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Posts Tagged ‘review’

Teaser Tuesday #214 ~ The Nutting Girl

Posted: August 8, 2017 in Mystery, reviews, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: Fred DeVecca, mystery, review, Teaser Tuesaday, The Nutting Girl

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

The Nutting Girl

by Fred DeVecca

Genre: Mystery

My teaser from page 70 in the Paperback.

It was attached to the hand of a young man as tall and skinny as the still budding maple tree hovering over his head. The gleam was shiny and metallic and I hear it click. Once, and then twice, then a whole series of clicks.

~~~~~

Read on if you want to know more.

My Review

What was it about this book that so captivated me? Let’s see… The main character is Frank Raven. Used to be a blind monk, a cop, and a private detective. Now he runs an old movie theater and belongs to a troupe of Morris Dancers. I had to google that to see what it’s all about. Lots of strong movements and twinkling bells on the costumes and a lively chorus. To imagine such a man’s man doing this tickled me and I warmed right up to Frank. There’s much more to this man than meets the eye.

Meet Nick Mooney, an up and coming film director. He’s charismatic and a bit self important, but there’s another side to him too. He also wormed his way into my good graces.

And then there’s Nick’s star actress, Velcro. A stunningly beautiful and talented young actress with more baggage than her young shoulders can bear. She was a surprise. Intellectual and spiritual, and a tender soul, hidden behind the glitz and glamour.

Two more character’s I want to mention are Clara and her daughter, Sarah. Frank’s been a loner for a long time and doesn’t think much about it. Something about Clara calls to his loneliness. And Sarah’s zest for life and knowledge is a lure he can’t resist. These two ladies draw him out of his shell, giving him a glimpse at what he could have. I crossed my fingers things would happen for them.

I could go on and on about the characters in this book. All of them reach out to you. You want only good things to happen to them. Alas, this is a mystery about a young woman who apparently drowns in a river. There may not be a happy ever after for some of them.

This is where the mystery gets interesting. Was Velcro pushed or did she jump? Was she dead, or maybe just lost? I honestly didn’t know the answers to any of these questions until I approached the end of the book.

The Nutting Girl is Fred DeVecca’s debut book. You’d never know it. He writes a deep mystery, taking you on a somewhat spiritual journey, with eclectic characters and visual descriptions of a small town setting. I’ll be watching for his next book.

5 Stars

Thanks so much to Coffeetown Press and Fred DeVecca for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Middle-aged Frank Raven used to be a lot of things—a blind monk, a cop, a private detective, and a hard drinker. Now he doesn’t do much except run a funky old movie theater in bucolic Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, dance and sing with the local troupe of Morris Dancers, and record bird songs on his phone.
A lanky young wunderkind director, Nick Mooney, brings his Hollywood film crew to town and hires the “retired” Raven to protect his star: the wild, unpredictable, gorgeous, and prodigiously talented twenty-one-year-old Juliana Velvet Norcross, aka VelCro.
Reluctant at first, Raven takes on the job and slowly sees that there is more to VelCro than the troubled rebel she appears to be. She probes the former monk for his thoughts on God, love, and the soul. But Raven has renounced many of his former beliefs, and VelCro’s questions cause him to re-examine his life.
On the eve of filming, storms ravage the small village, and the river that runs through the center of town floods its banks. VelCro becomes ill and withdraws into the care of Sarah, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Frank’s girlfriend, Clara. The storm passes, VelCro recovers, and filming begins. But during the first shot, she is swept away into the river, leaving no trace.
What role did VelCro’s director play in her life? Did she fall? Did she jump? Was she pushed? Frank and Sarah are driven to find out what happened.

Amazon

~~~~~

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

~~~~~

My Monday Minis Reviews #63 ~ Guarded and Bound ~ Two Urban Fantasy Reviews

Posted: July 31, 2017 in Fantasy, Monday's Minis, reviews, urban fantasy
Tags: Bound, Carmen Fox, Guarded, review, urban fantasy

Welcome to My Monday Minis where I share short reviews about books I’ve read.

It’s time for some urban fantasy. Carmen Fox has a thrilling series, The Silverton Chronicles, and today I’m sharing the first two books, Guarded and Bound.

~~~~~

Guarded

The Silverton Chronicles #1

by Carmen Fox

25688183

Genre: Fantasy / Urban Fantasy

My Review

This book was a blast. You have humans, vampires, werewolves, fae, demons and so on, all butting heads. There’s so much going on. So many different agendas. And a whole lot of surprises in store for you.

And then there’s the characters. too many to focus on just one or two. I can say that I really liked the friendship between Ivy and Florian. They are so opposite. Florian is a guy and he’s more concerned with fashion than a lot of women, whereas Ivy is all business. As things get going, they all get caught up in the action. The dialogue is very well written. And the snark had me snorting.

There’s some love interests too. The blurb might have you thinking there’s a love triangle, which I sometimes find annoying, but there isn’t one here. And while the romance isn’t the main focus, it sure adds some hilarious moments with Ivy and spices things up.

I think what I appreciated most was how easily the story flowed and how visual it was. It’s almost like you can see everything as it happens. I even had some idea of what I thought the characters should look like, which added to the fun.

A solid beginning to the series, and I’m on to the next one.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

When everyone’s existence depends on the lies they tell, trust doesn’t come easy.

Ivy’s neighbors have a secret. They aren’t human. But Ivy has a secret, too. She knows. As long as everyone keeps quiet, she’s happy working as a P.I. by day and chillaxing with her BFF Florian, a vampire, by night. When a routine pickup drops her in the middle of a murder, her two worlds collide. While Florian knows how to throw a punch, deep down he’s a softie. His idea of scary? Running out of hair product. It’s time Ivy faced facts. Even with a vampire on stand-by, one gal can only kick so many asses.

For help, she must put her faith in others. A human, who might just be the one. A demon, who will, for a price, open the doors to her heritage. And a werewolf, who wants to protect her from herself.

Torn between these men, Ivy must tread carefully, because one wants her heart, one wants her body, and one wants her dead.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

Bound

The Silverton Chronicles #2

by Carmen Fox

Genre: Fantasy / Urban Fantasy

My Review

I adored Florian when I met him in the first book, Guarded. He’s a bit nutty and naive, has a healthy dose of charm, and is loyal to a fault. It’s fun that he now gets his own story, his time to shine.

In the first book, Florian was quirky and flamboyant, yet at loose ends. Now he’s found his place with the werewolves, but what happens when it’s discovered he’s a vampire? The pack might make an example of him. A wicked mess, and all in the name of love.

On top of that, a pack consisting of all females enters their territory and they’ll not be bossed around by a bunch of males. Tempers flare and it takes determination and finesse for Keely, their pack leader, to get Parker and his pack to not come in and try to claim them. These female wolves have been through some horrendous treatment by male leaders and want to find their own males.

This is where it gets sticky for Flo. He’s on Keely’s side, is juggling the situation with his own pack, and his Sire has shown up wanting to reunite the family. He’s old style vampire and sees Flo’s life as nonsense.

There’s more action, romance, and some consequences in this second book. I’d recommend reading Guarded first so you have a feel for who’s who and you can dive right in and just enjoy the ride. A great follow up and I’m hoping there’s more to come.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Bound by blood. Bound by loyalty. Bound by love.

Florian has it all: excellent fashion sense, a kickass job with his best friend, and a hard-won place among Silverton’s werewolves. When a pack of females pads into their territory, Flo’s alpha dispatches him to handle a merger. Total cakewalk. Except Keely, their alpha, has no intention of submitting her wolves to Flo’s larger pack. Worse, a single glance from her baby blues sends his eloquence on vacation and his heartbeat into overdrive. His flirtations seem welcome too, but there’s a snag. She doesn’t know he’s a vampire.

While Flo struggles with his conflicts–obey his alpha or win over Keely–his estranged sire blasts into town with a catalog of radical ideas. And hanging out with unsophisticated werewolves didn’t make the list.

With violence in the air and all sides testing his loyalties, Florian must bite back, even if showing his fangs costs him the girl.

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

An Accident…Or Murder? The House On Devil’s Bar ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: July 26, 2017 in giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: Author Jessie McAlan, giveaway, mystery, review, The House On Devil's Bar

The House On Devil’s Bar

The Linn House Mysteries #1

by Jessie McAlan

Genre: US Amateur Sleuth

My Review

There’s no one thing that makes me like this book. I do like a good mystery. Especially one with no real obvious suspect. I also enjoy humorous and snarky dialogue between characters. And it sure adds to my enjoyment when the scenes are visually written, putting me there in the story. And last, but not least, the surprise reveal of who did it and why. This book had all of this, and something else. This is where I wish I was a writer so I could spit it out. Something just really charmed me. Maybe the compelling prose.

Rona is finally seeing progress with her bakery and events business. When a mysterious woman shows up at Linn House asking questions and then disappearing, Rona shrugs it off. But the strangeness of it keeps niggling at her. And soon she’s thinking all kinds of things. And her fears are justified when the woman’s body is discovered drowned in the river.

Not one to sit on her hands and wait, Rona delves into the woman’s life, feeling duty bound to prove her death wasn’t an accident and see justice done. This leads to some threatening occurrences. The success of her business, and her life are now in question.

Rona is very likable. She’s kind and professional, stubborn and determined. And while she’s a bit lonely, she doesn’t feel she has to have a man to be happy. Then her ex shows up and their back and forth banter comes naturally. She’s now having second thoughts. Can’t help but like a second chance romance. Even if it doesn’t go the way you want. Won’t tell you how it goes with these two.

Lots of lovely scenery, plenty of mystery and false trails, and humor and romance, what more could you ask for. I hope you try The House On Devil’s Bar. You’ll want to read more about these characters.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

The police verdict of a woman’s accidental drowning in the Mississippi River does more than set tongues wagging in the small Missouri town of Klim; it starts a flood of cancellations that threaten to sink Rona Murray’s bakery and events business. And blacken her good name. Determined to save both, she starts her own investigation to prove she and her property are blameless. Barbara Lindborg had stopped by Linn House to consider renting it for a party. Yet, when Rona returned from accepting a delivery, the woman had vanished.

Rona’s preliminary search for Barbara yields nothing more than suggestive footprints on the Bar. Did the woman accidentally fall into the river? Was she pushed – and if so, why? A later hunt reveals Barbara’s cell phone in the woods. How did it get halfway up the hill if the woman drowned a hundred feet below? The phone’s camera holds snaps of Klim, its residents, and the Bar. Do any of these hold a clue to her death? Or did her and Rona’s earlier conversation about history and treasure have a different meaning?

Suspects and motives pop up like bubbles in yeast. Is Matt, an employee, still bitter about his and Barbara’s divorce? What about Rona’s own ex, Johnny? Is he trying to drive her out of business, or is his current girlfriend, Crystal, jealous of their relationship and trying to eliminate the competition? A bit like calling the kettle black, for Crystal seems very friendly with Frank, the bad boy neighbor. Frank isn’t lily-white, either. He dislikes Rona; is he behind the pranks on her property or mixed up in Barbara’s death? It isn’t until Rona’s life is threatened one stormy night that she learns the killer’s identity and her true feelings about Johnny.

~~~~~

Excerpt

Clouds cloaked the moon, and the darkness in the woods closed around her. She increased her pace. The ground and leaves were slick, causing her to lose traction. When she slid downhill the second time, she heard the whispers.

She remained where she was, her back against a tree trunk, her palms on the ground. The wind had kicked up while she’d started back from the Bar, and it sighed as it wandered through the pines. A cricket chorus grated beneath the melody, strident and sharp, punctuating the wind’s fluid lament. A crack, like someone stepping on a branch, bore through the song, and Rona froze. Was someone walking through the woods, walking without a flashlight?

Which could only mean he was sneaking up on her.

~~~~~

Author Jessie McAlan

A family trip to the Big Spring area in the Missouri Ozarks introduced Jessie to the wonders of nature. Her summer stints as a camp counselor and canoeing instructor cemented her enthusiasm. This love of the natural world and the river flows through her Linn House mysteries.

In 2001 Jessie graduated from Webster University with a BA degree and departmental honors in English.

She lives in the St Louis, MO area and spends as much time as she can camping and watching the barges on the river.

Website / Amazon / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links:

TRADE PAPER EDITION:

Amazon: US / CA / UK / FR / DE

E-BOOK EDITION:

Amazon: US / UK / CA / AU / FR / DE

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.

The more you comment, the more chances to win!

~~~~~

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

Reviewing Hounded #1 and #2 by Ellie Douglas ~ Zombie Dogs and a Giveaway

Posted: July 25, 2017 in apocalypse, giveaways, horror, reviews, Zombies
Tags: Ellie Douglas, giveaway, Horror, Hounded #1 and #2, review

Who let the dogs out? I had to say that. LOL There be zombie dogs roaming the streets. It’s awesome. It’s horrific.

Check out Hounded and Hounded 2 by Ellie Douglas.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Hounded

by Ellie Douglas

Genre: Horror, Post-Apocalypse

My Review

It happens fast, with scarcely any warning. Man’s best friend changed. They’re no longer a loving pet. Now they’re dead and deadly. And humans are their favorite meal.

I do love a good zombie story, and dogs, how exciting. Never read about zombie dogs before. Zombie sharks, yes.

My favorite part in plots like this are the group dynamics. In Hounded you have Cal and his family, trying to fight off the zombie dogs and stay alive. When the daughter gets ill, they recognize the symptoms they’d been hearing about and rush her to the hospital. There, she falls into a coma, and they can’t leave. Wouldn’t be safe to do so anyway. The dogs are determined, and it’s probably only a matter of time before the hospital is overrun too.

Cal’s worries about the fate of his twin brother, Bellamy, lead him to do some stupid things. Others pay the terrible price and now he just wants to get back to the hospital. Will his family still be there? Will they be alive? He rushes to return and find out.

I enjoyed getting stories from Cal and his brother, Bellamy. Both of them are determined to find each other and both are fighting so many obstacles. It’s nerve wracking to turn the page and see what awful fate might await them. Hey, it’s zombie dogs and anyone is fair game.

Some of the things the character’s do had me snorting in derision. Why do they do that? Haven’t they watched the movies? Don’t they know the rules? Some of you may be thinking, nope, don’t want that. But, humans are flawed, we do dumb things. Only recognizing it later. The mistakes make this an edgy page turner.

Lots of gore, I mean lots. Just to warn you. Zombie fans should try this series. It’ll feed your craving and keep you on edge to the bitter end.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

When Calloway Foster woke up that morning, he never expected it to be a deathblow to life on earth.

Nothing can prepare him for one of the world’s most loved species to turn into the undead. Four-legged zombies now run rampant-hungry and intelligent, they are merciless to those still struggling to survive.

Follow Cal on a turbulent journey filled with horrific loss, new love, and unbelievably terrifying events.

Will he find his twin brother in time? Can he keep his family safe?

A terrifying surprise twist will test the survivors to the brink of humanity’s very existence.

Previously published as Zombie dogs SB-16

Goodreads * Amazon

~~~~~

Hounded 2

My Review

I really enjoyed the first book and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. And I like reading Bellamy’s point of view. He’s still trying to find his twin brother, Cal, and things are more deadly than ever. It’s not just zombie dogs out there anymore. Something just as dangerous is prowling, wanting to feed. Who finds who and who survives or dies is anybodies guess as the group tries to find a safe haven with the odds stacked against them.

I’m happy to tell you this is every bit as good as the first book. The hits just keep on coming. I’ve become quite attached to many of these characters too, and that worries me. Nobody holds the golden ticket for survival.

Another action packed, zombie bash. Be prepared. The author makes it a gore fest that’ll have you cringing, trying NOT to picture the scenes. There’s more than one kind of zombie and this should please all the fans out there.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Bellamy Foster leads his group of survivors on a perilous journey. Not only must he find a sanctuary for them all, but he is also on a quest to find his twin brother, Calloway.

Currently being stalked by raging, hungry, vicious zombie dogs, they become aware of a new, more sinister, threat. The infected SB-16 coma patients are now becoming vile, ravenous, and monstrous human zombies.

Will the survivors find a new sanctuary in time to save themselves and what remains of the shattered world around them?

Hounded 2 is an explicit horror – full of spattered slaughter, love and loss, fast-moving action, and a maze of unexpected destruction, that is sure to keep you turning pages late into the night. In this, her second novel, Ellie Douglas proves there’s plenty of rot to ooze out of the zombie genre.

Previously published as Zombie dogs SB-16 Book 2

Goodreads * Amazon

~~~~~

Author Ellie Douglas

I’m Ellie Douglas, and like you, I love horror, everything about horror, the goriest and most gruesome of horrors is the ultimate. I can’t get enough. So much so that I write horror. That need to be graphic, and explicit with my horror scenes makes me stand out. I give what I want to read to others, so now they can enjoy a true horror story.

I’m not all about just being graphic, I also build characters that the readers will love and or hate, so they can feel pulled right inside of the story that they are reading. It gives me so much enjoyment when I hear remarks like, ‘You made me want to puke,’ ‘I have nightmares every damned night –thanks,’ and ‘Quentin Tarantino and Steven King made a baby, YOU!’ when I hear comments like that, I know then I’ve succeeded, that also pushes me into writing more and becoming even better.

I’m fun loving, generous and very mysterious. I enjoy spending time with my family, and have four children to keep the horror writing alive. I enjoy helping others and volunteer my services to help Autistic children, I love cosplay and the chance to dress up as a monster, zombie or some other gritty character is fun, oh so much fun.

I love summer, and well…I hate winter. I live in New Zealand and feel often too far away from all the cool stuff going on in the world. I love helping people all the time. I’ve got my hands dipped in a few things, I write books, but I also make professional book covers for other authors, I also create adult coloring books and I have a gambling app that I designed on the apple store I’ve always got a project going, be it writing or creating, that is who I am and I love it

My ultimate aim is to give back, paying it forward, to constantly better myself and give the audience amazing stories. Let me scare you…

Website * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Pinterest * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Follow the tour HERE.

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

What’s Your Phobia? Fear Inducer ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: July 21, 2017 in horror, reviews, thriller, Trailer
Tags: Author Ellie Douglas, Fear Insducer, giveaway, phobias, psychological thriller/horror, review

Fear Inducer

by Ellie Douglas

Genre: Psychological Thriller

They believed their phobias were just nightmares…

They believed Dr Felix Bloom would cure them.

They were…SO WRONG!

“Doctor Felix Bloom is a brilliant psychiatrist and pharmacologist who has
done a lot of good for humanity. But, he has a dark side as a serial
killer of some of his patients using their phobias against them. How
he gets his patients to kill themselves in some bizarre fashions
satiating his greed for death and mayhem you will have to discover.
But, nonetheless, if you love horror, you will love Dr. Bloom’s
methods and madness. Yes, he is as composed as they come, but maybe
more evil than most. He’s charming, considerate with his secretary,
Joanna, and his best friend, a doctor. But, beneath the elegant
exterior rages the thirst for blood as a serial killer.

Without going into the gory details or the method of Dr. Bloom, his patient’s
deaths are spectacularly staged (and gory) and witnessed by the good
doctor. The author does a great job telling why Dr. Bloom is a serial
killer and it may make you feel some empathy for the man. But, that
is a whole chapter worth exploring on your own. I was pleasantly
surprised at the intricate detail of the mind of Dr. Bloom. He’s
smart. Incredibly smart. The book is definitely worth your time. It
has everything a chilling horror novel should have. I would be remiss
if I didn’t mention the author’s other book about a serial killer
named Toxic Desire, which features a female serial killer. Who’s more
evil? Dr. Bloom by far. Why? I won’t spoil the novel for you. Fear
Inducer is more malevolent while Toxic Desire is erotically-charged.
Also, look for the subtlty in Doctor Bloom over the novel. He has a
lot of secrets worth discovering. Excellent book and a welcome
addition to my bookshelf.

P.S. – I forgot something. There are loads if images in the book at the
front of each chapter based on the fear the patient has. Really cool
visuals to put you in the mood for what you are about to read.
“

-from Amazon reviewer Cameron Rowe

Goodr eads * Amazon

My Review

Who knew there were so many phobias. Some of the ones I ran into in this book were so out there. I want to say they were absurd, but I doubt the people who suffered them felt that way.

He’s the smartest man in the world and he’s not that way by accident. And there are side affects to that tampering. He’s got a dark side. One where he gets enormous satisfaction from killing. Killing a lot. Dr. Felix Bloom is a very bad boy. Supposed to help people with their phobias, he instead uses those fears against them, forcing them to kill themselves while he watches. The more he kills, the more he needs to kill. It’s a deadly cycle and he doesn’t mind doing it.

What a sick twist. And such gory deaths. The doctor comes up with some grotesque ways to get his patients to kill themselves. Are you afraid of snakes? How about clowns? Yeah, a lot of us don’t like those.

I really enjoyed the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. They start with a new patient and represent their particular phobia. The one for spiders will creep you out. As will some others. And the author was very creative with the illustration for a fear of the dark. LOL You’ll “see” what I mean.

If you like some gore and lots of killer scenes, you’ll want to grab this book. There’s enough to satisfy all your needs. Just ask the doctor. He’ll cure what ails ya.

4 Stars

I’m Ellie Douglas, and like you, I love horror, everything about horror,
the goriest and most gruesome of horrors is the ultimate. I can’t
get enough. So much so that I write horror. That need to be graphic,
and explicit with my horror scenes makes me stand out. I give what I
want to read to others, so now they can enjoy a true horror
story.

I’m not all about just being graphic, I also build characters that the
readers will love and or hate, so they can feel pulled right inside
of the story that they are reading. It gives me so much enjoyment
when I hear remarks like, ‘You made me want to puke,’ ‘I have
nightmares every damned night –thanks,’ and ‘Quentin Tarantino
and Steven King made a baby, YOU!’ when I hear comments like that,
I know then I’ve succeeded, that also pushes me into writing more
and becoming even better.

I’m fun loving, generous and very mysterious. I enjoy spending time with
my family, and have four children to keep the horror writing alive. I
enjoy helping others and volunteer my services to help Autistic
children, I love cosplay and the chance to dress up as a monster,
zombie or some other gritty character is fun, oh so much fun.

I love summer, and well…I hate winter. I live in New Zealand and feel
often too far away from all the cool stuff going on in the world. I
love helping people all the time. I’ve got my hands dipped in a few
things, I write books, but I also make professional book covers for
other authors, I also create adult coloring books and I have a
gambling app that I designed on the apple store 🙂 I’ve always got
a project going, be it writing or creating, that is who I am and I
love it 🙂

My ultimate aim is to give back, paying it forward, to constantly better
myself and give the audience amazing stories. Let me scare you…

Website * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Pinterest * Instagram
* Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE!

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

Somebody should……… Tell On You ~ Reviewing Freda Hansburg’s New Thriller

Posted: July 20, 2017 in reviews, thriller
Tags: Author Freda Hansburg, review, Tell On You, thriller

Title: TELL ON YOU
Author: Freda Hansburg
Publisher: Micro Publishing Media
Pages: 248
Genre: Thriller

My Review

I knew going in this would be a twisted emotional read, and it was. When will adults ever learn? And it shouldn’t surprise me how distorted teenage girls can become with all of that angst building up inside them.

Jeremy Bates is a popular teacher in a private school. His class is exciting and innovative. So it’s no surprise that some of the girls develop a crush on him. One girl in particular, Nikki Jordan, sets her sights on him and the repercussions are enormous.

Reading about how Jeremy struggled with and justified his actions had me squirming. The author made it believable and, as we’ve read in the headlines, it’s actually happened all too many times. I wanted to beat him over the head with a baseball bat. What was he thinking. By the end of the book I didn’t feel any different for him, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.

And Nikki. Sheesh, what a mess. Her poor mother. She needed to rein her in. Easier said then done, I know. This girl has such a warped idea of how things should be. She’s totally self-absorbed and has a one track mind. For those that get in her way, it’s a train wreck waiting to happen.

Even though I’ve read other books with a similar plot, along with some movies. this came across as fresh. It brings out all of those feels and has a killer ending. Well worth your time.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Tell on You is a psychological suspense novel that best fits within the Gone Girl-inspired niche genre of “grip lit.” Jeremy Barrett’s obsessive love equals that of Jay Gatsby for Daisy Buchanan, as life imitates art in his private school English class. But his angst-driven infatuation brings dire consequences as he is drawn into the machinations of his disturbed 16-year-old student Nikki Jordan, whose bad intentions rival those of her teacher. A fast-paced, drama-filled tale, Tell on You reminds readers about the wildness and trauma of adolescence—and the self-defeating behaviors to which adults resort in times of stress. From gaslighting to vicious bullying, poisonous family privilege to the loss of a parent—Freda Hansburg draws on her experience as a clinical psychologist to explore the depths of each dark situation in Tell on You.

Purchase on Amazon

~~~~~

Enjoy the excerpt

“OWW!!” EIGHT-YEAR OLD Brandon Jordan screeched as his sister Nikki twisted his arm in an Indian burn. “Nikki, stop!”

His cries brought Mom crashing into Nikki’s room. “Nikki, I won’t have you bullying your brother again. Let him go this instant.”

“But I caught him in here messing with my stuff!” Nikki gave Brandon’s arm a final wrench before releasing him. Pouting, he scurried from her room.

“I don’t care what he did. I told you, keep your hands to yourself.” Her mother turned away, judgment delivered.

Probably in a hurry to get back to her vodka and reality TV. “At least when Dad was here, somebody stuck up for me,” Nikki called after her.

Mom’s angry face reappeared. “Stuck up for you?” A bitter laugh. “Stuck it to you, and all of us, is more like it.”

“Wasn’t me he left,” Nikki said.

“Really? When’s the last time he even phoned you?” Her mother walked off with that parting shot.

“Like you’d know, bitch.” Nikki said it under her breath, but not under enough.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Mom stormed back into the room, got right up in Nikki’s face, breath boozy. “You’re grounded for the next three days, kiddo. Give me your car keys, right now.”

“Maa!” Nikki protested. “How will I get to school?”

Her mother held out her hand for the keys. “Get up an hour early and I’ll drop you on the way to work.”

“No way!” Nikki fished the keys from her bag and dropped them into her mother’s open palm.

“Then walk.” Her mom headed out of the room, turning back for one last jab. “Or call your father.”

This time Nikki closed the bedroom door before cursing her out. Walking to school sucked, and tomorrow’s weather forecast called for cold. Call your father. Very funny. Dad lived in Austin now. But it gave her an idea.

Nikki picked up her phone to make the call, rehearsing the pitch in her mind. I’m so lonely, Mr. B. I’m taking care of my brother again because my mom went out. And she forgot we were supposed to take my car in for a new battery. And I was wishing…I know I shouldn’t ask you…but if you met me and gave me a ride to school tomorrow, I’d get to see you. You wouldn’t have to take me right to school, just drop me nearby.

She’d sell it to him. And after that, she’d see about getting even with her mother and brother. Maybe steal Brandon’s Game Boy batteries and hide them. And see how much distilled white vinegar she could add to Mom’s vodka bottle before the bitch actually noticed. Nobody, but nobody, got to score the winning point against Nikki Jordan.

~~~~~

Meet Author Freda Hansburg

Freda Hansburg

Freda Hansburg is a psychologist and Tell On You is her debut trade thriller. She self-published the suspense novel Shrink Rapt and co-authored two self-help books, PeopleSmart – a best-seller translated into ten languages – and Working PeopleSmart. Freda lives in the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she is working on her next novel and her Pickleball game.

Her latest book is the thriller, Tell On You.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Blog Tour Organised by:

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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

What A Blast! Tales From Harborsmouth by E.J. Stevens ~ Review and GIveaway

Posted: July 12, 2017 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: E.J. Stevens, giveaway, Ivy Granger, Paranormal/Fantasy, review, Tales From Harborsmouth

Happy book birthday, Tales from Harborsmouth! We’re celebrating the new Ivy Granger Psychic Detective book release with a party and a giveaway. Keep reading for a chance to win an Ivy Granger Prize Pack,
including a flashlight keychain, button, glow-in-the-dark fangs, and a
collectible Passport to Ivy Granger booklet signed by the author.

Let’s party!

Tales from Harborsmouth Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective Urban Fantasy Collection

Tales from Harborsmouth (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #0.5,
#1.5, #2.5, #5.5) by E.J. Stevens.

My Review

I’ve been wanting to read this series and what better way to discover more about the characters than to read this collection.

Ivy Granger, a psychic detective with some Fae in her blood line, is one tough lady, and that’s without special training and weapons. She’s smart, snarky, and you don’t want to be on her bad side. And if she doesn’t set you straight the first attempt, her friend and sidekick, Jinx, will take out the trash.

These short stories were just what I needed to get me started on the series. What’s not to love. Paranormal Detectives, loony vampires, a sexy demon that sizzles, trolls, werecats, and so much more.

I have to say my favorite was Club Nexus. It’s comprised of Iced, Dusted, Jinxed and Demonized. It’s a particularly nasty case and you get each of the four character’s views on how it all went down. Bloody mayhem, death, and that sexy demon I mentioned earlier made these wickedly delicious for me.

Haven’t met Ivy Granger and her pals yet? Give this a go. You’ll be glad you did.

4 Stars

In Tales from Harborsmouth, readers get to delve deeper into
the award-winning world of Ivy Granger.

Ivy Granger is a psychic detective with ties to Harborsmouth’s
paranormal underworld. Too bad those ties tend to ensnare Ivy and
her friend Jinx in the Machiavellian schemes of the city’s teeming
population of bloodsucking vampires and psychotic faeries.

Tales from Harborsmouth is the first time the Ivy Granger
novellas are together in one collection and features two exclusive
short stories the series prequel Frostbite and the newest
Ivy Granger tale Thrill on Joysen Hill.

Featured in this collection:
• FROSTBITE (Ivy Granger #0.5)
• BLOOD AND MISTLETOE (Ivy Granger #1.5)
• CLUB NEXUS (Ivy Granger #2.5)
• THRILL ON JOYSEN HILL (Ivy Granger #5.5)

Genre: Paranormal Mystery, Supernatural Suspense, Urban Fantasy
Release Date: July 11, 2017

Add to my Goodreads TBR List.

Start Reading Tales from Harborsmouth

Amazon | Amazon UK | Kobo | B+N | iTunes

We’re giving away fun swag prizes, but first, grab a cupcake and check out these teasers.

Tales from Harborsmouth Teasers

A detective’s job is to take note of the little things, the small
details that can break a case wide open, but having anthropomorphic
snot treat you like you smelled worse than a troll fart could give a
girl a complex.
—Ivy Granger, Frostbite

If a faerie, a vampire, and a demon walk into a bar, you wait for
the punch line. At Private Eye, when a faerie, a vampire, and a
demon walk through the door, it’s just another day at the office.
—Ivy Granger, Blood and Mistletoe

Of all the nightclubs, in all the cities, in all the world, the
freakin’ demon had to walk into Club Nexus.
—Jinx, Club Nexus – Jinxed

I’d seen a lot in my nine lives, but nothing so strange as Ratfink’s
Family Fun Palace and its tone-deaf taxidermied talent.
—Torn, Thrill on Joysen Hill

Want to read more books in this series? You’re in luck.

Books in this Series

Shadow Sight

Ghost Light

Burning Bright

Birthright

Hound’s Bite

Want to win fabulous swag? We’ve got you covered.

Tales from Harborsmouth Swag Giveaway

We are giving away an Ivy Granger Prize Pack,
including:

     • Ivy Granger Flashlight Keychain
     • Ivy Granger “Private Eye” Button
     • Glow-in-the-Dark Fangs
     • Passport to Ivy Granger *signed*

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends July 26, 2017 midnight EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

It was anything but…… Harmless ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: July 10, 2017 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, thriller
Tags: Author Katherine Dell, giveaway, Harmless, paranormal thriller, review

Harmless
by Katherine Dell
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
.

My Review

As much a sprititual journey as a thriller, Harmless intrigued me. A family tragedy sent Rachel spiraling out of control. She hopes the move to Hazelton will help her find closure and maybe find herself again.

When an innocent game between Rachel and her new friends releases a Wendigo, what they thought was a genie in a bottle turns out to be a dangerous path as they make their wishes to the mythical being.

I thought this was going to be a horror story. Mind you, it does kind of go there, but the psychological aspect makes it more of a thriller. Strange animal deaths and sightings build a disquieting atmosphere and the author’s twist on the Wendigo spirit kept the story moving forward and made this a much deeper read than I expected.

According to the legend, a price must be paid to rid the town of the Wendigo. A huge one. Wondering who would pay that price added to the suspense and made the ending, though a cliff hanger, a fun surprise.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Be careful what you wish for.

After moving from Vancouver to isolated Hazelton, BC, high school senior Rachel Barnes hopes she’ll finally find closure and a sense of direction after tragedy has torn her family apart. When she and her friends discover the old spirit box her grandmother gave her, they see it as a chance to wish their troubles away. But the Great Spirits—deer, crow, bear, and the mythical wendigo—give away nothing for free.

So instead of worrying about fitting in and finding a boyfriend, Rachel finds herself in a race to control the malevolent spirit who’s taken up residence in Mason Allen, who she fears and craves in equal measure. What began as a harmless game forces Rachel to confront her past—and offers her a future she never imagined.

Step into a reality that is not as it seems in Book 1 of the Harmless series.

Goodreads * Amazon

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About the Author

Katherine Dell is a young adult fiction author fascinated by the supernatural and the stories that surround them. She began her writing endeavours in 2011 when she wanted to reinvent herself from her previous career as an event planner. When she’s not writing, she can be found in cold hockey arenas sipping coffee, working on her tan at little league games, or trying to keep her dog out of her many gardens. She lives with her husband, two boys, and fur babies, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

Saturday Screams #35 ~ Over Your Dead Body and Nothing Left To Lose

Posted: July 8, 2017 in audible, horror, reviews
Tags: audible, Dan Wells, Horror, John Wayne Cleaver Series, review

Welcome to my Saturday Screams.

I’ve got two more to share from the John Cleaver Series by Dan Wells.

These are the fifth and the sixth and final books in a “killer” series.

~~~~~

TITLE: Over Your Dead Body: John Cleaver #5

AUTHOR: Dan Wells

NARRATOR: Kirby Heyborne

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: May 3, 2016

FORMAT: Unabridged Audiobook

LENGTH: 10 hrs.

GENRE: Horror

My Review

Having so much action in the previous books, some might think this one falls flat. Maybe it takes some time for things to get hairy, but while you’re waiting, you get even deeper into John’s psyche. Still a budding sociopath, John is more focused on killing the Withered than his own needs. Until a clever killer steals John’s thoughts of people he wants to kill and how he wants to kill them, and copies it in real life. It’s like he’s stealing a part of John. And its a clever way to caste suspicion on him too.

John and Brook thumb rides from town to town, aimlessly seeking Withered to kill. This is where I said it might seem flat. Don’t bet on it. Dan Wells once again adds a wicked twist when Brook appears to be possessed by the only person John has ever loved. How heart wrenching. I’ve always wanted John to become more human. To feel anything. And for him to be confronted with this situation really punched me in the heart.

There’s some new monsters and plenty more violence and blood shed. A must for me. And with only one more story left in the series, I’m wondering if I’ll get what I’ve been wanting out of it. And if I do, will it be believable. One way or the other, I’m anticipating finding out.

5 Stars

Narrator Kirby Heyborne

Having Kirby continue this series is a wise choice. He’s kept me enthralled in the stories and I’ll be watching for further books he’s read.

~~~~~

Thanks so much to Tantor Audio and the author for the complimentary copy.

My review is voluntarily given.

~~~~~

Synopsis

John and Brooke are on their own, hitchhiking from town to town as they hunt the last of the Withered through the Midwest—but the Withered are hunting them back, and the FBI is close behind. With each new town, each new truck stop, each new highway, they get closer to a vicious killer who defies every principle of profiling and prediction John knows how to use, and meanwhile Brooke’s fractured psyche teeters on the edge of oblivion, overwhelmed by the hundreds of thousands of dead personalities sharing her mind. She flips in and out of lucidity, manifesting new names and thoughts and memories every day, until at last the one personality pops up that John never expected and has no idea how to deal with: the last of Nobody’s victims, trapped forever in the body of his last remaining friend.

Amazon / Tantor

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TITLE: Nothing Left To Lose: John Cleaver #6

AUTHOR: Dan Wells

NARRATOR: Kirby Heyborne

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: June 27, 2017

FORMAT: Unabridged Audiobook

LENGTH: 7 hrs. and 23 mins.

GENRE: Horror

My Review

Another thrilling installment in the series. I go into each story hoping for more intrigue, complexity and angst and Dan Wells doesn’t disappoint.

John still battles his urges as he continues to hunt down the Withered. In each book I learn more about these monsters and what drives them. Terrifying they may be, but you’re given insight into their side of the story, which left me feeling conflicted about them, kind of.

The authors choice to tell this in first person POV from John’s perspective was a wise one. He keeps evolving, growing mentally stronger but still needing some releases for his dark urges. As a budding serial killer who has rules to keep him from killing the innocent, I find him one of the most compelling characters I’ve come across.

There’s an interesting twist that makes for an edgy read. And it’s a gut wrenching finale in the last third of the book as good and bad become entwined in a fight to survive. I wish I could tell you the last scene of the book. All I could think was, it’s about time.

5 Stars

Narrator Kirby Heyborne

Kirby hits it out of the park. His narration keeps the suspense at a boiling point and his inflection is perfectly timed. Well done.

~~~~~

Thanks so much to Tantor Audio and the author for the complimentary copy.

My review is voluntarily given.

~~~~~

Synopsis

Hi. My name is John Cleaver, and I hunt monsters. I used to do it alone, and then for a while I did it with a team of government specialists, and then the monsters found us and killed almost everyone, and now I hunt them alone again.

This is my story.

In this thrilling installment in the John Wayne Cleaver series, Dan Wells brings his beloved antihero into a final confrontation with the Withered. Nothing Left to Lose is a conclusion that is both completely compelling and completely unexpected

Amazon / Tantor

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I’ve listened to and reviewed all of the previous five books in this series.

Click on the covers for my reviews.

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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

Tag Team Review and Giveaway ~ Dinosaur Lake IV by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Posted: June 28, 2017 in giveaways, horror, reviews, suspense
Tags: Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Dinosaur Lake IV, giveaway, Horror, review, suspense, tag team event

dinosaur lake IV

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 Dinosaur Lake IV.

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

This series is dino chompin fun. And I have some exciting news. If you haven’t started this series yet, you can get the first book free on Amazon. Just click on the cover below to get your copy!

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Dinosaur Lake IV

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Genre: Horror / Suspense

My Review

For those of you who love dinosaurs, especially the ones that eat you, you’re gonna want this book and this series.

It began with just one dinosaur, eating it’s way through Crater Lake National Park and the town of Klamath Falls. Those who survived thought it was over. But not too long after, different ones come, and the dying begins again.

It’s been seven years since it all began and the dinosaurs are winning.

I’d been waiting for this final book in the Dinosaur Lake series and ate it up faster than the killer dinosaurs ate man. You’re dropped right smack in the thick of things. Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore and his wife, along with several others, are trapped in a ranger station. They do their best to make it impregnable, but the creatures are cunning, hungry, and dead set on getting in. Their hope lies in the expertise of paleontologist Doctor Justin Maltin, Henry’s son-in-law. Can he find a way to send the dinosaurs back to extinction? And who will be left?

Having read the other books, I knew Kathryn didn’t spare any of her character’s. Many that I was fond of didn’t make it this far. And of those who did, I don’t doubt some will also fall to the creatures.

As the dinosaurs do their thing, you don’t get much down time between the savage attacks and it’s a toss up who will win, man or beast. Kathryn gets very creative with her monsters. They aren’t like what you expect. They’re worse. And I loved them!

This isn’t just occurring in the park and surrounding towns. It’s happening all over the world. Think Jurasic Park on steroids. Is this The End? I believe it’s the end of this series. But I can see so many ways the author can take this further. Grab the series and find out.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

For seven long years Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore has been dealing with and fighting anachronistic dinosaurs in his beloved Crater Lake National Park and in the surrounding town of Klamath Falls. It began with one lone leviathan, the one he tongue-in-cheek called Godzilla. Henry and his band of heroes defeated it but others followed: the flying varieties he named gargoyles, the mutant T-Rexes and roaming velociraptors that were so much smarter than their ancient ancestors. He, his rangers and the National Guard soldiers, fought all of them, but still the dinosaurs, cunningly destructive and blood-thirsty, kept coming. No one knew where they came from or what the future would now hold for a besieged humanity, they only knew the monsters were spreading like a voracious wildfire and had to be stopped before they ravaged the world. Eventually, he and his wife, Ann, their family and friends, retreated into a fortified ranger headquarters where they continued to battle the proliferating dinosaurs. Will Henry’s son-in-law, Doctor Justin Maltin, a brilliant paleontologist, find a way to exterminate the creatures and save them…save the world? And, more importantly, would he be able to do it in time? Dinosaur Lake IV Dinosaur Wars is the fourth and final book of the Dinosaur Lake series.

Purchase on Amazon

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Dinosaur Lake Series Banner_fullres

About the Author

About Kathryn Meyer Griffith…look for all my NEW covers! on my older books.

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-four years ago now, and have had twenty-three (ten romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance, two thrillers, and four murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last ten novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my Dinosaur Lake novels and Spookie Town Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away and Ghosts Beneath Us) are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-seven years; have a son and two grandchildren and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. 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 Forge, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Horror category), Witches, The Nameless One 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), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, Before the End: A Time of Demons, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Four Spooky Short Stories Collection, Forever and Always Romantic Short, Night carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising and Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation

Author Links

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

Smashword / Pinterest

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GIVEAWAY

Three winners!

Up for grabs:

Three winners will receive an eBook copy in mobi, ePub, or PDF format.

(Winner’s choice)

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

“What weapon would you use to take down a deadly dinosaur?”

Giveaway ends July 11th.