Posts Tagged ‘review’

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #21 ~ Saturday Screams #40 ~ Cinema Of Shadows

Posted: October 21, 2017 in horror, reviews
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Welcome to my 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

And welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that, well, make you scream!

I had such fun with Michael’s fantasy horror series Legacy Of The Gods so I had to check out this series.

Cinema Of Shadows

A Harmony, Indiana Novel

  by Michael West

12292002

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Genre:  Horror / Paranormal

My Review

Ooh. what better setting for a haunting than a derelict movie theatre. Woodfield Movie Palace hasn’t projected a film onto it’s large screen in many many years. Dust motes float in abandoned rooms. Birds and critters make nests in it’s empty shell. And something else moves about in its darkest places. This is its home. It will never leave. So you best stay away or it will make you pay. And the price for admission is death.

I’ll admit that spectacular cover was the first reason I chose to read these book. It being a paranormal investigation plot just added to my interest. And I’ve read another series by this author and knew the writing would be solid, with genuine characters.

At first, it felt like many other books with this idea. A team goes into a building purported to be haunted and all kinds of nasty stuff starts happening. But this is where Michael builds his own idea, giving background filler to suggest how and why it might be truly haunted. As to who or what is doing it, you don’t know that until you get close to the end.

There’s a mixed bag of characters for the paranormal investigation team. The snarky gal, the over emoting jock, the lost girl with an unwanted ability, a few others for the casualty list, and one with a hidden agenda. Michael shines at bringing them to life. He even throws in a bit of romance. It’s almost insta love, but I felt it was more like two lonely people being in the right place at the right time. It could happen.

And then there’s the town of Harmony, Indiana. The place where it all goes down. This is the second book in the Harmony series. Each stands alone. The setting is the same but the characters and stories are different. Kind of like Stephen King and Derry, Maine. Harmony could have been built on bad ground. I wonder if the author will eventually explain why so many horrible things happen there.

This isn’t a fast moving story. The action is spread out. Those in between times are just as good. I like getting to know some of the history of the theatre and becoming more knowledgeable about the characters. I need to connect to them somewhat in order to care what happens to them. things start moving fast when it gets crazy and dark. I’d suggest you sit back, enjoy the ride, but don’t let your guard down. If you do, that’s when Michael will put the boo on you.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Welcome to the Woodfield Movie Palace. The night the Titanic sank, it opened for business…and its builder died in his chair. In the 1950s, there was a fire; a balcony full of people burned to death. And years later, when it became the scene of one of Harmony, Indiana’s most notorious murders, it closed for good. Abandoned, sealed, locked up tight…until now. Tonight, Professor Geoffrey Burke and his Parapsychology students have come to the Woodfield in search of evidence, hoping to find irrefutable proof of a haunting. Instead, they will discover that, in this theater, the terrors are not confined to the screen.

Amazon

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Stop back by tomorrow when I’ll be sharing the next Harmony, Indiana book.

Spook House

A Harmony, Indiana Novel

by Michael West

16074582

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Genre: Horror / Paranormal

Synopsis

There are some places in this world that go far beyond any normal definition of “haunted.” These places are so evil, so diabolical, that they become gateways to Hell itself. The Fuller Farm is one such place.

It is said that old man Fuller conducted unspeakable acts, blood rituals and human sacrifices, all in an attempt to gain the ultimate knowledge, the ultimate power. And then, he was killed–horribly murdered on his own lands, leaving the house to stand as a vacant monument to his wickedness. But once a door is opened, it can never really be closed.

Now, the stars are right. The gateway is ready to once more unleash unspeakable horror upon the town of Harmony, Indiana. And this will be one Halloween that they will never forget!

Amazon

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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

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Flesh by Laura Bickle ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: October 19, 2017 in giveaways, horror, reviews, YA
Tags: , , , ,
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Flesh

by Laura Bickle

Genre: YA Horror

Date of Publication: September 19, 2017

ISBN: 9781537857992 / ASIN: B074XBJ697

Number of pages: 307 / Word Count: 76,573

Cover Artist: Danielle Fine

My Review

Charlie isn’t afraid of the dead. It’s her tenth grade classmates that can send her screaming. Halloween is rolling around again and she isn’t expecting much excitement. Especially after the fiasco from last year. Her parents didn’t appreciate her throwing a party at their funeral home.

This year Charlie is keeping a low profile. She’s not looking for trouble but trouble finds her when a deceased classmate, Amanda, who’s body should be resting in a morgue drawer, gets up and starts munching on corpses. That’s just the beginning of many bizarre events that start happening. Faster than you can say Ghoul Girl, she’s scrambling to hide Amanda and find out why the dead aren’t staying dead.

This book is tagged as YA Horror and there were some gruesome scenes. Like the one where Amanda starts chowing down on live worms like they’re gummies. And when she chews on a corpses arm like it’s a drum stick. Those scenes made me squirm. But Laura also made them funny. The family dog, Lothar, loves Amanda because she shares her kibble. Yep he’s a man eater, kind of.  He even liked the worms.

Flesh doesn’t have tons of action, but there’s enough to keep the story moving fast. The character’s act genuine. And there’s a legend about Bob the Catfish that adds an interesting twist.

I was torn over how to rate this book. Keeping in mind this was aimed at the younger audience, I went with 4 stars. It didn’t wow me but I had fun and I think it hit the mark for the young adult readers.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

The dead are easy to talk to. Live people, not so much.

Charlie Sulliven thinks she knows all the secrets of the dead. Raised in a funeral home, she’s the reluctant “Ghoul Girl,” her reputation tied to a disastrous Halloween party. But navigating her life as a high school sophomore is an anxiety-inducing puzzle to her. She haunts the funeral home with her parents, emo older brother, Garth, their pistol-packing Gramma, and the glass-eyeball-devouring dachshund, Lothar.

Chewed human bodies are appearing in her parents’ morgue…and disappearing in the middle of the night. The bodies seem tied to a local legend, Catfish Bob, who has resurfaced in the muddy Milburn river near Charlie’s small town. When one of Charlie’s classmates, Amanda, awakens in the cooler as a flesh-eating ghoul, Charlie must protect her newfound friend and step up to unravel the mystery…and try to avoid becoming lunch meat for the dead.

Pronoun          Amazon          iBooks

BN          Google Play      Kobo

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Enjoy this glimpse inside.

“Amanda, I…Oh.”

            I don’t know what else to say. My brain just shuts down.

            She is wearing the sheet, wound around her like a toga. It trails behind her bare feet, sort of like a painting about Greek goddesses I’ve seen in art books. She’s leaning over another body stored in the cooler unit on a cart. Her back is to me, and I can only see her pale skin and her burgundy-black hair shuddering.

            “Amanda.”

            She turns at the sound of my voice, seeming only to hear me for the first time. Her face is covered in dark blood. In her hand, she’s holding a big chunk of purple flesh. Her eyes are half-closed. The autopsy incision on the elderly body below her has been ripped open, and I’m pretty sure that what she’s holding is a lung.

            “So hungry…” she murmurs.

            I retreat until my back presses against the cold door. A whimper escapes my lips, and I drop the laundry basket with a sharp crack of plastic on the tile floor. This has to be a dream. A screwed-up anxiety dream that I’ll wake up from any moment now…

            Amanda’s black eyes snap open. She stares at the chunk of flesh in her hand. “I…Agh…What’s going on?”

            Lothar waddles over to her and begins to beg. Bile rises in my throat. “That’s Mrs. Canner,” I manage to answer. “She’s seventy-two and died of surgery complications for varicose veins. Deep vein thrombosis, I think. I don’t remember.” I’m babbling, trying to keep the bile down.

            Amanda drops the lung with a wet splat. The dog scrambles to it and begins scarfing it down. Her hands are trembling. She presses them to her temples. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand.”

            I nudge the laundry basket closer to her with my foot. “I brought you some clothes. And, um. Food. You should get dressed.”

            I think I should be afraid. I think I really ought to be. But Amanda seems genuinely confused. She reaches for the clothes I’ve brought her. To be polite, I know that I should really look away. But I can’t move. I am not turning my back on her. My heart pounds, and I struggle to take deep, uneven breaths.

            Amanda unwinds the sheet and slips into my clothes. Though I avert my eyes, I see that her shoulder and side are still torn open. But my mother hasn’t begun the autopsy yet, so there is no Y-incision across her chest and abdomen.

            “Do you remember what happened to you?” I manage to ask. I congratulate myself for having a rational thought. Woot.

            Her voice is halting, and her brow wrinkles as she struggles to button my jeans. “I remember…something was chasing me. Jesus, it hurt…” Her hand comes up to her neck, and she seems to remember, fingering the edges of the wound. “Am I in a hospital?” she asks again.

            I suck in a breath. “No. You’re at my house.” It’s not a lie. Not really.

            She scans the room, as if registering the sight of the cadavers. “You’re the girl whose parents run the funeral home. The Ghoul Girl.”

            “It’s gonna be okay,” I tell her.

            “Why am I here?” Her breath makes ghosts in the cold air.

            “The Sheriff found you, alongside the road.” That’s true also, even if not the whole truth. “I think we should get you upstairs, so you can talk to my parents…”

            She shakes her head, and her dark hair slaps across her face. “No. I…Oh my god. I’m here because…somebody thought I was dead?”

            I swallow hard. “Yeah.”

~~~~~

Glittery Ghoul Donuts

By
Laura Bickle

When I saw vampire donuts come
across a friend’s Facebook feed, I knew that I had to give them a try. I’ve had
my own share of Pinterest disasters, to be certain, but I think this is
something I can handle. The worst thing that could possibly happen would be
that I’d have a dozen mangled donuts, right? I could eat all the evidence
before anyone was the wiser.

 

I  gathered my materials. I picked up a dozen glazed donuts,
a bag of plastic vampire fangs, and a package of candy eyes. For fun, I got
some edible glitter. I originally thought I might make sparkly vampire donuts
with silver glitter, but decided to get green so that the completed creatures
would remind me more of ghouls.

 

 I squished some vampire fangs into the donut holes to make
mouths.

Then I added the candy eyes. They stick very well into the
donut glaze.

Then I dusted the donuts with edible green glitter. I was
pretty pleased with my green choice…they seem particularly monstrous.

And ta-da! A horde of flesh-eating ghoul donuts!

I’m counting this as a Halloween
craft win. Do you have any Halloween crafts you’re going to make this season?
Any raven wreaths, bat cookies, or carved pumpkins on your agenda?

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About Author Laura Bickle

Laura Bickle grew up in rural Ohio, reading entirely too many comic books out loud to her favorite Wonder Woman doll. After graduating with an MA in Sociology – Criminology from Ohio State University and an MLIS in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she patrolled the stacks at the public library and worked with data systems in criminal justice. She now dreams up stories about the monsters under the stairs, also writing contemporary fantasy novels under the name Alayna Williams.

The latest details on her work are available at:

Website / Blog

Follow on Social Media:

Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

And Sign Up for the Newsletter HERE

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #19 ~ The Jersey Devil

Posted: October 19, 2017 in horror, reviews
Tags: , , ,
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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

I’ve got another one by Hunter Shea to share today.

The Jersey Devil

by Hunter Shea

28109846

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Genre: Horror

 My Review

Having read a bunch of Hunter’s books, I thought I was prepared for The Jersey Devil. So not!

Several generations of the Willet family vow to stop the monster at any cost. The beast has haunted them for years and they want there vengeance. And that cost is high. I’m telling you now, do not get attached to any character. Hunter’s never shy about killing off his characters but he goes above and beyond in this book. After several people I started to like got killed I knew the worst was yet to come. Oops, there goes another one, and another. I tried to count how many died, but lost track somewhere in the double digits.

And the creature. The monster. Heck, I can’t come up a description horrific enough. Beastial and malevolent on so many levels, when the rampage begins it gets super gory and disturbing. If this were made into a movie, there are many scenes where I’d be peeking through my fingers, checking to see if it was done yet.

The author outdid himself with this one. Definitely one for mature readers. There are some explicit scenes so twisted I wouldn’t recommend this for a younger audience.

That being said, I enjoyed this one. Yeah, some things got to me, but that’s when you know the author did their job. If they can make you squirm, they’ve hit the mark.

4  Stars

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Synopsis

THE LEGEND LIVES
Everyone knows the legend of the Jersey Devil. Some believe it is an abomination of nature, a hybrid winged beast from hell that stalks the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey searching for prey. Others believe it is a hoax, a campfire story designed to scare children. But one man knows the truth . . .

THE DEVIL AWAKES
Sixty years ago, Boompa Willet came face to face with the Devil—and lived to tell the tale. Now, the creature’s stomping grounds are alive once again with strange sightings, disappearances, and worse. After all these years, Boompa must return to the Barrens, not to prove the legend is real but to wipe it off the face of the earth . . .

THE BEAST MUST DIE
It’ll take more than just courage to defeat the Devil. It will take four generations of the Willet clan, a lifetime of survivalist training, and all the firepower they can carry. But timing is critical. A summer music festival has attracted crowds of teenagers. The woods are filled with tender young prey. But this time, the Devil is not alone. The evil has grown into an unholy horde of mutant monstrosities. And hell has come home to New Jersey . . .

Amazon

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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

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #18 ~ The Kid’s Korner #20 ~ Splat The Cat

Posted: October 18, 2017 in Children's books, reviews
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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

and

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 a really fun book.

Splat The Cat

What Was That?

by Rob Scotton

16248027

 

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Genre: Children’s / Halloween / A Lift The Flap Book

 My Review

Splat, a black cat. How fun is that?

It’s Halloween and Splat and his friends, Spike and Seymour are at the last house on their trick-or-treat route.  Splat doesn’t want anything to do with the creepy old house. It’s supposed to be haunted. But then Seymour gets lost and Splat and Spike have to find him.

Such a fun little book. Splat and his friends are adorable  and this lift-the-flap book shows them in glossy, colorful illustrations. I remember this type of book when I was little. I read it over and over, excited every time I peeked behind one of the flaps.

Little ones will be giggling, begging to be the one to lift a flap and see what’s under it. Simply written and not really scary, it’s a fun Halloween story.

This is a series and there are plenty more adventures with these delightful characters.

Too cute!

5  Stars

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Synopsis

Splat the Cat and his friends have a Halloween adventure in Splat the Cat: What Was That?, a  lift-the-flap book by Rob Scotton, creator of the beloved Russell the Sheep.

Halloween should be a black cat’s favorite holiday, but Spat the Cat is nervous about visiting a creepy haunted house. He’s worried it will be too scary. Splat’s friend Spike tells Splat not to be a scaredy-cat—the haunted house is just for fun!

Splat and Spike’s visit to the haunted house turns into a rescue mission when Splat’s pet mouse, Seymour, gets lost inside.
Kids will relate to Splat’s apprehension about visiting a haunted house and they’ll enjoy the exciting surprises under every flap in the funny, spooky book.

Amazon

Here’s a peek inside.

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And a peek under the flap.

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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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31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #16 ~ My Monday Minis #69 ~ The War of The Worlds

Posted: October 16, 2017 in Monday's Minis, reviews, Science Fiction
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Welcome to my 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

And welcome to my Monday Minis Reviews where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.

I’m going to take you back in time. To 1898 and H.G. Wells classic story War Of The Worlds.

The War Of The Worlds

by H.G. Wells

16147181

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Genre: Horror

 My Review

I remember the original movie for this book. It had loads of atmosphere and scared me way more than the more modern one starring Tom Cruise with the techie CG stuff. Mind you, I still enjoyed that one too. And I guess I’m showing my age here when I mention listening to shows on the radio. Not so old that I listened to the original show broadcast in 1938 that caused such a panic. People came into the radio broadcast not having heard it was just a show and actually believed aliens had invaded.  Having read so many books since I first read this and seen so many movies, I figured a reread was in order to see how I felt about it now.

Keeping in mind this was written in 1898, I was surprised by how modern it felt while still feeling like the time it was written in.  I think Wells was a visionary. We hadn’t yet learned to fly and he wrote about Martians in alien space crafts invading our planet.

It’s a thrilling They came, They saw, We conquered story. And I think what made it scarier for me was I kept seeing scenes from the original film while reading it. Towering alien machines that shoot death rays and slithering, ugly aliens. Mr. Wells was one of the great story tellers and I bet he enjoyed scaring the pants off people.

 4  Stars

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Synopsis

With H.G. Wells’ other novels, The War of the Worlds was one of the first and greatest works of science fiction ever to be written. Even long before man had learned to fly, H.G. Wells wrote this story of the Martian attack on England. These unearthly creatures arrive in huge cylinders, from which they escape as soon as the metal is cool. The first falls near Woking and is regarded as a curiosity rather than a danger until the Martians climb out of it and kill many of the gaping crowd with a Heat-Ray. These unearthly creatures have heads four feet in diameter and colossal round bodies, and by manipulating two terrifying machines – the Handling Machine and the Fighting Machine – they are as versatile as humans and at the same time insuperable. They cause boundless destruction. The inhabitants of the Earth are powerless against them, and it looks as if the end of the World has come. But there is one factor which the Martians, in spite of their superior intelligence, have not reckoned on. It is this which brings about a miraculous conclusion to this famous work of the imagination.

Amazon

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The War Of The Worlds trailer from 1953.

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The War Of The Worlds trailer from 2005.

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The War Of The Worlds Radio Broadcast in 1938.

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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

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #15 ~ Swamp!

Posted: October 15, 2017 in horror, reviews
Tags: , , , ,
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Welcome to my 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

I’ve got another one by Peter Tremayne to share today. This is my favorite so far.

Swamp!

  by Peter Tremayne

35613933

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Genre: Horror

 My Review

This book had all the elements of a good horror story. It takes place in the swamps of Florida. The author gives you some good guys, some bad guys, some really bad guys, and something monstrous that doesn’t discriminate over its chow. And…there’s a hurricane bearing down on all of them.

See, I told you it had some good stuff. And I really had fun. I must confess, being a southern gal, I like stories set in my area. This is my favorite book by Peter Tremayne. I’ve read several and something about this one stood out. Perhaps it was the character development. I enjoy character driven stories and this had a bunch of them. Plus, it took some time to figure out who were the real bad guys.

With lots of intrigue and all the monster stompin and munching you could wish for, I’d recommend this one. And I feel I should mention the ending. Wait. There is one. It just feels like it’s left open for your interpretation. I chose what to believe and you can too, or you can go with what the author gives you. Either way, its wrapped up.

4  Stars

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Synopsis

The only time Pirelli had ever heard the swamplands so deathly still was just before a fire had raged through the area — the animals, by some curious instinct, seemed to know something was wrong.

Caleb Burns, a portly man, was hunting in the forests of Florida with his friend, Jeff Smith.

The manatee, the largest aquatic species of mammal in the swamp country, was highly prized by hunters but for the last twenty years state law had made it illegal to shoot it.

In the sweltering heat, they get more than they bargained for…

A few yards away from them the black, dank waters suddenly began to erupt in a swirling torrent of froth, dwarfing them with its gigantic size.

It gazed at them for a moment from angry, red-veined eyes. An awesome cry echoed deep in its throat from behind razor-sharp incisor teeth, teeth that glinted like a row of stilettos.

For what seemed an eternity it stood like a malevolent statue. Then it swooped, its jaws gnashing viciously…

Where does this blood-thirsty, other-worldly beast come from?

Peter Pirelli, and Everglades National Park Ranger, is trying to discover what this mysterious beast truly is.

With more innocent lives on the line, will he be able to find out before it’s too late?

Amazon

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The cover I used for my review is the eBook one I own. Here is the paperback cover published in 1989.

Which do you like more?

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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

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #13 ~ Freakin Fridays #58 ~ Shallow Graves

Posted: October 13, 2017 in Freakin Friday, horror, reviews, Supernatural
Tags: , , ,
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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

Welcome to Freakin Fridays, where I share my reviews of books that scare you, thrill you, and get those endorphins pumping.

It’s Friday the 13th. Yikes!

What could be better than curling up with a chilling haunted house story. Shallow Graves was free at time of posting. Go HERE or click on the cover to grab a copy. Just be sure to check the price before clicking.

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Shallow Graves

The Haunted #1

by Patrick Logan

32509098

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Genre:  Horror / Supernatural

My Review

It seems like too much for Robert Walker. He’s lost his wife. He’s lost his job. He’s about to lose his house. How will he take care of his daughter, Amy? Where will they go?

Just when it seems like all hope is lost, Robert is given a life preserver. Sean, a mysterious stranger, knocks on his door and presents him with a letter. An aunt unbeknownst to him requests he come take care of her in her last days. If he does this, he’ll inherit her entire estate. What aunt? He’s not aware he had one. But, with the prospect of being homeless looming, he decides to check out the offer. It can’t get any worse, can it?

Oh boy. I might not have seen this author’s spin coming, but I’ve sure read plenty of books and watched many movies with similar situations. I could anticipate all kinds of ways it could get worse. Wish I could tell you how bad it got, but that spoiler thing, ya know.

I liked Robert, He was in a tough situation but his daughter, Amy, was his first priority and he did everything possible to provide for her and keep her safe. Too bad the house had other things in mind.

The story sometimes reads disjointed. When this first happened I was worried. But I quickly discovered it read that way because I was actually in Robert’s shoes, going through the eerie events as him. Once I caught onto that, it actually made this even more crazy. At one point my nerves were so jangled. Things go so sideways for Robert, and I felt his despair and desperation.

Other characters enter the story as you get to the meat of it. They play some crucial roles in this stories ending and I expect they will keep contributing with each new book. My imagination comes into play and I’m excited to see how the author spins it. Especially after the surprise ending for Shallow Graves.

   4  Stars

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Synopsis

Not all houses are made of brick and stone… Robert Watts is having the worst day of his entire life: first he’s laid off, then he finds out that his wife is having an affair… with his boss no less. And that’s only the beginning.

Before the month is out, Robert finds himself alone to raise his daughter with no money, no job, and a house that is minutes from being repossessed. Just when he hits rock bottom, a strange visitor arrives at the doorstep of his soon to be foreclosed house with a letter from an Aunt he didn’t know existed.

The offer is simple: look after Aunt Ruth during her dying days, and in return Robert will be bequeathed the Harlop Estate in which she currently resides. It’s a no brainer and Robert jumps at the opportunity, equally motivated by the prospect of financial security as he is for a fresh start.

Problem is, it only takes a few nights in the Harlop Estate before he begins to question Aunt Ruth’s claims that they are the home’s only inhabitants…

It’s the scratching he hears during the night, the voices that he can barely make out over the constant rain, and then there’s the girl with the rat…

With their house foreclosed and their bank accounts liquidated, Robert and his daughter Amy desperately need a place to live. But the question Robert soon finds himself struggling with is whether living in the Harlop Estate is worth it… and if he can survive until Aunt Ruth passes to collect his inheritance.

Shallow Graves is the first book in the Haunted Series, chilling, gruesome, and truly haunting tales with a twist that you will never see coming.

Amazon

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Other books available in The Haunted Series.

32871333  33141042  33796681  34200802

And you can pre-order the sixth book available October 31st.

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Clicking on the covers will take you to Amazon.

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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

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Ultimate Sacrifice by S.E. Green ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: October 12, 2017 in giveaways, horror, reviews, YA
Tags: , , ,
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Ultimate Sacrifice
S.E. Green
Publication date: October 3rd 2017
Genres: Horror, Young Adult

My Review

Well, this wasn’t what I was expecting, in a good way.

Told from Vickie’s, seventeen years old, point of view, the story begins when her brother finds a little girl’s body in the woods by their house. It appears to be a ritualistic sacrifice. The family is under suspicion because of the close proximity of the murder and their connection to the girl. Hounded by and condemned in the press, Vickie digs deep, looking for something, anything, to clear her and her family.

This story goes quickly. As Vickie gets desperate and does some stupid things to solve the murder, the more reckless she becomes. Her actions are believable. You know how you watch a movie and scoff when the character goes in the basement after hearing a strange noise. We are so sure nothing bad will happen to us that we often do go see. I could feel her frustration when people look at her strange. And her family has some deep, dark secrets. She thinks she knows them, but she doesn’t.

Reminds me so much of a movie I watched a long time ago. Two couples are racing to get away from demon worshipers after coming across their sacrifice. Just like in that movie, I kept getting nigglings of something supernatural. Not just because of how the little girl was killed either.

I also knew that the more Vickie stuck her nose into the investigation, the darker things would become. It was subtle to begin with. Then I started to get an idea where the author was taking me, and couldn’t wait to see if I was right. I knew what I wanted to happen. It’s horror, right. And I got it. A surreal ending.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

Vickie has always lived a quiet, ordinary life in an equally quiet and ordinary small town. Yet one fateful night a child turns up dead in the woods behind her house in a ritualistic slaughter. Vickie and her family are suddenly thrown into a national spotlight. But as the investigation unfolds, she begins to realize her family isn’t so ordinary after all. Evil is inching closer to those she holds dear and Vickie isn’t sure who she can ultimately trust.

Goodreads / Amazon



Author S.E. Green

S. E. Green (aka Shannon Greenland) is the award winning author of the thriller, KILLER INSTINCT, the spy series, THE SPECIALISTS, and the romances, THE SUMMER MY LIFE BEGAN and SHADOW OF A GIRL. She lives off the coast of Florida with her very grouchy dog. ULTIMATE SACRIFICE is her debut YA horror, due out October 2017.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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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

A Supernatural Horror ~ The Darkness: Giger, Texas – Review and Giveaway

Posted: October 11, 2017 in giveaways, horror, reviews, Supernatural
Tags: , , ,
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The Darkness: Giger, Texas

Joe M. Solomon

Genre: Horror/Supernatural

Publisher: NES Publishing, LLC

Date of Publication: October 3, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-9990024-0-7 / ASIN: B07435H5YR

Number of pages: 372 / Word Count: 106,029

Cover Artist: Syneca Featherstone

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My Review

Between the great cover art and thrilling blurb, I knew this could be a good book, and it was.

It seems like an ordinary night. Well, aside from the hurricane that’s blowing in, ready to devastate everything in its path. Power will go out, leaving all in darkness. But it’s no ordinary darkness. It’s taken on a life of its own. Forms attack, killing millions. The only weapon is light. And with the storm, there won’t be any once the power grids go down.

Michael isn’t prepared. How could he be? And his girlfriend is out there somewhere. He has to find her. Save her. So he heads out into the dark. Along the way, he hooks up with some friends and strangers. None of them know what’s happening. They just know the darkness kills. What caused it? Why? They may not live to find out.

I was reading this book while tracking Hurricane Irma, watching Florida get hammered by the very conditions described in it. It sure did make my imagination run wild. The lights go out. The wind howls. Things start crashing into your house. You can’t see what’s coming. And then it starts to flood. The water rises. That’s truly scary. Even scarier is the darkness becoming corporeal. being able to touch you. To hurt and kill you.

And, as with all things human, when disaster strikes the good come together and help each other, and the bad crawl out from under their rocks to wreak havoc. As bands of survivors struggle to stay alive, to keep some form of light on to ward off the things in the dark, they also have to contend with others who want what they have.

I think the author did a good job of giving us realistic characters and came up with some twisted scenarios that were believable. It was easy to picture and made things edgy, creepy.

Definitely a book I recommend you read at night. If you aren’t afraid of the dark now, you could be once you’ve read it.

4 Stars

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Synopsis

When night falls in Giger, Texas, shadows gather as they always do in dim corners and other areas bereft of light.  But this time they consolidate and attack any who tread too close. Michael Warren, a twenty-four-year-old resident of Giger, finds himself at the epicenter of this horror and is stunned by the losses suffered overnight.  Then the sun sets and the shadows again coalesce, growing more aggressive, the darkness eviscerating anyone it touches.

His only weapon light, Michael struggles to survive and searches frantically for his girlfriend, aiding friends along the way.  When Hurricane Daniel roars ashore, wind gusts shred trees and tear down power lines, plunging all of Southeastern Texas into blackness that only feeds and strengthens the encroaching darkness.  Rising floodwater provides easy thoroughfares from which the darkness can strike as Michael and his friends contend with the elements, clash with criminals, and battle their way to his residence where they will stand against the darkness and fight to survive.

Amazon     Kobo     BN     iTunes

 

Enjoy this excerpt:

Startled, Eddie blinked and wiped at his own eyes. “What was…? Hello?”

No answer.

His pulse picked up. “C-Curt, you in here… you a-a-a-asshole?”

A box fell behind him.

Eddie spun around, body tight as a knot, eyes wide as their sockets would allow. “Wh-h-h-h-who the hell’s that?” he demanded with as much sternness as he could inject into his quivering voice.

Soft whispers trickled out of a minuscule pocket of emptiness near the back door on the farthest wall. There, amid the gloom, something progressed toward him. At first, its movements appeared mechanical, inelastic. Then it evolved into a smooth flow. A soft ripple. A consolidated wave of darkness.

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About the Author:

Joe M. Solomon earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas, followed by both master’s and doctoral degrees from Rice University. Joe’s supernatural thriller The Darkness: Giger, Texas released in 2017. A second novel—The Light: Houston, Texas—and a collection of short stories that arise from the macabre will soon follow.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

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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

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills ~ Day #10 ~ Teaser Tuesday #221 ~ A Witchy Boxed Set

Posted: October 10, 2017 in Cozy Mystery, reviews, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: , , ,
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Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’ll be sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to

get those scares on for the 31st!

I have a fun cozy mystery review for you. It’s two in one!

I’m also sharing some fun quotes for Teaser Tuesday.

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Ambrosia  @ The Purple Booker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

My Teaser for this week is from

A Witchy Boxed Set

A Witchy Business and A Witchy Mystery

by D.S. Butler

36288212

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Genre: Cozy Mystery

 My teasers from the eBook.

From A Witchy Business

There was nothing for it. I just had to come out with the truth.

“It was your body in the barrel, Elizabeth.”

and

from A Witchy Mystery.

“If you’re a ghost, you can’t update your wardrobe. You always appear how you looked on the day you died.”

A look of absolute horror passed over Yvonne’s face. “What? But I had a slice of chocolate cake last night. I can still see the bulge in my stomach. Are you telling me I will have this bulge forever?

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Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

This collection is a must have for anyone who loves to read cozy mysteries with cats, witches and quirky small town settings.
A Witchy Boxed Set contains the first two books in the Harper Grant Series: A Witchy Business and A Witchy Mystery.

A Witchy Business
The small town of Abbott Cove holds a secret…
It’s home to the Grant family of witches!
Harper Grant is happy working at Archie’s Diner as she tries her best to avoid the attentions of the town’s gossips.
However, when a body turns up during Abbott Cove’s annual festival, she begins to understand her family isn’t the only one hiding secrets.
With the help of the new swoon-worthy police officer, Joe McGrady, Harper finds herself on the trail of the perpetrator. Will Harper uncover the killer’s identity before it’s too late?

A Witchy Mystery
Harper Grant is trying to get out of attending yoga classes with her sister, when she makes a gruesome discovery.
Grandma Grant is intent on causing her usual mischief, and the townsfolk of Abbott Cove cause Harper no end of trouble as she tries to help the most difficult ghost she has ever had to deal with.
With the help of police officer, Joe McGrady, Harper finds herself on the trail of the perpetrator. Will Harper uncover the killer’s identity before anyone else is murdered?

Only 99 cents on Amazon

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My Review

 I really had fun with these stories. I enjoy cozy mysteries and always ready to dive into a new series.

Abbott Cove is a small town inhabited by witches. One in particular stands out, Harper Grant. She can see and speak to the dead. Often spotted looking like she’s talking to herself, she’s fodder for the gossip mill. And you know how small towns are. To avoid this, she explains her position to the newly departed spirits when they come to her for help.

Sticking her nose into Officer Joe McGrady’s investigations means she gets to see him more often, but probably not the best way to getu p close and personal with the handsome hunk.

Both of these were fun mysteries. Nothing too gory. Lots of laughs. Mysteries that kept you guessing with a mixed compliment of suspects. And a dab or too of romantic anticipation. Harper was fun, whip smart, and not afraid to tell it like it was. I grew quite fond of her. And she sure had a vast amount of patience. Some of these ghosts she knew in their former lives. They weren’t so nice then either.

Priced at 99 cents, this set is a steal. Love the cozies. Grab a copy.

4 Stars

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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

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