Posts Tagged ‘New Release’

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Welcome to the Release Celebration for

Wolfbane’s Daughter

By Jennifer Silverwood

Read the exclusive excerpt and enter the giveaway below…

Wolfbane’s Daughter
(A Wylder Tale Novella)
by Jennifer Silverwood
YA Dark Fantasy
ebook, 52 Pages
February 25th 2016

Wolfsbane and his daughter Resha are on a never ending quest in the Wylder Mountains, to wipe out the wolves who destroyed their village. Before their enemies stole everything she loved, Resha cared for little beyond learning how to be a hunter. After, she learned a hunter must be prepared to fight as well as flee. Now she cares for nothing but revenge.

Until she discovers two majikal humans half frozen in the forest. Resha has a choice, to follow her instincts and leave the strangers to the wolves, or save them. Yet the enemy is on the prowl and there is little time for Wolfsbane’s daughter to find safe haven before they are discovered.

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleSmashwords

Exclusive Excerpt

There was a time when she did not hate her father, when her only concern was checking her traps and learning knives from Grandfather. But this was before their village on the ridge of Mount Grimm was attacked and destroyed by their enemies. After that she learned a hunter’s claws must be longer and much sharper. A hunter must always be prepared to fight as well as flee, Father said.

“Stay close, Resha!” her father hissed, drawing her attention to their bleak present.

They had been on the run ever since the attack on Mount Grimm. An entire moon had passed since half the village was murdered, including her brother Vilhelm. If any others survived they were hiding deep in the mountains. The beasts had always been a threat to them. But recent attacks alluded to a new hunger, to wipe out the last humans living in the Wylder Mountains. Some in the village had blamed Wolfsbane and his quest to avenge Grandfather’s death. Those who might still have blamed her family were dead.

Now all that was left to them was this hunt, her first true hunt. Before this she had been little more than a trapper, practicing her knife on the small creatures she found in the woods near their village. Every time she ended a hare or tripe’s life, she felt nothing of the thrill the other children did.

“Sometimes I wonder if you are too soft to be a predator after all.”

Truly, Father’s words resonated with her far more deeply than she wanted them to. A part of her was so much a child. She had never plunged her knife into the heart of a true beast. It was her greatest fear she would fail in a task Vilhelm would have fulfilled without flinching. Now the legacy of vengeance was left to her hands and the dagger Grandfather made for her last moon day.

Resha took a deep breath and watched it hover in the freezing air. The territory they hunted in was new, closer to the lost city than most of their kind had ever dared to trail. Her father, Wolfsbane, said they were searching for signs of man and beast. She watched the way Father crouched and inspected every curve of the path the tracks had made. When she looked down it was difficult to see anything but shadow and snow. Yet she could almost feel the faintest traces of their prey’s footfalls. It was the smell and the warmth Wolfsbane was following now.

Her attention was diverted by a bright splash of red along the roots of a nearby tree trunk. Her stomach clenched at the thought of the berries hanging from those thin branches. Mother told her to forage whenever they came across nuts and rare plant life. Just because they were hunting, didn’t mean she couldn’t savor a morsel. And there might even be a chance she could snatch enough to save for when they made camp. She glanced up, hopeful Wolfsbane would not notice.

She poked through the fur wrappings keeping her palms and wrists warm, making quick work of the winter berries. Meanwhile, she kept her eye on the glow of torchlight up ahead and slipped the rest into the satchel attached to her belt. The juice stained her fingers a faint purplish hue and she licked them, hoping to hide the evidence. Her eyes shut involuntarily as she drank in the sweet taste. A hand grasped her wrist roughly and pulled so she was forced to face Wolfsbane’s grizzled visage.

“Foolish pup!” he growled. “This land is cursed and you are a fool to touch it! Do you wish to fall asleep forever in these woods?” With every word he squeezed her wrist tighter, drawing tears from her eyes.

“Wolfsbane!” her mother interrupted, gripping his arm tightly with her free hand. “You will not harm our last remaining child. She is hungry and we have not stopped for three days. Leave her be.”

They stood together against the torch, the light illuminating the sickly rage in Father’s eyes and the fear in Mother’s. Resha tried not to give into that same fear. Father would only see it as a weakness. He was too deep into the hunt, and addled by grief to know better.

So she lifted her chin and willed her tears to stop. To say anything would only spark his fury again. Instead she kept her eyes locked with his. Mother’s fingers crept higher, resting over both her wrist and her father’s tense grip. His anger faded, and for a moment, Resha saw the love her father had for her. He opened his mouth to speak and hope bloomed in her chest.

That was the moment a chorus of howls rose together like a nightmare in the woods around them. The cries began ahead of them, further up the valley. Often she had heard them in the distance as a small child within their cottage. Never had she heard them so close and so far away from all she knew.

Her breath came in short, violent gasps as her heart pounded in her ears. These were the beasts who stole everything from them, the ones they had been hunting ever since. For the first time, Resha felt the stirring of the hunt in her blood.

The First Book in the Series

27191845

Craving Beauty
(A Wylder Tale #1)
by Jennifer Silverwood
YA Dark Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 239 pages
October 31st 2015

Vynasha has spent the last four years tending her mother’s roses and looking after her nephew. The fire that killed their family has left her scarred and put Wyll on the brink of death. Soon the first frost will come down from the mountains and she knows this winter will be his last.

Until a strange beggar appears on the road, telling her of the majikal Source that can heal her Wyll. With nothing left to lose, Vynasha braves the forbidden Wylder Mountains to seek out a cure and her fate.

A lost kingdom is uncovered by an equally lost girl, but the castle is not abandoned as she believes. Shadows cloaking unseen eyes watch. Tapestries whisper from the hidden corners, wondering if the one to break their curse has come. And a hungry beast waits, ready to devour her soul.

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleBook Depository

Jennifer Silverwood was raised deep in the heart of Texas and has been spinning yarns a mile high since childhood. In her spare time she reads and writes and tries to sustain her wanderlust, whether it’s the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the highlands of Ecuador or a road trip to the next town. Always on the lookout for her next adventure, in print or reality, she dreams of one day proving to the masses that everything really is better in Texas. She is the author of the Heaven’s Edge series, Stay and Silver Hollow.

WebsiteBlogGoodreadsFacebookTwitterTumblr

Other Books by the Author

Stay

Release Celebration Giveaway

$20 Amazon eGift Card (Open Internationally)

Signed copy of Craving Beauty, ebook of Wolfsbane’s Daughter, & Swag (US Only)
Ends February 26th

Click on the Rafflecopter Link below to enter.

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 click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Callisto Thunderclap Banner.

.
Callisto Carvanios

What do you do when your parents have laid out your life for you? Do you accept those plans or make one of your own?

You met her in Dark Indiscretions: A Prequel and now delve further into the mind of a predator.

Take the journey as Callisto Carvanis becomes not only the first female Mooyer Society member but the head of the Carvanis family as well.

Witness how the lies, betrayals, and secrets turned her into one of the monsters … and find out how a legacy was born.

 

RELEASED DECEMBER 15TH!

amazon-button

KEEP READING FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE BOOK!

(more…)

Crumbled by Jennifer Snyder
Series: A Paper Thin Novel
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Publication: December 29th, 2015

Dealing with the loss of his fiancée, Emma, and the confusion of his troubled relationship with her sister, Dawson Phillips decides to leave his hometown of Parish Cove behind.

As he battles between denial and depression, Dawson travels the states placing distance between himself and his painful memories of Emma’s death. With each rolling mile behind him, he gains new hope that he will eventually be able to repair his tattered heart.
The problem: He never thought he’d heal while igniting feelings for someone else.

Strengths will be tested. Boundaries will be blurred. And hope will mend the hearts of those fearing they would stay forever crumbled.

 
Teaser
 
Emotions warred through me, making it hard for me to decipher what I was feeling. Closing my eyes, I tried to still my pounding heart and calm my thoughts. Lightning struck close by, lighting the backs of my eyelids. I counted, waiting for another loud clap of thunder to follow. I’d made it to twenty-four before it happened again.
Twenty-four.
My eyes snapped open. I glanced at my cell. The date and time stared back at me, piercing me straight through the heart.
It was October 24. The day I was supposed to marry the love of my life.
 
_________________________
 
Book #1
Paper Thin by Jennifer Snyder
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Available September 29th, 2015

Fate has always seemed to mock Charlotte Montgomery, continuously dangling the man of her dreams just out of reach. It isn’t until Charlotte receives word her older sister Emma is getting engaged that she feels fate’s teasing has hit a new high.

Once she begrudgingly decides to return home to the tiny town of Parish Cove, curious to find out who has captured her sister’s heart, fate suddenly seems as though it may have tossed her a bone.

The problem: Charlotte forgot one simple thing…Fate has never been her friend.

Emotions run high. Happiness will be shattered. And tragedy will strike, leaving everyone feeling paper thin.

Purchase:
 ~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Night Court

by Ashley Fontaine

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

I’ve read one other book by Ashley Fontainne and loved it so I was excited to read Night Court. If you are looking for unending suspense and thrills that keep on coming, you need to read this book.

A quick recap for ya. Merry lost her son and her husband. Her son died of a drug overdose and her husband had a heart attack at his funeral. With nothing left to lose, Merry turns to vigilante justice. Taking up weapons to eliminate the drug dealers responsible.

And Merry has a few advantages. With her brother being a cop and working for a judge, she has access to vital inside info about the drug dealers.

The first kill goes off without a hitch. In fact, something she did spur of the moment completely covered her tracks. Or did it?

I felt so bad for Merry. Her family gone and not much to live for. When my son was young I often wondered what I’d do if someone harmed him. I sometimes thought I’d go the route of Merry. Why should scum live and breathe while my son is gone.

That this often happens in real life made this even more intense for me. People commit crimes over and over, yet are released from jail to do harm again.

There’s this one scene with a dog that I loved. You know that saying, “Every dog has his day!” Gotta cheer for Percy.

I thought I knew where the story was going. Then, the author threw a kidney punch that knocked be back on my heels. Never saw it coming. Or the next thing. Or the next. So many shockers I was reeling.

And the ending. Man, it was wicked. I wish I could tell you, it was that great. There was something I wanted so bad not to happen, but once I finished the book, I knew it was the perfect ending.

I’d tag this is a suspense/thriller. A must read that I can’t recommend enough.

Thanks, Ashley, for an early copy to review.

5 Stars

~~~~~~

Synopsis

Judge

Merry watches, her presence cloaked by the shroud of nightfall. Nothing moves except her eyes which focus on her target. No remorse. No regret. No second guessing the decision to end the lives of the monsters who turned her into a killer.

Jury

The peddlers of death from potent chemicals are found guilty. Punishment for their crimes–death. Appeals denied. Sentencing to commence immediately. The leeches who sucked out the life of addicts with each snort, shot, swallow, and injection will now pay the ultimate price.

Executioner

The idyllic world of Merry Marie Hall, once the loving wife of Harold and mother to their only child, Joshua, is over. Extinguished when Joshua overdosed and Harold died of a heart attack at the funeral. Now Merry hunts down the guilty parties, and one by one, carries out her internal court’s orders.

Court is now in session.

Pre-order your copy on AMAZON

Author Ashley Fontainne

I have always been an avid reader of the classics: Beowulf, The Iliad, and anything written by the master, William Shakespeare. In the past few years, I became a huge fan of James Patterson, Stephen King and Robin Cook.

However….

My favorite book of all was, and always will be, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. The revenge on all those who hurt and betrayed Edmond Dantes and the incredible roller coaster ride his journey takes you on has always intrigued me. My love for this book is what sparked my desire to write my debut novel in my Eviscerating the Snake series, “Accountable to None.” With a modern setting to the tale, I wanted to delve into just what lengths a person was willing to go to as they attempted to seek justice on their own for heinous acts perpetrated on them. The second novel in the series, “Zero Balance” (still in draft!) will focus on the cost and reciprocal cycle that obtaining revenge has on the seeker. For once the cycle starts, where does it end? How far will the tendrils of revenge expand? Adjusting Journal Entries answered that question: far and wide.

Her short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five, touches upon the sometimes dangerous world of online dating. Number Seventy-Five took home the BRONZE medal in fiction/suspense at the 2013 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards contest and is currently in production for a feature film.

Her paranormal thriller entitled The Lie, won the GOLD medal in the 2013 Illumination Book Awards for fiction/suspense and is also in production for a feature film entitled Foreseen.

Ashley’s decided to delve into the paranormal with a Southern Gothic horror/suspense novel, Growl, which released in January of 2015. The suspenseful mystery Empty Shell, released in September of 2014. Ashley will be teaming up with Lillian Hansen (Ashley calls her mom!) to pen a three-part murder mystery/suspense series entitled The Magnolia Series. The first book, Blood Ties, released the Summer of 2015.

Whispered Pain released in October of 2015 and Night Court releases December 13, 2015.

Website / Goodreads / Amazon / Facebook / Twitter

~~~~~

EXTRA! EXTRA!

Request any of Ashley’s books to review by signing up for her newsletter located on the right side of her site HERE.

24606569  24606592  24606619  17787146

24606630  24285519  23172233  26135598

18165239  23291170  25356011  15886643

~~~~~

Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the Christmas Flamingos below!

 

Welcome to the release event for The Stuff of Stars by David Litwack and ebook sale of The Children of Darkness which is free Dec. 5-9 only. This is a science fiction dystopian series from Evolved Publishing.

About The Children of Darkness:

The Children of Darkness - Cover“But what are we without dreams?”
A thousand years ago the Darkness came—a terrible time of violence, fear, and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For ten centuries they have kept the madness at bay with “temple magic,” and by eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything.
Childhood friends, Orah and Nathaniel, have always lived in the tiny village of Little Pond, longing for more from life but unwilling to challenge the rigid status quo. When their friend Thomas returns from the Temple after his “teaching”—the secret coming-of-age ritual that binds young men and women eternally to the Light—they barely recognize the broken and brooding young man the boy has become. Then when Orah is summoned as well, Nathaniel follows in a foolhardy attempt to save her.
In the prisons of Temple City, they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy, for a truth from the past awaits that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might once again release the potential of their people.
Yet they would also incur the Temple’s wrath as it is written: “If there comes among you a prophet saying, ‘Let us return to the darkness,’ you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the Light.”
Free on Amazon!
 

About The Stuff of Stars:SOS cover

This second book in The Seekers dystopian series continues the story started in the critically-acclaimed The Children of Darkness.

Against all odds, Orah and Nathaniel have found the keep and revealed the truth about the darkness, initiating what they hoped would be a new age of enlightenment. But the people were more set in their ways than anticipated, and a faction of vicars whispered in their ears, urging a return to traditional ways.

Desperate to keep their movement alive, Orah and Nathaniel cross the ocean to seek the living descendants of the keepmasters’ kin. Those they find on the distant shore are both more and less advanced than expected.

 

The seekers become caught between the two sides, and face the challenge of bringing them together to make a better world. The prize: a chance to bring home miracles and a more promising future for their people. But if they fail this time, they risk not a stoning but losing themselves in the twilight of a never-ending dream.
 
About the Author:

Dave Portrait Hi Res

The urge to write first struck at age sixteen when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the wild night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by the northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter’s editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process — and without prior plan — becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.

 

David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.
Newsletter sign up: http://bit.ly/1ronREk
GIVEAWAY:
$50 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Paperback copies of The Children of Darkness and The Stuff of Stars (US)
Ends December 16th
Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. 
CLICK ON THE RAFFLECOPTER LINK BELOW TO ENTER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

 ~~~~~

Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the Christmas Flamingos below!

I’m excited to welcome you to the release event for No Substitute for Mistakes by Carolyn J. Rose. This is the fifth book in the Subbing isn’t for Sissies series and is now available for sale! This is a cozy mystery series and the first three books are only .99 cents!

About the Book:
When substitute teacher Barbara Reed agrees to fill in for an instructor at a juvenile detention facility, she fears it’s a huge mistake. The job is stressful and confining. But Barb needs a paycheck, and a looming teachers’ walkout could eliminate regular subbing opportunities in Reckless River , Washington .

On her first day “behind bars,” Barb recognizes one young offender. When he claims he’s innocent, she sets out to investigate his crime—stealing a pedigreed cat. Her drug cop boyfriend urges caution, but Barb once had a run-in with the cat’s wealthy owner and thinks the kid was set up.

Meanwhile, someone is ghostwriting a cat-bashing blog for Barb’s entitled dog Cheese Puff. Several cat lovers aren’t amused. They post comments vowing to track down the little mutt and make sure Cheese Puff never blogs, barks, or breathes again. While members of the Cheese Puff Care and Comfort Committee scramble to uncover the blogger, a duck with attitude makes fur and feathers fly.

Then things get worse. Disgruntled teachers hire Barb’s bombastic sister to lead their protest. Barb’s friend Paulette discovers her interior decorating assignment pays in drug money. And Barb learns the hard way that snooping can be hazardous to her health.

 
***

 

Don’t miss out on the first three books, only .99 cents!

 
And the fourth book, No Substitute for Myth.
 
***
*

About the Author:



Carolyn J. Rose grew up in New York’s Catskill Mountains, graduated from the University of Arizona, logged two years in Arkansas with Volunteers in Service to America, and spent 25 years as a television news researcher, writer, producer, and assignment editor in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. She lives in Vancouver, Washington, and her interests are reading, gardening, swimming, and NOT cooking. Find out more about her and her books at http://www.deadlyduomysteries.com

****
GIVEAWAY:
$50 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Ends Dec. 23
Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

 

BLOODCRAFT

Release: December 15th, 2015
Cover design by Alan Pranke

All magic has its price, and no one knows that better than Victoria Warrick. Gifted with a centuries-old blood curse, Tori has finally learned to master her blood’s demands and has emerged triumphant with Christian Devereux, a vampire overlord, at her side.

But the worst is yet to come …

In the infamous City of Lights, home to both the Witch Clans and the Vampire Council, Tori enrolls at the exclusive Belles Fontaines school in Paris, where she is faced with a devastating choice: choose Christian and be an outcast, or choose the coven and secure her place with the witches.

When the fate of the supernatural world is targeted by a sinister new threat, Christian and Victoria must unite their two warring species to defeat it. Their bond will be tested, twisted, and sorely weakened, and Tori will find herself in uncharted territory—a dangerous place to be when her blood’s magic has its own dark agenda.

But to save them all, she may have no choice but to invoke its deadly power.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
AmazonKoboB&N

 

Add to GoodReadsICYMI: Teaser

 

 

ABOUT BLOODSPELL

 

The spell was simple…

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds — much less one that reveals she’s a witch with unimaginable power.

What’s more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own…

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood’s deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?





AVAILABLE ON
Add to GoodReads
ABOUT AMALIE HOWARD

 

 

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island (Trinidad & Tobago) where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

An aspiring writer from a young age, Amalie’s poem “The Candle,” written at age twelve, was published in a University of Warwick journal. At fifteen, she was a recipient of a Royal Commonwealth Society Essay Award (a global youth writing competition). A Colby College graduate, she completed simultaneous Honors Theses in both French and International Studies, and graduated Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa. At Colby, she was cited for research and criticism in Raffael Scheck’s article, “German Conservatism and Female Political Activism in the Early Weimar Republic,” and his subsequent book, Mothers of the Nation. She also received a distinction in English Literature from the University of Cambridge (A-levels) as well as a certificate in French Literature from the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, France. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, marketing representative, teen speaker and global sales executive.

She is the author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Seventeen Magazine Summer Read. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency and is a member of SCBWI.

 

  • Kindle Fire giveaway is open to US residents due to shipping restrictions.
  • Paperback copies of BLOODSPELL & BLOODCRAFT are open to US and INT readers.
  • This giveaway is sponsored by Amalie Howard.
  • Leading up to the release of BLOODCRAFT, more entries/options will be added to the rafflecopter to double your chances!
CLICK ON THE RAFFLECOPTER LINK BELOW TO ENTER
.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

~~~~~

Until I see you again….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

The Skull Collector

by Paris Singer

Skull Collector Front Cover

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Publisher: Booktrope/ Foresaken

Date of Publication: November 17th

ISBN: 978-1-51370-450-0

Number of pages: 134 / Word Count: 43029

Cover Artist: Yosbe Design

Book Description:

In a world in which children are exploited, monsters are saviors, and dark magic is constantly at play, a little girl will go to any lengths to be reunited with her lost ones.

After the disappearance of her parents, a heartbroken child is sold to the Doll-Maker who promises to revive them. In return, she is to travel from cemetery to cemetery, unearthing graves and collecting skulls.

While doing so, she must avoid the Violinist and his crows, who are determined to steal the skulls she has painstakingly gathered.

As she travels across the province, with her life in constant peril from vengeful policemen to furious villagers to strange creatures, the little girl must use her wits to succeed in her macabre mission.

~~~~~

Chapter One

 

Our story begins in the cradle of a little girl’s anguish and despair, without which there would be no tale to recount.

On a dark, stormy night, like on many others, we find her wailing inconsolably under the warming caress of a street light by the side of a nameless, muddy road. She cries, for her parents mysteriously vanished not a week ago, leaving her utterly, miserably alone.

As was the way of things in the quiet province she inhabited, should one disappear without first declaring it to the town hall, by way of application, one’s entire estate and contents would legally pass to the proper authorities. This instance being no different, the little girl’s home had been seized immediately and locked three times by its new owners. Alone in the world, the little girl had looked to the police sergeant for help.

“What is it?” he had barked.

Fighting to hold back her tears, the little girl had mustered nothing more than, “…Please, sir,” as she’d clutched dearly to the only possession she had left: a stuffed bear once given to her by her mother on her birthday.

The police sergeant had watched her briefly then, with softening eyes and a wry smile peering through his bushy moustache, he’d said, “I have a girl about your age.”

He’d knelt down beside her and patted the damp hair on her shivering head a little too hard.

Times being harsh for most and kindness deemed an ugly myth, there was no room for noble gestures or acts of compassion. This instance being no different, the police sergeant had suddenly snatched the little girl’s teddy bear from her freezing fingers.

“My daughter will love this, she will,” he’d said, as he stood and walked away from her to the police cart. “Let’s go, boys!”

The sound of whipping cracked the air and the horses at once began to gallop, sending a thick spray of mud from the wheels flying all over the little girl.

As tears flowed down her muddy, sodden cheeks, two glowing eyes emerged from the dark stillness of the night. Unblinking, they watched her a while, hanging like tiny, yellow orbs.

A moment later, the eyes began to etch closer and closer, until the shadowy figure of a thin man was revealed. His shabby attire was matched by an old cloth cap he wore on his head, which shrouded all facial features except his somewhat bulbous nose.

“What ‘ave we ‘ere, then?” he enquired. “Why are you crying, lil’ girl? Why all alone?” As he spoke, he seemed unaware that he was rubbing his hands together.

Her parents having taught her not to speak to strangers, the little girl felt hesitant about replying to him. As if reading her mind, the scrawny man said, “Oh, you can talk to me, lil’ girl, I won’t ‘arm ya. I’m just a concerned ci’izen looking to ‘elp ano’ver.”

Wanting to believe in the inherent good in people, the little girl replied, “My…My parents are gone, and I have nowhere to go, sir.” At her final word, the little girl burst into tears once again, as if her statement had somehow made events as cold and real as stone.

Ooh, there, there,” said the man, drawing slowly closer to her. “Don’t you worry your lil’ ‘ead.

Squidge is ‘ere to ‘elp. I just so ‘appen to know someone who can ‘elp ya, if you’ll follow me.”

The little girl hesitantly considered his words and came to the conclusion she had no other choice but to follow him.

“That’s my girl!” exclaimed the wiry man contently, as he offered her his hand to hold.

As much as the little girl wanted to trust the wiry man, she felt uncomfortable with the idea of holding his hand, especially as the last one she had held had belonged to her mother, and she wanted to keep it that way.

“Suit you’self, Love. Come this way,” he grinned.

He led her into the cold darkness of empty streets to the tenebrous hollow of Midnight Forest,

known throughout the province to contain terrible things beyond the mere imaginings of mortal beings. As such, a certain understanding was said to have been devised in times when magic and myths were created, that, should people refrain from crossing the boundary that led into the forest, no evil within would flow into the land of the living. That was what they believed and seemed to be content with.

“…Isn’t this the forest we are not supposed to go into?” asked the little girl, tentatively. “Oh, this? Nah, they’s just superstitions, they is. Load of cod’s wallop, if you ask me!”

The little girl walked as fast as she could to keep up with the man’s long, bandy legs, each stride of which like four of her own.

“Come on! ‘Is place isn’t far—if you know where you’re goin’, that is. ‘E doesn’t like bein’ disturbed, see?”

Endlessly into the forest they seemed to walk, as wooden pillars, like ever-reaching fingers, twisted in around them at every step and enormous toadstools shielded them from the moon’s gaze. As the little girl struggled to keep up, she tried not to focus on the strange crunching and squelching sounds underfoot, as she sliced her way through a dense sea of lightly blue fog.

The further they walked, the denser the forest appeared to be. Just as the little girl felt as though she would collapse from exhaustion, the man she followed came to a stop and announced,

“’Ere we are!”

Nearly walking straight into the back of his stringy legs, she felt a combination of relief and anxiety at the sight of what stood before her. An old, ramshackle structure appeared to barely stand, as the trees and brush coiled and climbed and covered most of its rusted corrugated walls; its roof was utterly smothered by a blanket of dead and dying leaves. Though the structure appeared dilapidated, it’s windows were whole and clean, a detail the little girl found quite odd. Beyond the windows, a flickering light somewhere within made shadows dance upon the walls and ceiling inside.

The thin, shabby man suddenly turned with a wide grin and gleefully spoke. “This, lil’ girl, is the Doll-Maker’s workshop.”

~~~~~

Play List

Playlist/ Soundtrack for The Skull Collector

  1. Erik Satie—Gnossienne No. 1
  2. BrunuhVille—The Eternal Forest
  3. Adrian Von Ziegler—Night Mist
  4. Hans Zimmer & Joshua Bell—503
  5. Danny Elfman: Castle on the Hill

                                     The Final Confrontation

                                       Farewell…

  1. Danny Elfman: Little Alice

                                       The Cheshire Cat

  1. Sibelius: Violin Concerto
  2. Camille Saint Saëns—Danse Macabre
  3. The Little Girl: Danny Elfman—Ice Dance
  4. The Doll-Maker: Danny Elfman—The Cookie Factory
  5. Sooty: Prokofiev—Peter and the Wolf: The Bird
  6. The Violinist: John Corigliano—Anna’s Theme

About Author Paris Singer:

Paris Singer Photo

Paris Singer was born in Brussels, Belgium. He has lived in the U.K. and in various places in Spain, where he currently resides. At university, he studied English law and Spanish law. He didn’t like it. He then studied translation and didn’t like it, either. Currently, he is an English teacher in the south of Spain. He has far too many interests, he’s told, a few of which being sports, playing his old guitar, learning Japanese, painting, reading and cooking. Not a day goes by, however, where he doesn’t write something, be it under a palm tree or on a bench at a bus stop somewhere.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

~~~~~

November 30 Guest Blog
Nya Reads
November 30 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books
December 1 Spotlight
fuonlyknew
December 1 Spotlight
aobibliosphere™
December 2 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
December 2 Spotlight
Mommabears Book Blog
December 3 Guest blog
Marsha A Moore
December 3 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
December 4 Spotlight
Around the World in Books
December 4 Review
Mythical Books
December 7 Spotlight
CBY Book Club
December 8 Guest Blog
Fang-tastic Books
December 9 Review
aobibliosphere™
December 10 Review
Horror Made
December 11 Spotlight
Geeks In High School
December 11 Interview
BooksChatter
December 14 Spotlight
Penny BroJacquie
December 14 Review
Rose’s Brain

~~~~~

Until I see you again….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

I enjoyed Carlie’s Heartsearch Vampire trilogy so much, I was jumping at the chance to read her new release in a brand new series, Of Ice & Air!

I couldn’t be more thrilled with her choice of cover art. The colors dazzle you and Kailani is as lovely as her description in the book.

Come in and see what it’s all about. Discover new worlds, genuine characters, and mighty beasts.

Of Ice & Air

by Carlie M.A. Cullen

OIAA cover

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

I’m always looking for more fantasy stories. I love exploring the worlds the authors create.

Carlie has created two worlds in Of Ice & Air.

The Cloud Palace of Taivass-maa is where Princess Kailani grew up. The only world she’s ever known. That all changes on her 21st birthday. Her father promised to tell her about what happened to her mother all those years ago.

She’s shocked to find out she’s a child of two worlds, Taivass-maa, and her mother’s world, the Ice Palace of Idenvarlis.

Taivass-maa is as different from Idenvarlis as night and day. One a land of sun and clouds, soft and gentle. The other a land of snow and frigid cold. All hard edges and ice.

Kailani is a strong willed, confident young woman and she finds a way to get to Idenvarlis. Once there she’s acquainted with her other family and welcomed with open arms.

Kailani quickly masters the powers she’s been gifted from this new world, and already proficient in battle and armed with a natural instinct, she immediately sets off in search of her mother.

A quest filled with monstrous beasts and unforgiving lands, Kailani will be tested to her limits as she attempts to rescue her mother and return to the palace alive.

The world building is richly described. Each is vastly different but both have so much wonder. And with new worlds come new beasts. One has Feegles, small furry dragons large enough to carry a rider. The other has the Blenorai, beasts that look like a cross between lions and bears, and they carry you over the frozen tundra at dizzying speeds. What a fantastic thing to ride these creatures.

Start this book with one thing in mind. This is a fantasy with worlds beyond imagining. Let yourself go with the flow, set aside disbelief, and have grand adventures. Follow Kailani as she finds her place in both worlds. Watch out for the nasty beasts and those who try to stop her. And cross your fingers for a happy ever after.

5 Stars

I received the ARC Of Ice & Air for my honest review.

Purchase On Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABOUT OF ICE & AIR

On her 21st birthday, Princess Kailani’s father tells her that when she was a baby, her mother was abducted. She also learns she has family in another world.

Defying her father, she travels from her Cloud Castle home to the ice kingdom of Idenvarlis where Kailani’s instincts drive her to find the mother she doesn’t remember.

Gifted with the magic of two worlds, and skilled in the use of weapons, she journeys into unknown and dangerous territory. Despite her determination to rescue her mother, she’s forced to overcome new fears and find a way to cope with all she encounters.

However, a person in authority will stop at nothing to prevent either of them returning.

Kailani faces isolation, wild beasts, rogue soldiers, and more as she battles to return to the Ice Palace. With the stakes so high, can she make it back alive?

ABOUT CARLIE M A CULLEN

Carlie M.A. CullenCarlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing.

She has always written in some form or another, but started to write novels in 2011. Her first book was published by Myrddin Publishing in 2012. Author of the Heart Search trilogy and Of Ice & Air, she writes in the Fantasy/Paranormal Romance genres for New Adult and Adult.

Carlie is also a principal editor for Eagle Eye Editors.

She also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. They have published four anthologies so far, two for adults and two for children, all of which raise money for a local hospice.

Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter.

Carlie’s Links

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook  /  Linkedin  /  Amazon  /  About.me

Wattpad  /  Goodreads

~~~~~

Until I see you again….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

happy homicides large banner640

Happy Homicides – 13 Cozy Holiday Mysteries
by Joanna Campbell Slan and 12 more Cozy Authors

Doesn’t this sound awesome. You’ll probably recognize many of these authors, as I did, and find some new ones too!

Come on in, cozy up, and enjoy my review.

And don’t forget to enter the awesome giveaway!

Happy Homicides Cover Final   Happy Homicides Bonus Final

 

Happy Homicides & Happy Homicides Bonus

Not Available for Sale or Pre-Order Yet.

My Review

Thirteen stories for the holidays. How great is that!

Some of my favorite authors contributed to this anthology along with some new ones for me.

Each story, though not a full length novel, was so well written it felt complete. That shows the talent of these authors, giving you a beginning, middle, and end, in a limited amount of words.

Spend the holidays meeting new characters, falling in love, and solving some murders.

Each new story brings that feeling of wonder. You are entering a new world, going on a new adventure.

After I finished one story, I couldn’t resist starting the next one. And so it went until I finished them all.

With weather cooling down, these stories would be great companions while curled up with a snug blanket and a hot cuppa tea.

5 Stars

Synopsis:

A holiday bonanza! A collection of traditional mysteries to celebrate the holidays, written by thirteen bestselling and award-winning authors. Heartwarming, brain puzzling, craft-centered, and character driven reads that’ll keep you entertained for hours. Nearly 800 pages of reading material, plus a special Recipe and Craft Bonus.

Included are:

Kiki Lowenstein and the Rowan Branch – (Joanna Campbell Slan) When Horace Goldfader is accused of murder, Kiki learns how difficult it can be to maintain peace on earth—and to keep her deathbed promise to her late friend, Dodie.

Cara Mia Delgatto and the Misdirected Gifts  — (Joanna Campbell Slan) Two waylaid items cause Cara to take a break from her booming retail business and follow her heart. Can a sprinkling of holiday magic create a “happily ever after” ending for all involved?

The Christmas Dog — (Joyce and Jim Lavene) A woman running from her deadly past finds hope, and a dog, at Christmas.

and more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

joanna campbell slanAbout This Author

Joanna Campbell Slan is the award-winning author of the Kiki Lowenstein Mysteries (an Agatha Award Finalist) and two other mystery series. Her stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series has been read and loved by millions. Her books reviving the classic heroine Jane Eyre have won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award. In her past life, Joanna was a television talk show host, an adjunct professor of public relations, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a corporate speechwriter. She is married to David Slan, CEO of Steinway Piano Gallery-DC. The Slans make their home on Jupiter Island, Florida. Visit Joanna’s website at www.JoannaSlan.com

Author Links

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

Purchase Links
Amazon
B&N

~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

There are two giveaways today!

First Giveaway

Win an eBook copy!

Entry is easy. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win, and leave a comment.

What do you think of the covers? Do you love mysteries? Show some love!

Giveaway ends October 29th.

 Second Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~

Click on the links below to follow the tour for more fun stops.

Tour Participants

October 15 – Michelle’s Romantic Tangle – Guest Post

October 16 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,  &, Sissy, Too ! – Spotlight, Giveaway

October 16 – Mallory Heart Reviews – Review

October 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

October 18 – Community Bookstop – Review, Giveaway

October 19 – THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK – Review, Giveaway

October 19 – MysteriesEtc – Review, Giveaway

October 20 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

October 20 – Book Babble – Spotlight

October 21 – A Year of Jubilee Reviews – Review

October 21 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Interview, Giveaway

October 22 – readalot – Review, Giveaway

October 23 – A Fold in the Spine – Review

October 24 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Interview, Giveaway

October 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review, Giveaway

October 26 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – Review, Giveaway

October 27 – Laura’s Interests – Review, Giveaway

October 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Guest Post, Spotlight

October 28 – Bubble Bath Books – Review

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg