Posts Tagged ‘review’

Got a bloody good one for fans of the worst kind of werewolves. Enjoy!

~~~~~

 Blood And Rain

  by Glenn Rolfe

25547303

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Horror

 My  Review

I can’t resist a good werewolf story and the first thing that was promising about Blood And Rain was the wicked cover art. Next was the setting. Yeah, I like my critter horror to be set in a small town. The beasts can do a lot of damage and the character list is smaller and easier to keep track of. Especially if you’re like me and enjoy a high body count. Glen Rolfe doesn’t disappoint there.

It’s been many years since the last incident and the town hardly remembers the gruesome killings. Until the killings begin again. It’s a full moon and the people of Gilson Creek, Maine learn of several brutal slayings, apparent victims of an animal attack. Yep, the books starts right away with some very nasty business. I settled in for some more mayhem.

I barely had a chance to get comfortable with the characters before the next full moon. I liked Sheriff Joe Fischer. He’d faced the beast many years ago. Killed it. Burned it. And buried it. But it’s happening again. Was it the same beast? Or a new one? He knew most of the town scoffed at the idea of a real werewolf. Some knew better. As he gathered a group to fight what was sure to come, I admired his courage and ingenuity. Those that knew the beast was real manned up. For those that didn’t he had to do some heavy convincing to get them on board. He had to protect the people of Gilson Creek so he learned all he could about the beast. But, something niggled in his brain. What if it was true. Someone had asked him. “How certain are you that this thing can only hunt at night?” Now he was faced with a fear that the creature could kill at will on the full moon. No longer confined to when the moon was visible in the night sky.

This is where it got insane. The sheriff and his officers were strategically patrolling the town, trying to anticipate where the werewolf would attack and stop it. I was swept up in the worry and anticipation of what was coming. They ran out of time and the bodies started piling up. The attack scenes were gory and terrifying. They came from different parts of town and in many different ways. The beast seemed to relish terrifying and toying with it’s victims and also appeared to have certain ones in mind.

I’m used to authors killing off their characters. It’s a given with any good horror story. However, the author caught me by surprise with some he chose to sacrifice to his beast. And I was caught by surprise again and again. Surely he’d let some survive? But I was kept on the edge until the bloody finale. When the dust finally settled there weren’t many left. Add to that some insight into how the beast thinks and a few crafty twists and the suspense kept me flying through the book. I Read it in one sitting.

A bloody good werewolf story that will have you thinking twice about going out during a full moon. Was that a howl you heard in the distance? What was making those rustling noises in the shadows? Don’t turn around and you won’t have to see it coming.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

The light of a full moon reveals many secrets.

Gilson Creek, Maine. A safe, rural community. Summer is here. School is out and the warm waters of Emerson Lake await. But one man’s terrible secret will unleash a nightmare straight off the silver screen.
Under the full moon, a night of terror and death re-awakens horrors long sleeping.

Sheriff Joe Fischer, a man fighting for the safety of his daughter, his sanity and his community, must confront the sins of his past. Can Sheriff Fischer set Gilson Creek free from the beast hiding in its shadows, or will a small town die under a curse it can’t even comprehend?

One night can—and will—change everything.

~~~~~

Here is an alternative cover.

34564921

Which do you like the most?

~~~~~

Other books from the author I plan to read soon.

33816522  36070350  40718680

~~~~~

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.

One of my goals for this year is to get to the books I’ve had for some time.

Today I’m sharing a book I won in a giveaway that is long overdue for a review. Enjoy!

~~~~~

 Spiral Of Hooves

  by Roland Clarke

35838755

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

My Review

I love horses. Always have. I was one of those typical young girls who hounded their parents for a horse. As a teen I was lucky to be able to train and show Morgan horses with a friend. It was highly competitive and a lot of hard work, and we worked mostly with foals and yearlings.  I think this may be why I enjoyed this book despite some things that didn’t quite work for me.

Something that gave me pause was the characters. There were a lot of them, they hopped around from relationship to relationship and I didn’t really warm up to them. That was okay though. The author definitely knows his stuff. Scenes from the horse shows were exhilarating and put me right there in the arena. And  I was fascinated to learn about the behind the scenes operation of equestrian competitions. I had no idea about the breeding procedures, the training practices of riders and horses, and the amount of money that was involved. I always wondered how this sport could actually be profitable for the owners and riders. Sponsors and technological innovations are a big part of it.  This did sort of make my experience while reading Spiral Of Hooves more of a learning one than a solving a crime one. But, the mystery was pretty good. Not easily solved. And there were plenty of thrills.

 I do feel I would only recommend this book if you have a passion for horses. It is the main focus of the story and one I did enjoy.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

In Canada, researcher Armand Sabatier witnesses what could be the murder of groom Odette Fedon, but traumatic images from his past smother his memory, and a snowstorm buries the evidence. Harassed by nightmares but fighting through them, Armand remembers the crime a few months later. By then he is in England, where he is dragged into a plot involving international sport horse breeding.

Suspecting everyone around him, Armand is forced to brave the past that he has kept buried. But what made Armand leave France? Where did he learn to survive and fight for justice? Why is the English rider Carly Tanner treading the same path as the first victim, Odette?

Can he save Carly before he has more blood on his hands?

Amazon

~~~~~

The above cover is for the paperback copy I own.

This is an alternative cover.

19345344

Which do you like more?

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to The 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 fun children’s book by Henry Herz.

~~~~~

Good Egg And Bad Apple

Written by Henry Herz

Illustrations by Luke Graber

39391327

Genre: Children’s Book

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

Henry Herz uses fruit and vegetables sharing space in the refrigerator to show that bullying isn’t the best way to go and that, with a little bit of imagination and creative thinking, you can show someone the right path.

20181231_134139

An apple a day isn’t always a good thing. Especially when Bad Apple has a sidekick like Second Banana. They’ve got everyone in the fridge either running or hiding. Good Egg will have to come out of his shell to chill things out.

20181231_134128

It’s one foodie antic after another. The veggies get steamed up and the romaine wilts in fear. And Second Banana slips on his own peel.

20181231_134241

I may not be a youngster but I can tell when they will love a story. Good Egg and Bad Apple has a  bunch of adorable illustrations and veggie puns that make this lesson in bullying fun.

My reading experience included giggles and snorts.  And now I wonder what I’d see if I snuck a peek in my fridge. Would everything be getting along or would there be a mess to clean up.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

Not all the foods in the refrigerator get along like peas in a pod. The vegetables are steamed, and Bad Apple and Second Banana are the problem. Good Egg suggests his friends try different responses to these two bullies. They try hiding, then standing their ground. At first, Good Egg’s tactics don’t bear fruit. Only by using his noodle does Good Egg avoid getting scrambled and save his friends’ bacon. In this story told on two levels, young readers will be entertained by the hijinks of the anthropomorphic food characters and will appreciate the allegory about not letting one bad apple spoil the bunch. Adult readers are served plenty of food for thought with hilarious gastronomical idioms and puns. An author’s note explaining all the wordplay adds English language educational opportunities.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

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.

First Review for 2019 ~ The Sorrows

Posted: January 1, 2019 in horror, reviews
Tags: ,

It’s a new year and with some helpful suggestions, thanks ya’ll, The Sorrows won out as the first book I will review in 2019.

This is Jonathan Janz’s debut novel and I had a scary good read.

~~~~~

The Sorrows

by Jonathan Janz

39655749

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

I grew up with a love of horror. Especially hauntings. Having read and enjoyed other books by Jonathan Janz, I was curious to go back and read his debut book. It’s fun to find new authors who give you terrific scary stories and then go back to see what their first books were like. I’m happy to say Jonathan’s writing was just as strong, just as creepy then, as it is now.

What did I get? Two guys are scrambling to meet a looming deadline to produce a score for a horror movie. Lack of inspiration leads to desperate measures and they, along with a few others, head off to an isolated island for motivation. Castle Black, also known as The Sorrows because of its sordid history, seems like the perfect place to find some. Until it isn’t.

This book had me coming and going. You learn about the terrible and mysterious history of what happened long ago on the island. And what happened to others later on who got too curious.

Let’s talk about this latest group of visitors to the cursed island. I didn’t like any of them. I tried to find something to redeem them, but never did. That’s okay. Now and then I like to be on team evil. And I don’t always have to bond with the character’s to enjoy a good story. Especially with horror genres. I can have fun discovering how they meet their maker or pay the price for being so stupid to go there in the first place. Not saying I believe in the supernatural. But, I’ve seen a lot of movies. read a lot of books, and I have a healthy dose of what if. No way would I have went there.

Strange occurrences and plenty of spooky vibes kept this story moving at a steady pace as the island worked its evil intentions, and the author took me to some weird places. Glad I read this. It shows that from the very beginning Janz knew his horror.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

Ben Shadeland and Eddie Blaze are the hottest young music composers in Hollywood. Fresh off an Oscar nomination, they’ve just been chosen to score a big-budget horror movie by Lee Stanley, the most demanding director in film. But Ben, the creative half of the duo, hasn’t written a note since his wife divorced him and got custody of their three-year-old son.

Chris Blackwood is the gambling-addicted heir to the Blackwood fortune, which includes the Sorrows, an island off the coast of northern California. The island and its castle have been uninhabited since a series of gruesome, unexplained murders in 1925, but Chris needs money, and to get it he allows Ben, Eddie, Claire Harden (an aspiring composer), and Eva Rosales (Lee Stanley’s gorgeous assistant) to stay a month in Castle Blackwood.

Eddie is certain an eerie, isolated setting is just what Ben needs to find musical inspiration for a horror film. But what they find is more horrific than any movie.

Amazon

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

My first review for 2018 was Hell Divers. I loved it and thought sharing my review of the latest book in the series, Wolves: Hell Divers IV, would be a fitting end to a year of great reads.

~~~~~

Wolves

Hell Divers IV

by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

40117350

Genre:  Apocalyptic / Science Fiction

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

This starts off pretty much where the last book left off. X and Magnolia, along with his dog, Miles, are braving the dark ocean on board the Sea Wolf, searching for the ever elusive Metal Islands. What used to appear to be a myth is now looking more like the real thing. And Katrina is settling into her role as captain of both the Deliverance and the Hive. Her command comes with tough choices and a learning curve. As X and his motley crew deal with their demons from the deep, so Katrina deals with her own inner doubts and all the complications of making decisions for the good of the last remaining survivors of Earth.

Yes, I was hoping this would start with a bang, and it sure did. X and the gang are soon in over the heads as the author throws  the book at them; killer sharks, a mutant kraken, giant vultures and man eating metal-skinned hogs. The action never really lets up. Not for the occupants of the Sea Wolf and not for those floating in the ships above. The author adds more danger with a surprise enemy or two.

As I neared the end of the book my anxiety was through the roof! It was exciting to see the  crew from Deliverance finally land on the surface. They’d been there before, seen the horrific conditions, the deadly monsters, but they still weren’t ready for what they encountered. Some perish while others face what seem to me to be insurmountable odds. This is nothing new in the series. With mutant creatures ruling solid ground, death is always looming. What got me was a couple of scenes with Magnolia and Miles. The author had me in tears and that takes some doing with me. And a rescue scene with X had me so tied up in knots I feared to read on. Sure, X is a main characters and the all powerful alpha male, but that doesn’t mean he’ll survive and continue to the end of the series.

I was about to say this series keeps getting better and better, but that’s not necessarily what I want to convey.  I can’t choose any book that is better than the other. Each books is awesome. The action is super fast. And the situations are mind blowing. Where it gets better in each book is the character growth and the secrets revealed. I finally learned how the world ended. I should have guessed it, but I didn’t.

Loved Wolves. Hell Divers IV. Love the Hell Divers Series. “They Dive So Humanity Survives.” And the author can’t write more fast enough. I have my fingers and toes crossed that these will be made into movies!

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

They dive so humanity survives. Now they take to the sea.

In the fourth installment of the award-winning and USA Today bestselling Hell Divers series, the Sea Wolf sets out to search for the Metal Islands. Leading the expedition is legendary Hell Diver Xavier Rodriguez. After enduring for a decade on the poisoned surface, his survival skills will be put to the test on the dangerous open seas. But storms, sea monsters, and the cannibalistic Cazadores aren’t the only threat to X and his small crew. Their mission will uncover hard truths about the history of the war that left humankind stranded in the air for centuries. And the fate of those still living on the airships might very well rest on this fragile and perilous journey to find a new home.

Amazon / B&N /

~~~~~

Click on the covers for my reviews of the previous three books.

   

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I’m sharing Empty Eyes, another scary good book in the Spine Chillers Series by Nancy Gray.

~~~~~

Empty Eyes (Spine Chillers)
by Nancy Gray
Genre: Horror
Age category: Middle Grade
Release Date: October 26, 2018

42630236

My Review

Duane dealt with the beast of black pond. Now Ian has to deal with the creepy kids in the abandoned house in the woods. The Specter Investigator Club is going to be very busy.

It’s Halloween and Ian and Duane plan to make the most if it. Haul in a bunch of yummy candy and enjoy the school festival. Ian had promised his mom he’d not get into trouble, but trouble finds him when a pack of school bullies find him. Forced to run for it, he ducks into a ramshackle abandoned house. It’s supposed to be haunted and he figures they won’t follow him in. When someone does, he’s forced upstairs and encounters two strange kids. They say they want to be friends, but he didn’t need friends like them.

Ooh, this had some creepy atmosphere. The kids from the mirror haunt Ian. They do more harm than good. I easily pictured how creepy they looked and felt their menace.  I thought Ian handled things like any young boy would. He first doesn’t believe what they are. Then he has to figure out how to handle them with only the help of his friend, Duane. He knows anyone else he tells wouldn’t believe him. This rang true for me. I remember not telling adults about things in the dark that scared me. Sure, it was my imagination doing the scaring, but I also knew they wouldn’t take me seriously.

Things get pretty hairy between Ian and the ghostly boys. They are visiting him at night. Appear in his mirror. Then they pull him in to haunt others. He does and says things they make him do. Poor Ian. Some of things they made him do turned his friends against him. I raced to the end of the book to see how he resolved those issues and how he escaped the clutches of the strange boys.

This was creepy fun. I searched library shelves for stories like this when I was younger and still do. Never too old for some spooky adventures and the Spine Chillers Series provides plenty of that. I’ve read several of the books and plan to read any new ones that come out. No bad language or gory stuff so I’d recommend Empty Eyes to middle grade readers who like things that go bump in the night.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

.
“You will face a difficult task in the future. The card is reminding you that every person has a part of themselves they like to hide. Even when times are hard, you must not lose yourself.”

Ian frowned as Mrs. Marcas read his fortune. The school Halloween carnival was supposed to be the highlight of Halloween, but something about the card he picked seemed ominous. As he headed for the storyteller, things quickly took a turn for the worst when the school bullies chased him into an abandoned house. Inside, the children with EMPTY EYES decided to make Ian their friend. A black living mass twisted and coiled in his chest and closed in on his heart. Time was ticking away with every infected beat, and if Ian didn’t act quickly he really would lose himself forever.

You can find the Empty Eyes on Goodreads

You can buy Empty Eyes on Amazon

About the Author:

Nancy Gray
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


banner Lola's Blog Tours

~~~~~

Click on the covers for my reviews of other books in the Spine Chillers series.

The Beast of Black Pond  Spine Chillers Big Bad Wolf

And my reviews are coming soon for the newest releases.

43206989  43235934

~~~~~

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I’m sharing Erebus by Steven C. Bird.

~~~~~

Erebus

by Steven C. Bird

36142431

Genre: Apocalyptic / Thriller

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

Antarctica. A desolate, frigid place at the bottom of the world. The scientists and students do their research and take their samples, unaware that something that appears so innocent will soon threaten all of humanity.

It’s almost the end of the season. Winter is coming and only the most dedicated stay at the station. The others head for warmer places. The rush is on to get their research and samples on the planes before they hightail it out of there. An accident happens. Something is unleashed, and people are turned into raging lunatics.  I know this sounds like a zombie story. It’s not. Bear with me here.

Once the contagion begins a small group of people try to hide while coming up with a way out. They have no idea how many have been turned. There’s no help coming. And this is one of my favorite parts of the plot. The group dynamics. Who steps up? How many sacrifice themselves? Who is the dissenter, the one who always takes the negative view and causes conflict? And who surprises me and steps up to wear the hero’s shoes?

The fight for survival is nail biting. They have to find ways stay alive in freezing temps. And now the infected are changing. They’re not like zombies. Instead of rotting away, they’re getting stronger. From mindless rabid beings, they’re now starting to act as a team. To strategize. Could the organism actually be sentient? It takes over the host and now it appears able to control them too.  The more they discovered about the infection, the more horrifying it gets. What if the organism can cross the species barrier. Could it infect animals? The cold and lack of life in Antarctica kept it contained under the frozen tundra. Once it reaches warmer climates, what’s to stop it.

You have to expect some deaths will happen to the group. At first I wasn’t too worried about it. I hadn’t really developed a strong bond with any of them. It was after the action really got going that I found a favorite. Vasily Fedorov, Russian ex-military but now a blue collar guy. He can make weapons out of anything. He’s super resourceful, haunted by horrors from his past and also a really good guy. I sure want him to survive! I love his quote – “No room for feelings in struggle to survive. Survival important, not pride.”

As the group is pursued from one station to the next., their food supply runs low and their options dwindle. It’s anyone’s guess who will survive, if any. And if they do, will there be a world to get back to? I couldn’t see how this would end. It seemed so bleak and hopeless. This excerpt explains how bad it is.

“And here we are, in our very own horror movie. Only, in the movies, I can usually guess where the ending is going. Here, though, I have no clue. I just can’t see it. It’s not like there is safety on the outskirts of town. There is nothing on the outskirts of town here but a cold, frozen death. And beyond that – more cold.”  Sums it up.

I grabbed this as a free download on Amazon. I’d seen it on another blog and the cover caught my eye. I crossed my fingers and started reading it. I read it straight through and I’m so happy I can give it a high recommendation. I’ll be checking out what else the author has to offer now.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

After lying in wait for millions of years, deep within the Earth beneath Mount Erebus on the frozen continent of Antarctica, an unforeseen threat emerges, leaving a scientific research team to face the horrors that await them at the bottom of the world, alone.

Steven Bird is also the author of The New Homefront Series, as well as the Society Lost Series. His work can also be found in several Kindle Worlds novellas, including The Edge of Civility and JET: Dangerous Prey.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

The above cover is the one that is shown first on Goodreads.

Here is the cover I own.

39713040

Which do you like more?

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Stuck
(Stitch Trilogy #3)
By Samantha Durante
YA Dystopian, SciFi
Paperback & ebook, 306 Pages
December 15, 2018

3, 2, 1… BOOM.

Things are finally looking up for the Resistance. Sure, Alessa is still processing the revelation that the best friend she’d presumed dead is miraculously alive, though far from well… And her boyfriend is being manipulated under threat of blackmail. But her quest for justice against those behind the systematic extermination of the world population is so close to victory she can taste it.

And then in a matter of seconds, everything Alessa believes in is shaken to the core. Months of preparation are obliterated. The people she cares for most are lost.

But Alessa is still standing. And Paragon must pay.

The odds are grim, but unexpected allies surface in the most unlikely of places: A new pair of citizens still under the colony’s rule who notice something amiss in the latest drama. An old adversary who realizes the error of her ways. And a veritable army of inhuman power and terrible strength, with an insatiable thirst for vengeance. The trustworthiness of each of these factions is yet to be proven, but without many other options, Alessa may have to take what she can get. Especially since the Engineers, never to be outdone, also have a few more tricks up their sleeves…

The long-awaited final installment in the riveting Stitch Trilogy, Stuck will have readers gripping their seats as Alessa and a handful of intrepid survivors usher their harrowing journey to a close, risking everything as they endeavor – once and for all – to set things right.

GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleSmashwordsKobo

~~~~~

My Review

I think the first sentence in the synopsis, 3, 2, 1 … Boom, describes this final book in the trilogy perfectly. There’s plenty of action, intrigue and betrayal. But there’s also bravery, romance and hope.

The pressure is on and Alessa pins her hopes on some new allies, an old friend, and a couple of strangers to bolster and make the final throes of the resistance successful. Humanity depends on it.

I have been waiting quite some time for Stuck. Even though I remember how much I loved the first books, I couldn’t recall some details so I pulled them off the shelf, gave them a second read, and fell in love with the series all over again. It’s the end of a spellbinding series and bittersweet. I didn’t want it to end but I couldn’t wait to see how it would. I wasn’t disappointed at any time and couldn’t stop reading once I started. I had to keep reminding myself to breathe, just breathe, as the suspense swept me up.

The action and suspense were palpable.  So many character’s stepped up to the plate. I felt the hope in my own veins. And I thrilled at the many surprises and answers that were revealed.

A perfect finale to a series that fueled my imagination and captured my heart.

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

~~~~~

~~~~~

Other Books in the Series

~~~~~

I love this series and wanted to show you why. I hope you don’t mind if I share my reviews of the previous books too!

My Review of Stitch

Stitch is Samantha Durante’s debut novel. I loved this story and can’t wait to see how she is going to top it.

You get a blend of many genres. First I was thinking paranormal, then dystopian, and finally, science fiction.

Another night. Another nightmare.

When Alessa started college, she thought it would help her to adjust, to move on after the death of her parents.

Now she’s having horrible nightmares and seeing the ghostly image of a man.

She picked the sorority because of the house. Something about it spoke to her, drew her to it.

Now her every thought is consumed with finding out who the ghost is that haunts the house and her mind.

In an attempt at normalcy, she goes to a dance with Nikhil. He’s the first guy she’s had any interest in.

“Alessa parted her lips and looked up at Nikhil, preparing to surrender to her body’s impulses.

But instead of the dark brown eyes she expected, she saw only blue. Unfathomable, sparkling blue…

Once again, a single word rose in the back of her throat – Isaac – and she knew the night was over.”

Isaac’s continued appearances and the fact that only she can see him becomes a quest to discover who he was and why he’s so sad.

What she finds is shocking. Was moving into the house her choice, what secrets are her friend Janie hiding, and does Alessa have a connection to Isaac, the ghost of her dreams and the house?

You’ll have an exciting time finding out just who or what Isaac is and what all of this has to do with Alessa.

This mixing of genres is brilliant and captivating.

While the beginning may be calm, slowly building this new world, the author fluidly takes you back and forth through time, filling in the answers to the mystery of Alessa and Isaac.

About halfway through, I started to see where this was going but with many twists and turns and what the’s, I was continually surprised.

One thing that I found very unique was how the author dealt with the communication between Alessa and Isaac. It was not what I was expecting and really had me going.  You’ll see.

The anticipation was nail-biting and the ending was out of this world. There was no cliff hanger and I finally had all of the answers.

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

~~~~~

My Review of Shudder

Alessa and Isaac set off to find a secure base for all of those wanting out of Paragon.

They worry that the virus may still be out there, but soon discover they are being stalked by creatures, swift moving things that remain in the shadows of the forest, shrieking their rage.

As they escape an attack, something happens to Alessa. She is frozen in place as her mind is overpowered with fear, frustration and fury. She doesn’t know how it’s happening, but she’s experiencing these creatures feelings and it terrifies her.

They have to hurry. People are waiting for them to return with a location for their safe haven and Alessa has to get her sister, Janie, out of the clutches of the Ruling Class.

I finished reading Shudder in one sitting, never taking a break.

I could feel it in the authors writing, I was nearing the end of the book. No, not yet!

I needed to know why Joe featured so strongly in Alessa’s mind, what happened to her sister, and where the virus came from.

Samantha started to wrap up the ending while subtly layering in leads to the finale, Stuck. the last book in this trilogy. I liked that. Sure, I didn’t get all of the answers I wanted, but I did get a lot of insight into what the ‘stitch’ was and why and how it was used.

I also learned about the Ruling Class and their reasoning behind the stitch, even though I suspect some, if not most, of them were lying.

It’s no surprise that humanity didn’t learn its lesson. You’d think after all that has been written and studied, all of the wealth of info there is, they would know better. But no, the Ruling Class do the same things as before, believing they know what’s good for all. They buy into their own lies and block out the moral compass screaming stop, and do whatever is necessary to benefit the greater good. And we wonder why we don’t trust our government. Too many chiefs.

I felt twinges of The Matrix and Aeon Flux while reading this. Shudder reads like a dystopian, post-apocalyptic science fiction story. The author did an amazing job of blending these genre into an exciting, addictive series.

It makes me wonder. If Stitch and Shudder are so great, what is Stuck going to be like? I’m sure it’ll be thrilling.

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

~~~~~

About the Author

Samantha lives in Westchester County, New York with four of the five loves of her life – her husband, son, younger daughter, and cat – and carries her fifth love, her stillborn daughter, in her heart. An avid reader herself, Samantha’s dream is to bring the same delight to readers that other authors have brought to her life. In addition to penning novels and writing candidly about grief, she is also a sometimes freelance writer/consultant – though more often than not these days she’s on full-time mom duty! A former software engineer, Samantha said goodbye to the corporate world in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and lifelong love of writing. Learn more at www.samanthadurante.com.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookTwitterInstagram

Tour Schedule

December 10th:
Launch
Andi’s Young Adult Books
Mythical Books
December 11th:
Candrel’s Crafts, Cooks, and Characters
Paulette’s Papers
December 12th:
JeanzBookReadNReview
Lisa Loves Literature
December 13th:
Coffee, Books and Cakes
Why Not? Because I Said So!
December 14th:
FUONLYKNEW
Bri’s Book Nook
December 17th:
Colorimetry
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
December 18th:
Lovely Reads
Chapter Break
Words Are the Breath Of Life
December 19th:
Books & Such
Bri’s Book Nook
December 20th:
fundinmental
Coffee, Books and Cakes
December 21st:
Christy’s Cozy Corners
Oh Hey! Books.
December 22nd:
Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 First Place Winner will receive: Signed Print Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy, a Limited-Edition Stitch Scarf, Bookmarks, and a $15 Amazon Gift Card
3 Second Place Winners will receive: eBook Copies of All 3 Books in the Trilogy for You *and* a Friend, plus a $5 Amazon Gift Card
– Open internationally
– Ends December 27th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grab Our Button!

~~~~~

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.

christmas tree photo: TreeLightsCat TreeLightsCat.gif

.

Scream Muddy Murder

Big Lake Murder Mysteries

by Lesley A. Diehl


Scream Muddy Murder (Big Lake Murder Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Creekside Publishing (September 27, 2018)
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 9780997234954
ISBN-13: 978-0997234954
Print Length: 272 pages
Digital ASIN: B07H2NZQ7C

My Review

Having read and enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was excited to see what these delightful character’s were up to next.

It’s been raining for days but that doesn’t stop the Seminole War reenactment from happening. And Emily and her daughter, Naomi, will play their part. At least the view is nice. Sexy Detective Stanton Lewis is right in front of them. Some lively banter and a lending hand leave Stanton and Emily face down in the muck. And they’re not alone. They’ve discovered the body of the local school principal, dead by a bullet wound. Someone better solve this quick before the town has a real war on their hands.

I could see it coming. Stanton puts his foot down, insisting the ladies stay out of police business. But the force of Emily, Naomi and Clara is one to be reckoned with. They team up to solve the murder, making a suspect list and checking it twice. I felt like I was part of the investigation as they debated who should be on the list and why. Definitely kept me invested in the outcome. I had to know if my choice was the right one.

My favorite part was the romance between Emily and Stanton. Or should I say almost romance. These two can deny and avoid all they want, I know they’ll do more than just hook up. Butting heads about the investigation just seem to heat things up between them. Me thinks they use it as a way to be together without admitting that’s what they really want. Too fun.

 I was hoping this would be as fun as the previous books, and Leslie didn’t let me down. Scream Muddy Murder was tons of laughs. And the mystery kept me clueless til right near the end.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

EMILY RHODES DOES IT AGAIN! This time she nosedives into a mud puddle at a Seminole War battle reenactment and finds she’s sharing the muck with a dead body. As usual the hunky detective she loves to aggravate, Stanton Lewis, cautions her against getting involved in the case, and as usual she ignores him. Emily’s sleuthing pays off, revealing disturbing information about the victim’s past. Is it the reason behind his murder? With the help of her family and friends, Emily sets out to uncover secrets kept too long and puts herself and the people she loves in the killer’s path. Too late she realizes Detective Lewis was right. Her snoopiness proves to be a deadly idea.

Author Lesley A. Diehl

Lesley retired from her life as a professor of psychology and reclaimed her country roots by moving to a small cottage in the Butternut River Valley in Upstate New York.  In the winter she migrates to old Florida—cowboys, scrub palmetto, and open fields of grazing cattle, a place where spurs still jingle in the post office, and gators make golf a contact sport.  Back north, the shy ghost inhabiting the cottage serves as her literary muse.  When not writing, she gardens, cooks and renovates the 1874 cottage with the help of her husband, two cats and, of course, Fred the ghost, who gives artistic direction to their work. She’s presently interviewing for a coyote to serve as her muse for her books and stories set in rural Florida.

She is the author of a number of mystery series and mysteries as well as short stories, most featuring her quirky sense of humor and a few characters drawn from her peculiar family.

Author Links: Twitter / Facebook / Webpage / Blog

Purchase Links – Amazon   B&N  

~~~~~

I’ve read the first two books also and had a blast. Click on the covers to read my reviews.

33325056  33368727

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 7 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

December 9 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 10 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE POST

December 10 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 12 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 13 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

December 14 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 16 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

December 17 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 19 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT  

December 19 – Books Direct – GUEST POST

December 20 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

December 20 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

 

~~~~~

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.

 

It’s been too long since I’ve shared some horror and I have a good one for ya. I listened to The Beast Of Barcroft and it was a Cryptid treat.

~~~~~

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

Right from the beginning I felt almost like I was watching a movie. Cue the music as an ominous scene unfolds and the mystery of the The Beast Of Barcroft began.  I was hooked.

Ben is a sympathetic character. He thinks he’s finally moving up in the world. That his hard work has paid off. That’s until he discovers that his posh new digs are planted right alongside a rundown house riddled with rats and stray cats. His life begins to fall apart. And it changes forever when he sees the creature that killed his beloved dog.

Yep, I thought I should warn you, a dog dies in this story. But the author doesn’t describe it’s death. Just what happens afterwards. When Ben faces the beast, it’s so otherworldly yet so beautiful.

The story moves swiftly then. The mystery deepens, some vital characters are introduced and the horror of the beast takes over.

Wowser. I thought I knew what the beast was. But I was way off. It was something new to me and that’s a huge bonus. I love cryptids and this one prowled right out of folklore in all its shiny newness. Some scenes were more subtle. And some were so intense I couldn’t see how anyone would survive. Some didn’t. Some did, and they want after the beast. The final confrontation seemed hopeless. I braced myself and took what the author dished out. But, wait. It wasn’t over. There was one more violent confrontation. Then it was over.

Now, about the final battle. I thought about it for awhile. Then I decided it worked. Might not be what I wanted, but it worked.

Did I enjoy The Beast Of Barcroft? Yes I did. The audible is over seven hours long and I listened to it straight through. Would I recommend it? In a heartbeat.

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

 Narrated by Will Damron

This is the first time I listened to a narration by Will Damron and I’ll be watching for him now. He nailed the characters, male and female, his inflection was on point and his reading was smooth.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Ben McKelvie believes he’s moving up in the world when he and his fiancée buy a house in the cushy Washington, D.C., suburb of Barcroft. Instead, he’s moving down—way down—thanks to Madeleine Roux, the crazy neighbor whose vermin-infested property is a permanent eyesore and looming hazard to public health.

First, Ben’s fiancée leaves him; then, his dog dies, apparently killed by a predator drawn into Barcroft by Madeleine’s noxious menagerie. But the worst is yet to come for Ben, for he’s not dealing with any ordinary wild animal. This killer is something much, much worse. Something that couldn’t possibly exist—in this world.

Now, as a devilish creature stalks the locals, Ben resolves to take action. With some grudging assistance from a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the crackpot theories of a self-styled cryptozoologist, he discovers the sinister truth behind the attacks, but knowing the Beast of Barcroft and stopping it are two different animals.

Amazon / B&N / Tantor

~~~~~

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.