Posts Tagged ‘Horror’

.
The 12 Terrors of Christmas
by Claudette Melanson
Genre: Horror Short Stories
 
Award-winning author Claudette Melanson offers eleven new and original stories to
make your skin crawl at any time of the year. This horror anthology
also includes an original short by Amazon International Best-Selling
Author, Lynn Lamb, titled “Bring Me Flesh and Bring Me Wine.”
A special bonus story is also included by Melanson, “Mislead,”
previously published only on the Halloweenpalooza blog. Grab a cup of
cocoa and make sure the windows and doors are locked tight as you
settle in by the fire to enjoy these tales of terror, but be
warned…locks have never succeeded at keeping Santa from gaining
entry. If you enjoy a slice of horror with your holiday cheer, this
collection of Christmas horror shorts will satisfy all your dark
cravings during the holidays…and beyond.
Terror One: 
Who is Santa really? Does something sinister lurk beneath the red suit
and apple-cheeked visage? More importantly, what does Santa want for
Christmas?
Terror Two: 
It is said that every wish bears a cost…even a wish of good intent.
What do Detective Talbot and his son, Mallory, stand to lose when the
pair seek to right a wrong on Christmas Eve?
Terror Three: 
Christmas can be a time for great joy…but also for heart-wrenching regret.
Can the magic of Christmas Eve turn back the clock before time runs
out for Morana and her family?
Terror Four: 
Snow falls white and clean, seeming to purify the small town of Moon,
Pennsylvania, but the woods behind Vaughn’s home have taken on a
sinister cast. The snow keeps falling in record-breaking depths, but
does evil lay hidden beneath its seemingly-innocent luster? 
Terror Five: 
As his elves scurry to fill the toy orders for the busy season, unknown
terror creeps toward the workshop intent on releasing an evil meant
to cancel Santa’s yearly deliveries forever.
Terror Six:
 A well-meaning elf casts a spell which could inadvertently reveal the
dark truth about Santa’s workshop and its inhabitants. The world’s
children may end up paying a terrifying price, proving that the path
of good intention oftentimes does indeed lead to hell.
.
.
Terror Seven: 
A scary twist on a classic Christmas poem
Terror Eight: 
Santa’s sleigh plummets to the ground, tearing all hope of a merry Christmas
to bits and pieces. Will the elves be able to employ enough magic to
stitch together some sort of solution? Or will their efforts only
deliver greater horror and loss?
Terror Nine:
 Trinette is preparing to celebrate her first Christmas in love. Her boyfriend
says he found the perfect gift for her, but beneath the shiny red
paper and ribbon lies a secret he’s kept hidden during all the months
of their courtship…
Terror Ten:
 The world’s population explosion means business is booming at Santa’s
workshop, with the need to expand making a difficult excavation below
the permafrost necessary. But the elves should use caution lest they
dig up an evil best left buried.
Terror Eleven:
 A special holiday treat for Maura DeLuca fans! Riptide ended on a happy
note, but how did Maura’s extended family celebrate Christmas? Could
it be that the holiday didn’t quite play out the way the vampires planned?
Terror Twelve:
 It’s a dangerous time to call oneself a non-believer. Those who scoff at
Santa’s existence are melting all over the world. But could the
benevolent head elf turn out to be the murderer?
Vampires, ghosts, demons, elves, werewolves, serial killers and a rampaging
Krampus are just a few of the monsters creeping amongst the pages
of 
The 12 Terrors of Christmas.
Are you brave enough to venture inside to experience the flip side of
the typical Hallmark-themed Christmas?
 .
.
.
~~~~~
.
My Review
.

A Christmas stocking stuffed with chilling tales or were-deer, zombie elves, all manner of scary beings and a Santa like no other. It sure puts a new light on the holiday and being naughty or nice.

I enjoyed all of these. And I also liked how some of them connected to each other. While they didn’t particularly scare me, the author sure put a wicked fun spin on some legends.  I’d like to see several of these as full length stories. Especially one on how Santa came to be what he was.

If you’re a fan of short stories and holiday horror, these would be some tasty nibbles for you. Be careful though. It’s not all sugarplums and gaily wrapped presents. Some of these bite back.

.
symbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,sign
.
~~~~~
.
.
 
 
Claudette Melanson writes dark fantasy, horror and children’s books in
Kitchener, Ontario with seven bun babies at her side: Tegan, Pepper,
Butters, Beckett, Sansa, Daenerys & Caramel. She graduated from
Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English, BS in
English Education and an MA in Literature. Harboring a deep
admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the desire
to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite
paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an
author, since there are many, many stories playing out inside her head.
Inher very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and
reading vampire stories…along with other genres of great fiction,
as well as riding every roller coaster she encounters in both her
hometown and away at signings. An advocate for good health and
ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are bulletproof coffee,
cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and almond,
coconut or cashew flours.
Future dreams include a cabin boasting a roaring fire, isolated inside a
snow-filled wood in the Yukon—the perfect writing spot—and the
completion of dozens of future novels and stories. A Rabbit Rescue
fanatic and loving bunmom, she also hopes to help rescues all over
the world save many innocent lives.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that, well, make you scream!

Today’s book is one I can’t wait to share. I’ve read most of Kathryn’s books and they never fail to keep me reading straight through until I reach the last word!

~~~~~

The Last Vampire

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

10493901

Genre:  Horror

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

Kathryn never lets me down. Whenever I open one of her new books, I expect something that won’t allow me to be distracted from the story. Thus is the case with The Last Vampire. I honestly couldn’t pull myself away until I had finished it. And it was unlike any vampire story I had ever read. So many times I was asking myself what just happened.

The story starts after humanity has been brought to the brink of extinction. But they aren’t the only ones who’s existence is threatened. Those that drink blood to survive are also desperate. Vampires no longer hide in the shadows. They boldly hunt down and drain every last drop from the remaining humans. And these vampires are different. They have a secret ability that makes them even more deadly.

a vamp

I loved Emma. She was a survivor. Not only did she struggle against the elements and starvation, she also had to elude the blood thirsty vampires. Even though the future was bleak, she never gave up hope. I can’t count the times I yelled out loud, cheering her on or dreaded reading what was coming for her.

And those pesky vampires. They were much more than they appeared. I cringed at some of the scenes of carnage. They had a primitive yet rigid living arrangement. I tried to picture what they would look like. I came up with a cross between 30 Fays Of Night and John Carpenter’s Vampires. I dare say I probably wouldn’t have survived an encounter.

man,people,portrait,bald,dark,adult,serious,face

This needs to be made into a movie. It wisso visually written and filled with edge of your seat events. Just take a gander at that amazing cover. A perfect depiction of the story. I’d tag The Last Vampire as a horror dystopian.  If this is your thing, grab a copy. Plenty of surprises await and you’ll be entertained from the beginning to the haunting end.

symbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,sign

~~~~~

portrait,people,adult,man,facial expression,face,wear,music

Synopsis

The earthquakes with their falling ash, the global floods and the devastating fires arrive first. Then the worldwide plague with its stench of death. And as mankind suffers and dies out, vampires, their numbers dwindling, struggle and fight fiercely among themselves to survive in a world where there aren’t enough humans to prey and feed upon. As the weeks go by they become fewer, more desperate and more ruthless. Emma, as the world disintegrates around her, finds herself alone, family all have perished…and fending off an unnatural hunger as she becomes one of the undead. Fighting her unwanted destiny she’s determined to resist the bloodlust she feels, the need to kill and feed on humans, of losing her humanity, for as long as she can bear it…but she’s so hungry…and the night calls.

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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:

The Haunted Forest Tour

  by James A. Moore & Jeff Strand

34339545

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Horror

From 56% in the eBook.

She was gone. He could still feel her hand on his arm, but she was gone…..

Mindy was back, only this time she was covered in sweat and dirt and her clothes were disheveled. She’d never looked lovelier.

I actually just finished this and will be sharing my review next week. What a trip!

~~~~~

Synopsis

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Haunted Forest Tour! Sit back and enjoy a smooth ride in air-conditioned comfort as your heavily armored tram takes you through nature’s most astonishing creation. The forest is packed to capacity with dangerous and terrifying creatures of all shapes, sizes, and hunger levels, and you’ll get to observe these wonders in complete safety. Howl with a werewolf! Gaze into the glowing eyes of a giant spider! Look right through a spooky ghost! See horrific monsters you couldn’t even imagine, only inches away from you! Things with fangs, things with claws, things with dripping red jaws-you’ll see them all! Not thrilling enough? Well, it’s Halloween, and so we’re offering a very special tour through the Haunted Forest. The new route goes deeper into the woods than any civilians have ventured before, and you’re guaranteed to get a good scare! Rest assured that every possible security precaution has been taken. The Haunted Forest Tour has a 100% safety record, and technical difficulties are unheard of. You will be in no danger whatsoever. We promise. Bram Stoker Award-nominated authors James A. Moore and Jeff Strand have teamed up to take you on an action-packed, monster-laden adventure that will make you laugh, scream, and think twice before going near ghastly oversized beasts that want to devour you. “[An] absolute gem of a read…What comes next is over two hundred pages of non stop, in your face, gore drenched action…You will be exhausted by the time you reach the satisfying last page…Think Jurassic Park with bloodthirsty demons on an adrenaline rush and you have The Haunted Forest Tour.” – GoreZone magazine “James A. Moore and Jeff Strand are a literary dream team. Devout readers of the genre are in for a real treat as these two horror heavyweights combine forces and battle their characters to the bloody death…Remember how it felt to inventory and consume your candy on Halloween night? That’s the atmosphere in the forest. You feel like a glutton, like you couldn’t possibly stomach one more gooey demise, but you turn the page and unwrap another nightmare anyway.” – Horror-Web “Moore and Strand heap scares upon plot twists in one of the freshest and most entertaining novels in recent years. The authors offer a frightening and high-octane tale, presented as an apocalyptic disaster movie.” – Horror World

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

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

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

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Ambrosia  @ The Purple Booker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

My Teaser for this week is from

House Of Furies

House Of Furies #1

by Madeleine Roux

35820373

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

 

Genre: Horror / Fantasy / YA

  Teaser from page 69 in the paperback.

I breathed deeply, stilled, and knocked twice on the door.

 Go in, be pleasant, leave, return to work. You can accomplish this, Louisa. You can just be normal. You can disappear.

“Come in.”

~~~~~

Synopsis

An all-new gothic horror series from the New York Times bestselling author of Asylum.

After escaping a harsh school where punishment was the lesson of the day, seventeen-year-old Louisa Ditton is thrilled to find employment as a maid at a boarding house. But soon after her arrival at Coldthistle House, Louisa begins to realize that the house’s mysterious owner, Mr. Morningside, is providing much more than lodging for his guests. Far from a place of rest, the house is a place of judgment, and Mr. Morningside and his unusual staff are meant to execute their own justice on those who are past being saved.

Louisa begins to fear for a young man named Lee who is not like the other guests. He is charismatic and kind, and Louisa knows that it may be up to her to save him from an untimely judgment. But in this house of distortions and lies, how can Louisa be sure whom to trust?

Featuring stunning interior illustrations from artist Iris Compiet, plus photo-collages that bring Coldthistle House to chilling life, House of Furies invites readers to a world where the line between monsters and men is ghostly thin.

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

~~~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

.
The Dead Game
by Susanne Leist
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
 
Review
.

I’m always up for a haunted house story. This has that and much more. Oasis sounds like the perfect little town. But, of course, all is not as it appears. The denizens are reclusive and strange, rarely seen during the day and partying at night. Phantom figures prowl the dark streets and vandalism occurs for no apparent reason. The younger adults are kept separate from the older inhabitants. Offered housing in the apartments while the elders live in posh estates tucked away from the town’s center.

An invite to a party at the abandoned and supposedly haunted End House is extended to the younger residents and they decide to go. What happens there is the stuff of nightmares. I felt like I stepped into Stephen King’s Rose Red mansion when I followed this group of people into End House. It seemed to have a mind of it’s own, and evil was at it’s core..

The beginning of the book was slow for me. So many character’s to distinguish and it was hard to connect with them. Plus. I would have liked more showing. Lots of telling at the start and it kept the reading slow. Once I got to enter End House, things sped up fast. Lots of weird things happened and some sinister beings came out to play. That was more of what I was looking for. From then on the story got very interesting.

While The Dead Game didn’t really scare me, I was kept entertained. If you don’t mind a slower start and a large cast of characters to get to know, I’d recommend you give this a go. It sure has it’s moments.

symbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,sign

~~~~~
Synopsis
.
Linda Bennett leaves New York for the slower-paced lifestyle of Oasis,
Florida. She opens a bookstore and makes new friends. Life is simple
that is until the dead body washes up onshore. She is horrified to
learn that dead bodies and disappearing tourists are typical for this
small town. Rumors abound of secret parties held by the original
residents in their secluded mansions. Once night falls, the
tourist-friendly community becomes a haven for evil and dark shadows.
However, this is only the beginning.
Linda and her group receive an unsigned invitation to a party at End House,
the deserted house in the forest behind the town, a mansion with a
violent history. They are pursued through revolving rooms and
dangerous traps, barely escaping with their lives, leaving two of
their friends trapped inside.
It is up to Linda and her friends to search out The Dead and find the
evil one controlling their once peaceful community. Can they trust
the Sheriff and his best friend, Todd?
THE DEAD GAME has begun.
**Only .99 cents!**
 
 
Book 2 releasing soon!!
.
.
Author
.
I have always loved to read. I grew up with Agatha Christie, Alistair
Maclean and so many other authors who filled my imagination with
intrigue and mystery. The TV show, Murder She Wrote, kept me
entertained when I was not reading late into the night. 
Over the years, my taste in books has expanded to include the supernatural
and paranormal genres as reflected in my selection of shows, such as
Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, and The Originals.
My first book, The Dead Game, is a paranormal suspense/mystery. It
brings fantasy and the surreal to the simple murder mystery. It has
dead bodies and suspects. However, it also has vampires, vampire
derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice up the mix.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 
~~~~~

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

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.
.
Jurassic Florida
One Size Eats All #1
by Hunter Shea
Genre: Horror
 
Florida. It’s Where You Go To Die.
Welcome to Polo Springs, a sleepy little town on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s
a great place to live—if you don’t mind the hurricanes. Or the
flooding. Or the unusual wildlife . . .
Iguanas. They’re Everywhere.
Maybe it’s the weather. But the whole town is overrun with the little
green bastards this year. They’re causing a lot of damage. They’re
eating everything in sight. And they’re just the babies . . .
Humans. They’re What’s For Dinner.
The mayor wants to address the iguana problem. But when Hurricane Ramona
slams the coast, the town has a bigger problem on their hands. Bigger
iguanas. Bigger than a double-wide. Unleashed by the storm, this
razor-toothed horde of prehistoric predators rises up from the
depths—and descends on the town like retirees at an early bird
special. Except humans are on the menu. And it’s all you can eat . . .
.
~~~~~
.

MY REVIEW

,

It’s only some little iguana’s. How bad can it be? Lots. These guys are emerging in record numbers and they aren’t afraid of us. What if there are larger ones? There are. Of course there are. It’s a Hunter Shea book, after all.

The poor little Florida town and it’s inhabitants are reduced to rubble and red smears on the ground once these monsters tear forth from underground. It’s all stompin, rompin, bloody good fun. Just look at the terrific cover and you get the idea.

We’re introduced to the characters. Come to connect with some of them. But, wait for it. Hunter is known for killing off his character’s and these iguana’s need to eat, a lot. So don’t get too attached.

The only niggle I had was the ending felt rushed. The carnage ended so quickly. Would have liked a bit more about it.

The first in a new creature series from Hunter and I can’t wait to see what he brings us next.

.
symbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,sign
.
~~~~~
.
Raves for The Montauk Monster
Old school horror.” —Jonathan Maberry
A lot of splattery fun.”—Publishers Weekly
Frightening, gripping.”—Night Owl Reviews
 
 
Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary
movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past
his house. He’s the author of over 17 books, including The
Jersey Devil (Pinnacle 2016)), Tortures of the
Damned (Pinnacle 2015), and We Are Always
Watching (Sinister Grin). Hunter’s novels can even be found on
display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. The Montauk
Monster (Pinnacle 2014) was named one of the best reads of the
summer by Publishers Weekly. He was selected to be part of the
launch of Samhain Publishing’s new horror line in 2011 alongside
legendary author Ramsey Campbell. His video podcast, Monster
Men, is one of the most watched horror podcasts in the world. Living
with his crazy and supportive family and two cats, he’s happy to be
close enough to New York City to see the skyline without having to
pay New York rent.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Monsterland Reanimated banner PUYB

Monsterland Reanimated

by Michael Okon

monsterLand 2 cover

Publisher: WordFire Press
Pages: 250
Genre: YA Fiction/Monsters/Thriller

~~~~~

My Review

If you thought a theme park full of deadly monsters was bad, the aftermath when it all goes horribly wrong is even worse.

Michael Okon cranks up the craziness in his second book in the Monsterland series. The characters have to step up when the world falls into chaos and they battle new and deadlier monsters while also contending with the insane plotting of some dastardly villains.

I had such a blast reading this. It was fun to be back with the gang. I was really worried about one character in particular. He made quite the impression when he showed up again and quickly became a star in this follow up. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.

Yes, there will be another book in this thrilling series and I’ll be first in line. I am huge on horror and thrillers and anything monsters and this has it all. Also liked the apocalyptic tones. Once the action begins it doesn’t slow down. And there are some wild scenes that I think I’m glad I couldn’t see. LOL

Madcap fun through and through.

symbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,signsymbol,star,disjunct,shape,image,recycling,design,sign

~~~~~

Synopsis

After Monsterland has imploded, the entire world is thrown into chaos. World leadership is gone, economies have collapsed, and communications are non-existent.  Wyatt must go beyond the boundaries of his small town to reestablish contact with the outside world, and alert the government about a traitor-in-chief.

During his journey he discovers a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park.

When an army of relentless mummies, a life-sucking ooze called The Glob, and a hybrid reanimated Behemoth rise from the depths of Monsterland, who will survive?

Purchase Links

Amazon / iBooks / Kobo / B&N / Smashwords

~~~~~

Enjoy the excerpt:

A bright moon painted the desert’s surface pewter. Here and there, dark spots soiled the landscape like oil spills. Most of the bodies had been taken before the troops were ordered to leave. They carted away the corpses, bulldozing the zombies into mass graves, until radios chirped with urgent orders deploying the soldiers to the bigger threats that erupted in the main cities like a chain of angry volcanos.

Monsterland was extinguished, its carcass left for the vultures to pick, the exhibits silent as a tomb.

The dead president and his equally dead entourage were whisked away on Air Force One, along with the dark-clad special operatives that came and left like the brisk desert wind that now howled through the empty streets.

A gate screamed in the silence, slamming with a reverberating smash. The uneven gait of someone with a physical challenge filled the void. The scrape and plod of his limp echoed against the wall of mountains framing the theme park. His labored breathing huffed as he made his way down the streets.

A door creaked loudly as it was blown by the wind. He stopped, his distorted figure silhouetted in the pale moonlight, his body turning silver. He looked at the broken glass littering the pavement like diamonds, then up to the still, pre-dawn sky. He considered the sun peeking over the jagged horizon in the east, its golden light painting the dips and hollows of the hills. Soon the coming day would chase the darkness away.

Time was the enemy now. He had to move faster, or it would be too late. He picked up his pace, lurching along the winding road. A keening howl ricocheted through the streets, bouncing off the walls. It sounded like a … no, he thought, it couldn’t be. The werewolves were all dead. Destroyed by Vincent Konrad when he made their heads explode.

The old man paused, listening for it again, and was not disappointed when the animal whimpered. He gauged it to be inside the defunct vampire exhibit. He moved toward the entrance. The storefronts had been destroyed. A few body parts lay on the pavement, as if people had discarded them in a rush. He heard the scraping of paws on the street and a shiver went down his crooked spine.

He knew the werewolves were dead; he had seen it with his own eyes. A figure detached from the shadows. Igor flattened himself against the wall. He watched it move stealthily down the street, stopping when it scavenged a morsel of rotting flesh. It looked up to stare at Igor, its eyes glowing in the darkness.

A coyote? He waved a hand, dismissing it. It had to be a coyote; it was too small to be a wolf, too big to be a dog. The beast twitched its ears, then resumed its meal.

Igor knew the coyote was not a threat, and he continued his mission. His lame foot hit a can, sending a cacophony of sound like an explosion in the deserted park. The beast dropped the bone it was gnawing on, sniffing the area. Its iridescent eyes searched the streets.

It could be a baby wolf, Igor thought, keeping himself as still as possible. He felt it watching him, even from this distance. It was not a threat, yet.

Igor skittered away, hugging the walls of Monsterland, putting as much distance as he could between them. Not an easy feat, considering his distorted hips. He muttered to himself about carrion and the wind. His eyes darted nervously, scouring the hills, not exactly sure what he was looking for. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. His heart pounded so loudly he was certain that the creature watching him could hear it too.

His feet stumbling to a halt, he bent over, gasping for air, cursing Vincent and those meddlesome teenagers, as well as the rest of the world.

The beast gave another mournful howl that went right through him. Igor glanced at his empty hands, berating himself for not bringing a weapon. He searched his surroundings for anything to protect himself.

Then he saw it, one of the axes they had on almost every corner. All of them had been pulled from their protective cases. One was lying in a pool of coagulating blood, the blade long gone. He picked up the broken axe handle, turning in a semicircle. He was ready for an attacker.

A new, larger outline made his heart quiver with fear. It crouched in a corner, its snout covered with blood. This one was bigger, not a coyote, a wild wolf. Wait, he thought. Weren’t the gray wolves of California all but extinct?

Igor narrowed his eyes. The beast was a light reddish brown and not the silver gray of a wolf’s pelt. A chain hung from its neck, the pendant of a werewolf’s head dangling, emerald eyes flashing. What was it? Was it a mutant coyote? A wolf? Some weird hybrid, he wondered for a minute, his breath harsh in his ears. They watched each other soundlessly.

A hybrid then. He’d heard about them, a rare mixture of wolf and coyote. What did they call them? Coywolves …? or was it Woyotes? He shrugged indifferently. Perhaps someone’s pet, he decided. Igor’s mirthless laugh came out like a snort.

The coywolf stood still, its ears alert, its head cocked as if it was observing him.

Igor dropped the makeshift weapon, calling out, “Eat the rest of your meal, you dumb beast.”

The animal continued to watch him, its two front paws on the remains of a zombie’s chest.

Igor wiped his forehead, waiting, his eyes coming back to search the village, confirming it was empty, except for the carrion eaters like the coyotes and vultures. He looked up, noting the circling predators waiting for him to move on.

“Interrupted your meal,” he chuckled. Just the local scavengers looking for food. That was all; the shadows revealed nothing else. Satisfied he was alone, he moved on. He had work to do.

~~~~~

Author Michael Okon

michael okon headshot

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

 Find Michael:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Snapchat

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

Michael Okon is giving away 10 Prize Packs which includes a Monsterland T-shirt, Ice Pack. Emory Board and signed Poster.

Terms & Conditions:

  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • Ten winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter
  • This giveaway ends midnight July 27.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on July 28.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

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

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Ambrosia  @ The Purple Booker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

My Teaser for this week is from

Celebrity Chef  Zombie Apocalypse

by Jack Strange

30120566

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Horror / Humor

  Teaser from 57% in the eBook.

The reflection looking back at him wasn’t his own reflection, it was the reflection of a cat – an ugly, ginger brute with stripes and an evil scowl on its half-mad face.

Before too long, Sydney Bartholomew, the notorious cat-hater of Notting Hill, was a cat-hater no more. He’d become a vicious sex-crazed ginger tomcat desperate for totty and food.

This scene was kind of gross but hilarious. He turns into a cat and takes on all of the characteristics of a horny zombie cat.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Celebrity Chef Zombie Apocalypse tells the story of the dead celebrity chef Floyd Rampant, who rises from his grave aiming to create a zombie army of chefs who will rule the world, using the human species as the main ingredient in their cordon bleu meals.

CCZA, as it’s known for short, has a cast of unforgettable characters, most of whom meet with gruesome ends. The action begins in Croydon, moves to London, and reaches its explosive climax in the author’s home town of Huddersfield.

Part horror story, part political and social satire, it gives the reader a fast-paced entrée of dread, a main course of panic and a dessert of distress.

It is dark, original, and so funny it should carry a government health warning.

This smart, witty and profound modern day classic works on many levels.

Amazon

~~~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.



.

A Taker of Morrows
Stephen Paul Sayers
(Caretakers, #1)
Publication date: June 15th 2018
Genres: Adult, Horror, Supernatural, Thriller

RG Granville has his whole life in front of him…but only twenty-four hours to live it.

Beyond life’s boundaries, an enduring battle between good and evil determines the fate of earthly souls. Here, ‘caretakers’ guard and protect against the evil and vengeful ‘jumpers’ who slip back and forth between worlds to prey upon the living.

For one man, news of his impending demise sets off a deadly chain of events fueled by a jumper’s burning vengeance. Now he’s in a race against time to stop an unrelenting evil unleashed upon the earth. And if he’s to protect his family, and the world, he must breach the tenuous boundary between life and death to confront a killer—and a shocking secret from his long-buried past.

Goodreads / Amazon

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

“Hello, Robert.” The stranger advanced toward him. “You’re late.”

RG steadied himself against the entryway table as his heart lurched in his chest, the air thickening like a smothering rag over his face. With gradual boldness, he slid his arm against the wall and triggered the light switch. “What the hell—?”

“I feared we’d missed each other,” the man interrupted. “That would have been a shame. You see, we have a problem to discuss.” His face hardened as he stepped forward, shoes clicking on the hardwood floor.

RG’s pulse quickened. “Who are you?”

“I wish I didn’t have to be here, Robert.” The stranger unfolded his hands from behind his back and stepped forward, “but I have a job to do.”

As the man advanced, RG backpedaled, snatching the old-school, wooden baseball bat stashed behind the coat rack. He never imagined grabbing the lumber for anything other than Tuesday night softball, but now found himself flapping it back and forth in a hardwood batter’s box.

The man took another step. “Death has come for you,” he said, shaking his head, “and no Louisville Slugger will stop it.”

~~~~~

Q&A with Stephen Paul Sayers, author of A Taker of Morrows

 

Q: What’s your new novel, A Taker of Morrows, about?

A: It’s about a man who’s visited by a stranger, who tells him he’s got twenty-four hours to live. You see, deaths are scheduled and schedules must be kept. In his desperate attempt to stay alive, he discovers the world isn’t what he thought it was, that it’s actually a battleground between the forces of good and evil from the afterlife, a place where ‘caretakers’ protect earthly souls and ‘jumpers’ prey on them…and now he’s become the prey. And if he’s to keep himself and his family alive, he must straddle the boundary between worlds and face the secrets of his past.

In a broader sense, it’s really a story about the nature of life and death, and the eternal price paid for what we carry in our souls.

 

Q: What inspired you to be a writer?

A: I never set out to be a writer, but after a challenge from my daughter, Kaylee, I decided to write her a novel. I figured I’d write something for her, give it to her some holiday or birthday, and it would collect dust on her bookshelf. But when I started writing, a switch turned on inside me, something I’d never felt before, igniting a passion I didn’t know I had. It helped me finally figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up.

But more importantly, it has solidified a real bond between my daughter and me. She’s an amazing writer who has a full length novel under her belt at age seventeen. We now have this shared thing we do together. We talk about story ideas, read each other’s work. She gave me this great idea in A Taker of Morrows that became a key to the series in my opinion. So, she’s my inspiration.

 

Q: Why do you write in the genre that you do?

A: My brother and I watched horror movies all the time when we were kids. I think the 70s and 80s were a golden age of horror movies – and we got really into it. That’s also when I discovered Stephen King, and I read just about everything he wrote. That was my base, and no matter what different literary roads I may travel, I always veer back into the genre. Even the horror books I read today transport me back to childhood and reignite those feelings again.

 

Q: What do you enjoy reading and who are your favorite authors?

A: I have so many authors I love reading in so many genres. I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and Peter Straub, so I got a good horror base. I’m also a big fan of a new generation of horror writers, Joe Hill, Paul Cornell, J. Lincoln Fenn, and Paul Tremblay, so I definitely get my fill. I also love writers of suspense and thrillers, especially Jo Nesbo, Dennis LeHane and Randy Wayne White. I’ve recently discovered Melissa Lenhardt’s “Jack McBride” mystery series, which sort of borders on chick lit, and yet I really like it. So, bottom line, I read just about anything.

 

Q: What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

A: Horror and thriller fiction should be entertaining, number one. I want readers of my work to feel as if the time spent between the pages was a good investment. If they can escape from their world for a few hours, connect to my characters, and feel like they’ve made some friends they’re going to miss when they turn the final page, then I’ve done my job.

 

Q: On a lighter note, what are the top five things on your bucket list?

A: Hopefully, I’m not in ‘bucket list’ territory yet, but here goes:

  1. Cage dive with the Cape Cod great white sharks
  2. Stroll across the Abbey Road crosswalk
  3. Drive to Graceland in an RV
  4. Own a 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible
  5. Gain the advantage over my Gibson SG

~~~~~

Author Stephen Paul Sayers

Stephen Paul Sayers grew up on the sands of Cape Cod and spent his first thirty-five years in New England before joining the University of Missouri as a research professor. When he’s not in his laboratory, he spends his time writing and devouring his favorite forms of genre fiction—horror, suspense, and thrillers. His short fiction has appeared in Unfading Daydream. A Taker of Morrows is his debut novel and the first in the planned Caretakers series.

Throughout his journey, he has accumulated five guitars, four herniated discs, three academic degrees, two dogs, and one wife, son, and daughter. He divides his time between Columbia, Missouri and Cape Cod writing and teaching.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

XBTBanner1

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Every now and then I like to go back and reread a book. Especially ones I loved. I find that I discover something new no matter how many times I’ve read the book. Just like when I watch a good movie again.  I also discovered that I don’t always enjoy some books as much the second time around. Usually this occurs with ones I read some time ago.

When I feel a reading slump coming on or I just can’t decide what to read next ( me being lazy) I stand in front of my book shelf that holds all of my most favorite books and choose one to read again. It allows me to just relax and enjoy the story instead of always thinking about the review that needs to be written after finishing a new one.

Here are some I have stacked and ready to read again over the summer. I’m sure I’ll be adding more to this. My son spied me standing, staring at my books, and thought something was wrong with me. I had this seriously screwed up look, he said. I told him that’s my I’m thinking face. He said I looked like I was in pain. I know I mentioned rereading a favorite is relaxing, but not choosing which one. LOL

293032

17902158  3429805

28474289  13546207

14995  12295280

Most of these are a series and I’ll read every one. I do love to binge a series!

~~~~~

What about you. Do you read a book more than once?  Do you have a go to book that you read many times? And why do you reread a book?

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.