A Holly Woods Mystery Novella

Amazon Best Selling Author Chelsea Thomas – A Knead to Kill

WSJ and USA Today Best Selling Author Sam Cheever – Spunky Bumpkin

CLICK GRAPHIC BELOW TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTERS OF EACH STORY

About the Authors

Dr. Judith Lucci is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author. She is the award-winning author of the Alexandra Destephano Medical Thriller and the Michaela McPherson “Two Sleuth’s and a Dog” Crime series. She also writes psychological fiction. Her cozy series, The Artzy Chicks Mysteries focuses on a group of eccentric, talented but zany artists in their Art Gallery at a Five Star Mountain Resort in the Virginia mountains.

In 2017, ‘Viral Intent’ (Book 3) Alexandra Destephano Series) was awarded a Gold Medal by Readers’ Favorites for ‘Best Political Thriller’. as was her crime thriller ‘The Case of Dr. Dude’ (Michaela McPherson #1) for a Gold Medal for ‘Best Amateur Sleuth for 2017. ‘The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year‘ won an additional gold medal for ‘Best Holiday Read’ of 2017.

Her favorite things are reading, writing, and art. In her spare time she teaches painting, loves up on animals and raises money for needy causes. Judith lives with her 4 dog family in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She loves to connect with her readers and is available at judithlucciwrites@gmail.com. Check our her website at judithlucci.com. and sign-up for a free copy of Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center.

Anna Celeste Burke is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author who lives in the desert near Palm Springs with her beloved husband and loudmouthed Siamese cat. A retired professor who once worked as a Disney chef, you’ll find her snooping into life’s mysteries with fun, fiction, and food!

Colleen Mooney was born and raised in New Orleans along with everyone else in her family. She is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author and writes a cozy mystery series set in New Orleans called The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles.  The 7th  book in her series is Fireworks, Forensics and Felonies will be in Summer Snoops Unleashed.  Her Politicians, Potholes and Praline released in March 2019 and is available on Amazon and KU.

Since January 2017 Colleen organized a Sisters In Crime chapter in New Orleans and is not planning a Mystery Writers Conference in November in New Orleans. She is currently working on her next book in the series.

In New Orleans, she’s been a member and active in many Mardi Gras Krewes, Super Krewes, and organizations. Colleen says she has never met a parade she didn’t like.

She’s an ardent animal lover and the Director for a breed rescue, Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana for the last fifteen years. She has rescued and placed over 350 abandoned or surrendered Schnauzers. She loves to write and writes about what she loves. Colleen says, “New Orleans is where it all happens for me.”

Fiona Quinn is a four-time USA Today bestselling author, a Kindle Scout winner, and has been listed as an Amazon Top 100 author in: Romantic Suspense; Mystery, thriller, and suspense; Mysteries, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.

Maria Grazia Swan

Award-winning author Maria Grazia Swan was born in Italy. She’s lived in Belgium, France, Germany, Southern California and Arizona—all juicy places that fuel her stories and characters.

These days, Maria Grazia volunteers at the animal shelter seeking the perfect family for homeless pets.  Her deepest passions?  Writing and being the matchmaker for people and pets who are waiting to find each other.

Maria loves travel, opera, good books, hiking, and intelligent movies. Her idea of a perfect evening?  Stimulating conversation, Northern Italian food, and chilled Prosecco.

She loves to hear from her readers! Feel free to contact her through her website:  www.mariagraziaswan.com.

Kelly Hashway fully admits to being one of the most accident-prone people on the planet, but luckily she gets to write about female sleuths who are much more coordinated than she is. Maybe it was growing up watching Murder She Wrote that instilled a love of mystery, but she spends her days writing cozy mysteries. Kelly’s also a sucker for first love, which is why she writes romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she’s not writing, Kelly works as an editor and also as Mom, which she believes is a job title that deserves to be capitalized.

Kim Hunt Harris is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of the Trailer Park Princess Christian cozy mystery series.

Kim knew she wanted to be a writer before she even knew how to write. When her parents read bedtime stories to her, she knew she wanted to be a part of the story world. She started out writing children’s stories, and her stories grew as she did. She discovered a gift for humor and a love for making people laugh with her tales, and the Trailer Park Princess series was born.

Kim loves to not only make her readers laugh and entertain them with a good mystery, but also to examine the issues the everyday people face…well, every day. Issues such as faith and forgiveness, perseverance and tolerance. Set in Lubbock, Texas, the fun books feature a cast of quirky characters, outrageous situations, a drama queen of a dog, and from time to time, a tear or two.

Kim lives with her husband of more than thirty years and two teenage kids in Lubbock, TX.

Susan Boles is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author who lives in Mississippi with her rescue mini Dachshund and rescue cat of no particular breed. You’ll find her writing mysteries centered around small southern towns with lots of great characters.

Lisa B. Thomas

Born and raised in Texas, I always knew I wanted to be a writer. Finally, after thirty-three years as a high school journalism and English teacher, I released my first novel. Having grown up reading Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, and Agatha Christie, I was drawn to the mystery genre.

I write clean, classic whodunnits with realistic characters and situations. It’s probably because my first book was based on a true-life murder mystery from my own family. That book, Sharpe Shooter, led to the Maycroft Mysteries. I also write Killer Shots Mysteries and the Beachside Bookshop Magical Cozy Mysteries (co-written with Paula Lester.) I call my books “Mysteries with Heart & Humor,” and that’s just what you’ll get.

When not writing, I enjoy my grown husband and dog, my children, grandchildren, grandpets, photography, traveling, and antiquing (aka. buying and selling used junk).

Follow Lisa Online:    Website – Facebook – Twitter

Emily Selby is a Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author who lives between France and New Zealand with her husband, daughter and a multilingual rescue cat. She loves writing and reading cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of romance, full of quirky characters and set in charming little towns.

Joanna Campbell Slan

National bestselling and award-winning author Joanna Campbell Slan has written and/or edited 40 books, including both fiction and non-fiction works. In addition to being included in Amazon’s list of Top 100 Mystery Authors, Joanna was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors, and her stories appear in five of those New York Times bestselling books. Her first non-fiction book, Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience, was endorsed by Toastmasters International, and lauded by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter. She’s the author of three mystery series. Her first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death (Book #1 in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series) –was shortlisted for the Agatha Award. Her first historical mystery—Death of a Schoolgirl: Book #1 in the Jane Eyre Chronicles—won the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. Her contemporary series set in Florida continues this year with Second Chance at Faith (Book #4 in the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series). In addition to writing fiction, she edits the Happy Homicides Anthologies and has begun the Dollhouse Décor & More series of “how to” books for dollhouse miniaturists.

Ava Mallory is a multi-genre USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of what she affectionately calls Mysteries with Heart. When not dreaming up stories full of twists and turns, she’s spinning heartwarming tales of love, laughter, and a healthy dose of mystery.

Chelsea Thomas is technically two people… Married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas. Chelsea and Matt have spent the last 9 years living in Los Angeles, where they have worked as screenwriters. There, they have worked with such companies as CBS, SONY, and Nickelodeon. Now, with the completion of their first cozy mystery novel, Apple Die, they are proud to say that they are novelists, too.

Sam Cheever is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author who writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 80+ books.

 

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Purchase Links

AMAZON      KOBO     APPLE      NOOK 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 15 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

July 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 16 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 16 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW

July 17 – ❧Defining Ways❧ – SPOTLIGHT

July 18 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

July 19 – Here’s How It Happened – GUEST POST

July 19 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

July 19 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

July 20 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT

July 20 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 20 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

July 21 – ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST  

July 23 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

July 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

July 25 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST

July 25 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW 

July 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 26 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

July 26 – Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen – SPOTLIGHT

July 26 – Author Teresa Watson – REVIEW

July 27 – 4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

July 28 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

 

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Kingdom Of Salt & Sirens ~ Excerpts and Giveaway

Posted: March 5, 2019 in giveaways, YA Fantasy
Tags: , , ,
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Kingdom banner

Kingdom of Salt & Sirens Boxed Set
Publication date: March 5th 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult
Kingdom cover
Synopsis

The Little Mermaid but not as you remember it…

Beneath the turbulent seas, beyond the smokey depths, lies a Kingdom that exists in your wildest imagination. A world where mermaids swim, sirens sing and shipwrecks hide mysterious creatures.
Make waves with our 11 magical retellings of the timeless classic, The Little Mermaid.

Dive into a world filled with adventure, love and magic!

One click now for your happily ever after.

Authors include:
J.A Armitage
R. Castro
Jennifer Ellision
Mira Crest
K.M Pyne
Laura Greenwood
Jacque Stevens
Scarlett Kol
Anne Stryker
Nikki Landis
Tracy Korn
Purchase: Amazon

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Some excerpts to wet your whistle:

Balanced Scales by Laura Greenwood:

“What happens at the end of your version of the story?”
I shrugged. “Much the same as in your version, I guess. She falls in love with the Prince, he with her, they get married and live happily ever after.”
Erickson’s face fell. “That’s not the same as our version,” he responded. “Ours is a lot more sinister. She loses her chance to marry the Prince. When her sisters find out, they barter for a dagger. The mermaid could return to the sea if she stabbed the Prince through the heart with it.”
I shuddered. “That’s horrible. Did she do it?” If she had, then maybe it would explain why humans seemed to be so against the mer.
“No. She turned into sea foam and disappeared into the air. Some versions say she’s taken pity on by some sylphs and became one of them.”
“Sylphs?” I’d never heard of them and had no idea what he meant. They certainly weren’t part of the stories I’d been told as a child.
“I don’t know how to explain them. They’re made of air and hang around in the atmosphere.”
“And what do they do to her?”
“I’m not sure. In our version of the story, mermaids don’t have souls. When they die they turn to sea foam and just cease to exist.”
I laughed lightly as we turned down another street. “I can assure you, that’s not what it’s like.”
“I guessed. You can’t have a soul stolen if you didn’t have one to begin with.”
“Which do you think is the true version of the story?” My words came out barely above a whisper. Part of me didn’t want to ask at all. Especially if it would mean he said he thought his version was the right one. If that was true, then how had my people gotten souls to begin with…
“Neither. I think it’s nothing more than a story. Each side will tell it the way that puts their own people in the best light. Just like with every other legend like that.”
“I suppose…” Though I didn’t like to think of the mermaid I’d heard so much about as nothing more than fiction. She’d been an inspiration to so many young mer who wanted adventure. Not so much on land, but out in the open sea.
“You never know, maybe one day they’ll be telling our story like they do hers,” he said jovially.

From The Little Monster by Jennifer Ellision

“Wait!” The little human lurched forward, a single hand outstretched, the other anchored firmly to the ship’s railing. It swallowed as the little monster raised a brow to her. The hand fell lamely back to her side.
“I… don’t even know your name.”
“Name?”
“What are you called?”
“I don’t understand.” What was she called? She was a predator, a hunter, a Mordgris, a…
“I am a monster,” she said simply.
“You’re all monsters,” the human breathed. “But you’re not quite like the rest. How am I to call you and you alone?”
Her. Alone.
A thrill spiked through the little monster. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? She deserved her own name. She was the best of her kind. There was nothing in the sea that could best her except, perhaps, the sea itself. And that made choosing a name simple.
“You may call me Mara,” she said.
“Mara,” the human repeated slowly. “Mara… for the sea?”
Another thrill surged within her as she nodded, knowing the word belonged only to her. The little human had understood the meaning instantly. In a way that prey was not meant to understand its hunter.
“I am Amista,” she said, lifting her full lower scales to cross the bottoms of her fins and bob on deck. “And it has been a pleasure to meet you, Mara.”
Mara dove back into the cool embrace of the sea, feeling Amista’s eyes on her back as she swam away.
The little monster had become Mara.
The little human had become Amista.
And that was the beginning and end of everything as they knew it.

From Falling by Scarlett Kol

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Pain exploded across my chest, blunt and hard, forcing me backward to the ground. I opened my eyes as a red wave of Honeycrisp apples spilled across the grass at my feet. Beyond the mess, the thief glanced back with a sneer. He rounded the last row of tents into the parking lot and hopped into the back of a waiting pickup truck. It sped out of the lot, spitting up dust and gravel, then disappeared down the highway.
I slammed my heel into the ground, sending a small burst of pain through my leg, reminding me of my stupid mortality. Why did humans do such awful things to each other? Free will? More like free pass to be sinful. How could I figure out humanity when it made no sense?
“You should really watch where you’re going.”
“What?” I shook my head as a strange deep voice and a dark shadow descended over me.
“I said, watch where you’re going. That way you won’t hurt yourself and bruise all my father’s apples.” The voice stuck his open hand in my face, and I grabbed on as he hoisted me to my feet in one smooth motion.
“Thanks.” I rubbed my hands over my clothes, brushing off the grass and dirt, then looked up. “I was just . . .”
A pair of blue eyes pinned my words to my tongue. Blue like a vast sea on a clear day, the light of the sun reflecting and warming the open air while beneath the surface the currents raged and raced through the fathoms below. A strange balance between tranquil and torrential, drawing me in and threatening to never let me go.
“Trying to run right through me?” He released my hand and took a step back before crouching down to put the pristine red apples I’d knocked to the ground back in their crate. “Hate to tell you, probably not going to work.”
Likely not. From the size of his broad shoulders and the soreness that still burned through my torso from the blunt smack, I questioned whether I had actually hit the crate or maybe just banged into his side. I scrambled to the ground to help him pick up the last few strays, trying not to get caught in his stare again. Instead, I focused on his hands. His thick fingers, still holding the last of a summer tan, wrapped delicately around the fruit as he scooped them up.
“No, I was chasing after a thief. If I hadn’t run into you, he might not have gotten away.”

Excerpt from J.A Armitage’s book Dark Water

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He tasted like the ocean. Somehow, it didn’t surprise me. He was connected to it in some way; I just didn’t know how. I leaned right into him, turning a light peck on the lips to something so much more. I think I surprised him with the voracity with which I kissed him, but he matched my urgency before eventually pulling away. I might have been mistaken, but there was a slight blush to his cheeks. I hated to think what my cheeks looked like; I could feel them burning with both shock and excitement. He glanced up toward the balcony from which I could still hear the faint strains of music over the sound of the ocean. He took my hand and wrapped his other arm around my waist. Slowly, he began to turn me. I realized he was dancing with me. It was so unlike dancing with Hayden and his “groovy” moves or with my dance teacher, Stephan, whom my mother had brought in specially from Silverwood to teach me how to dance. No, we weren’t dancing at all; we were moving on air. My feet barely touched the ground as he guided me effortlessly around. I’d never known it was possible to move the way he did, or the way I did with him. I closed my eyes and rested my head on his shoulder. He smelled of the ocean too as if he’d just walked out of it

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #22 ~ Through A Mirror, Darkly

Posted: October 22, 2018 in horror, reviews, Supernatural
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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

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

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Through A Mirror, Darkly

by Kevin Lucia

Genre:  Horror / Supernatural Thriller Collection

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My Review

I was very happy with these stories. Kevin writes the kind of macabre, eerie and atmospheric horror that I crave.

I would loosely call this a story that embraces four shorter ones. Kevin inherits the Arcane Delights bookstore from his father. After a flood, it’s in need of TLC. In the midst of this work a strange box shows up on his desk. Upon opening it he discovers a journal or diary of sorts, containing four stories that, while separate, also tie into each other and the town.

How Kevin’s story is connected to these entries is very well handled. And the town of Clifton Heights was actually a bit of a story in itself. Which I became to appreciate even more after I finished the book.

Included are  Suffer The Children Come Unto Me, Yellow Cab, Admit One and I Watered It, With Tears. Each of these entries has it’s own atmosphere. Some more macabre than horrific. And I liked all of them, with a couple standing out that extra bit more from the rest.

Reading this straight through worked best for me. I was kept enthralled throughout and it created a bigger picture and more connection for me. Whether you read it in parts are all at once, I’m sure it’ll capture you too.

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Synopsis

Crystal Lake Publishing presents…

Through a Mirror, Darkly is a Supernatural Thriller collection masked as a novel. With elements of mystery, suspense, and otherworldly horror, Through a Mirror, Darkly successfully delves into the worlds of Lovecraft, Grant, and the mysterious Carcosa.

“Arcane Delights. Clifton Heights’ premier rare and used bookstore. In it, new owner Kevin Ellison has inherited far more than a family legacy, for inside are tales that will amaze, astound, thrill…and terrify.

An ancient evil thirsty for lost souls. A very different kind of taxi service with destinations not on any known map. Three coins that grant the bearer’s fondest wish, and a father whose crippling grief gives birth to something dark and hungry.

Every town harbors secrets. Kevin Ellison is about to discover those that lurk in the shadows of Clifton Heights.”

Through a Mirror, Darkly follows on the success of Lucia’s Things Slip Through collection.

Amazon / B&N

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Blitz and Giveaway for Cimmerian Shade ~ A Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Limited Edition Collection

Posted: September 12, 2017 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, urban fantasy
Tags: , , , ,
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Cimmerian Shade: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Collection
Publication date: September 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Dare to discover what lurks in the shadows in **New & Exclusive** paranormal and urban fantasy stories from your favorite NY Times, USA Today, and International Bestselling authors.

Under moonlit skies, witches, werewolves, vampires, demons, dragons, and more, battle not only for their mates, but to stay alive…

Fall for the alphas who play by their own rules despite the odds, whether century-old curses or forbidden love, or worse. For them, what lies in the darkness is worth the fight when it comes to romance.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

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QUOTES AND TAGLINES:

Kyna must battle dark magic and secret societies, deal with kidnappings and satanic weddings, as she struggles not to lose her heart to one of two men—a former Navy SEAL hired to protect her or a wizard hired to train her. Soon she will realize just how true it is that “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
What Lies Within Us by Kiki Howell & Gina Kincade

Inferno. The hottest paranormal nightclub in the city. Can you stand the heat?
Torch Song by Lashell Collins

Man, being a ghost sucks.”
In his stoic way, he delivered a deadpan reply. “Undeniably and indescribably.”
Ethereal Witness by Angelica Dawson

What lengths would you go to prove yourself to your family?
Love Story of a Reaper by Elvira Bathory

Her body burned for them both and the need that poured from her bloomed like the flower she thought she never could be.
Burning Midnight by Erzabet Bishop

Talk about a killer kiss.
With This Heart by Red L. Jameson

Their shared carnal voracity fanned an appetite no amount of indulgence could satisfy.
Saltwater Siren by Muffy Wilson

Drayden saved her life – but her incessant need for vengeance could mean the end of his.
Dangerous Beauty, Sexy Beast by Dariel Raye

“I’m sorry, but was someone talking about me? I thought I heard the word ‘legend’?”
Rose Tears by Amanda Pillar

Bree Brigand’s quest for the truth starts when she learns everything she knows is a lie.
Rogue by Savannah Verte

An island of secrets, a lifetime of anguish, one epic homecoming.
Hexing Hearts by Alyssa Drake

“I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but I’m not in that sort of business. I’m a concierge, not a concubine!”
Dragons Curvy Concierge by Mychal Daniels

Magic doesn’t bind you to a dragon without a reason.
Credence – Moon Dragons by Decadent Kane

“Tristan had other women grace his bed, but none quite like this one. He had to hand it to whomever had delivered her to him, she definitely was Satan in a beautiful, Sunday hat.”
Kiss of the Fallen by Kharma Kelley

Pan leans down against me and whispers against my cheek, “Tears of a goddess.” His deep, riveting whisper is tantalizing. Qualm tickles under my skin with his admiration. “Forgive me, but I’m finding your tears utterly captivating.”
Selene by Shelique Lize

Dealing with vampires and demons? Piece of cake. Dealing with the ex he still loves? Not so easy…
One Last Lullaby by Kallysten

I felt the angry witch’s curse spreading through my body as if a million icy fingers were taking root under my skin. I was doomed.
Lust by Liz Gavin

“One tiny spell and Samantha’s on the run for her life.”
Witch Playground by Isis Pierce

A wolf’s love is forever…and so is the bond of the pack.
Frozen Soul by Catherine Banks

The darkness will consume them if they don’t face it together.
Taste Of Darkness by Catherine Vale

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

The Spotlight Is On The Witches Of Wildwood by Mark W. Curran

Posted: September 7, 2017 in horror, Short stories and collections
Tags: , , ,
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Guest Post: The Witches of Wildwood: Cape May Horror Stories and Other Scary Tales from the Jersey Shore by Mark Curran

 

Witches of Wildwood: Cape May Horror Stories and Other Scary Tales from the Jersey Shore 
A Collection of Contemporary Horror Fiction
Mark W. Curran
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Genre: Horror/Speculative Fiction
Publisher: NMD Books
Date of Publication: Sept 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-936828-51-7
Number of pages: 300
Word Count: 83,365
Cover Artist:  Robert Gonzales
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Synopsis
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Werewolves… vampires… swamp beasts… zombies… even a Jersey Devil… all of these chilling creatures and more await you in this haunting collection of 11 contemporary horror fiction stories by Mark Wesley Curran.
Uniquely set ‘down the shore’ in South Jersey’s Cape May County, these scary tales are
sure to terrify and entertain both adult readers as well as young adults.
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Excerpt:
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There was no doubt among the sisters that the murders were increasing their power. Each felt
the surge of energy that coursed through them with each kill.
“I feel so alive!” Zoey exclaimed on the morning after they’d tied Harlan Clemmons to a chair and stabbed him multiple times through the heart, “like I’m plugged into some bitchin’ electrical source!” she marveled.

 

The other girls felt it too. Both Jaz and Ali would lay awake at night and feel it running through them – bringing them even more vitality and strength than even their young ages provided. 
 
About the Author:
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Mark Wesley Curran is a writer of contemporary fiction, specializing in the horror and suspense genre. Born and raised in Suburban Philadelphia, he spent many summers living and working in Wildwood, New Jersey during its heyday. He now resides in Los Angeles where he enjoys creative pursuits as a writer, filmmaker and musician.  
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Facebook / Website / Twitter
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Book Tour and Giveaway ~ A Confabulated Compendium Of Anecdotes

Posted: August 29, 2017 in Fantasy, giveaways, Short stories and collections, steam punk
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A Confabulated Compendium of Anecdotes
by Melissa H North
Genre: Steampunk Fantasy
 
A Confabulated Compendium of Anecdotes is a Steampunk speculative
collection of tales. The stories, herein, provide a glimpse into the
imagination of a most anomalous Author.
Be swept away, if you dare, by sultry maidens with mechanical gadgets,
hi-tech flying machines and grinding gears. Peculiar alien forms
hell-bent on saving the earth, and a conglomerate of Vamps lead by
Count Valdo.
Howbeit, why wait for me to tell you more, turn the book atop and be
absorbed in the unputdownable.

 

CLOCKWORK BRIDE
Nephele’s first marriage ended in tragedy. And her second marriage seems to be
headed in the same direction. Why do her husband’s die? Is she
cursed? Or is she hiding a secret?

 

CREEP-TACULAR
Valdo, a direct descendant of Dracula must enlist the help of beautiful
Genevieve, a renown Professor. His coven is in peril and without her,
their existence will end.

 

SHADOW WALKERS
Jacques and his hired help, Bertram, find themselves crash landing to Earth,
where they realise the extensive damage humans have inflicted upon
the fragile environment, and who they thought were enemies, could
actually be their friends.

 

MURDER BY COMIC BOOK
Broderick is a private investigator and his assistant Abbey is an Automaton
Humanoid prototype. When a series of murders in the small township of
Whiteridge have Broderick baffled. The only clue, the last words of a
dying man – Comic Book. He must use unconventional methods to solve
the crimes.
 
 
 
Writing has always been a hobby and cathartic experience for me. Turning my
passion into a fulfilling career as an Author has been one of my greatest dreams.
I write because creating something that didn’t exist before is as
close to magic as I’ll ever get. All you need is imagination.
I’ve always been passionate about storytelling and impressed by the
influence it has on people and the decisions they make in life. I
love engaging with the projects I work on, diving headfirst into the
research, investigation, and production of stories I feel are worth
writing about. I am a curious and proactive Author, interested in
preserving the foundations set by classical literature by adapting
them to modern themes and trends.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 
 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

RUN: A Collection Of Dark Tales Available Now!

Posted: October 31, 2016 in New Release, Short stories and collections, thriller
Tags: , , , , ,
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Looking for some new thrilling reads?

Check out Run by multiple authors.

You might recognize some of the authors and discover some new ones!

Run

A Collection Of Dark Tales

by Caleb Pirtle III, Sue Coletta, Rachel Aukes, Kimberly McGath, Jennifer Chase, Kristine Mason, Paul Dale Anderson, Kathy Love, Joe Broadmeadow, Elle J. Rossi

RUN: A Collection of Dark Tales by [Pirtle III, Caleb, Coletta, Sue, Aukes, Rachel, McGath, Kimberly, Chase, Jennifer, Mason, Kristine, Anderson, Paul Dale, Love, Kathy, Broadmeadow, Joe, Rossi, Elle J.]

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My Review

How can you go wrong with this collection of dark stories. Even if you don’t like one, there are plenty of others you probably will. I did. And it’s such a fun way to discover new authors and get a bite from ones you already know.

The synopsis set the stage for each of these and the authors came though with some interesting tales. There were a couple that really messed with my head and I enjoyed every one of them.

If you like dark, macabre, stories and some surprise endings, you’ll enjoy this collection.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Nightmares come to life in this thrilling collection of dark tales.

Resurrection Morning by Caleb Pirtle III: Ambrose Lincoln is a man without a memory. The government has erased his mind with drugs and electric shots. He is a more effective operative, the powers say, if he has no fear. A man without fear can accomplish assignments that others would be afraid to try. Besides, a man cannot reveal any secrets if the secrets have been taken from him. Lincoln is sent to Paris with a British Intelligence officer to help a famous jazz singer escape. She has been smuggling German information out of the country, and someone has betrayed her. If the Gestapo finds the jazz singer first, she will be executed as a spy. Who can Lincoln trust, who wants him dead, and who can help them in their frantic, desperate flight from Paris to the English Channel? If the don’t make it out of France by morning, they won’t make it at all.

Black Out by Sue Coletta: When the power goes out on Bear Cat Mountain evil stalks the terrain. With a fallen tree blocking their only escape—live electrical wires dancing across the road and cell tower down—the body count quickly rises. Blu and Jake Carpaccio must track down the killer before they fall victim to his trap. But who can they trust? And how do you fight someone, or something, you cannot see?

Sweeton’s Shangri-La y Rachel Aukes: When a young couple discover a mythical paradise, they learn that a fantasy can all too quickly become a nightmare.

The Sideshow by Kimberly McGath: Katie Cartwright is struggling with her memory and is haunted by flashbacks. Regressing to an evening at the circus, things are not as they first appear. Strange events, suspicious deaths, and eerie music set the stage for an unforgettable trip to the big top.

Three Days by Jennifer Chase: Samantha Carr receives a special email invitation for three days to stay at a new luxury beach hotel. Nothing is as it appears including where the hotel is located. The view from her room changes, leading her into the middle of a gangland war. Will she be driven to madness or give in to the sinister force that relentlessly stalks her?

Smile For Me by Kristine Mason: Make me young, make me pretty, make me happy, make me smile… Lisa Duplain refuses to grow old gracefully. Fearing the aging process and desiring youth, she books a weekend at Melody’s Grace—a quaint bed and breakfast also known as the fountain of youth. But something wicked dwells within the walls of the B&B and not everyone who stays at Melody’s Grace leaves happy…even if they have a smile on their face.

Bleeder by Paul Dale Anderson: Lucy makes the mistake of answering her doorbell early one morning to find a handgun shoved in her face. The armed man, bleeding from gunshot wounds, forces Lucy to patch him up and hide him inside her house. But the bleeder picked the wrong house, and Lucy is far from innocent victim she pretends to be. A taut tale of blood and fury with no bounds.

A Love Story by Kathy Love: When a group of teens use social media to create a fictional love interest for a fellow classmate, they have no idea the horrible chain of events they will set in motion. Now they are the ones receiving messages from the boy they created. But the question is, who is sending them the messages? Someone who knows what they’ve done? One of their very own group? Or could it be something far more sinister? One thing is for certain, this isn’t a story about revenge. It’s a love story.

A Promise is a Promise by Joe Broadmeadow: When an innocent summer day turns into a lifetime nightmare, two friends make a promise to visit vengeance on those responsible. The naivete sets in motion a deadly conclusion.

The Game by Elle J Rossi: You win, you live. You lose, you die. The game is as simple and as complex as that.

Buy On:  Amazon / iTunes / Kobo / B&N

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

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My Reviews and Two Giveaways ~ As The World Dies, Untold Tales by Rhiannon Frater ~ Lots of Zombieness

Posted: October 22, 2013 in Adult Fiction, apocalypse, Blog Tour, giveaways, horror, reviews, Zombies
Tags: , , , , ,
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I love it when the author writes these short back stories. You get to see behind the scenes and find out about secondary characters that stuck with you.

In my case I am meeting these characters for the first time. I began reading the As The World Dies Series after I read these.

I have to hand it to Rhiannon Frater. She got me addicted to her world and I didn’t just want to read more, I had to! These stories are like Lays potato chips. You can’t read just one.

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As the World Dies: Untold Tales by Rhiannon Frater
Genres: Adult, Horror, Zombies
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Synopsis Volume 1:

THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country. But theirs is not the only tale to be told. In the first volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.
Deep in the Texas Hill Country, a man and his little dog takes refuge in a bed and breakfast located in the hills above a doomed town where an infested rescue center might unleash the hungry undead…
On a deserted highway slicing through the desolation of West Texas, a woman struggles to survive as she faces the horrifying aftermath of the rise of the zombies…
And finally, discover what happens on the first day to Katie’s beloved wife, Lydia, as the world dies…

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My Review

For those of you who haven’t read the As The World Dies Trilogy or even volume one, The First Days, never fear. These three tales only tell us a small part of what is occurring  in The First Days and mainly focuses on a few characters, spotlighting them and giving them their due.

The Broken Heart (Lydia’s Story)

Lydia, Katie’s wife, is already dead in the beginning of the series, but even in death she steals the hearts of fans. This is her story.

It’s a perfect dawn and Lydia is enjoying her morning tea, letting Katie sleep in. Screams from across the lake interrupt the quiet, giving her the willies. But as they don’t continue she puts it from her mind. She doesn’t know it yet, but this will be the last normal morning they share.

This is in the beginning, before the world dies and zombies are everywhere.

The companionship and closeness of these two really made me smile. I knew the outcome wasn’t going to be rosy, but I enjoyed getting to know Katie and Lydia and was so wrapped up in their story I forgot for a while that this was going to end badly. Such is the excellent writing of Rhiannon Frater. My first taste of it and craving more.

Dangerous Highways (Monica’s Story)

This short story takes place between The First Days and Fighting To Survive.

Monica is alone now. She manages to escape El Paso thanks to her dead boyfriends pistol and trusty monster truck. She keeps an eye on the undead kids in the station wagon as she siphons gas to put in her tank.

She’s leaving the memory of his death behind her, like a dust plume behind the truck. Heading to her home town of Ashley Oaks, Texas and her cousin Juan.

She doesn’t know if the town is overrun or even still standing but that’s her plan. She knows how to kill the zombies thanks to all of the movies she’s watched. But that doesn’t make it any easier. It’s a whole other ball game when you come face to face with the unbelievable in real life.

And zombies aren’t the only thing she has to fear. As a woman traveling alone, Monica knows full well the dangers of encountering strangers.

I really like Monica. She’s rough and tough, takes care of business, and makes hard decisions with no hesitation. I could only hope to be half as tough as her.

The Vacation of the Undead (Eric’s Story)

This a quite a bit longer than the first two tales.

Eric is staying at a bed and breakfast with his supermodel girlfriend, Brandy, and his best friend, Pepe, a Jack Russell Terrier.

Eric is wondering if he’s really in love with Brandy, or in love with the idea of her. She’s excellent eye candy on his arm, but she’s not really a nice person. Her true colors come out when the apocalypse begins.

Eric may come across as a bit of a nerd, but he’s smart and has a big heart. He’s also a dog lover and Pepe will steal your heart. Whenever a pet is introduced into a story, it becomes more real to me. It’s strange that we become so upset if harm comes to an animal, and take it in stride sometimes when it’s a human. I guess it’s their innocence and trust that does it.

I would like stories with animals in them to start with a disclaimer: No animals were harmed in the writing of this story. I’m not spoiling it when I say Pepe’s tail is still wagging, as he appears in The First Days and Fighting To Survive.

Rhiannon’s characters are brought to life and fleshed out in these three untold tales and reading these in no way spoiled it for me as I haven’t read the series YET.

I got to know them, like or dislike them, fear for them and cheer for them. Now that I’ve experienced the author’s writing, been sucked into her world, I have to know more. Have to know everything.

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5 STARS

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UT2
Synopsis Volume 2:
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THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country. FIGHTING TO SURVIVE: AS THE WORLD DIES continued their story as the two women joined the members of the makeshift fort in Ashley Oaks in the fight for survival against not only zombies, but the evil designs of bandits.
But theirs is not the only tale to be told.
In the second volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.
In a nearby town Ken and Lenore have started their regular routine at Ken’s Beauty Salon. A terrible accident brings the undead plague to their front door and soon the best friends are scrambling to escape their overrun town…
Katarina is just finishing her shift at a roadside café when a badly injured man stumbles through the front door. She quickly realizes that to survive she must learn to kill…
And finally, a trapped family must face the fearsome truth that sometimes zombies are not the worst monster they have to fear as the world dies…
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My Review
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The characters in these three untold tales are all in Siege, the third book in the As The World Dies Series. These are their stories.
Revelation (Katarina’s Story)
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Katarina has been in this series from the beginning. This is her story about her first day.
Her story isn’t pretty. The only reason she was even conceived was to grow up and take care of her parents. Her father’s dead now and she’s earning money waitressing at a truck stop in Ashley Oaks, Texas to take care of her sick mother. She doesn’t mind the job though. She’s earning her own money and it gets out of the house.
Dealing with that jerk, Randall, and his wandering hands becomes nothing when the bloodied man stumbles into the cafe, changing her life forever.
Even though Katarina let her mother dominate her, she never appeared weak to me. I felt she was just waiting for something, for an opportunity to come her way, and then she’d discover herself and really shine.
She did discover something. She can kill when she has to, and she’s good at it.
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A Terrible Moment (The Unknown Story)
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All of the stories in The Untold Tales have dark moments. This is darker than most and introduces you to peripheral characters. Not all of them make it and are their own worst enemies.
Debbie is a jealous bitter woman, beaten down by it all. She’s certain her husband is having an affair with his secretary and her jealousy consumes her.
It festers as they are all trapped in the warehouse together. She’s so focused on her thoughts of revenge, she doesn’t even care about her children.
This was an uncomfortable story. I can’t imagined being so self involved as to neglect my children, putting them in danger, and not caring. I was mortified at what she did.
Debbie would be the first one to throw out of the boat if adrift in the sea.
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Friendship in the Time of Zombies (Ken and Lenore’s Story)
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Lenore has no way of knowing that today will changer her life forever. She drags herself out of bed and wanders into the kitchen. Her grandmother has cooked breakfast and, as usual, she’s cooked enough to feed an army. Grabbing a quick bite, she heads off to work at Ken’s Diva Beauty Shop.
Ken may be her boss, but they are best friends and thick as thieves.
I just loved these two. Lenore is a moody one but Ken is bubbly, like champagne.
A small Texas town might not seem like the best place to flaunt his gayness, but Ken could charm the devil and I loved how he needed Lenore as much as she needed him. He was the comic relief for me and I could clearly see him cringing and panicking.
Lenore was something else. She not only had to figure out how to get them both out of there alive, she also had to keep bolstering Ken up, pushing him to man up.
I couldn’t get enough of these two and look forward to encountering them again.
*
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5 STARS
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UT3
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Synopsis Volume 3:
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In the third volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.
Returning to Texas after celebrating his divorce in Vegas, Rune, a biker cursed with the ability to see ghosts, discovers that the world is being taken over by the hungry undead. Soon he realizes he will have to depend on all his abilities to survive not only the ravenous zombies, but the dangerous men lurking on the back roads of Texas.
Senator Paige Brightman abandoned the Madison Mall and its inhabitants to the hungry hordes, but her journey did not end there. Her attempt to reach the president’s safe haven called Central has far reaching ramifications for her and the people she abandoned.
The final in the three stories reveals the aftermath of the great battle in SIEGE as one woman faces the ultimate decision whether to live or die in a world of the undead.
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My Review
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All of the characters in these Untold Tales appear in Siege, the third and final book in the series.
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The Backroads of Zombie Hell (Rune’s Story)
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Now Rune won me over right from the beginning. He brings a spiritual aspect to the story. What happens to the souls of the dead once they become zombies?
He’s a loner until a ghost tells him it’s time to get moving. There’s somewhere he needs to be.
This is where a lot of the characters bump into each other from other Untold Tales.
Rune may look and act like your typical biker. He’s got a mean streak and you don’t want to mess with him.  But he’s also intuitive, guided by spirits, and a really decent guy. It would be good to have him on your side.
The opening scene was deep. The ghost waking him from his drunken stupor is none other than his daughter. I was almost in tears at this sad, gentle moment. I could see how it would be easy to hide away in the hills, isolating oneself from people and drowning your sorrows in booze. Rune lost everyone. But when somethings needs doing, he’s your man.
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The Wickedest Woman in Texas (Paige’s Story)
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It seems there’s always someone who has their own agenda. Someone you just want to b#!ch slap.
In walks Senator Paige Brightman, wicked witch of the apocalypse.
Some people have blinders on and can’t seem to grasp that the world is different, their lives are forever changed, and they try to go about business as usual.
Paige is one of those people. She still thinks her position matters, that what she thinks matters.
Paige needs to get with the program. Her life isn’t any more important than another’s, and her flippant view of collateral damage just may leave her all alone.
I enjoyed having someone to despise, some one to offer up to the zombies. The author does an excellent job of making me feel just that.
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Are the Dead Walking The Earth (Emma’s Story)
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Emma never made it into the As The World Dies series. You’ll only read her story here.
Emma’s story goes beyond the end of the series and shows the aftermath. She shows this to you while telling the story to her two young children.
I think this one hit me the hardest. Rhiannon expertly showed me some disturbing, heart wrenching scenes. I almost wish I could have shut my eyes at times, they were so vivid.
I agree, Emma’s story needed to be told. This may be labeled a zombie apocalypse series, but it’s really a story about people. Everyday people dealing without the end of their worlds, and the beginning of hell on Earth.
I was reduced to tears in the end. It hurt when I cried. I can only imagine how Emma felt.
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5 STARS
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At first I was worried it might not be a good idea to read these untold tales before I read the full novels.
I’m glad I did. Now, when I read the series, which I’m starting now, I’ll recognize these characters, know their back stories, and connect with them instantly.
Reading these first did not spoil anything for me. If anything, it made me want to read this series even more.
If you’re as big a fan of The Walking Dead television series, as I am, you’ll love these Untold Tales.
Thanks to the show ,I immersed myself in this collection. I felt, saw, heard, and, not recommended, smelled everything. It was like each scene played out in my mind. I even had faces for some of the characters.
The author’s choice of titles for each chapter were fun. It gave me an inkling of what I was in for and some of them brought forth an impish grin.
What I enjoyed most about these tales was how each novella had a connection to the others in it. Characters from one tale brush up against each other in other tales, showing different views of the same scenes. I’ve never run into that before and every time a character from one story appeared in another, I was glad to see them.
As I can’t wait to see each new episode of The Walking Dead, I also can’t wait to read more of the As The World Dies Series. I just wish it didn’t have to end!
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As each collection got 5 STARS from me, it would be great if I could give the complete collection 15 STARS. As it doesn’t work that way, I give them an overall rating of 5 STARS. Take a bow Rhiannon. Your Untold Tales rock!
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Purchase Links
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Rhiannon Frater
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Rhiannon
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Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of over a dozen books, including the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor) , as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog),and other horror novels. Her next novel for Tor, Dead Spots, will be published in 2014. She was born and raised a Texan and presently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets).  She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dying her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.
You can find her online at:
Email: rhiannonfrater at gmail.com

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Two giveaways!

International Giveaway

I have the complete Untold Tales Series, #1 thru 3 (ebooks) to give away.

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question:

“What’s your preferred weapon of choice for killing zombies?”

And

Grand prize giveaway
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Prizes: A bookmark, Untold Tales Volume 1-3 in paperback, and an audiobook of Volume 3
Open to US/Can
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Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.
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Xpresso Book Tours
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways, click on the mean greenie below.

Careful though. He’s been known to bite!

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International Giveaway Blitz ~ Urban Harvest ~ A Smorgasbord of Awesomeness!

Posted: October 18, 2013 in Blitz, giveaways, Short stories and collections
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UrbanHarvestBlitzBanner

Where to begin?!!

Celebrate the spooky season with this collection from some amazing authors.

Many you will recognize and you’ll also discover some new ones.

I love short stories and collection. What better way to discover new authors and sample their writing. I personally am partial to them because I love writing reviews and it’s very difficult to review shorter stories without revealing much. I accept that challenge and try to tell about the story while teasing readers to read the book to find out what’s really happening.

Check out Urban Harvest.

Meet Donna Ansari, one of the authors, and enjoy her excerpt from Vampires of the G Train.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaways!

Yep, two giveaways and both are open Internationally!

UrbanHarvest

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Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City Anthology
Publication date: September 22nd 2013
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
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Synopsis
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New York City–it’s home to 8 million people trying to make their way through the day–a crop of humanity seething with hopes and fears, dreams and nightmares. Autumn comes, and nine authors harvest nine tales from this unique setting and people. From stories of everyday life in an otherworldly light to nightmarish tales of human darkness, Urban Harvest has something for everyone.
Urban Harvest contains tales of the paranormal from Alex Shvartsman, Laurie Treacy, Donna Ansari, Tara Hill, Laura Wenham, Andrea Stanet, Don Corcoran, Saif Ansari, and Sean Sakamoto.
In keeping with the spirit of harvest, all proceeds from this anthology will go to support City Harvest, an organization that feeds NYC’s hungry.
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AUTHOR LIST:
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An Interview with Donna Ansari and an excerpt from  Vampires of the G Train
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Donna Ansari is the editor and a featured author in Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City.

Tell us about Urban Harvest. Why urban fantasy? Was this your first anthology? How did you settle on City Harvest as the charity of choice? 

New York City is so full of people that on one hand, it seems a highly unlikely location for paranormal activity. But on the other hand, it also seems like the perfect location—lots of places where all sorts of nasties can hide in plain sight.

There are so many worthwhile charities, so picking one was a difficult decision. But you can’t live in NYC without seeing how many people are going hungry. It’s often a stark contrast to the amount of cheap junk food that’s available. And with the season now being autumn, the harvest, I couldn’t help but think of those who go without enough food.

As an editor, what do you look for when reading submissions? Can you share any tips for writers (like something you see repeatedly or things that bother you)?

Apart for being good stories in their own right, each story that goes into an anthology has to fit in and play nicely with all the others. In this anthology, I tried to feature a mix of different kinds of stories, while having them all feature NYC in a prominent way. As to what particularly bothers me as an editor–that would be writers who don’t proofread their work! You could have a brilliant idea for a story, but if I’m going to have to spend several hours picking through the mistakes, it’s not worth it.

Who are some of your favorite authors? Have they inspired you in any way?

About 20 years ago I first read a book by Charles DeLint, and was introduced to the concept of urban fantasy. Neil Gaiman has also been a big inspiration to me, particularlyNeverwhere, which takes place in London, another one of my favorite cities. Mike Carey’s graphic novel, Lucifer, taught me that it’s okay to route for the “bad” guys, and I’m currently enjoying his urban fantasy Felix Castor series.

Can you tell us a little bit about any other projects you are working on?

I also write an urban fantasy series, Vampire in the City, which is about vampires in New York City. Emma, the protagonist of the series, was turned into a vampire in book one. Prior to becoming a vampire, she worked at an ad agency, lived alone, and had relationship issues. Now she still works at an ad agency and still has relationship issues, but lives with a witch and a werewolf. Emma has not fully come to terms with being a vampire yet. She is happy about not being allergic to her cat or having to wear glasses anymore, but doesn’t like to involve herself in vampire politics. There will be a total of six books in the Vampire in the City series, and Book Four is about to come out.

Do you think you’ll put any other collections together?

I enjoyed putting together Urban Harvest so much that I am strongly considering doing another one next year. Perhaps I would do one with a different theme and to benefit a different charity. An anthology to benefit an animal shelter that features shifters sounds kind of cool.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

Webpage: http://donna-ansari.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vampire.in.the.city.series

Twitter: @donna_ansari

 

Vampires of the G Train

Deciding that keeping him talking was the best strategy, she asked, “Are you going to turn me into a vampire?”

The man looked surprised. “No. Why? Do you want to be a vampire?”

“Sure. I mean, it sounds so interesting.”

“I guess it’s pretty cool,” he admitted. “Even though I’m kind of new at it.”

“What do you like best about being a vampire?” Claire asked.

“Besides the blood?”

Claire gave the generally accepted hand gesture for hurry it up.

“Well, doesn’t everyone want to live forever and stay young and beautiful?” he asked.

Claire tilted her head to the side and gave him a questioning look.

“I mean young,” he quickly amended.

Then what Claire had been waiting for happened. With a lurch, the train finally started moving again.

The man frowned. “Must be on some kind of a switch or a timer.”

But Claire didn’t want him to notice what was happening with the train, so she said, “What’s your name, anyway?”

“It’s Harold.”

“Do people call you Harry?”

“No.”

“Anyway, Harold, I’m Claire. So, can you tell me what it’s like being a vampire?”

“Well, I’m new at this,” Harold admitted.

“You said that. How new? Like are you less than a thousand years old or something?”

“I was just turned about a week ago. As I was saying, you are meant to be my first kill.”

“Me, specifically?” Claire asked. “Or just any idiot who wandered into the train alone at night?”

“Not you specifically,” Harold said, almost smiling.

Claire suddenly had an idea. “How about I bring you over my boyfriend’s apartment instead? He’s much bigger than me, and that means more blood for you.”

The man shook his head. “I’m not supposed to get off the train.”

The G train had just pulled into a station, and the doors dinged open.

“Well, that works out for me,” Claire said. She managed to twist around enough to land a pointy elbow in his inner thigh before jumping up and leaping off the train. Unfortunately, something caught her mid-leap.

Harry had caught her around the waist and pulled her back into the train as the doors closed.

“Good try. I’m not letting go of you again.” He sat back down and pulled her beside him. Then he yanked her head to the side until her throat was by his mouth.

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Zombies/Patient Zero/The Beginning

Posted: June 21, 2012 in fiction, horror, Short stories and collections, Zombies
Tags: , , ,
3

I went looking for a good zombie collection in my Kindle and look what I found.

 

ZERO
                                                                                                      

Edited by TW Brown

Forward

How did it all begin for you? What was the instant you became a die-hard zombophile? For me, it was my fourteenth birthday when a neighbor took me to see Dawn Of The Dead. The funny thing is, I was actually there to see the other film playing in the double-feature (remember those days?).

S0 … think back to the past dozen or so zombie books you’ve read. How many really delve into how it all begins? It has to start somewhere … right? In these pages , you will find out how it all began.

Seven writers have given you a look at that first person to fall: Patient Zero. This anthology opens the door to the genesis of the zombie apocalypse in detail. Could it really be something as simple as a paper cut? The answer awaits you.

The Morning Show Host by Patrick Shand

Minnie Brown was the catalyst, the one that brought about the beginning of the end for mankind. And to think it all started with a paper cut.

Minnie tells her story in the form of a written apology to be read by a survivor, if there is one. It doesn’t look too good out there.

I loved her sass.

“I died forty times from a paper cut?” I said. “Wow, I’m a bit of a pussy.” “…Hey, you want to take any bets on how many times I’ll croak?”

She is witty and likes to tell jokes, especially dirty jokes, you know, ones about body parts.

Through all of the bloody, bone- gnawing gore she still thought of herself as “Just some crazy lady who told jokes on the radio at the asscrack of dawn”.

Number Two

The Zombie Curse by Bennie L. Newsome

This story takes place over the span of 96 hours.

Justin Burrows, ladies man, cheat.

He slinks home in the wee hours of the morning, trying not to get caught, but wifie is lying in wait for him. When she doesn’t buy his story, he figures, if all else fails, turn the tables on her. He lays a guilt trip on her and lies so well that he actually convinces himself that he has been wronged.

His restless night on the couch was filled with vivid dreams of his sexual escapades with his  one night stand. In the middle of their activities, Justin opened his eyes and saw the woman is no woman. Her face has morphed into an evil visage of a demon. He should have run away screaming but…”Justin always thought with his smaller head, and he did not see why he should stop at that point. The man closed his eyes and enjoyed the ride”.

Now we know how it started. A romp in the sack with a demon. It was spread by a little love bite he gave his wife while having make-up sex.

Justin isn’t doing so well at work, a severe migraine sends him home. Figuring a quick shower would help, he jumps in and lathers up. A loud smack makes him look down. “The startled man looked between his legs, nothing there. Blood was not even present. His stuff had just … fallen off somehow. He returned his gaze to the bottom of the tub. There it was, the whole set, both the faucet and the two knobs”.

Boy, a lot of women would think that was poetic justice. I couldn’t stop laughing and read the whole story out loud to my mother and my sister. We all laughed our asses off.

Fatal attraction with the ultimate twist. Maybe he should have just went home.

The Third One

Termination papers by Suzanne Robb

The goal of Project Re-Genesis was to alter the internal structures of the human body so when an injury occurred, the body would be able to heal itself within mere seconds.”

“Jerrod knew they meant well, but he didn’t think they had the interests of the soldiers at heart. First, they planned to inoculate the soldiers without telling them. Secondly, the kind of alterations happening would be painful and most likely result in the death of some. What they were asking his company to do would be an alteration of human DNA”.

What? The government is not concerned with our welfare? Big shocker there?

Months into the experiment, Spencer still has no results. It is do or die time, literally. Spencer makes a mistake and one of his test subjects takes a bite out of him. Now he is on the other side of the safety glass, while others observe him and take notes. Life is funny that way.

Fourth In Line

The Scientific Method by Nathaniel Phillips

A mere clerk for the Post, more of a fact finder than anything. Why send him to Russia?

“It seemed like a pretty simple assignment, and in fact, it was, but the repercussions of it all … good Lord, saying that it was merely out of my league would trivialize the whole situation”.

The assignment was to gather documents about one Dr. Fenstermacher, a former Nazi SS officer. The scuttlebutt was that, while not as notorious as Dr. Josef Mengele, he also committed experiments of a most atrocious nature.

What our clerk discovers is Fenstermacher”s journal, containing descriptions of an unknown contagion. Inside the pages, he reads about unimaginable horrors performed on young boys and their ramifications.

Welcome to Nazi Germany 1944.

Fifth In Line-Up

William by A. A. Garrison

A man, a woman, a child and a robotic babysitter.

A jingle from the commercial-

“Do the right thing for your loved one. Get a Swammy Sitter today.”

They seemed too good to be true. You could teach them to do damn near anything. Mow the lawn? Yep. Pressure wash the house? Sure, and you don’t have to worry, they don’t rust.

What you have forgotten is the golden rule. Never believe what you see on television and, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Next Up-6

Escarg-O by Chantal Boudreau

Business is booming at The Crystal Fountain Bistro. Mars Grimm a music icon and new patron, has made the restaurant extremely popular. To keep him coming back, Steve and Ray, cooks at the bistro, have to come up with new and unusual dishes.

You see, mars will not eat the same thing twice, except for snails. That’s what drew him to the restaurant in the first place.

desperate to hang on to their jobs, Steve and Ray go to the black market. Steve finds the ultimate snails – Novisuccinea Ovalis. They are unusual, with eye stalks that ripple and vibrate  a glowing, flourescent  green.

Truly revolting looking.

“Well, I was thinking of serving them raw.”

“Raw?! Are you crazy?!”

“Well, they serve sushi raw, don’t they? And we have to keep them alive to maintain the special effects. That’s the whole point, isn’t it – a weird novelty food? Mars will love them!”

Eating them raw probably would have been okay if Steve and a friend hadn’t given the snails a concoction of drugs to keep tem from crawling off the plate.

If I didn’t like escargo before, I definitely won’t be eating them now.

7 – The Finale

Quietus by Christopher Beck

One thing you could say about Reed is he is punctual. Every morning, at the same time, he arrives at the small pond to feed goldfish crackers to a pair of ducks. Also waiting for him is a starling. The bird also knows Reed’s feeding schedule and, knowing he is a food source, follows him to the lab where it finds an open window. Knowing people means food, if flies inside. Ever the opportunist, It samples what is left out in a petri dish. Reed enters the lab and spots the starling but is too late to stop its escape.

Now the bird has a new appetite. All it takes is a peck on a tiny hand to spread the contagion.

In the mood for some twisted zombie tales. Give ZERO a go!

For more go to: www.meydecenberpublications.com

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