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Posts Tagged ‘review’

The Body In The Wetlands by Judi Lynn ~ My Cozy Review

Posted: April 24, 2019 in Cozy Mystery, reviews
Tags: cozy mystery, review

The Body In The Wetlands

A Jazzi Zanders Mystery

by Judi Lynn

The Body in the Wetlands (A Jazzi Zanders Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Lyrical Underground (April 23, 2019)
Paperback: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 151610840X
ISBN-13: 978-1516108404
Digital ASIN: B07FZN7CVT

My Review

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres and I’m always looking for a new theme. I loved the idea of house flippers. I watch those shows all the time. So, I eagerly started reading the book.

Cozies have lots of characters, Some central to the story and some secondary ones that make the story more genuine. I swear I recognize some of them. There were some fun ones in this mystery. And the author did a wonderful job of bringing them to life, helping me to connect with them, even the ones that had died my nefarious means.

Now for the mystery. It all starts with a missing man. But soon, two dead bodies are discovered and the why and whodunit part begins in earnest. I followed along as the investigation got going and was happy that I couldn’t figure it out easily.

I hadn’t read the first book in the series before I read The Body In The Wetlands. That didn’t stop me from enjoying this book, quickly getting familiar with the characters and their relationships to each other, and having a fun time reading along as the author dropped clues and finally gave me the villain.

I’m happy to recommend this book and now plan on going back to the beginning to see what I missed.

~~~~~

Synopsis

High summer in River Bluffs, Indiana, is always sweltering and sweet. But the heat is really on when a decidedly dead body turns up in the neighborhood.

When established house flippers Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod donate a week’s worth of remodeling work to Jazzi’s sister Olivia, they’re expecting nothing more than back-breaking roofing work and cold beers at the end of each long, hot day. With Jazzi’s live-in boyfriend and partner Ansel on the team, it promises to be a quick break before starting their next big project—until Leo, an elderly neighbor of Olivia’s, unexpectedly goes missing . . .

When the friendly senior’s dog tugs Jazzi and the guys toward the wetlands beyond Olivia’s neighborhood, they stumble across a decomposing corpse—and a lot of questions. With Jazzi’s pal Detective Gaff along to investigate, Jazzi finds her hands full of a whole new mystery instead of the usual hammer and nails. And this time it will take some sophisticated sleuthing to track down the culprit of the deadly crime—before the killer turns on her next . . .

About Author Judi Lynn

Judi Lynn received a Master’s Degree from Indiana University as an elementary school teacher after attending the IPFW campus. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades for six years before having her two daughters. She loves gardening, cooking and trying new recipes.

Readers can visit her website at www.judithpostswritingmusings.com and her blog writingmusings.com.

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 23 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

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April 24 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

April 25 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

April 25 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

April 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 26 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

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May 1 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

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Drewsilla The Shelter Puppy ~ Excerpt and Review

Posted: April 22, 2019 in Children's books, reviews
Tags: children's picture book, review

DREWSILLA THE SHELTER PUPPY by Karen Carew Oakes, Children’s Picture Book, 22 pp., $16.64 (paperback) $3.03 (Kindle)

Title: DREWSILLA THE SHELTER PUPPY
Author: Karen Carew Oakes
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Pages: 22
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

My Review

This was an adorable story about Drewsilla, one of an orphaned litter of puppies who is too shy and gets overlooked for adoption. She reminded me of being the last one to be picked for team sports and I felt so sad for her. But, as it would happen, she is the one that must choose. Get over her shyness and find that perfect forever family.

Such a warm, sweet story and the illustrations are bold and fun. I recently read an interview with the author and the fact that this is a true story and the illustrations are created from real photos makes this story even more endearing. I had such fun reading about Drewsilla and it will become a family favorite for those who invite her story into their homes.

~~~~~

When Drewsilla and her siblings are tiny puppies, an accident steals
their mother away. A kind stranger rescues them and takes them to a
shelter, where the staff works around the clock to care for the pack of
newborns. Soon, her brothers and sisters begin to thrive. Drewsilla has a
beautiful black coat, intelligent eyes, and ears that stand straight
up.

Drewsilla, though, is scared. She seems afraid of everyone and
everything and hides in the back of her cage when families come to
visit. As her friendly siblings each get adopted, lonely Drewsilla
remains. The staff even worries that she might never find a home. Then,
one day, something amazing happens.

The Johnsons come to the shelter to look at another dog and see
Drewsilla, who miraculously finds the courage to stop hiding and say
hello. All shelter dogs deserve the chance to find a loving family, and
this is the true story of Drewsilla — how she overcomes her fears, finds
her family, and gets a second chance at a happy life.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

______________________

Then one day, the Johnsons came to the shelter. They had
looked on the shelter website for available dogs they wanted to see. Drewsilla, was not one of them. It just so
happened that they would have to pass directly in front of Drewsilla’s cage. As
they passed something amazing happened. Drewsilla came to the front, stood on
her hind legs, poked her nose out of the bars, and begged for attention. Mrs.
Johnson bent over to see her. It was love at first sight. The Johnsons asked to
open the cage so they could see her.

Karen Carew Oakes, has been writing for many years and her articles
have been included in the Lutheran Advent, as well as an article in
several magazines. She is a mother and grandmother. She lives in
Helotes, Texas with her two schnauzers Ella and Mackenzie. Her stories
are based on true experiences her children encountered growing up.Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/karencarewoakes.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Josephine Baker’s Last Dance ~ Excerpt and Review

Posted: April 18, 2019 in fiction, Historical, reviews
Tags: biography, fiction, historical, review

JOSEPHINE BAKER’S LAST DANCE

by Sherry Jones, Biography/Historical

304 pp., $11.00 (paperback) $11.99 (Kindle)

JOSEPHINE BAKER’S LAST DANCE
by Sherry Jones
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 304
Genre: Biography/Historical

My Review

I’d only known Josephine Baker as a famous Parisian singer and dancer. Then I happened to watch the movie which revealed her life from her desperate, dark beginning to her triumphant final scene, sharing her many romances, her fight for equal rights and the oppression of the Nazis, along with her drive to affect change, leaving me breathless and in tears. Sherry Jones managed to do the same in her novel, adding her own touches to make the story even more in depth and thrilling. You may know the singer and dancer, but this slightly fictional account of her life reveals insights into her thoughts and feelings and I found it fascinating.

From the author of The Jewel of Medina, a moving and insightful novel
based on the life of legendary performer and activist Josephine Baker,
perfect for fans of The Paris Wife and Hidden Figures.

Discover the fascinating and singular life story of Josephine Baker—actress, singer, dancer, Civil Rights activist, member of the
French Resistance during WWII, and a woman dedicated to erasing
prejudice and creating a more equitable world—in Josephine Baker’s Last
Dance.In this illuminating biographical novel, Sherry Jones brings to life
Josephine’s early years in servitude and poverty in America, her rise to
fame as a showgirl in her famous banana skirt, her activism against
discrimination, and her many loves and losses. From 1920s Paris to 1960s
Washington, to her final, triumphant performance, one of the most
extraordinary lives of the twentieth century comes to stunning life on
the page.

With intimate prose and comprehensive research, Sherry Jones brings
this remarkable and compelling public figure into focus for the first
time in a joyous celebration of a life lived in technicolor, a powerful
woman who continues to inspire today.

Purchase Josephine Baker’s Last Dance in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats on Simon and Schuster’s website (available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BooksAMillion, Indiebound, Kobo, and other sites). Learn more about Sherry’s books at www.authorsherryjones.com

Just before she entered the stage door, a
drop of rain hit her on the head. No, that was not a bad omen, only a
reminder to do her best, to shine like the star she was, or would be.
Wilsie came running up—Mr. Sissle was there, but Mr. Blake had yet to
arrive. “You’ll knock ’em dead, Tumpy. Just do your dancing and forget
the rest.” Josephine didn’t need to be told that. She was ready.

She flexed and stretched her arms as she
walked with Wilsie across the stage, past the musicians gathering,
trumpets and saxophones and drums and a clarinet, down into the
auditorium, where a slender man spoke to a white-haired man at his side.
He turned his head very slightly and looked her up and down from the
corners of his shrewd, hard eyes. His mouth pursed.

“How old are you?” he’d said before Wilsie
had even introduced them. The stage door opened, and a very
dark-skinned man with a bald head hurried in, talking about “the damned
rain,” scampering down the steps, striding up the aisle, shaking water
from his clothes.

“Eubie Blake,” he said, smiling, holding out his hand to her.

“This is Tumpy, Mr. Blake, the one I told you about,” Wilsie said. “She’s here to audition for Clara’s spot in the chorus.”

The man with Mr. Sissle—the stage
manager—motioned to her and she followed him up the stage steps. Did she
know the songs? Could she dance to “I’m Just Wild about Harry”?
Josephine wanted to jump for joy. She pretended to watch as Wilsie
showed her the steps, which she already knew as if she’d made them up
herself. Josephine stripped down to her dingy leotard, tossed her
clothes on a chair, then ran and leaped to the center of the stage. This
was it. She bent over to grasp her ankles, stretching her legs, then
stood and pulled her arms over her head.

“Ready?” Mr. Sissle barked. The music
started, and she began the dance, so simple she could have done it in
her sleep. Practicing in the Standard, she’d gotten bored with it and
had made up her own steps, throwing in a little Black Bottom, wiggling
her ass and kicking her legs twice as high as they wanted to go, taken
by the music, played by it, the instruments’ instrument, flapping her
hands, step and kick and spin and spin and squat and jump and down in a
split, up and jump and kick and spin—oops, the steps, she didn’t need no
damn steps, she had better ones—and kick and jump and wiggle and spin.
She looked out into the auditorium—a big mistake: Mr. Blake’s mouth was
open and Mr. Sissle’s eyes had narrowed to slits. Don’t be nervous, just
dance. Only the music remained now, her feet and the stage.

When she’d finished, panting, and pulled
on her dress and shoes, Wilsie came running over, her eyes shining. “You
made their heads spin, you better believe it,” she whispered, but when
they went down into the aisle Josephine heard Mr. Sissle muttering.

“Too young, too dark, too ugly,” he said.
The world stopped turning, then, the sun frozen in its arc, every clock
still, every breath caught in every throat. Mr. Blake turned to her,
smiling as if everything were normal, and congratulated her on “a
remarkable dance.”

“I can see that you are well qualified for our chorus, Tumpy,” he said, and on his lips, the name sounded like a little child’s.

“You have real talent, and spark, besides. How did you learn to do that at such a young age? You are—how old?”

“Fifteen,” she said.

Mr. Sissle snorted, and cut Wilsie a look.
“Wasting my time,” he said. Mr. Blake looked at her as if she’d just
wandered in from the orphanage.

“I’m very sorry, there’s been a mix-up,” he said. “You must be sixteen to dance professionally in New York State.”

“I’ll be sixteen in June,” Josephine said. Her voice sounded plaintive and faraway.

“We need someone now.” Mr. Sissle folded
his arms as if she were underage on purpose. Mr. Blake led her toward
the stage door, an apologetic Wilsie saying she hadn’t known. Mr. Sissle
followed, talking to Mr. Blake about adding some steps to “I’m Just
Wild about Harry,” saying they should put in some kicks, that he’d been
thinking about it for a while. Uh-huh.

“Come and see us in New York after your
birthday, doll,” Mr. Blake said. “You never know when we might have an
opening.” He opened the door and let the rain pour in before shutting it
again. He looked at Josephine’s thin, optimistic dress. Where was her
umbrella? She hung her head. He stepped over to retrieve a black
umbrella propped against the wall and handed it to her. She took it
without even knowing, her thoughts colliding like too many birds in a
cage. She would have to stay in Philadelphia, she had failed—too young,
too dark, too ugly—she should have lied about her age, what had gotten
into her? Showing off, that was what.

And now Mr. Sissle disliked her, and she
would never get into their show; it didn’t matter how many times she
went back. As she stepped out into the rain with that big umbrella in
her hands unopened and felt the rain pour down her face; she was glad,
for now they would think it was water instead of tears, but when she
looked back, Wilsie was crying, too, in the open doorway.

Seeing the men watching from a window, she
stopped. They wouldn’t forget her; she’d make them remember. She walked
slowly, her silk dress dripping, while Mr. Sissle gesticulated with
excitement as he stole her ideas—authentic Negro dancing were the last
words she’d heard—and Mr. Blake looking as if he wanted to run out
there, scoop her up, and carry her back inside.

( Continued… )

© 2018 All rights reserved. Book excerpt
reprinted by permission of the author, Sherry Jones. Do not reproduce,
copy or use without the author’s written permission. This excerpt is
used for promotional purposes only.

Author and journalist Sherry Jones is best known for her international bestseller The Jewel of Medina. She is also the author of The Sword of Medina, Four Sisters, All Queens, The Sharp Hook of Love, and the novella White Heart. Sherry lives
in Spokane, WA, where, like Josephine Baker, she enjoys dancing,
singing, eating, advocating for equality, and drinking champagne.Her latest novel is Josephine Baker’s Last Dance.Website: http://authorsherryjones.com

.
Twitter / Pinterest / Bookbub / Facebook / Instagram / Linked In / Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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The Hungry Moon by Ramsey Campbell

Posted: April 17, 2019 in horror, reviews
Tags: Horror, review

THE HUNGRY MOON
Ramsey Campbell
Publication date: Apr 2019

My Review

I’ve enjoyed some of Ramsey Campbell’s other books. Been dipping my toes into his horror stories for some time. When I read the blurb for The Hungry Moon I was really intrigued.

The story was slow at the start. There are a lot of characters and I couldn’t always tell them apart. But I started to get into it when I learned just what was in the cave and how the Druids had used it to vanquish their enemies a couple of thousand years ago. Some really weird, fun stuff started happening. Ramsey went a little into the out of and I’m always into that.

But this is where the connection to the characters was important. And I just didn’t feel it. If I’d cared about them. things would have been much more scary.

So, to sum things up without including spoilers. I enjoyed some parts and other parts felt lacking.

Would I read more of Ramsey’s books? Yes. This might not have been quite my cuppa tea, but having enjoyed some of his other books, I’d grab another if the synopsis caught my fancy.

~~~~~

Synopsis

In the town of Moonwell, old rituals are still alive. Right-wing evangelist
Godwin Mann isn’t about to let that continue, so he descends into the pit
where the being who’s been worshipped by the Druids for centuries is said
to dwell. What emerges is a demon in Mann’s shape, and only the town’s
outcasts can see that something is horribly wrong.

Amazon

~~~~~

Author Ramsey Campbell

Hungry Moon Ramsey Campbell
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing.
Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more
established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Ramsey Campbell was born in Liverpool in 1946 and still
lives on Merseyside. The Oxford Companion to English
Literature describes him as “Britain’s most respected living
horror writer”. He has been given more awards than any
other writer in the field, including the Grand Master Award of
the World Horror Convention, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Horror
Writers Association, the Living Legend Award of the International Horror
Guild and the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2015 he was made an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores
University for outstanding services to literature.
His novels The Nameless and Pact of the Fathers have been filmed in Spain,
where a film of The Influence is in production. He is the President of the
Society of Fantastic Films.
AWARDS:
The Hungry Moon, British Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 1988
Grand Master Award, World Horror Convention, Atlanta, Georgia, 1999
Lifetime Achievement Award of the Horror Writers Association, 1999
Living Legend Award of the International Horror Guild, 2007
A Life Achievement Award, World Fantasy Awards, 2015

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Tag Team Review and Giveaway ~ Survivors: A Dinosaur Lake Novel by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Posted: April 12, 2019 in giveaways, horror, reviews, suspense
Tags: giveaway, Horror, review, suspense, tag team event

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

It’s always a pleasure to share more books by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. I’ve read many of her books and plan to read everything she writes.

For today, I’m sharing my review of the latest book from Kathryn’s Dinosaur Lake Series.

After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental to check out her review and enter another giveaway!

~~~~~

Survivors

Dinosaur Lake #5

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

43783886

Genre: Horror / Suspense

My Review

It’s been a long time since the dinosaurs ran amok. Only an occasional sighting, and they’re dispatched quickly. But when the mysterious little dinosaur shows up, retired Chief Park Ranger, Henry Shore , knows something is happening again. So he joins forces to face another deadly threat.

Once again, Kathryn drops you into the action quickly as the team hunts for a dinosaur. The hunt doesn’t last long as the dinosaur finds them. Henry is injured and laid up, hoping this is the last of them. But then the little dinosaur, a mystery, as it seems to show up to warn them rather to cause harm, returns, more frantic than ever. And I knew, as did Henry, that the fight wasn’t over.

I was very curious about the little dinosaur before. Just what was he? Where did he come from? What was his purpose? I got those answers and they caught me by surprise. Didn’t see the angle coming and it sent my mind racing, exploring what was and could be.

This was another fun read in the Dinosaur Lake series. It’s a faced pace race to the finish as humans go up against giant dinosaurs, some favorite characters return, and a new mystery is added to the mix. Leave it to Kathryn to keep me questioning what this series is really all about.

~~~~~

Synopsis

The predatory dinosaurs, amphibious, land-crawlers, air flyers, small and large, were dead; dead in all the forests, mountains, deserts, towns and cities of America and across the planet. They were still hunted, sought and exterminated when found, and these rogue beasts were becoming rarer every day. The humans’ dinosaur killing serum and extermination practices had worked far better than anyone had prayed and they had eventually freed the planet of its primordial scourge. The earth belonged to the humans once more and all its lands were safe–or so the world, Henry Shore, former Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park, and his wife, Ann, had believed…until one day years later two new dinosaurs, craftier than any the earth had ever seen, appeared. One of them was benevolent, a friend to mankind, and the other was not. It was blood-thirsty, eerily intelligent and unbelievably vengeful. This dinosaur wouldn’t be so easy to kill. *** Dinosaur Lake V: Survivors is the fifth book in the Dinosaur Lake series by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

Amazon / B&N

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DinosaurLakeSeries Banner_updated

In exchange for an honest review on Amazon and Goodreads, Kathryn will send a free eBook copy of any of her other 26 books. You can find the complete list of her books in her author bio below. Just send your request to this link HERE.

~~~~~

About the Author

Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-five years ago now, and have had twenty-six (six romantic horror, four thrillers, three horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and eight murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from many traditional publishers since 1984. But since 2012 I’ve gone into self-publishing in a big way; and upon getting some of my older books’ full rights back for the first time in 33 years, have self-published all of them along with my newer novels. My four Dinosaur Lake novels and four Spookie Town Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Ghosts Beneath Us and Witches Among Us) are my best-sellers. Once branded a horror writer, these days I consider myself a storyteller.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-nine years; have a son and two grandchildren and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois. We have a quirky cat, Sasha, and the three of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk/classic rock singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *Finalist* for her horror novel The Last Vampire ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS * Finalist * for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*All Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s books can be found HERE.

*All her Audible.com audio books HERE.

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forged, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDSFinalist in their Horror category), Witches, Witches II: Apocalypse, Witches plus bonus Witches II: Apocalypse, The Nameless One erotic horror short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper (The First Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Things Slip Away (The Second Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Ghosts Beneath Us (The Third Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Witches Among Us (The Fourth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, A Time of Demons and Angels, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Four Spooky Short Stories Collection, Forever and Always Romantic Novella, Night Carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDSFinalist in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising and Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation, Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars, Memories of My Childhood (short story collection) and Christmas Magic 1959 short story.

Author Links

Twitter / Blog / Author’s Den / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Smashword / Pinterest

Giveaway

Three winners!

Up for grabs:

Three winners will receive an eBook copy in any format for any of her 28 books. Even a free Audible code for any of the first 27.

(Winner’s choice)

To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

What’s your favorite dinosaur book or movie?

Giveaway ends April 22nd.

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

Now hop on over and check out Sherry’s review, and enter for another chance to win HERE.

~~~~

Other books I’ve read by the author.

Click on the covers for my reviews.

Full length novels.

Short stories.

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Isle Of Savages by T. Briar ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: April 11, 2019 in giveaways, New Adult, reviews, suspense, thriller
Tags: giveaway, NA suspense, review, thriller

Isle of Savages by T. Briar

Isle of Savages

by T. Briar

Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing (June 15, 2017)
Category: Thriller/Suspense, New Adult, Sub-Human Cannibals
Tour dates: Mar-Apr, 2019
ISBN: 978-1771279277
Available in Print and ebook, 220 pages

My Review

I admit, the great cover art was the first thing that peaked my interest in reading Isle Of Savages. I had fun trying to spot all of the jungle creatures and the skull was creepy. The title was a close second. And anything to do with being stranded on an island also pings my radar.

A ruthless captain and his nasty henchman terrorizes a group of students on a chartered sailing trip. A savage storm causes the ship to crash and it might be the groups chance to escape a dangerous outcome. But they might not be the only ones on the island they look to as their safe harbor until they are rescued.

So, the plot might not be that original. And I really couldn’t like any of the characters. But, that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book. I did have fun. Especially over some intense scenes with a great white shark. And once the survivors came face to face with the island’s inhabitants, things got nasty and suspenseful. I imagined the ending would be one of two things and one of those was right. For this reading experience, it worked just fine.

Isle Of Savages was fun and I’d recommend it if you aren’t looking for something too serious or in depth. And I would like to read more by the author.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Eleven souls are shipwrecked on an island teeming with sub-human cannibals. Who will survive to tell the tale?

On July 20, 20— a charter school’s sponsored sail from San Diego to Hawaii hits a reef during a violent storm. Sixteen souls abandon ship. Nine students, along with the hated captain and first mate, wash up on what they believe is a deserted island.

Separated into three groups by circumstance and mutual distrust, treachery and death lurk for all. Over the course of a single day, one student betrays all the others. Another drowns. Two others get ambushed by a great white shark. And, like falling dominoes, the captain, first mate, and six students fall prey to a tribe of bloodthirsty cannibals.

In the face of almost certain death, who will escape the isle of savages to tell the tale?

Praise for Isle Of Savages

“Freaking Amazing! This books was such a wild ride from page one. So many twists and turns that you just can’t figure out what the hell is going to happen next! It was so hard to put down and very, very well written. I am very picky with the books I read, I know I say that a lot, but it’s true. This book met every single one of my expectations and then some.

With the characters, you either really felt for them, or you held seething hatred for them. It was like the main characters couldn’t seem to catch a break and the villains of the story kept getting a leg up. It was driving me crazy! I was found yelling at my kindle, cursing, clenching my fists, all because this story was so easy to get into! In fact, it was hard NOT to!

This is not a happy story, by any means. There is so much death and destruction and it’s written in great detail. So if you get wigged out easily, this might not be the book for you. Me, I love this kind of stuff. The blood, the gore, the chaos, this book had it all! Definitely 5 out of 5 stars for me!”- Amanda, Rabid Readers Book Blog

~~~~~

About Author T. Briar

Briar spent his formative years in the treacherous worlds of The Savage Sword of Conan, The Warlord, and Jonah Hex comics. So he’s been fascinated with action adventure stories for most of his life. From there, he eventually discovered Jack London, Louis L’amour and Jack Higgins. These days he’s devouring thriller novels by James Rollins, Clive Cussler and a host of other adventure writers.

This led him to start writing at an early age and he didn’t stop until he saw his name in print. Although, it wasn’t in the thriller genre. Not at first. But it was always a given that he’d eventually write and publish a thriller. It just took him a few extra years to get around to it.

He lives in South Georgia with his wonderful wife of 25 years.

Purchase links:

Amazon
BarnesandNoble
Indiebound

Isle Of Savages on Netgalley

For those who can’t join the tour but would like to review the book, the ebook is available to download on Net Galley. It is available from February 11-May 11th. Click HERE to request your copy.

Giveaway

This giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends May 10, 2019, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter onlly.

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Follow The Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 22 Kickoff & Interview

Jody Amazon Mar 25 Review

Shannon Muir – Infinite House of Books Mar 27 Guest Review & Excerpt

Victoria ILoveReadingUK Apr 1 Excerpt

Nancy The Avid Reader Apr 5 Review

Lisa’s Writopia Apr 8 Review & Guest Post

Jennifer Book Junkiez Apr 9 Excerpt

Laura FUONLYKNEW Apr 11 Review

Susan Dab of Darkness Book Reviews Apr 15 Interview

Amber Imaginative Mama’s Dragonfly Reads Apr 17 Review & Flash Fiction

Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings Apr 19 Review

Dee Amazon May 1 Review

Kathleen Celticlady’s Reviews May 3 Guest Review

Amber Rose Reviews May 6 Review, Guest Post, & Excerpt

Jessica JBronder Book Reviews May 8 Review

Nicole Willow’s Thoughts & Book Obsessions May 10 Review & Flash Fiction

Aparna Amazon May 10 Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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The Kid’s Korner #36 ~ The Krampus

Posted: April 10, 2019 in Children's books, horror, middle grade, reviews
Tags: Horror, middle grade, review

Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.

I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.

Today I’m sharing another spooky tale from Nancy Gray’s Spine Chillers!

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The Krampus (Spine Chillers)
by Nancy Gray

The Krampus

Genre: Horror
Age category: Middle Grade
Release Date: December 12, 2018

My Review

Nick was a good kid. He stayed out of trouble. But then he gave into the urging of his friends and got caught skipping school. He got way more punishment than it called for and now Krampus has him in his sights. And he isn’t the only thing Nick has to worry about. He’ll need help to survive Christmas.

I could feel Nick’s confusion. He hangs out with the bullies so he won’t be bullied. He doesn’t do anything bad except for skip classes and refuses to have anything to do with what they’re cooking up next. But something has been watching him. Now he’s in a big pickle. Krampus is a scary creature and he’s hungry. I was pulling for Nick. Hoping he would see the right path and not get eaten.

There’s a part in this book that made me wonder if their was more than one fairy tale going on. A strange girl that was much more bad than Nick. It felt connected to another dark tale, and the more I read, the more sure I became. Though the author gave it her own spin.

One of the best things about this series is that the kids can’t rely on the adults to save them. They would brush off their claims of monsters as too much imagination. So, the kids have to think and solve on their own. And they do get creative!

Another scary good story in this series.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Christmas is a time of peace and good dreams, but for Nick it would soon become a nightmare. When he starts skipping classes to hang with the bullies at school, strange things begin to happen.

A horrifying apparition haunts his dreams and tears his Christmas stocking into shreds! Finally, the beast crashes through Nick’s bedroom window, throws him in a sack, and spirits him away to its lair.

Nick finds himself in a world of perpetual twilight where he will have to find his way home before becoming trapped forever, or worse. THE KRAMPUS is hungry, and the oven awaits a fresh meat pie!

You can find The Krampus on Goodreads

You can buy The Krampus on Amazon

About the Author:
Nancy Gray has published a number of works including her young adult fantasy series Blood Rain. Her short story “Chosen” appeared in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a Penguin Special from Grosset & Dunlap. Her work also appears in various anthologies.
Nancy Gray has been writing for over ten years. Gray lives in South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys books, video games, anime, manga, and horror.

Other Works by Nancy Gray:
Blood Rain
Blood Moon
Blood God
Spine Chillers: The Scarecrow
Spine Chillers: Big Bad Wolf
Spine Chillers: The Beast of Black Pond
Spine Chillers: Empty Eyes
Spine Chillers: The Firefly

You can find and contact Nancy Gray here:
– Website
– Blog
– Facebook
– Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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How it all began…. Blackwell ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: March 28, 2019 in giveaways, Historical, Mystery, reviews, Supernatural
Tags: giveaway, historical, mystery, review, Supernatural

Blackwell

Magnus Blackwell 0.5

by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor

Historical Mystery with Supernatural Elements
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication Date: January 17th 2017
Number of Pages: 295
ISBN: 1944109242 (ISBN13: 9781944109240)
Series: A Magnus Blackwell Novel 0.5
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

My Review

I knew I had to read this after my eyes settled on the magnificent cover art and I read the blurb. I’ve also read other books by this writing team and enjoyed them.

How would I classify this? Historical thriller with a twist of naughty. It goes beyond the bedroom door a bit and I read those parts really fast. LOL They were necessary to really get to know Magnus.

Magnus? I wanted to like him in the beginning. Didn’t take long for that to change. He wouldn’t let me. Wouldn’t let anyone care for him. His own worst enemy. While in New Orleans, he meets the wild and somewhat depraved Oscar Wilde and thus begins his undoing. A warning to change his ways from a woman who practices voodoo doesn’t slow him down and his path is set.

Who I did like? Jacob. He was from the other side of the tracks. Not wealthy or privileged. His friendship with Magnus was a challenge. They couldn’t be more different and I hoped some of the goodness of Jacob would rub off on him. But, something came between their friendship and it was not to be.

As I drew closer to the end of the story, the tension grew, my dread of what might happen built. I wanted to slow things down, urge the two men to think first. They teetered on the brink of no return.

An explosive ending to a highly entertaining reading experience. Will I be continuing with this series? Surely.

Synopsis

“… an intriguing, dark tale complete with vividly drawn characters, and a uniquely compelling character in Magnus … seamlessly blends mystery, magic and matters of the heart to create an enthralling read. Readers will be engaged from the start of the story to its climactic ending.” ~Melanie Bates, RT Book Reviews

“A dark story of passion and revenge … A guilty-pleasure read that kept me captivated knowing something sinister is looming in the plot and over the characters.” ~New Orleans Magazine

In the late 1800s, handsome, wealthy New Englander, Magnus Blackwell, is the envy of all.

When Magnus meets Jacob O’Connor–a Harvard student from the working class–an unlikely friendship is forged. But their close bond is soon challenged by a captivating woman; a woman Magnus wants, but Jacob gets.

Devastated, Magnus seeks solace in a trip to New Orleans. After a chance meeting with Oscar Wilde, he becomes immersed in a world of depravity and brutality, inevitably becoming the inspiration for Dorian Gray. Armed with the forbidden magic of voodoo, he sets his sights on winning back the woman Jacob stole from him.

Amid the trappings of Victorian society, two men, bent on revenge, will lay the foundation for a curse that will forever alter their destinies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTOpaO6eaGk

Enjoy this peek inside:

“Last night, I saw someone or something coming out of that bayou. Madam Simone stopped it from getting close to me. I remember she said something about the creature I saw being a messenger of the dead.”

“When did this happen?”

“When I left the bonfire and went to the water’s edge, I thought I saw a woman. Madam Simone claimed it was a spirit.”

His eyes lit up, and Oscar edged forward to the table. “What do you think you saw, Magnus?”

Magnus tried to picture the woman he had seen, her tattered nightdress and her empty eyes, but the only image he could conjure was that of smoke and dust. “What do you think happens to us when we die, Oscar?”

Oscar tossed up his hands, appearing as if he were at a loss for words. “I wish I knew, my friend.”

Magnus ran his finger around the rim of his coffee cup. “I know where we go, and it isn’t heaven or paradise.”

“What kind of end do you envision?”

Magnus raised his green eyes to Oscar, grinning with a profound certainty. “That’s just it. I don’t see death as an end. For me, it’s turning into a whole new beginning.”

About the Authors

Alexandrea Weis

Alexandrea Weis

Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, CRRN, ONC, PhD, is a multi-award-winning author of over twenty-seven novels, a screenwriter, ICU Nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured animals. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Weis writes mysteries, suspense, thrillers, horror, crime fiction, action, historical, and romance. She is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers Association.

Lucas Astor is from New York, has resided in Central America and the Middle East, and traveled through Europe. He lives a very private, virtually reclusive lifestyle, preferring to spend time with a close-knit group of friends than be in the spotlight. He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Lucas Astor

Lucas Astor

He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face.

Photography, making wine, and helping endangered species are just some of his interests. Lucas is an expert archer and enjoys jazz, blues, and classical music.

One of his favorite quotes is: “It’s better to be silent than be a fool.” ~Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)

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GIVEAWAY

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Click on the banner below to follow the tour.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Chutes And Ladder by Marc Jedel

Posted: March 27, 2019 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: cozy mystery, giveaway, review

Chutes and Ladder

Silicon Valley Mystery by Marc Jedel

Chutes and Ladder: A Silicon Valley Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
BGM Press (March 12, 2019)
Print Length: 195 pages
ASIN: B07NFDYZX8

Dead friend. Free fall. Girl Scouts. Can Uncle Marty untangle the mystery before things really get out of control?

Juggling a budding relationship, demanding job, and mischievous nieces, Marty Golden struggled to keep his head above water — even before his friend’s death. Trying his best to be a good boyfriend and fun uncle, Marty had his own ideas for the weekend until his cunning sister tricked him again.

Convinced his friend’s death was no accident, Marty tries to summon superhero powers but merely manages to bumble along as an amateur sleuth. When Marty’s cousin shows up, she wreaks havoc with his plans and pulls him into yet another mystery.

As threats blossom, Marty doubles down now that his family’s involved. Besides, it’s poor manners to let your friend’s death go unsolved.

Can Marty figure out what happened before a killer, or his imagination, gets to him?

Chutes and Ladder is the second novel in a refreshingly modern mystery series set in Silicon Valley. If you like clever humor and wacky side characters, you’ll love this twisty mystery.

Amazon

~~~~~

Uncle And Ants

A Silicon Valley Mystery

by Marc Jedel

Uncle and Ants: A Silicon Valley Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
BGM Press (October 11, 2018)
Print Length: 287 pages
ASIN: B07H68L6XR

My Review

I’m always excited when I start a new cozy series and Uncle And Ants tickled my fancy on so many levels. Picture it. A man kind of full of himself and sure he’s the be all of investigations takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of who tried to kill his sister. She’s a widowed mother of two teenage girls and doesn’t seem likely to be on someone’s hit list.

Marty was determined to solve the mystery and protect his family. If only he had the slightest clue what he was doing. Good thing he didn’t take himself too seriously. I can’t count on two hands how many times I laughed out loud at his fun incompetence. And don’t even get me started on him coping with two teenage girls. The horror. LOL

Fun at every turn, a convoluted mystery with quite the list of suspects and characters you can’t get enough of. You can bet I’ll be following this series.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Protect his sister. Solve a murder. Get his eye-rolling, pre-teen nieces to school. And that’s just how Marty Golden’s crazy week begins to unravel.

A mysterious crash hospitalizes Marty’s sister and a nearby murder puts her in deadly danger. Too bad Marty isn’t exactly hero material.

Working in Silicon Valley, Marty’s skills lie more in navigating technology and telling dad jokes than playing an amateur sleuth. Armed with special powers of self-delusion and the inability to leave a coherent voicemail message, Marty bumbles through investigating his sister’s zany HR clients, exposing dangerous secrets and suspects, all while becoming attracted to a suspect.

In the process, Marty stumbles into a drug gang, impersonates an IRS agent, tangles with an assassin, dodges a cantankerous school secretary and is frequently outsmarted by his two sly, yet vulnerable, nieces. This quirky, fashion-backward uncle must save his sister, solve the mystery and get his life back to normal — before it’s too late.

As his eight, or maybe nine, year-old niece would say, “Betcha, you’ll like it.”

Amazon

Author Marc Jedel

In my family, I was born first — a fact my sister never lets me forget, no matter what milestone age she hits.

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister’s brother for her entire life, I’m highly qualified to tell the tale of the evolving, quirky sibling relationship in Uncle and Ants: A Silicon Valley Mystery.

My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails, and ads.

My family and friends would tell you that Marty’s character isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I proudly resemble that remark.

Author Links :

Website / Facebook / LinkedIn / Goodreads / Bookbub / Email

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GIVEAWAY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 25 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 25 – The Journey Back– REVIEW

March 25 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

March 26 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 26 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 26 – Teresa Watson – REVIEW

March 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 27 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

March 27 – Here’s How It Happened – GUEST POST

March 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 28 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

March 28 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 29 – I’m Into Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 29 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 30 – 4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ – SPOTLIGHT

March 31 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

April 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

April 1 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 2 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 2 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

April 3 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

April 3 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 4 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

April 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 5 – Literary Gold – REVIEW

April 5 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

April 6 – ❧Defining Ways❧ – GUEST POST

April 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

April 7 – Readeropolis – GUEST POST

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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 go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Review & Giveaway ~ Out Of The Darkness by Darcia Helle

Posted: March 14, 2019 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, suspense
Tags: giveaway, Paranormal Suspense, review

Thanks for visiting my stop on the tour for Out Of The Darkness by Darcia Helle, running from March 1st through 31st.

I have an exciting excerpt and my review to share with you today.

Also, there’s a giveaway so don’t forget to enter!

~~~~~

Out Of The Darkness

by Darcia Helle

Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Published by: Indie
Publication Date: February 12, 2019
Number of Pages: 300
ASIN: B07KJGZY9F
Series: Joe Cavelli, Paranormal PI Book 2
Purchase Links: Amazon |Goodreads

My Review

I had a lot of fun reading Out Of The Darkness. I was worried going into it that I hadn’t read the first book but had no problems jumping in here.

There’s some funny situations that had me chuckling out loud. From the blurb, it’s revealed that P.I. Joe Cavelli can hear ghosts. He can’t see them though, so when Gus makes impromptu visits and starts cursing like a drunken sailor, he’s always jumping out of his skin.

Gus is a ghost with amnesia. He doesn’t know what happened to him and he doesn’t know why he keeps getting pulled into a place of pure darkness. He sure doesn’t lack for creative ways to string cuss words into one long sentence. Not a patient guy and he pesters Joe to get to the bottom of things.

The humor really made this work for me. Another thing that did was how the story was presented. You get Joe’s side of things. Then you get Gus’s. It works really well when Joe is investigating what happened to Gus. The two collaborate and start to get a gist of what occurred.

What hinders the investigation’s momentum is when Gus is suddenly pulled back to the dark place at what seems to him to be inappropriate times and without warning. Except, it doesn’t remain dark and Gus once again resorts to stringing his curse words together as he tries to sort through the soup of information revealed to him. I do want to mention that, while Gus can cuss up a storm, you don’t actually read those words. It’s more of an implied thing.

Back to earlier when I mentioned not having read the first book and having no trouble jumping in here. Joe mentioned not knowing why he can hear ghosts so I’m thinking that might be discovered in a future book. And Max was referred to a few times. I gathered that he was the ghost that Joe helped in the first book. While I didn’t feel like I missed anything important by not knowing more about him, I was intrigued and went ahead and added book one to my reading list. I enjoyed this book so much and really grew fond of the character’s and I wanted to read about how it all began.

To wrap up my review I’ll chat about my rating. I knew this was at least a four star experience for me. What earned it five was the writing. Throughout the book there were these small sentences that seemed to be just dropped in. They made me pause and think how authentic they felt. How I wished I’d thought of them. Things like that are something I look for and the author made them appear so casual yet they made the story feel very real. Kudos to Darcia for sealing the deal with me.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Gus wakes up in a dark void with no memory and no body. Screaming and cursing does him no good. He’s trapped, until he learns about one man who can help.

Joe Cavelli is a PI who hears ghosts, solves their murders, and sometimes fixes their personal problems. Now he finds himself pestered by an invisible, impatient, and brash amnesiac.

Solving cases for ghosts comes with a unique set of circumstances. This time, Joe can’t even claim to be investigating a murder, since Gus’s body is nowhere to be found. Together, Joe and Gus delve into Gus’s past, uncovering clues that lead to a startling conclusion.

Read an excerpt:

Joe put the few dishes in the dishwasher, made himself another cup of strong coffee, and said, “Okay, Gus. Let’s see if we can figure this out.”

He walked out of the kitchen, Gus’s voice trailing after him. “Where are we going?”

“My office.”

Joe stepped into the room that was the smaller of the two spare bedrooms. He crossed over to his desk, opened his laptop, and switched it on.

“This is your office?”

Joe sat in his padded leather chair. “My home office. I have another, professional place, with an assistant. No need to go there, though, particularly since she doesn’t know about—” He waved his hand in Gus’s general direction. “—you. This.”

“She doesn’t know you talk to ghosts, is what you’re saying?”

“Right.”

“Afraid she’d think you’re crazy?”

“No. It’s just not something I feel like sharing.”

“You banging her?”

“Jesus. No.”

“Huh. I thought all guys banged their secretaries.”

Joe heard the dry humor in Gus’s tone, though the statement still irritated him. “No, all guys don’t. And I said assistant, not secretary.”

“Same thing, isn’t it?”

“No. But it doesn’t matter anyway. I’m a one-woman man.”

Joe opened a browser page, then the Tampa Bay Times website. He typed ‘Angus Smith’ into the search bar and clicked the Enter key.

“What are you doing?”

Gus had a gruff way of asking a question that made it sound more like an accusation. One minute Joe felt bad for Gus, and the next he wanted to punch Gus in the face. If he could see Gus’s face.

If Gus even had a face. Did ghosts have faces, or were they just invisible blobs of energy? Joe was too tired to deal with this.

“I’m trying to find out how you died,” Joe said.

“Why?”

“I don’t know, Gus. Because it’s a place to start? Figure out how you died and maybe I’ll figure out why you’re stuck in the dark? Unless you have a better idea?”

A huff, then, “No. I got nothing.”

Gus kept silent while Joe scrolled down and clicked a link. Gus’s photo stared back at him from the screen. Seeing the person for the first time was always an odd experience. He couldn’t help but form a picture of each ghost in his mind, based solely on the voice and the little he knew about who he or she had been. Sometimes he was way off. Other times, like now, he was pretty close.

“That’s a crapass picture of me,” Gus said.

Joe studied the grainy image accompanying the article. Buzzcut. Deep brown eyes. Tattoo snaking down the side of his neck, disappearing into his shirt. He seemed to be snarling at the camera. The article put him at 6’3”, 230 pounds, and Joe could see it was all muscle.

He didn’t address the quality of the photo, ignoring Gus while he read through the article. He double-checked the date on the article, then said, “You’re missing.”

“What d’you mean, I’m missing? I’m right here.”

“I mean, you were reported missing. Last Friday, so three days ago.”

“Missing? That makes no sense, since I’m dead.”

“No one appears to know you’re dead.”

“Huh.”

“Do you remember where you were when you died?”

“No.”

“Were you sick? In an accident? Traveling somewhere?”

“I don’t know!”

Joe leaned back and closed his eyes. He forced himself not to react to Gus’s abrupt tone. The guy had every reason to be upset, though this mess sure as hell wasn’t Joe’s fault.

“Who reported me missing?”

Joe opened his eyes and scanned the article. “Cat Loring.”

Silence. Joe waited a moment before adding, “Says she’s your live-in girlfriend.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you remember the last time you saw her?” Joe felt a cool wall of air pressing around him.

“Are you leaning on me?”

“I’m trying to read the article.”

Joe suppressed a shudder—barely. “It doesn’t say much. You left the house at your usual time on Thursday morning. You’re not answering your cell phone, and no one has seen you since.”

“I don’t remember.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

Silence.

“Gus?”

“The very last thing? Hell, I don’t know. I might’ve been at a bar with some buddies. I might’ve been driving my truck. Or having sex. It’s all a jumble.”

“Did you and Cat fight the last time you saw her?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Maybe.”

“Could she have killed you?”

Gus snorted a laugh. “Cat? Kill me? That’s funny, Mr. Detective.”

“Yeah? Why is it so funny?”

“She just wouldn’t.”

Joe rubbed at his burning eyes. “Tell me about your relationship.”

“Why?”

“Maybe it’ll trigger a memory. Help me figure out where your body might be.”

“Well, shit.”

***

Author Darcia Helle

Darcia Helle is a Massachusetts native, who escaped the New England winters to write in the Florida sunshine. She lives with her husband in a home full of spoiled rescue animals and an occasional stray lizard. She writes because the characters trespassing through her mind leave her no alternative.

Author Links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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Posts Tagged ‘review’

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Drewsilla The Shelter Puppy ~ Excerpt and Review

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Josephine Baker’s Last Dance ~ Excerpt and Review

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Tag Team Review and Giveaway ~ Survivors: A Dinosaur Lake Novel by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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Isle Of Savages by T. Briar ~ Review and Giveaway

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The Kid’s Korner #36 ~ The Krampus

How it all began…. Blackwell ~ Review and Giveaway

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Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Chutes And Ladder by Marc Jedel

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Review & Giveaway ~ Out Of The Darkness by Darcia Helle

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