Posts Tagged ‘humor’

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Don’t you just love cozy mysteries? They always have quirky, loveable characters, and fun cover art.

I have a fun review for you and two, yes, two giveaways!

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  Trudy, Madly, Deeply (Working Stiffs Mystery Series)

Publisher: Corvallis Press (July 27, 2013)

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Number of Pages: 260 (ebook)

This book is due to come out in print to coincide with this tour.

Purchase Links: Amazon /  B&N

Synopsis

After human lie detector Charmaine Digby scores a job as the County Coroner’s new investigative assistant, the unthinkable happens—a doctor reports the suspicious death of Trudy, a family friend and one of several elderly patients at the hospital whose heart mysteriously stopped.

With no physical evidence of foul play, Char’s on the case, much to the irritation of Detective Steve Sixkiller, who doesn’t want her to stick her pretty nose for trouble in his investigation. But she’s a woman on a mission to uncover the truth, and she’d better keep her eyes open or the next body on the way to the morgue could be hers.

My Review

This book will make you laugh, a lot.

Char is quite a character. She’s carrying a few extra pounds and leaps before she looks. This made her very real for me. We all wish we could be like the women on those fashion magazines, but in reality, most of us don’t. And when we hit the mid twenties and up, us women tend to carry a few extra pounds.

I’m like Char, and really don’t worry about it. She tries to diet, but filling in at the local restaurant and helping bake all those yummy muffins doesn’t help there.

The most important part of any story or movie is the characters. I like plenty of them and got that with this book.

From the senior center and Tango Tuesday, to the local gym, to the local restaurant, Duke’s Cafe,  where you can catch the latest gossip, there are so many characters to fall in love with.

My favorites, besides Char and her sexy best friend Detective Steve Sixkiller, are Char’s gram and the raucous elderly waitress, Lucille, at Duke’s Cafe.

These two ladies take no sass, steal the show when they enter a scene, and remind me so much of people I know and love. You can relate to all of the characters and may even recognize a few from your own neighborhood!

Char’s leap first, look later, way of investigating gets her in pickle after pickle in her new job at the prosecutor’s office , and Steve has his hands full keeping an eye on her and keeping her out of trouble. She may be a human lie detector, but her ability to tell if someone is lying or not could also make her a target.

And there’s Char’s mom, Marietta, the actress and diva of drama. She becomes Char’s back up. There’s a scene in the book with a taser that I could see clearly and had me laughing out loud.

I didn’t forget about Trudy. You know, Trudy from the title of this book? Well, she doesn’t have a big part in this story because she’s already dead when it starts. Her death is just the beginning as it may not be from natural causes. Char is personally connected, as Trudy is her great-aunt Alice’s close friend, and she plays nosy parker to find out the truth.

Suspicious death, maybe murder, a rumor of romance, tango anyone. All fun ingredients for this cozy mystery.

Something really great about this story. It doesn’t end here as this is the kick off book for The Working Stiffs Mysteries series. More fun, quirky characters to fall in love with.

I have a soft spot for cozy mysteries and Trudy, Madly, Deeply stole my heart.

5 Stars

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A couple of scenes I liked:

“You’re blushing.”

“I know.”

“It’s cute.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a cute girl.”

and

“I’ll bring dessert.”

“Chow mein, you’ll be the dessert.”

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About Wendy Delaney

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Wendy Delaney writes fun-filled cozy mysteries and is the author of Trudy, Madly, Deeply, the launch book of her Working Stiffs Mystery series. A long-time member of Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and Mystery Writers of America, she’s a Food Network addict and pastry chef wannabe. When she’s not killing off story people she can be found on her treadmill, working off the calories from her latest culinary adventure. Wendy makes her home in the Seattle area with the love of her life and has two grown sons.

Website: http://www.wendydelaney.com/

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7191068.Wendy_Delaney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyDelaneyAuthor

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Giveaways. That’s right, I have two giveaways!

I have one ebook copy to give away.

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

“Are you an amateur sleuth?”

Giveaway ends September 30th.

The second giveaway is for a signed print copy.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

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Tour Participants

September 16 – Melina’s Book Blog Review & Giveaway

September 17Books are Life – Evita Libri Review

September 18fuonlyknew Review & Giveaway

September 19Mochas, Mysteries and More Interview & Giveaway

September 20Cozy Up With Kathy Review, Interview & Giveaway

September 21Darla King Series Review

September 23 THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK Review

September 25Brooke Blogs Review & Interview

September 26 readalot Review & Giveaway

September 28My Devotional Thoughts Review & Giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Check out The Witch On Twisted Oak.

I have a lot to show you today.

Susan is talking about her book covers and I have a sneak peek from inside her book.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Enjoy this guest post by Susan Muller

I recently had the good fortune to attend a workshop by Mark Cocker, founder of Smashwords. While his talk was geared toward indie publishing, his advice applied to everyone.

His most important piece of advice was to write a fantastic book. Then do it again.

Next, he said that writing is a business and most writers don’t make much money, so be careful what you spend your money on. Professional editing and your book cover are not places to skimp. Your book cover is the first thing people see. Be sure it makes the right impression.

This was a subject I heard discussed over and over at RWA Nationals Atlanta.

Some of the advice I knew, but hearing it again made an impression. For instance: your cover should target your reader. If you have vampires on your cover, there better be vampires in the story. If your cover features a couple in a deep lip-lock, the story shouldn’t be a sweet romance. It’s the feel or impression the cover gives that’s important.

Your covers should bear some similarity to each other so that the reader can recognize your work. The picture can be different, but keep the same font and placement of the title and author name.

One piece of advice surprised me. Your name is more important than the title of the book. That should be the first thing the reader sees.

I didn’t know any of these things when my first book came out. I wish I had. The font for the title of that book is hard to read in the thumbnail version. When my second book came out, I realized this was a series and the two covers should resemble each other. I even made sure the title hinted at a connection.

When my publisher sent me the two page questionnaire for cover information, I filled it out in excruciating detail.

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In my first book, The Secrets on Forest Bend, the cop is standing on the left, looking toward the right. In the next book, The Witch on Twisted Oak, the cop is standing on the right, looking toward the left. The image of a badge and gun are switched, also.

The Witch on Twisted Oak (Occult Series #2)

Both covers feature the silhouette of a woman walking away and a building in the background. On one cover, it’s a house, and on the other it’s a lake cabin, indicating where the story takes place. On the second cover, my name is featured inside a box, making it more prominent.

I got lucky on the cover of The Witch on Twisted Oak. My hero is a 6’8” Hispanic guy. Photos don’t show height, so I didn’t have to worry about that part. I was very specific about who I wanted on the cover, and I got him. I even found the exact photo that would fit, and my cover artist, Rae Monet, did just what I asked.

Last February I attended a workshop on marketing and branding. The speaker was cover model and founder of Romance Novel Covers (RNC,) Jimmy Thomas. I already knew he had a wide fan base. Books sold on the basis of his photo alone.

When I saw him, I realized I had found my Ruben Marquez.

Here are my two covers, my first book, The Secrets on Forest Bend, and my new release, The Witch on Twisted Oak. Tell me what you think. Did I manage to convey what I wanted?

The next book in the series, Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte, will be out in January. My cop is half Jewish and half Cajun with a touch of Native American thrown in. If you know a model who will fit that description, let me know. This might be a tough one.

**Here’s a short excerpt from The Witch on Twisted Oak.**

 

Ruben’s desk looked just as it had when he left on Friday. No little elves had come in and cleared it for him.

“Morning, partner. You look like shit.” Adam gazed at him over the rim of his coffee mug.

“Thanks. You look like sunshine yourself.” Actually, Adam did look pretty good. Smiling. Who smiled at 8:00 on Monday morning? Someone who’d had a better weekend than he had.

“Ready to go catch us a bad guy?”

“Couldn’t happen too soon for me. Someone broke into Tessa Reyna’s house on Saturday. I’ve had her stashed at my cabin all weekend.”

Adam’s eyebrows rose. “Was she hurt? Any idea who did it?”

“No, and no. Not unless I have a report hidden here somewhere about fingerprints.” Ruben shuffled through his in box. Nothing.

He glanced at Adam. “I’ll call Tessa and make sure she’s okay before we head out to question Jacinto.”

“She’s a witness, Ruben.” Adam sat his mug down and stared at him.

Wow, he must be serious. He let go of his coffee. He wouldn’t dare give me the same lecture I gave him about Jillian. Would he?

“I know exactly what she is and I don’t need a Romeo, even a reformed Romeo, to remind me.” I also know what she thinks she is; a witch with magical powers.

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Synopsis

A powerful psychic is brutally murdered.  Secrets are revealed.  An old enemy is out for revenge.

Detective Ruben Marquez is thrust back into his childhood memories when he investigates a gruesome murder that occurs only feet from his mother’s home.  Is the killer somehow connected to his own past?  Is the beautiful, mysterious daughter of the victim, someone he can trust?  Or is her revelation that she’s a witch a sign he should stay clear.  But how can he, when it appears she’s next on the murderer’s to-do list.

In the ultimate test of courage, he uses himself as bait to protect all he holds dear . . . his career, his family, and the Witch on Twisted Oak.

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Here’s a glimpse inside

Ruben stood beside her shattered back door, a huge mountain of a man in his bulletproof vest. A gun as large as he was hung from his side. His gold detective’s badge clipped to his belt looked out of place with his jeans and t-shirt.

“I’ve phoned this in, but you can’t stay here.”

What did he mean, not stay here? This was her home. The only place she’d ever felt truly safe. “It’ll be okay. I’ll get someone out to fix the door.”

He took her arm and placed her in front of the back door. “Look at that door. You had it locked, but one good kick and he was inside.” He turned her toward him and stared into her eyes. “You can’t stay here. It’s not safe until we catch him.”

He wasn’t going to keep her from her own house. She twisted out of his grip and ran inside. Her eyes darted from side to side, seeing the destruction but not taking it in fully.

She sank to the floor in the middle of her bedroom when he caught up with her.

“Who would do a thing like this?” She held up pieces of a broken orange and gold necklace. “I made this myself. And the shower curtain he ripped down in the bathroom? I hand painted that.”

He made a strange sound and she looked up. His face was flushed. Maybe he wasn’t as cold as she thought.

“You need to pack a small bag. Nothing much, just a few casual clothes. I’ll take you someplace safe.”

She glanced around the room. How could she pack? She’d never find two pieces that matched, or both of a pair of shoes. Her eyes fell on a pile of her underwear and bras, scattered across the floor and her breath caught.

Who did she mind the most seeing her underthings, a nameless, faceless intruder, or the man standing next to her?

Him. She knew him. He had no right to look at the contents of her drawers, her closets.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

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Susan C. Muller is a fourth generation Texan. She attended StephenF.AustinStateUniversity where she majored in Business Administration. She started her first novel at age eleven, but it wasn’t until after she had worked many years and raised a family that she returned to her first love, writing. She is a member of Northwest Houston RWA, Kiss of Death online RWA, and The Houston Writers Guild. Her novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend, has won several awards.

Susan and her husband, Sid, live in Spring, Texas with their rescue dog, Buster, a 120 pound black lab of advanced age. They have two children and four grandchildren. They love to travel and have been fortunate to see much of the world. Her favorite places include Kenya, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local hospital. She loves to read, travel, snorkel and take long walks.

Website:   http://susancmuller.com/

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Susan will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn host.

So leave a comment. What do you think about the covers? Who would be a good model for Susan’s next book? Just leave some comment love!

Remember, the more you comment, the more chances to win!

Follow the tour for more fun posts by clicking on the banner below.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go HERE.

I have just the book to keep you company tonight!

**FREE** FAIR PLAY is FREE August 29th & August 30th

by jannashay

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FAIR PLAY, the first book in the Diamond Series, will be *FREE* at Amazon for 2 days, Thursday, August 29th and Friday, August 30th.  If you haven’t read it, please grab a copy.

Amazon

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Add Shudder to Goodreads

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My Review

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SYNOPSIS

Forced to live a clandestine life, Danielle “Dani” Jordon believes she has found a safe haven in Las Vegas until she meets devastatingly handsome casino owner Jace Diamond. With his compelling sexual magnetism and mind-numbing kisses, Dani finds her world turned upside-down. Resisting the most compelling man she has ever met proves to be a task she doesn’t have the strength to fight.

Inexplicably drawn to her, Jace embarks on a relentless pursuit to make Dani his. It isn’t long before he finds himself irrevocably in love, but can he convince Dani that she belongs with him?

Trapped in her life of deceit, Dani is afraid to admit her love for Jace or believe in a life without fear. Can she take the chance and trust him to provide the sanctuary she so desperately needs, or will that trust lead to exposure of her secrets and destroy her life?

AMAZON

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EXCERPT

Dani stopped halfway in the room. She felt like she’d just been undressed with his eyes, but instead of making her feel disgusted as she had with Martin Pace, he’d caused her body to warm with pleasure. She hated that he could control her reactions to him, so she said indignantly, “One look wasn’t enough the last time, so you needed a repeat performance?”

He rose to his feet and smirked. “If I recall, we were supposed to exchange notes. I was just refreshing my memory.”

“Tonight I escaped the mauling of one pervert. Do I need to defend myself from another?”

His eyes flared with anger at her words, but he replied calmly, “Don’t put me in the same category as that excuse for a man.”

“Sorry. That was totally uncalled for.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “It’s been a tough night.”

He circled the front of his desk to face her.

She raised her head and followed him with her eyes and couldn’t help scrutinizing his body as he moved. He was tall. She figured him to be at least 6’3”, with broad shoulders, a lean body, and long legs. He had a really great body and so much male sexuality pouring from him, she figured women threw themselves at him all the time. No wonder he was so self-assured and arrogant. Her reaction to him was no different than other woman. No matter how much she denied it, she was very attracted to him.

She had to make sure Jace never learned of her attraction. It would be a very dangerous weapon to put in his hands. When her eyes returned to his, she realized he was watching her.

He crossed his arms and grinned. “Refreshing your memory, too, I see? Do you like what you see?”

Dani’s face instantly heated as she realized what she’d been doing. A few minutes ago she’d berated him for leering at her, and she was doing the same thing. Damn! She was treading on dangerous ground. Jace didn’t seem to be a man to be played with.

“Forgive my rudeness. You wanted to talk to me about something?”

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About Janna Shay

Janna Shay is a native Californian who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and miniature schnauzer.  She is a mother of seven grown children and has twenty-three grandchildren, with all her children living in nearby Northern California communities.

Janna was introduced to books at the age of five, which began a lifelong love of reading.  As a child she would spend endless hours at the local library pouring through all genres of books.  It wasn’t until her teens that her love of romance novels blossomed.

When Janna isn’t following her dream of writing or enjoying her love of reading, she can be found engaging in her other love, which is activities with her family.

Janna is a member of Romance Writers of America and San Francisco Area Romance Writers of America.

Contacts

Website – http://JannaShay.com

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/JannaShayAuthor

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/@jannashay

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13651928-fair-play

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What’s not to love about MVP!

A yummy football player and plenty of romance!

I have a fun glimpse inside the book and a giveaway too.

So grab some suds and a snack and enjoy and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

MVP

Sequel to For Love of the Game

by Rhonda Laurel

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Contemporary Romance

Categories: Interracial/Multicultural

Publisher: Etopia Press

Release Date: June 21, 2013

Heat Level: Sensual

Word Count: 35,930

Available at: Amazon / ARe / B&N

Description:

The game has just begun…

Morgan Reed-Blake discovers that being the wife of MVP quarterback Seth Blake has its perks…and its challenges. Thrust into Seth’s high-profile world, she must wade through the celebrity, status, and the ghosts of girlfriends past. So when Seth takes Morgan home to his ranch in Texas and introduces her to his family and friends, she’s not surprised when his high school sweetheart comes to call. Morgan suspects she wants to rekindle the flame, and how can she blame her? Distraught over the changes their relationship has caused for Seth, Morgan wonders if maybe he’s better off without her.

Pro quarterback Seth Blake is elated that his wife Morgan is giving their “fake” marriage a real chance. But he doesn’t anticipate running into the woman who broke his heart years ago. He hasn’t told Morgan about the complicated relationship with his ex, but as he guides Morgan through the maze of his celebrity lifestyle, can he convince her the past is in the past? The MVP does not accept defeat, and he’s determined not to lose. But winning Morgan might be the most difficult game of his life…

Enjoy this glimpse inside MVP

When Morgan woke the next morning, she felt like a jack hammer was going off inside her head. Seth was still sleeping peacefully beside her with his Stetson covering his face. She tried to turn in the bed but her legs felt heavy. Morgan peeked under the covers to find she was still wearing her cowboy boots. What the hell were they doing last night?

She lifted the Stetson and put it on the night stand. Seth didn’t make a move until she pulled back the covers to remove her boots.

“Morning.” He her gave a lazy smile.

She winced. “Please don’t shout.”

“I’m not. It’s that damn whiskey you drank last night.” Seth held up the jelly jar that was on the night table.

“Why didn’t you take it away from me?”

“I did. You grabbed another one on the way back to the house. Then you threatened to divorce me if I took it again.” He shook his head and chuckled.

“And you believed me?” She laid her pounding head on Seth’s shoulder.

“There was a lesson waiting to be learned.  Listen to your husband and you won’t get hangovers from illegal whiskey.”

Morgan ran her hand through Seth’s hair. “Why do I still have my boots on?”

“Because you gave me the ride of my life last night.” Seth flashed a devilish grin.

She groaned. “I don’t remember what happened after we left the bonfire.”

“Did you, by any chance, take any gymnastics classes when you were in school?”

“Two semesters in high school. Why?”

“I’d like to make a donation to your high school’s athletics program. Your dismount is of an Olympic caliber.” He leaned in to kiss her.

“Exactly how much fun did we have last night?” Morgan moved away, shooting him a suspicious look.

“Well, we stopped short of you taking pictures of my ‘hot body’ and sending them to Michelle.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“I don’t care how drunk I was, I never would have done that.”

“Don’t worry, baby, your super freak status is safe with me.” Morgan gasped as she spied bruises on his chest. “Oh my goodness, did I bite you?”

“Yes.” He laughed. “This one is my favorite.” Seth turned over onto his side, displaying his back.

Morgan searched his back, arms, and shoulders. “I don’t see anything.”

“That’s because you’re looking for New York when you should be looking for Florida.”

Morgan’s eyes drifted lower until she reached his ass. There were two distinct bites marks. “Why did you let me bite you?”

“We were trying something new. I went with the flow. You don’t hear me complaining. Any other sports you took up in high school?”

“Fencing.” She smirked. “Let’s see you turn that into something dirty.”

“I can lunge at you with my saber any time you like.”

“You know fencing?”

“Good for hand-eye coordination. I like to watch if I catch it on TV. Besides, you never know when sword fighting will come back in style.”

She laughed while rubbing her temples. “Do you have something for a hangover?”

“I don’t know if you deserve it.” Seth tickled her sides.

“Ouch! Don’t make me giggle, it makes my head hurt.”

“Damn. I suppose I can mix up something I call the Morning after Mixer. I make it for the guys when they party too hard when we’re on the road.”

She peered from behind the pillow. “What’s in it?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Raw eggs?” She shuddered, remembering the concoctions he made daily.

“And tomato juice, some lime, a little cooking lard—”

Morgan clamped her hand over his mouth. “Just bring the drink.”

~~~

About the Author:

Rhonda Laurel is a contemporary romance writer whose two great loves are writing and landscape photography. She uses both as a vehicle to convey the complexity of the human spirit and the beauty of the world around her. Her writing career has recently gained momentum in 2012 with her debut novella, Ebb Tide. Contemporary, multicultural/interracial romance is her ‘thing’ in the form of short stories, novellas and novels, but the author also writes poetry, inspirational quotes, designs greeting cards and the occasional essay. Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Masquerade were released in 2012. Shutter, Memories of You and Star Crossed in 2013. MVP, released June 21, 2013. The print anthology, ‘The Rhonda Laurel Collection’, featuring Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Shutter released June 2013. California Bored and Tourism will be released July 2013. The author is happily building her backlist.

Connect with Rhonda Laurel

Website – http://www.rhondalaurel.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorrhondalaurel

Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/rhondalaurel

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/rhondalaurel/

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Prize is a $25 Gift Card from Rhonda Laurel.

Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Sept 6.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

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Follow the tour for more fun excerpts, reviews, and guest posts by clicking on the banner below.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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Getting Back to Normal By Marilyn Levinson

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We give this 4 1/2 paws and if you are looking for a book for your child, definitely check this one out! ~Storeybook Reviews

Levinson has the incredible talent of combining life’s lessons with a bit of fun too, as she incorporates boys, ghosts, a runaway little brother, and an old mystery into this well-written story. ~Cindi at Mommasez……

The author “blends the stress of family life with a touch of paranormal for a light-hearted tale that will have you smiling.” ~Thoughts in Progress

This is a fast easy entertaining read. ~readalot

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Genre: YA/Grades 6-8

 Published by: Untreed Reads Publishing

Release Date: May 29, 2013

E-Book File Size: 289 KB

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Synopsis

Sixth-grader Vannie Taylor’s mom has just died. Her father’s completely lost without his wife and brings Vannie and her younger brother to live in a dismal cottage on the estate where he manages craft fairs, dinners, and other events.

A ghost named Archie befriends Vannie, and helps her prepare a wonderful supper for her brother. After Vannie discovers Archie’s secret, he asks Vannie to help him make amends for something in his past. But helping Archie means accepting a very large change in her own life. Things get back to normal for Vannie, but not in a way she’s ever imagined.

My Review

In movies, casting makes or breaks the film. The same can be said for books.

The author has a great cast in Getting Back To Normal.

Vannie’s almost twelve when her father uproots the family and moves them into a dumpy old cottage on the grounds of Merry Mount Gardens, the estate he works for.

She’s not happy with the move and neither is her little brother Robby. He’s obsessed with a stray cat he’s been feeding, Theodore, and worries if the new people living in their old house will take care of him.

Vannie worries about who will take care of them, as her father has immersed himself in matters of the estate and is often absent.

Her father looked to his wife for comfort and support. They all did. She was the glue that held them together.

Now that she’s gone, they are quickly becoming a dysfunctional family.

Vannie’s saving grace is Aunt Mayda. She’s not really her aunt. She was her mothers best friend. She owns Merry Mount and helped them to get the cottage.

Aunt Mayda lives in the city but makes frequent visits, lending her support where needed.

One day, Vannie makes a new friend.

Archibald Heatherton is Mayda’s grandfather. He’s also the resident ghost.

Vannie is the only one who can see him, and he’s asking for her help.

He chose to stay after his “foolish death” to ensure Mayda lives happily ever after.

Vannie thinks it’s a pretty tall order. Does anyone get their happily ever after?

Vannie is a brave young lady. Her situation adds a heavy responsibility on her small shoulders. Her dad is buried in his work, her brother is obsessed with a stray cat, she’s missing her home, her school, her friends.

Now a silly ghost wants a real life fairy tale ending. Can helping Archie maybe help her own family? Will they ever get back to normal?  What is normal anyway?

Without Archie the ghost, this could have been a heavy read. Archie, with his backflips and cartwheels, and aura of mystery, lightens the mood, making this a fun story told from Vannie’s point of view.

Getting Back To Normal is for young readers. I’d say middle grade. The characters are real and the situations are true to life, well, except for Archie, and the adventures are exciting.  And I’m all for a happily ever after.

This took me back to when I was young and I spent all my time in the library. I would grab my selected books and sit in a quiet corner, reading until it was time to go home. I loved taking those books home, choosing which one to read first, and diving into a new world.

I wish I had young children to share this book with. I would love for them to meet these characters and interrupt me when I’m busy to exclaim about something that happened in the book.

4 Stars

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Marilyn Levinson

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Marilyn Levinson, a former Spanish teacher, writes mysteries, romance, and books for children and young adults.

Her romantic suspense, DANGEROUS RELATIONS, is a love story entwined with an intriguing mystery. GIVING UP THE GHOST is an entertaining ghost mystery. The first of her Twin Lakes Mysteries, A MURDERER AMONG US, was awarded a Best Indie of 2011 by Suspense Magazine. A new edition of A MURDERER AMONG US and its sequel, MURDER IN THE AIR, will be out soon.

A ghost, a mansion, and a feral Maine Coon cat feature in Marilyn’s brand new YA, GETTING BACK TO NORMAL. Three of her popular out-of-print children’s books, AND DON’T BRING JEREMY, NO BOYS ALLOWED, and RUFUS AND MAGIC RUN AMOK are now available as ebooks.

Marilyn is co-founder and past-president of the Long Island chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives on Long Island.

Links: web page: http://www.marilynlevinson.com Untreed Reads books: http://goo.gl/ktYzs Amazon page: http://amzn.to/K6Md1O Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson

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I have one ebook of Getting Back To Normal to giveaway!

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

“What’s your favorite fairy tale?”

Giveaway ends August 19th.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

WWW Wednesday

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Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

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What are you currently reading?

 Trudy, Madly, Deeply 

by Wendy Delaney

Trudy, Madly, Deeply (Working Stiffs Mystery Series, #1)

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Human lie detector Charmaine Digby is having a bad year. After eating her way through a divorce, she’s out of work and up to her eyeballs in debt. In need of a life makeover Char comes home to the senior citizen haven of Port Merritt, Washington, and is ecstatic when she parlays her eye for lies into a job as the County Coroner’s new assistant. But her joy is short-lived when a hunky doctor at the hospital reports the suspicious death of Trudy, Port Merritt’s beloved Story Lady. Even more stunning, Trudy isn’t the only recent patient whose heart mysteriously stopped.
Is it mad to think that dear old Trudy could be the latest victim of a serial killer?
With no physical evidence of foul play, Char’s on the case, much to the irritation of Detective Steve Sixkiller, who doesn’t want her to stick her pretty nose for trouble in his investigation. But she’s a woman on a mission to uncover the truth, and she’d better keep her eyes open or the next body on the way to the morgue could be hers….

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What did you recently finish reading?

Marin’s Dale

by Evan Bollinger

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Something has infiltrated the quiet airs of Marin’s Dale. Something that has never been seen. Something that mere human minds will never fathom…

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What do you think you’ll read next?

Twisted

by Uvi Poznansky

Twisted

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In this unique collection, Uvi Poznansky brings together diverse tales, laden with shades of mystery and the macabre. There are four of them: I Am What I Am; I, Woman; The Hollow; and The One Who Never Leaves. Here, you will come into a dark, strange world, a hyper-reality where nearly everything is firmly rooted in the familiar—except for some quirky detail that twists the yarn, and takes it for a spin in an unexpected direction.This is the reality you will see through the eyes of a ghost of a woman, trying to reclaim her name by appealing to the devil; the eyes of a clay figure of a woman, about to be fired in the kiln, longing for her Creator; the eyes of a woman in the midst of a free fall, about to become a ghost; and the eyes of a feline creature with cracked fangs, trying in vain to resign herself, by hook and by crook, to being locked. These characters explore their identity, and challenge their fate.Inspired by her art, by quotes from literature and the bible, and by the author’s professional career, these tales come from different times and places. Yet all of them share one thing in common: an unusual mind, one that is twisted. So prepare yourself: keep the lights on.
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So, whatcha readin?

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Hounded Tour Banner

You’ve probably seen Zoe Dawson on my blog before.

I just love her Going to the Dog Series and am so excited to tell you about her books.

Just look at the cover art for her newest release,  Hounded, Book #3!

Isn’t it adorable?

Learn more about the series, enjoy my review of Leashed, Book #1, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

You can win this entire series!

**Leashed is free right now!**

Go HERE to get your free copy and get started on this series!

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Title: HOUNDED (Going to the Dogs 3)

Author:  Zoe Dawson

Release date: June 17, 2013

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Blue Moon Creative, LLC

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

Links to the book:

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

 

Leashed (Book #1) – novella, Groomed for Murder (Book #2), Hounded (book #3)

***Leashed is currently free on Amazon and Barnes and Noble at the time of this posting.***

Book Description:

 

I’ll get you and your little dogs, too!

Veterinarian Poe Madigan enters The Fur Ball with her Jack Russell terriers (aka The Terrible Two) to compete for a substantial cash prize that will keep her mother from losing her home.  But when her fabulous partner sprains his ankle, Poe must trade him and his talented Bichon for a sexy, muscle-bound hunk who can’t dance and his Basset Hound, Lazy Daisy. If that’s not enough to make her despair, it seems The Terrible Two have angered someone and they’re receiving death threats!

Security specialist Jared Taylor promises one of Poe’s friends that he will go undercover as her dog dancing partner to protect her from danger.  He didn’t expect to find his staid, traditional life would be turned all topsy-turvy and he would find a soft spot for a neglected hound and fall for a Goth princess.  But when he reveals who he really is and why he is in Poe’s life destroy the foundation of trust they’ve built?  Could he lose the real prize – Poe?

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LEASHED

Book #1

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Description

Jack has some ‘splainin’ to do!

That’s right! Callie Lassiter’s normally well-behaved Great Dane Jack has run off and done the wild thing with the neighbor’s dog. It must be puppy love! It’s doubly embarrassing since she’s a professional dog trainer. Of course, the neighbor would have to be hot, hot nightclub owner bad boy Owen McKay, just the kind of man Callie is determined to avoid.

Owen’s comfortable with his playboy status and the hype in the media. But the ground moves beneath his feet when he gets an eyeful of the girl next door. The Dog Whisperer never looked this good! How can he convince this wholesome honey that his player days are behind him? Maybe Jill, his Great Dane can help him with this dilemma now that she’s pregnant and Callie’s dog is to blame.

Is this bad boy a bad bet?

My Review

Leashed is a fun summer read for by the pool.

I read this fairly quickly, having many laughs along the way.

It’s almost like there are two romances going on here.

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Jack and Jill, the two Great Danes, do the doggie thing and now Jill is going to have puppies.

This is where romance two begins.

Callie is trying hard to stay away from her sexy neighbor, tabloid making club owner,Owan McKay. He is beyond sexy and Callie has a thing for the bad boy. But, after too many crash and burns, she’s promised herself, not this time.

Owan’s idea of romance is a different flavor each week and the tabloids are too happy to flash the pictures. He’s never felt he was missing anything until he became entangled with Cassie. Now he’s wondering if this sultry, cheeky tom-boy might be something special.

The first thing that made me smile was the dogs. I love a book where animals lend their own personality to the story, making it fun and genuine. Most of us have pets and they are a part of our family. Giving these Great Danes the names Jack and Jill is so cute and had me grinning.

As Jill’s day of delivery draws closer, her mate, Jack won’t leave her side, which means Callie and Owan are spending a lot of time together at his apartment, getting tangled up in more than leashes.

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I may have had an idea where this would all end up, but I had a great time getting there.

Anybody looking for a fun, romantic comedy, and a love of dogs, will enjoy this book.

It’s a novella, so it reads fairly quick, and is a stand alone in the series, which I especially like.

I’ll be reading the rest of this series, for sure.

4 Stars

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Groomed For Murder

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Can a dog have a bad hair day?

Brooke Palmer owns Pawlish, an exclusive doggie spa and grooming business in upper Manhattan, but when a client’s champion poodle gets a bad poodle cut and has to undergo therapy to recover, the client sues. The lawyer they send is drop dead gorgeous, but Brooke won’t be wooed by a corporate shark in a sharp suit.

Corporate lawyer Drew Hudson has better things to do then take on this ridiculous lawsuit, but since he works for the client’s husband, he has no choice. After meeting the beautiful, sweet-tempered owner, he can’t keep his mind on the silly case. But when the client turns up dog gone dead, Brooke may be a conflict of interest when she’s charged with the murder. All Drew wants to do is prove that this sexy entrepreneur is not dangerous, except to his heart.

Can she take a chance on him?

Reviewing soon!

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About the Author

                       

Zoe Dawson is the alter ego of Karen Anders, award winning, multi-published author. Her writing journey started with poetry and branched out into fiction. With a couple of college English courses under her belt, she penned a historical, then moved onto contemporary romance fiction. Today, she is happy producing romantic suspense, romantic mystery,  urban fantasy and paranormal novels. The words feed her soul and the happily ever afters feed her heart.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter

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1 ebook-A Perfect Mess
1 winner will get all three books in the Going to the Dogs Series
Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.
You can follow the tour for fun and exciting reviews, excerpts and guest posts by clicking the tour button below!
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

Vows VBT

Vows sounds like a lot of fun. How do you seduce your husband and save your marriage?

I imagine  Addison will have to be creative.

Check out Vows, enjoy the peek inside, watch the awesome trailer, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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                      Addison Klein’s marriage is falling apart. She’s contemplating whether she should fight to keep her family together or walk away. After the sudden death of her best friend, Peyton, and a vicious fight with her husband Tyler, Addison knows she needs to finally decide her future.

Just when she thinks she’s all alone in making this life altering decision, she gets a little guidance from her guardian angel. Addison rediscovers herself and realizes that the vows she said on her wedding day meant something to her… for as long as we both shall live.

Addison sets a plan in motion to seduce her husband.

Enjoy this glimpse inside Vows

Peyton’s funeral was beautiful and emotionally overwhelming for me. Tyler went to his parents’ house after the church service to pick up the girls. He was never good at showing emotion or handling it when I did.

I accompanied Colin to the graveside service and the funeral brunch afterward for continued moral support. He was a wonderful man, but he wore his emotions on his sleeve. After the brunch was over, the immediate family and I went back to Colin’s house. We spent the day consoling each other and telling stories about Peyton and her antics. We talked about how she seemed to have a sixth sense, a feeling about how things were going to turn out. I finally said my goodbyes and headed home.

I looked over at the clock on my dashboard as I pulled back into the driveway and was stunned by how late it was. I was tired and emotionally drained. I just wanted to go to bed. I opened the door and set my purse and keys down on the table, slipping off my shoes.

“Nice of you finally to come home,” Tyler snarked before I saw him walking into the foyer.

“What?” I asked, shaking my head and trying to figure out what he meant.

“You’ve been gone all day,” he snipped.

I started to walk away from him and down the hall. “I was with Colin. Where did you think I was?” I replied just a snarky.

“Is there something going on with you and Colin?” he spat, ripping what little was left of my heart out.

I spun around to face him. “You have got to be kidding me! Really, Tyler? Is that what you think?” I took a deep breath and my body started to shake. I was on emotional overload and about to explode. “Do you really think I would do that to Peyton?” I seethed as I wiped the tears running down my cheek with the back of my hand.

“That’s what I mean. You ask if I think you could do that to Peyton and I’m wondering if you would do it to me,” he yelled.

Buy Links:   Amazon     All Romance eBooks      Barnes & Noble

Watch the Trailer

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDnjKEh5zE0]

About the Author:

Tamaria Soana is middle aged, but just feels her life has begun.

She writes sexy contemporary romance stories that always end with a ‘happily ever after’. Growing up she loved to read and make up new places in her head to escape to. In her late teens she began writing short stories and poetry; it wasn’t until her late thirties before she began to spin a full story.  She’s married and a stay-at-home-mom of two beautiful young girls, they reside in Western New York. Cuddling up with a good book under an electric throw is her way to escape the cold Buffalo nights.

Besides writing, she co-owns Shades of Rose Marketing and hosts a talk show on Talkshoe called Live with Tamaria ~ Giving authors a voice.

Author Links:    Site     Facebook Author Page     Twitter

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Tamaria is giving away a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.

To enter to win just fill out the Rafflecopter at the link below.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

The Goddess Girls Series makes me want to go back in time. Back to when I spent every free moment in the school library, browsing and reading everything I could get my hands on.

Check out Persephone the Daring.

Isn’t the cover art fun and enchanting?

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash!

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Persephone the Daring (Goddess Girls #11)

Mortal rock star Orpheus steals the spotlight in this Goddess Girls tale of love and lyres!Orpheus is a mortal rock god, and the girls at Mount Olympus Academy are wild about him! With his lyre and singing voice, Orpheus can charm pretty much anything—even things like stones and trees. But Hades and the other MOA boys aren’t charmed. In fact, they are less than thrilled that the girls are so gaga over this guy.

His fans are especially excited about his latest song about the girl he loved and lost, Eurydice. Orpheus was devastated when he lost Eurydice to the Underworld, so he asks Persephone to help get her back. Though it means breaking some very serious Underworld rules, Persephone pushes Hades to return Eurydice to the living world. But restoring Orpheus’s one true love might jeopardize Persephone’s own chances with her biggest crush…

Praise for The Goddess Girls

“…a clever take on Greek deities…”

~ Booklist

“Readers familiar with Greek myths should get a kick out of this plucky restaging.”

~Publisher’s Weekly

“…an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a deity…”

~ School Library Journal

The Goddess Girls Series

The Goddess Girls series, by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

  • Athena the Brain Finding out she’s a goddess and being sent to Mount Olympus brings Athena new friends, a weird dad, and the meanest girl in mythology—Medusa!
  • Persephone the Phony Hiding her feelings works fine for Persephone until she meets a guy she can be herself with—Hades, the bad-boy of the Underworld.
  • Aphrodite the Beauty Sure Aphrodite is beautiful, but it’s not always easy being the goddessgirl of love.
  • Artemis the Brave She may be the goddess of the hunt, but that doesn’t mean Artemis always feels brave.
  • Athena the Wise Zeus says Heracles has to do twelve tasks or he’ll get kicked out of MOA! Although she’s not sure it’s wise, Athena agrees to help out.
  • Aphrodite the Diva Isis claims she’s the goddess of love? Ha! But to keep the title all to herself, Aphrodite has to find the perfect match for Pygmalion, the most annoying boy ever.
  • Artemis the Loyal It’s time for the annual Olympic Games, and Artemis and her friends are not happy. It’s boys only. Not fair!
  • Medusa the Mean Medusa wants to be more like her two sisters and the other kids at Mount Olympus Academy — immortal. Is that too much to ask?
  • The Girl Games (Goddess Girls Super Special) Listen in on what all four goddess girls are thinking as Mount Olympus Academy hosts visitors from many lands–including an adorable kitten!The first-ever standalone superspecial in the Goddess Girls series!
  • Pandora the Curious Pandora is one of the few mortals at Mount Olympus Academy—and probably the most curious of all the students in school.
  • Pheme the Gossip As the goddess girl of rumor and gossip, Pheme prides herself on being “in the know” and having the most up-to-date info on anyone and everyone at Mount Olympus Academy.

Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children’s choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 – 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 – 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.

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Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children’s books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children’s book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts — Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children’s books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 8/22/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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I just love the titles for the Ripsters books.

How can you resist Dead And Missing or Date With The Dead!

And the cover art is terrific too!

Dark gothic for Date With The Dead and pretty in pink for Dead And Missing.

Check these out, enjoy Chris’s quotes, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Title: Dead and Missing (Ripsters, #2)

Author: Chris Myers

Released: July 13, 2013

Genre: Paranormal Mystery/Romance

Age Group: Young Adult

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

Links to the book:

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE

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Book Description Dead and Missing (Book #2):

 

Sixteen-year-old Brittany Howland only knows one other girl, Jolie Livingston, who can communicate with the dead like herself. When Brittany takes Jolie’s haunt fishing to get him out of Jolie’s hair, he mysteriously disappears. Brittany isn’t sure how she’ll tell Jolie she lost her stupid ghost. Jolie thinks her dead best friend Drew has finally crossed over, but Brittany knows better. Just before Drew went missing, he revealed why he hasn’t hitchhiked to the afterlife, a secret Brittany swore she’d take to the grave.

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Dead and missing Date with the Date cover

Book Description for Date With the Dead (Book, #1): 

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Sixteen-year-old Jolie Livingston’s closest and only friend Drew is this really hot dead guy, and it bites that the self-absorbed princesses at school cannot even see him. That’s right she can communicate with the dead. It’s the living she has trouble with. She and her mom inherited this awesome crib in Plymouth, MA. It’s quite a step-up from the homeless shelter in New Orleans, but there’s a catch. They can’t afford the past due mortgage, so Jolie’s working on that.

She starts a ghost hunting business called Ripsters. Somehow she’s managed to recruit Brittany, a glamour SAP smothered in pink, and a techie allergic to ghosts. Brit actually thinks he resembles the R&B singer Chris Brown. All that pink has clouded her vision. They both have special talents Jolie’s hoping will be useful to their venture. Right now, they’re working for a family in need of major therapy due to a dead guy with a hole in his head.

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Enjoy this Guest Post from Chris Meyers

 

Favorite Quotes (These were collected from the smiley faces from my critique partners)

“Bravery before beauty”

“You look like the Energizer Bunny.”

“What’s not to like?”

“Promise me you won’t get into any trouble?” Jolie asks.

“I can never promise you that,” Drew says.

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 Chris Myers

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Chris Myers suffers from an overactive imagination. She spent her high school years writing torch songs for fantasy guys then moved onto writing thrillers and young adult. She has a real job but would love to write full time. Her books have won and placed in the finals and semifinals for several awards including Paul Gillette, Rocky Mountain Gold, and Amazon Breakthrough Novel. Chris lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and BeBe, a rambunctious Bichon.

Author social media links:

https://twitter.com/cmyersfiction

http://www.facebook.com/chrismyersfiction

www.chrismyersfiction.com

http://chrismyersfiction.blogspot.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17879109-dead-and-missing

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(3) Print Copies of Dead and Missing (US)

(8) eBook Copies of Dead and Missing (International)

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

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To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and fun excerpts click here or the tour button below.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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For all of my giveaways go HERE.