Laura Thomas | fuonlyknew

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Posts Tagged ‘Laura Thomas’

Saturday Screams #18 ~ Some good ones for your Halloween reading list

Posted: October 22, 2016 in horror, Mytery/Thriller, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, suspense
Tags: fuonlyknew, Horror, Laura Thomas, reviews, Saturday Screams

Welcome to my Saturday Screams. Got some good ones to share today.

Onyx Webb

Book Six – Episodes 16-17-18

by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz

Genre: Horror / Suspense / Romance

My Review

What can I say about this sixth book in the Onyx Webb series? It’s hard without including spoilers this far into it.

I freakin loved this one! I’m learning so much more about the character’s, past and present. I couldn’t read fast enough.

Someone comes back from the brink of death. Several people die. And a new character is introduced. Newt is quite fascinating.

Onyx Webb is a very complex character. Still not sure what to make of her. She can be endearing. Now and then I feel sorry for her. And then there’s times when she scares the crap out of me.

And something bad is coming. Wish I could tell you more. Take a close look in a mirror. Wait for it. You just might see.

You’d think, with the story being told from so many points of view, and several different time periods, that it would be confusing, the reading would get bogged down. Not so. As I tore through the book, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen, but didn’t want it to end. If you’ve ever loved a story, I’m sure you know what I mean.

This is a series that’s meant to be read in order, so be sure to start at the beginning. I hope you give it a go. You’ll become addicted, just like me.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Six. (Episodes 16, 17 & 18) Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One.

More questions get answered in Book Six and NEW characters are introduced, several others return.

Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.

The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of your favorite tv series (think: supernatural soap opera like American Horror Story) each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Six: The serial killer has taken his ultimate prize. In 2010, Koda attempts to find the girl in the mirror by crossing over to the other side. Onyx Webb finally has a new person in her life but like most things, it does not last.

Amazon

~~~~~

Tortures Of The Damned

by Hunter Shea

Genre: Horror

My Review

I should have known. I’ve read several of Hunter’s novels and he doesn’t hesitate to kill off his characters. Many die in this dystopian horror story. That’s my warning to try not to get too attached to any of them.
Someone or something attacks the U.S., first taking out our electronics with EMPs, effectively cutting us off from each other. Then, a chemical weapon is released killing most of the population immediately, while others that are exposed die a slow, painful death. That is, if the animals don’t get to you first.
Whatever was in the gas turned all animals into homicidal killers bent on eating us humans. There’s a scene with a bunch of horses that was particularly gruesome. I love the majestic animals, but even I was cheering on the characters as they fought back.
It’s a fight to survive for a group of family and friends as they try to find safety, fighting off predators, both human and animal.
Looking for a thrilling, fast horror read. Grab this one. Hunter drops you into his story and it’s up to you to hang on til the end.
Oh yeah, beware of that ending.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

SHOCK…
First, the electricity goes—plunging the east coast in darkness after a devastating nuclear attack. Millions panic. Millions die. They are the lucky ones.

AFTER SHOCK…
Next, the chemical weapons take effect—killing or contaminating everything alive. Except a handful of survivors in a bomb shelter. They are the damned.

HELL IS FOR HUMANS
Then, the real nightmare begins. Hordes of rats force two terrified families out of their shelter—and into the savage streets of an apocalytic wasteland. They are not alone. Vicious, chemical-crazed animals hunt in packs. Dogs tear flesh, cats draw blood, horses crush bone. Roaming gangs of the sick and dying are barely recognizable as human. These are the times that try men’s souls. These are the tortures that tear families apart. This is hell on earth. The rules are simple: Kill or die.

Amazon

~~~~~

Below

by Ryan Lockwood

Genre: Horror

My Review

Living on the Gulf Coast and having done plenty of deep sea fishing, I’ve seen some of the creatures that patrol beneath the surface of the ocean.

If you think sharks are the only thing to worry about, think again. Ryan Lockwood has brought us some truly terrifying creatures. They’re real, not fictional or supernatural, and I would hope to never run into them.

The author wastes no time dropping you into the horrific waters, setting his beasts loose to feed. Once they have you on their radar, there’s no escaping them.

I love horror, and especially stories that feature monsters, real or imagined. This one fed that passion and I couldn’t stop reading until the author revealed his ending.

Oh yeah. I ate this up. Just as voraciously as these creatures did.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

In the bestselling tradition of Jaws, from the depths of the sea comes a new kind of terror.

In all his years as a professional diver, Will Sturman has never encountered a killing machine more ferocious than the great white shark or as deadly as the piranha. Now, off the coast of California, something is rising from the deep–and multiplying. Voracious, unstoppable, and migrating north, an ungodly life form trailed by a gruesome wake of corpses. With the help of the brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Valerie Martell, Will finds himself in a race against time to stop the slaughter–by a predator capable of devastating the world’s oceans.

Pray it kills you quickly.

Amazon

~~~~~

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

The 2016 Spooktacular Giveaway Hop Has Begun!

Posted: October 20, 2016 in Giveaway Hop, Holidays, Uncategorized
Tags: 2016 Spooktacular Giveaway Hop, fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas

218

spooktacular 2016

It’s that time again. Time for the 2016 Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

For my stop, I’m giving away a print book from Amazon valued up to $20. Winner’s choice. International entries are welcome.

Entry is super easy. Just leave your email address and tell me what book or movie scared you the most.

Giveaway ends October 31st.

Good Luck!

Follow the tour from the links below for a chance at more fun prizes!

~~~~~

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 click on the lucky kitty below!

What’s New On My Bookshelf #177 and The Sunday Post

Posted: October 16, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

~~~

So, another week of nothing much new around here. I did get a new computer for my son. And I got a hair cut.

The weather has been beautiful and hovering around the mid to high 80s. The pool is lovely. I managed to get in a couple of swims on Saturday and plan to do more swimming today. Got to enjoy it while the weather lasts.

Oh yeah. I’m planning to watch The Conjuring 2 tonight. Have you seen it yet? Is it as good as it’s been hyped up to be?

Other than that, it’s just been me doing a lot of reading. Got lots of books to share, and some fun freebies.

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

~~~

New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.

~~~

And here are some freebies for ya!

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

~~~

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

~~~

Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

~~~

Other posts on my blog this week.

The Raveners ~ A Paranormal Thriller Giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #174 ~ Poop

Check out The Lucy Trilogy by L.M. Pruitt

Fairly Safe ~ A Love Of Fairs Tale by Deborah Ann Davis

Killer In The Band ~ Author Interview and Giveaway

Double Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~ Whitechapel Paranormal Society Series by E.J. Stevens

Haven Of Evil ~ A Supernatural Horror Review

The Friday 56 #123 ~ Bulletproof Badge

Audible Review & Giveaway ~ Beyond The Rising Tide by Sarah Beard

A YA Fantasy Giveaway ~ A Bond Of Venom And Magic

~~~

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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

~~~

So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

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

What’s New On My Bookshelf #176 and The Sunday Post

Posted: October 9, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

It’s Sunday again! I can never get over how quickly a week flies by.

I didn’t have much exciting happen this week. But I sure have been stocking up on scary reads and movies. My Netflix Que and On Demand list is brimming with creepy good movies. And my kindle and bedside table are stocked with plenty of scary reads to give me nightmares.

I’m gearing up for the return of my favorite show, THE WALKING DEAD! Are you ready?

I came across this fun video to tickle your funny bone.

I was busy over on Amazon hunting down some freebies for ya’ll. I got a bunch and I bet there’s some for everyone. Make sure you check them out further down in my post!

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

~~~

New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.

~~~

And here are some freebies for ya!

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

~~~

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

~~~

Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

~~~

Other posts on my blog this week.

The Young Adult Book Heist 2016 ~ Free Books and a Giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #173 ~ Putting On The Witch

Win a Haunted House Jigsaw Puzzle ~ Masking For Trouble

Video Teaser & Giveaway ~ Extraordinary October

The Grotesques ~ Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

Book Blast & Giveaway ~ Cooking For Ghosts

Could They? Should They? ~ Save The Last Dance ~ Review

The Friday 56 #122 ~ The Appeal Of Evil

Tangled Up In Brew ~ Review and Giveaway

Free Book! A Long Journey Off A Short Pier

The game is on….Dawn Of The Vie ~ Blitz & Giveaway

Putting On The Witch ~ Review & Giveaway

~~~

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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

~~~

So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

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

What’s New On My Bookshelf #175 and The Sunday Post

Posted: October 2, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

~~~

It’s October and Halloween is on it’s way!!! Time for all things scary. You’ll be seeing some horror books and movies featured here this month. Probably a lot of them. But that’s really not something new as, on fuonlyknew……..

halloween photo: EveryDayIsHalloweenPinkFlash EveryDayIsHalloweenPinkFlash.gif

I do share a lot of scary stuff. Always have loved my horror. And boy do I have some good stuff in store for you this month!

I’m always dreading the end of summer. But there are some fun holidays coming up, and I do enjoy going through my winter clothes. Once I resign myself to cooler weather, it’s all about staying warm and snuggling up with a good book or watching a movie covered in a snuggy on my couch.

Just being curious, what’s your favorite season and holiday?

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

~~~

New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.

~~~

And here are some freebies for ya!

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

~~~

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

Both of these have great giveaways so be sure to click on the covers to be taken to the giveaway posts!

~~~

Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

~~~

Other posts on my blog this week.

Giveaway and Teasers ~ Dark Abigail

She’s gonna need a bigger axe…Lizzie Borden: Zombie Hunter ~ Review and Giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #172 ~ The Spirit In St. Louis

Blitz Giveaway ~ Due South Boxed Set

Storm Of Arranon ~ Giveaway and Review

Tag Team Review and Giveaway ~ The Ice Bridge

The Friday 56 #121 ~ Five Dog Voodoo

Cover Reveal ~ Shadows Of The Forest

~~~

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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

~~~

So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

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

What’s New On My Bookshelf #174 and The Sunday Post

Posted: September 25, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

~~~

Well, I did it. I broke down and bought my first Christmas ornament! LOL I was shopping for some new Halloween ones and right next to them was a bunch of Christmas stuff. And I wasn’t the only one. Another lady grabbed some too. We looked at each other and laughed. Nothing needed to be said.

I had a three day weekend so I spent much of it cleaning. Degreasing everything in the kitchen is so much fun, right! It sure sparkles now, though. Now for the inside of those cupboards.

I also managed to get in some reading. Always time for that. Just finished The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter. What a ‘twist’ that story was. Now I’m reading Hard Core Law by Angi Morgan. I know. I went from a thriller to some hunky Texas Rangers.

And I finished Lizzie Borden: Zombie Hunter. It was really good. So, I had to click on Netflix and watch the Lizzie series again. I think I need to read a cozy or a fun children’s book and clear my head now. How about you? Do you sometimes choose a different genre as your next read, just to give you’re imagination something new?

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

~~~

New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.

~~~

And here are some freebies for ya!

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

~~~

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

~~~

Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

~~~

Other posts on my blog this week.

The Christmas Cookie Shop ~ Blast and Giveaway

The Madonna Of Notre Dame ~ Review and Giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #171 ~ The Ice Bridge

Touching Death ~ A Rachel Angeletti Novel

Book Blast and Giveaway ~ The Crimson Eyed Dragon

Giveaway ~ The Surrendered

Stillwell: A HauntingOn Long Island ~ Review

Mummy’s Little Angel ~ Giveaway and Review

The Friday 56 #120 ~ Curse Of The Boggin

Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ The Legend Of The Pumpkin Thief

The Flip by Michael Phillip Cash ~ Review

~~~

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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

~~~

So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

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

Tag Team Review and Giveaway ~ Deadly Catch by E. Michael Helms

Posted: August 23, 2016 in giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: Author E. Michael Helms, Deadly Catch, fundinemntal, fuonlyknew, giveaway, Laura Thomas, mystery, review

$tag you're it photo: Tag! You\'re It! AnyOccasion-TagYoureIt-May2007.jpg$

This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry.

Read on to learn how you can win some great prizes!

After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental. Check out her review and leave a comment for an additional entry!

~~~~~

Deadly Catch

A Mac McClellan Mystery #1

by E. Michael Helms

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

My Review

Take a dip into southern waters. And watch out for dead bodies.

Mac McClellan has just retired after 24 years as a U.S. Marine . He hits the road, next stop the Florida panhandle, figuring to drop a line in the water and see what he’ll catch. What he doesn’t expect is a dead body on the end of the hook.

This puts him on the suspect list. Years in the military help Mac maintain his cool, but then a bag of marijuana is found on his boat. Now they add drug smuggling to his crimes and he’s hard pressed to explain it. The local authorities don’t take his claim of being framed too seriously. Looks like Mac will have to do his own digging to get to the bottom of it and clear his name before more bodies pile up, including his own.

Mac has easily found a spot on my list of favorite characters. He’s smart, yet he fumbles with the females. Tough, yet he has a soft side. I bet he cries at sad endings in movies. Intuitive, probably from all those years in service. Charming, without realizing he is. And dedicated. He will not stop when injustice stares him in the face.

This has everything you want in a good mystery. A character at loose ends who finds a purpose and can easily move into and around the law. A potential romance with fun and snarky encounters. The good cop/bad cop thing going on. It seems the law enforcement officials switch roles as needed.

And last but not least, some darn good writing. The author puts you on the southern coast. You’ll smell the fishy odor of the wind off the ocean. Squint your eyes from the suns glare off the placid surface of the water. And feel the sweltering humidity that’s so heavy the air is hazy with moisture.

Any mystery lover will enjoy this one. And there’s two more adventures with Mac. Also, a little birdie told me there’s more coming. Get started now so you’ll be ready.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

“The first cast of the day turned my dream vacation into a nightmare. . . .”

After twenty-four years in the U.S. Marines, recently retired Mac McClellan is happy to be a civilian again. He is enjoying a leisurely fishing vacation in the Florida panhandle when he hooks a badly decomposed body.
Then, when a bag of rare marijuana is discovered stashed aboard his rental boat, he realizes someone is setting him up to take the fall for murder and drug smuggling. Mac’s plans for a more laid-back life must be put on hold while he works to clear his name as the number one suspect.
Mac launches an investigation with the help of Kate Bell, a feisty saleslady at the local marina with whom he has struck up a promising relationship. Along the way he must butt heads and match wits with local law enforcement officials, shady politicians, and strong-armed thugs from the Eastern Seaboard to sniff out and bring the real smuggler and killer to justice.

Amazon

~~~~~

Author E. Michael Helms

E.Michael Helms

I was born in Georgia way back in the last century but grew up and lived most of my life on the Gulf Coast of Florida in Panama City (beautiful beaches, girls galore–ah, the memories!). In 2004 my wife and I moved to the Upstate region of South Carolina in the shadows of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, a land of stunning vistas and numerous waterfalls.

I’ve been traditionally published since 1990 when my Vietnam War memoir, The Proud Bastards, launched. TPB chronicles my time as a combat U.S. Marine in 1967-68. It’s still in print after all these years, currently with Simon & Schuster/Pocket. I’ve since written a few novels in different genres. I’m also working on a collection of “Dinger, PI” short stories that are being published on Motive Means Opportunity, a crime/mystery blog I share with two other writers of the same ilk. Currently I’m writing the Mac McClellan Mystery series which is set along the coast of the Florida Panhandle where I grew up.

Links:

Amazon / Goodreads / Twitter / Website / Facebook / Mystery Blog

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

E. Michael Helms has a fantastic giveaway for you!

A $20 Amazon Gift Card (International, where allowed)

Four pdf eBook copies of Deadly Catch (International)

and two print copies of Deadly Catch (US ONLY)

All you need to do to enter is answer the question below, also let us know if you are US or International, and leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

“Do you read books because of the setting?”

Giveaway will run from 8/23/16 – 8/31/16

This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry at fundinmental.

Now hop on over and check out Sherry’s review and leave a comment for an additional entry HERE.

~~~~~

Other Books by E. Michael Helms

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

What’s New On My Bookshelf #169 and The Sunday Post

Posted: August 21, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

bookshelves photo: Bookshelf bookshelves.jpg

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

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

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

~~~

Hello everyone and Happy Sunday!

oudoor reading photo: summer reading summer-reading1.jpg

The sun is shining. The water is calling. And I’m outta here to go enjoy it!

Got lots of books to share with you. And a whole bunch of freebies I found. Tried to pick something for everyone.

And I have another Tag Team event hosted by myself and Sherry that starts next week. Fun reviews and an awesome giveaway. Check further down in the post for more info.

I’m heading outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. And I’m taking some of these books with me! Thanks for stopping by.

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

~~~

New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.

~~~

And here are some freebies for ya!

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

Hey Stormi! Got some Halloween ones for ya!

~~~

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

~~~

Books I’ll be reviewing next week.

And make sure you stop back on Tuesday, August 23rd to catch the Tag team Review and Giveaway Event for Deadly Catch by E. Michael Helms!

~~~

Other posts on my blog this week.

The Cat Came Back ~ A 9 Lives Cozy Mystery ~ Blast & Giveaway

My Monday Minis Reviews #50 ~ Come see what I’ve been reading

Joshua and the Arrow Realm ~ Trailer Reveal, Review, and Giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #166 ~ The Madonna Of Notre Dame

Dead Still by Barbara Ebel ~ Blurb Blitz & Giveaway

Extracted ~ A thrilling steampunk novel ~ Blitz & Giveaway

Thirty-Four Going On Bride ~ The Spinster Series ~ Blast Giveaway

Fun and love with The Continental Breakfast Club ~ Over Easy and Fresh Brewed ~ Review and Giveaway

The Friday 56 #116 ~ Pandemic by Yvonne Vantresca

Dark Sleepers by Kate Sermon ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

~~~

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

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

~~~

So, what did you get to read this week?

Got any recommendations?

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

My Monday Minis Reviews #50 ~ Come see what I’ve been reading

Posted: August 15, 2016 in Contemporary Literature, horror, New Release, reviews, suspense
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, reviews, Saturday Screams

Welcome to My Monday Minis Reviews where I share short reviews of books I’ve read. For today I’ll be sharing three books.

Johnny and Jamaal

My Review

With all of the tragic recent events we’ve seen and heard on the news, this book had a timely release.

Exploring issues occurring today with interracial relationships, coping with racial injustice, and addressing the controversy of punishment fitting the crime, this book will in turn have you cheering characters on, crying out at the inequality doled out, and hoping for a happy ending.

I became quite fond of the characters. They each had a lot of emotional baggage and much to overcome, yet all of them touched me. And I wanted to mention, it’s not all seriousness . There are the fun moments too. And sports. Got a little bit of everything for you.

Having read other books by this author, I knew I’d enjoy his writing, but was a bit worried about this story. Not my normal reading, but it’s trying something new that reveals hidden gems like Johnny and Jamaal. The strong writing of K.M. Beakey captivates you, pulling you along until you reach the end. I very much enjoyed this and recommend you give it a go.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Two athletes from different planets are on the verge of greatness. Johnny’s a carefree Canadian making his mark in the NHL. Jamaal’s set to follow LeBron and Kyrie out of the ghetto. When their worlds collide, the catastrophic clash ignites racial conflict not seen since Ferguson. The incident tests the fledgling love of Johnny’s best friend Lucas and his African-American girlfriend Chantal, and sets them on a quest for truth and justice in the perverse racial landscape of 2016.

As chaos escalates across American cities, an MLK-like voice rises from the ashes. Wilbur Rufus Holmes may be salvation for Luke and Chantal, but can he stop society’s relentless descent into racial discord?

Johnny and Jamaal is awash with sports, violence and political taboo, as America’s seething dysfunction is laid bare.

Amazon

~~~~~

The Hatching

My Review

Many of my friends wondered why I read this book. I have an irrational fear of spiders. Even the teeniest ones creep me out.

So, while reading The Hatching, and all the way to the end, I swear I felt something tickling the hairs on my arms, tiptoeing up the nape of my neck, and parting the hairs on my head.

A creepy crawly tale of spiders and how humanity panics and does it’s darnedest to destroy itself while trying to stop the onslaught of spiders.

One part that particularly creeped me out was when the spiders did something called kiting. They attached a strand of silk to something and let out more and more as they flung themselves into the air. Can you picture that. Looking up and thousands of the nasty beasts are falling from the sky to devour you from the inside out. Or perhaps they’ll cocoon you and drink you slowly. Yuck and yuck.

I’m surprised I didn’t suffer from nightmares after reading this book. For all of you fans of horror and monsters, I dare ya to read this one.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Deep in the jungle of Peru, a black, skittering mass devours an American tourist party whole. FBI agent Mike Rich investigates a fatal plane crash in Minneapolis and makes a gruesome discovery. Unusual seismic patterns register in a Indian earthquake lab, confounding the scientists there. The Chinese government “accidentally” drops a nuclear bomb in an isolated region of its own country. The first female president of the United States is summoned to an emergency briefing. And all of these events are connected.

As panic begins to sweep the globe, a mysterious package from South America arrives at Melanie Guyer’s Washington laboratory. The unusual egg inside begins to crack. Something is spreading…
The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic disaster. An virulent ancient species, long dormant, is now very much awake. But this is only the beginning of our end…

Here’s the alternate cover. Which one do you like best?

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

Dawn Of The Spiders

Special Edition

My Review

Yep. This would be a good movie. The first thing I though of was some of those old black and white ones. Or maybe something along the lines of Eight Legged Freaks, which was actually scary fun.

It figures that the government caused the end of the world. They act first, never ask questions, and bang! There goes everything and everyone we know and love.

Now, a town struggles to survive as hungry mutant spiders cocoon it.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? I sure had fun, even though spiders are a phobia of mine. Perhaps it’s good for me to read about them. Maybe it’ll help me to face down those evil little monsters. Maybe not. I do know it was a thrilling read. And my heart goes out to those that didn’t survive.

Grab this book. It’s a fast thrill ride to a messy ending. Caused by the spiders, of course, not the author’s writing. That was good too.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Brian O’Gorman’s international best seller returns uncut and extended. A virus designed to control the burgeoning spider population causes them to mutate into overgrown, venomous killers. A large hoard of the spiders take over the small village of Newtown, killing all but two of its residents. Laurence Johnson and Chloe Jones have only been together one night after Laurence parted ways with his wife. They find themselves trapped in the house with no way of escaping. Their only hope is to try and stay alive long enough for the army to intervene. Lorna Johnson is on the outskirts of town with nowhere to go and the spider invasion taking control. Her only hope of survival lies with a team headed up by Doctor Michael Briggs. He has a plan to stop the invasion before it gets out of hand. But he is running out of time and he is running out of allies. If he doesn’t move quickly then mankind will face the darkest day it has ever known.

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Here’s the alternate cover. Which one do you like best?

Amazon / B&N

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What’s New On My Bookshelf #168 and The Sunday Post

Posted: August 14, 2016 in Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: fuonlyknew, Laura Thomas, my weekly book news, The Sunday Post

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

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

Sunday Post

Kimberly the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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

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Hello everyone and Happy Sunday!

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I was missing in action for a few days this week. Went out of town to have some fun with the family. With all of the rain this week, it was good to do something besides stare out window, hoping for a peek at the sun. The sun was a no-show, but the rain sure made itself known.

We’ve had a low pressure system sitting on the Gulf Coast all week. Rain and more rain. Now and then I like a few rainy days. Maybe not this many though. LOL I did get a lot of reading in. And watched some movies I’d had waiting in my Que.

How about you? Do you enjoy rainy days? What do you do when you can’t go outside and play?

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

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New books on my shelf. Some I won, some are for review, and some I just had to have.

Only two this week! One thing good about being busy over the summer. I don’t spend quite as much money at the book store. LOL