Posts Tagged ‘Supernatural’

The Kid’s Korner #35 ~ Spooky Twisties III

Posted: March 13, 2019 in horror, middle grade, reviews, Supernatural
Tags: , , ,
10

Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.

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

Today I’m sharing another spooky fun children’s book by Author Terri Bertha!

~~~~~

Spooky Twisties III

13 Tales Of Terror

by Terri Bertha

41721478

Genre: Middle Grade / YA / Supernatural

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

Having read and enjoyed the first two books in the series, I was expecting more spooky fun as I ventured once more into a town of supernatural occurrences with a group of stalwart friends.

Terri had a great idea when she interconnected the stories in her books. The tales are all different, but the outcome and events leading up to them are intertwined throughout.

I prowled the library when I was young, looking for books like this. I still do as an adult and get just as much hair raising enjoyment out of them.

Terri brings on the eerie without being too scary and surprises you around every corner. These tales are spooky twistie indeed and a whole lot of fun.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

Spooky Spine-Chilling Tales for Children/Teenagers

Spooky Twisties III is the third book in the series offering 13 interconnected short stories for middle grade readers (9 and above). These short, scary, spine-chilling, yet humorous tales, are recommended for children/teenagers and all young readers who enjoy R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps. The quick, fun reads find a group of friends encountering the creepy and supernatural in their hometown which has become a magnet for the strange and paranormal.

House of Puzzles: Will Chris and Nick be able to solve the puzzles to save their lives?

The Best Book Ever: Can a school book report prove to uncover a little too much for one student?

Pretty Voodoo Doll: What will one of the girls resort to in order to make the cheerleading squad?

A Needed Friend: Why does the mysterious boy seem to be drawn to the girl who visits the graveyard?

Ghost Catcher: Lindsay meets a woman with some amazing abilities at the old-age home. Can you catch a ghost?

Saving Cardinals: Does Amy’s love of birds and animals prove to be a life-saver?

Two Bloke Boys: Will Nick and Chris find gold at the end of the rainbow?

Candle Sense: A thoughtful gift provides a haunting experience.

Would You Believe?: The science fair and a revolution. Seriously, that’s why I didn’t turn in my homework.

Dronepocalypse: Buuuzzzz… did you hear that?

The Promenade: A trip to the historical museum and an old photo help solve the question of how to ask a girl to the spring dance.

Dire-Rama: WOW! That model looks so real!

Hello Me, It’s Me Again: Will an unexpected family reunion finally put things to rest?

The hidden references in these short ‘horror’ stories foreshadow future encounters and/or connect back to events of previous stories, and the twists in the story endings make reading the tales even more fun for ages 9 and above.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

Click on the covers for my reviews of Spooky Twisties I & II

38493491  38349097

~~~~~

Author Terra Bertha

Terri Bertha

 

Terri Bertha is author of the Spooky Twisties Series for Middle Grade/YA. Each book consists of thirteen interconnected stories which follow a group of friends as they navigate their way through supernatural events in an idyllic community during the course of a ‘normal’ day. A mix of horror, humor and ‘twisted endings’ make for fun and entertaining reading.

Terri has lived her entire life in the rolling hills and three rivers of western Pennsylvania and the majority of her working years as a Systems Engineer for a large corporation. When her sons were born, she took a hiatus from work, and tutored math and reading while being a substitute teacher in local schools. She returned to the workforce and retired a few years ago.

Besides writing, Terri enjoys watercolor painting, sketching, puzzles, exercising, and golf.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Tour and Giveaway ~ Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers

Posted: February 16, 2019 in giveaways, Supernatural, thriller, urban fantasy
Tags: , , ,
14
 .
.
The Order of St. Michael
Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 1
by JB Michaels
Genre: Supernatural Suspense, Urban Fantasy 
 
What do you get when you pair a smart-mouthed geek with a fake English
accent and a disciplined, headstrong woman with incredible powers?
Meet Bud Hutchins, a socially awkward super genius who talks too much and
can’t get out of his own way. Will he heed the call to join the
Order and save humanity?
Eh, maybe.
Meet Maeve, a beautiful young woman who happens to be a monk of an ancient
Order tasked with keeping evil spirits at bay and saving Bud Hutchins from himself.
She rolls her eyes. Alot.
In this globe-trotting, action-packed supernatural thriller, our heroes
fight to contain an ancient evil that calls from beyond.
It’s time for you to join the Order. Battle monsters. Avenge the dead and
save the natural world from supernatural destruction.
 
 .
bud excerpt
.
“Check the desk for more shells.”
Bud walked to the mahogany desk. On the floor behind the desk was a dead man with a box of shotgun shells spilled next to him. The man looked emaciated not from decay but from starvation. Bud collected the shotgun shells, placed them in the box, and stood ready to provide ammo.
“Don’t just stand there. Let’s move the desk to the door so we can slow them some more!” Maeve grabbed an end of the desk. Bud shut the door and grabbed the other side of the desk.
“How long do you think this desk will hold them off?”
“Not very long at all. That is why I have the shotgun.”
Bud handed her two shells when the first thump on the door rattled the bookshelves of the old library. Bud’s heartbeat quickened.
THUMP. The second pound knocked some books off the shelves. The dust billowed as the books hit the hardwood floor.
“Is the gun even operational?”
Maeve loaded two shells into the double barrel and waited.
THUMP. The third impact showed a crack in the door.
“How, might I inquire, did you learn how to load, handle, and presumably shoot a gun that size?” Bud asked.
“My uncle took me hunting.” Maeve lifted the shotgun to shoulder height.
A crack in the door grew larger with each successive pounding. The undead soldiers were relentless. Bud and Maeve couldn’t tell if the audible cracking was wood or frail bones. The space in the door spread into a fissure. A deathly arm burst through. Another arm pulled at the opening and the fissure grew into a chasm.
Maeve readied the shotgun.
“You are planning to use the shotgun?” Bud asked.
BOOM. Maeve squeezed off the first shot. Three undead soldier’s heads blew off their shoulders. Bone splinters and rotted flesh sprayed the doorway.
The second line moved forward with many more intact heads and shoulders. One soldier’s eye dangled from his skull. Another’s jaw detached and fell to the ground.
BOOM.
Another shot rattled Bud’s ears. Maeve stood three feet behind the blockade desk calm as can be. She put her hand toward Bud for more shells which he happily provided. The second shell had blown back three more soldiers.
.
.
The Elixir
Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 2
 
How far would you go to save a friend?
From award-winning author JB Michaels, author of The Order of St. Michael
and the award-winning Tannenbaum Tailors series
Join Bud Hutchins in an action-packed urban fantasy set in Chicago, home
to the world’s most notorious urban legends. A murder rocks Chicago
Metro University. Maeve, a monk of the Order of St. Michael, faces
possible annihilation. A poltergeist wreaks havoc across the city.
With the help of the brilliant Ivy, a doctoral candidate, Bud will
need to employ science and the supernatural in his most harrowing
adventure yet, The Elixir: A Bud Hutchins Thriller.
The Ghost of Capone Mt. Olivet Cemetery, the original resting place of
gangster Al Capone, is disturbed by an ungodly menace.
Resurrection Mary strikes 
The forested roads of Archer Avenue are once again stalked by the deathly
and cunning Resurrection Mary.
Murder, Mayhem, and the Elixir
A beautiful, young teacher’s assistant is murdered over a mysterious
elixir: an ancient concoction that could change history!
From Wrigleyville to the Willis Tower, the Museum of Science and Industry
to Beverly…
…join Bud Hutchins on an epic adventure through Chicago!
The Elixir is ready. Scroll up and grab a copy today.
.
bud excerpt
.
Maeve moved further into the cemetery and ascended the hilltop towards the mausoleums at the crest. There were trees up there. The scent grew stronger. She reached the top of the hill and down the path saw a police squad car. Parked. No lights were on. Maeve quickly dropped on all fours, bounded off the path and used the tombstones for cover as she approached. The squad car’s passenger door and rear passenger side door were open. Maeve stood back up and examined the car closely. There was an unconscious police officer inside, leaning on the passenger door. Another officer’s head rested on the steering wheel. Maeve noticed their sidearms were missing. Normal chatter and codes burst forth from the radio. The rack that usually held a bigger weapon was bent and broken. The shotgun missing.
The source of the odor had to have been here. It was strongest in this area.
A piercing, booming, sound resonated in the cemetery and rattled Maeve’s sensitive ear drums. A bullet smacked up against the front passenger door, which Maeve stood behind. Another shot hit the window. It cracked. Maeve ducked behind the cover of the door. She waited to see if another shot would ring out. Nothing. She surmised that the gunman was near the mausoleum closer to the entrance. She bounded back to the tombstones for cover. Then she saw him–a man dressed in a cream trench coat and a suit that matched the jacket. He wore a fedora cocked to the left. The man’s face bore a large scar. Al Capone had risen from the dead. The notorious world-famous gangster and king of Prohibition lived again.
.
.
 
The Castle
Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Book 3
 

No rest for the wicked they say.

Barely catching their breath, Bud, Ivy, and Maeve find themselves pitted
against the Chicago police, the FBI, and the world’s most powerful
vampire. Will they escape injury-free or will the fangs of doom
pierce their jugular veins?

The answers can only be found in The Castle: A Bud Hutchins Thriller.

The three slayers of the supernatural will face their most formidable
threats, seek solutions to their most important problems, and be
forever changed.

The threats are plenty. The stakes are higher. The tasks nigh impossible.

Time to grab your favorite monster-slaying weapon, raise your torch, and
storm the Castle walls.

 
 .
bud excerpt
.
The candlelight flickered. The soft glow accentuated his finely drawn cheekbones and strong jawline. His blue eyes bore a look of joy in the laughter he shared with his female companion. The brunette with the green eyes and ruby-red lipstick closed her eyes and laughed, nearly spilling the wine from her medieval goblet. Before she stopped giggling and her eyes reopened in recovery of her jovial fit, his brow furrowed. His eyes showed his true condition—a menacing yet brief look, one of lust and of hunger in full and equitable measure. The look vanished. His courtly composure retained.
“Oh, my dear Vincentas, who knew you could be so amusing?”
“Shall I take umbrage with your last statement and just kill you right now?” Vincentas grinned.
Another loud burst of laughter.
The Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t have a higher level of spirits than any other wine he usually picked from his cellar. Still, Vincentas poured more into her goblet. His attempts at humor could land, but usually with a casual, rather weak effect. She acted as if he’d performed a comedy routine for years and had earned his own television show.
“That is enough wine for me, Vincentas. What are you trying to do me?” She leaned over the small table, giving him full view of her cleavage.
“I do nothing that one does not allow amicably.” He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed both of her cheeks then pulled back to survey her reaction.
She stood up from her chair, took another swig from her goblet, walked to his side of the table, and pulled him off his chair. She grasped his shirt collar with both hands and kissed him like a lioness devoured a fresh kill. Her aggression took Vincentas by surprise.
She wasn’t the real monster though.
The candlelight moved violently, then the flames extinguished, and darkness overtook the room.
Vincentas didn’t need the light. His hands caressed her where they had touched many other women in his long life. He loved discovering the slight variations of the female physique. The curves, the hips, the muscles both hard and soft, the flesh. His particular favorite: the length of the neck.
She moaned.
The sensual and soft sounds of sexual assurance turned to a panicked scream.
A loud crash filled the dark room. In the struggle to free herself, she kicked over the dinner table.
“No! No! Please! Plea—” Her voice gargled with blood.
.
.
Greetings!
For the official site of JB Michaels head on over
to http://mistermichaels.com/for two free books!
J. B. Michaels, multi-award winning author and member of the Society of Children’s
Book Writers and Illustrators, has written stories since he was in
fourth grade. He is a history teacher who loves his job.
Married and with a son, Michaels has a great love of family. He has two
series: the Gold and Bronze medal-winning Tannenbaum Tailors and Bud
Hutchins Thrillers.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Teaser Tuesday #250 ~ Blackwell

Posted: January 29, 2019 in Historical, Mystery, Supernatural, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: , , , ,
24

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

Blackwell

A Magnus Blackwell Novel #0.5

by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

32312194

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

Genre: Cozy Mystery

  Teaser from page 63 in the hard cover.

Magnus confronted the stranger’s dark brown eyes. “Thank you, Mr…?”

“Wilde, Oscar Wilde.”

“You must call me Magnus, Oscar. Like you, I am looking for some new experience to distract me….”

“Experience is the name men give to their mistakes.” Oscar returned.

Oscar raised his glass. “Then I am here to, hopefully, make a great many mistakes. ”

~~~~~

Synopsis

Hell has a new master

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

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

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

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

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

 

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

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #22 ~ Through A Mirror, Darkly

Posted: October 22, 2018 in horror, reviews, Supernatural
Tags: , , , ,
14

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

Through A Mirror, Darkly

by Kevin Lucia

Genre:  Horror / Supernatural Thriller Collection

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

I was very happy with these stories. Kevin writes the kind of macabre, eerie and atmospheric horror that I crave.

I would loosely call this a story that embraces four shorter ones. Kevin inherits the Arcane Delights bookstore from his father. After a flood, it’s in need of TLC. In the midst of this work a strange box shows up on his desk. Upon opening it he discovers a journal or diary of sorts, containing four stories that, while separate, also tie into each other and the town.

How Kevin’s story is connected to these entries is very well handled. And the town of Clifton Heights was actually a bit of a story in itself. Which I became to appreciate even more after I finished the book.

Included are  Suffer The Children Come Unto Me, Yellow Cab, Admit One and I Watered It, With Tears. Each of these entries has it’s own atmosphere. Some more macabre than horrific. And I liked all of them, with a couple standing out that extra bit more from the rest.

Reading this straight through worked best for me. I was kept enthralled throughout and it created a bigger picture and more connection for me. Whether you read it in parts are all at once, I’m sure it’ll capture you too.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

Crystal Lake Publishing presents…

Through a Mirror, Darkly is a Supernatural Thriller collection masked as a novel. With elements of mystery, suspense, and otherworldly horror, Through a Mirror, Darkly successfully delves into the worlds of Lovecraft, Grant, and the mysterious Carcosa.

“Arcane Delights. Clifton Heights’ premier rare and used bookstore. In it, new owner Kevin Ellison has inherited far more than a family legacy, for inside are tales that will amaze, astound, thrill…and terrify.

An ancient evil thirsty for lost souls. A very different kind of taxi service with destinations not on any known map. Three coins that grant the bearer’s fondest wish, and a father whose crippling grief gives birth to something dark and hungry.

Every town harbors secrets. Kevin Ellison is about to discover those that lurk in the shadows of Clifton Heights.”

Through a Mirror, Darkly follows on the success of Lucia’s Things Slip Through collection.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Demons For Tea by Kate Morgan ~ A Supernatural Thriller Tour and Giveaway

Posted: September 12, 2018 in giveaways, Supernatural, thriller
Tags: , ,
16
.
Demons for Tea
by Kate Morgan
.
.
Genre: Supernatural Thriller
Publisher: Omnium Gatherum Books
Date of Publication: Sept. 10, 2018
ISBN: 9781949054019; ISBN: 1949054012
Number of pages: 285 / Word Count: 80,000
Cover Artist: Kate Jonez
 .
Tagline: Kicking ass and eating ramen: An exorcist’s life ain’t like the movies.
.
Synopsis
.
Ex-priest Denis Kaine’s surviving on ramen and kicking otherworldly creatures off this planet. It’s all noise to fill his chasm of hate and guilt inside from letting his twin brother blow his brains out because he’d been possessed. Denis should’ve known. He should’ve seen. He should’ve… everything.
His survival techniques are no match for Emma Koroleva, the 1200-year-old entity he freed from imprisonment in Rome. She’s powerful, she’s got major attitude, and she hates ramen.
She changes into various poltergeists and forces Denis to “exorcise” her. Denis gets paid, they eat real food, and she toys with seducing him. Denis starts to think he’s living in the sitcom from hell until he learns his dead brother’s become the plaything of something big, strong, and evil. Screw sitcoms. Denis is about to prove why his rep is legendary in the spirit world.
.
Enjoy this peek inside:
.
Someone knocked at the door.
On a Sunday afternoon? If it was a Girl Scout, she’d be disappointed. My entire liquid
income consisted of the twelve dollars and three quarters in my wallet. I
pulled off the Roman collar, so she wouldn’t get a bad impression of priests in
general and unbolted the door.
It crashed open with a blue-green-flowery gust of wind. I spun around and slammed it shut. My
messenger bag stood ready within arm’s reach on the kitchen table. All I had to
do—
“It is ridiculously cold outside. Where is your fireplace?”
A black-haired woman as tall as—no, taller than me by an inch or two—strode into my living
room and back again.
“Bah. Are you a herder of reindeer that you can stomach this cold without a fire? I am not. I
require heat and coffee and food.”
Her flowered dress looked more suited to August than late March. Her windblown hair reached
below her waist, the fluorescent light striking midnight-blue highlights from
it. The colors of her energy reminded me of something, but I couldn’t place it.
“Look, whoever you are, I didn’t invite you here.” I opened the door, which put me even nearer
to my messenger bag. “Out.”
She laughed.
One beat: I flipped open the front of the messenger bag. Two beats: I snatched the squeeze
bottle I kept holy water in. On the third beat I popped the nozzle and squirted
the perpendicular strokes of a cross at her.
“Merda.” She shivered and vanished.
Whatever she was, she moved faster than most entities. As I repacked the holy water, it hit
me that she’d said “shit” in Italian not like she was angry. More like she was
annoyed because I’d gotten her dress wet.
.
~~~~~
.
 
About Author Kate Morgan:
 
Baker of brownies and tormenter of characters, Kate Morgan celebrates the the day she jumped the wall with as much enthusiasm as her birthday. She grew up watching Hammer horror films and Scooby-Doo mysteries, which explains a whole lot.
When she takes a break from inspiring nightmares, she writes ex-nun PI mysteries under her real name, Alice Loweecey. In her spare time she can be found growing vegetables in her garden and water lilies in her koi pond.
.
(It’s confusing, I know. Facebook wouldn’t let me create an author page under my own name, so I had to use my MC’s name. Branding. It’s so much fun.)
.
~~~~~
.
giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png
.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Wild Spirits Of The Hollow by Lea Ryan ~ Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted: September 4, 2018 in Fantasy, giveaways, Supernatural
Tags: , ,
11
.
Wild Spirits of the Hollow
.
by Lea Ryan
.
Wild Spirits of the Hollow by [Ryan, Lea]
.

Genre: Contemporary fantasy/Supernatural fiction

Publisher: NightLark Publishing

Date of Publication: 08/28/2018

ISBN: 1721041397 / ASIN: B07DN3CH9H

Number of pages: 163 / Word Count: 43000

Cover Artist: RL Bender

An ancient evil is murdering residents in the isolated village of Mistwalk. Can Shannon survive long enough to save them all?

Synopsis

Shannon lies to almost everyone she meets. When she gets lost and winds up trapped in an Appalachian valley village, her lies don’t get her far.

Mistwalk Vale may look like a fairy tale, but nightmares lurk in the shadows.

Villagers are dying grisly deaths, their bodies reduced to bones and left in the streets for their friends and family to find. Worse, some people suspect that Shannon is involved. They accuse her of coming from the tribe of vicious earth witches down in the hollow.

A man named Owen believes Shannon is innocent. He tries to protect her as best he can, but there’s only so much he can do. She feels herself falling for him, despite her plan to leave as soon as she gets an opportunity.

Caught between angry mobs and an ancient darkness, she will be forced to fight for her survival. Can she save herself and the village before evil consumes them all?

.
AMAZON
.
~~~~~
 
 
Excerpt from Chapter 1
.
I stood at the edge of the trees, staring at the light deep within the forest. Between it and
me, a sea of shadow concealed the underbrush and all that lurked there. This
forest, like many other forests, would have its insects, snakes, tangles of
who-knew-what, maybe wildcats or some other thing ready to pounce on and maim
me.
After hours of walking along a secluded, mountain highway, my brain was thoroughly scrambled.
I knew enough to know that, and I knew enough to not fully trust what I was
seeing.
It might be a lie, the light, a mirage conjured by some desperate part of my mind. I’d told
enough lies to others, why not myself?
A fantasy of stumbling upon a cabin with friendly occupants swam through my mind. They’d
have food left over from dinner, a plate they’d be happy to hand over to
someone who really needed it, and I did really need it. Lunch was a distant
memory, as well as the Skittles from my backpack, my bottle of water. If I made
it anywhere alive, I would really have to reevaluate my packing priorities.
I sighed. Unless I wanted to sleep next to the highway, that light was my only hope. I adjusted
my backpack straps and stepped into the trees.
I plodded through the darkness in high tops that weren’t made for terrain any more
intense than a mall floor. I also regretted wearing shorts and a t-shirt
because there was no trail, only weeds and trees and rustling sounds made by
small animals nearby.
All the while, the light in the distance remained bright, burning my eyes, but I kept my
sights on it because that was hope, even if it never seemed to get any closer.
I kept my mind off my creepy surroundings by considering who I would be for the people who
awaited me. Had someone picked me up as I attempted to hitchhike, that lucky
individual would’ve had the opportunity to hang out with a model, who was on
her way to Miami.
Everybody likes to hang out with famous people and people who are about to be famous. I’ve
noticed this before. When I tell them whatever version of the story I’d
concocted for the evening, their eyes would light up as if I had offered to
take them along to fame and fortune.
The model story was my go-to. I was lanky and odd looking in a way that some people found
attractive or interesting, at the very least, plausible model material. This
was not the person I would be in the cabin. I didn’t have the energy to keep up
the behaviors that went along with that lie.
Models didn’t eat substantial food. Models ate iceberg lettuce and drank lemon, cucumber
water. My model did, anyway.
There in the woods with possible food ahead of me, there was no way I could keep that up. I
didn’t care what food someone shoved under my nose. The idea of grilled opossum
made my mouth water. Boiled weeds? Fine. I’d eat anything.

 

I tried to come up with another story, but the most compelling at that moment was my own.
Broken car. Girl wandering the woods in hope of finding food and shelter. I was
filthy and growing filthier by the minute. If I had scissors in my backpack, I
would’ve chopped off at least half of my long, brown hair just to get rid of
the tangles. That evening, I wouldn’t have to fake a look of utter desperation.
So I let the story be what it was.
.
 
About the Author:
.
Lea Ryan is the author of several books and stories. She writes about the strange and the dark, as well as the light and love and strives to immerse readers in vivid fictional worlds. She currently lives in Indiana with assorted family members and various pets. Her website and blog can be found at www.LeaRyan.com.
.
Website and blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
.
~~~~~
.

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Shadow House ~ The Missing ~ Blast and Giveaway

Posted: August 28, 2018 in giveaways, Mystery, Supernatural
Tags: , ,
16

Shadow House Banner

The Missing

Shadow House

by Dan Poblocki

Shadow House cover

Synopsis

Shadow House never sleeps . . . Five children have been lured into Shadow House, all for different reasons. None of them knows the others. And none of them knows what do to when they can’t find a way back out.

But something is different inside the house. Someone – or something – there knows a little bit more than they should. Only how are the kids supposed to decide if that someone is trying to help them . . . or trap them there forever?

Enter Shadow House . . . if you dare. Don’t just read about Shadow House—step inside with the free SHADOW HOUSE app. Each image in the book reveals a haunting in the app, where the choices you make determine your fate. For tablet or phone: scholastic.com/shadowhouse.

 

Praise for THE GATHERING (SHADOW HOUSE, BOOK 1)

“Shadow House has everything I love — strange characters, magic and the supernatural, endless danger and adventure — and a mystery I dare any reader to try to solve.” ―R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps

“Poblocki’s meticulously crafted narrative is chilling . . . A thrill for any reader who knows the only thing more frightening than an unopened door is being locked behind one.” ―Kirkus Reviews

 
Author Dan Poblocki
.
Shadow House author
 

Dan Poblocki is an American author of mystery and horror novels for young people. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island. During his pre-teen years, his family moved to Basking Ridge, New Jersey. His books have been translated into French, Greek, and Polish. Dan currently lives in Kingston, NY with two scaredy cats.

Dan graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in theater. Subsequently, he toured the United States playing ultra-challenging roles such as Ichabod Crane in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Shoemaker in The Shoemaker and the Elves to packed houses filled with literally thousands of screaming children. (He hopes they weren’t screaming in fear.)

Dan ended his promising acting career to focus on other endeavors. While exploring various artistic options, he held a number of jobs in New York City including: a floral groomer, an audience-wrangler for a popular game show, a computer analyst, a chemotherapy-unit assistant, and a traveling bathing suit sales-dude.

That’s right. A traveling bathing suit sales-dude.

Dan now writes full time. He’s probably working on something new this very minute! .

 
PHOTO CREDIT: NIC DESTEFANO   

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

~~~~~

Shadow House give

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Click on the banner to follow the blast.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

My Monday Minis #48 ~ Into The Mist and Manifest Recall

Posted: August 13, 2018 in reviews, Supernatural, thriller
Tags: , ,
8

Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.

Today I’ve got a couple of bloody fun ones!


~~~~~

Into The Mist

by Lee Murray

29562210

Genre:  Horror

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

A hot, steamy jungle. people with their own agenda’s, and something big and ravenous stalking them. Sure does sound fun. And it was.

 The author’s descriptions immediately put me in the jungle with the character’s.  All of them have to deal with the harsh environment. But, that’s not the only problem. Something huge, primordial stalks all of them, and it’s right at home in the jungle. Perfect camouflage until it strikes, leaving not much more than blood splatters to show someone was ever there.

I’m always looking for stories where the character’s have to struggle against the environment as much as the creature stalking them. And I liked the mythical aspect when the local legend comes into play. Made for a deeper, more thrilling reading experience for me.

This would be great to see on the big screen. I’d have to buy the DVD. It’s a keeper.

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

“Cinematic and evocative, Into the Mist is a tension-packed expedition into primordial terror.
Murray’s writing had me feeling the damp of the forest, seeing the mist curling through the fern fronds, and sensing the danger lurking there.
Ancient myths, military men and scientists placed in remote, primordial locations – it had all the right ingredients for me, and it didn’t disappoint for a moment.
Lee Murray is an author to watch.”
– Greig Beck, best-selling author of the Arcadian series

When NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his squad are tasked with escorting a bunch of civilian contractors into Te Urewera National Park, it seems a strange job for the army.
Militant Tūhoe separatists are active in the area, and with its cloying mist and steep ravines, the forest is a treacherous place in winter.
Yet nothing has prepared Taine for the true danger that awaits them. Death incarnate.
They backtrack toward civilization, stalked by a prehistoric creature intent on picking them off one by one. With their weapons ineffective, the babysitting job has become a race for survival.
Desperate to bring his charges out alive, Taine draws on ancient tribal wisdom. Will it be enough to stop the nightmare? And when the mist clears, will anyone be left?

“Creepy and addictive, Into the Mist is an irresistible tapestry of military action, dark myths, and an ancient and terrifying horror. A must read for speculative fiction fans.”
– Matthew Summers (Smashdragons)

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

Manifest Recall

by Alan Baxter

40186239

Genre:  Supernatural / Crime Thriller

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

I’m going to compare my reading experience to a horse race, as that’s how it felt to me. The horses are loaded  into the starting gate. The excitement and uncertainty build. Then the gates open and the story thunders down the track, galloping to an explosive, bloody ending.

Loading the gate: Eli comes back to awareness behind the wheel of a car, a girl in the seat beside him. At least she’s not in the trunk anymore.

In the gate: As Eli untangles his memories of horrific events he also has to deal with some dead men. Ghosts seem to be haunting him and they could be a hindrance or his downfall.

I like when the author presents a bad guy and I end up pulling for him. Eli is a hitman and has killed plenty of men. But I couldn’t help but hope he would win the day.

The gate opens: It’s a mad dash with some bloody, pulse pounding scenes that reminded me of the final showdown from the movie The Roadhouse with Patrick Swayze.

The finish line: A blue ribbon ending.

Did I enjoy this book. Oh, yeah! Would I recommend it? Very much!

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

~~~~~

Synopsis

A SUPERNATURAL CRIME THRILLER FROM THE AWARD-WINNING MASTER OF DARK FANTASY

Following a psychotic break, Eli Carver finds himself on the run, behind the wheel of a car that’s not his own, and in the company of a terrified woman he doesn’t know. As layers of ugly truth are peeled back and dark secrets are revealed, the duo find themselves in a struggle for survival when they unravel a mystery that pits them against the most dangerous forces in their lives.

A contemporary southern gothic thriller with frightening supernatural overtones, Alan Baxter’s Manifest Recall explores the tragic life of a hitman who finds himself on the wrong side of his criminal syndicate. Baxter’s adrenaline-fueled approach to storytelling draws readers into Eli Carver’s downward spiral of psychosis and through the darkest realms of lost memories, human guilt and the insurmountable quest for personal redemption.

Amazon / B&N

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

Author Q&A and Giveaway ~ A Taker Of Morrows by Stephen Paul Sayers

Posted: June 16, 2018 in Adult Fiction, giveaways, horror, Supernatural, thriller
Tags: , , , ,
22



.

A Taker of Morrows
Stephen Paul Sayers
(Caretakers, #1)
Publication date: June 15th 2018
Genres: Adult, Horror, Supernatural, Thriller

RG Granville has his whole life in front of him…but only twenty-four hours to live it.

Beyond life’s boundaries, an enduring battle between good and evil determines the fate of earthly souls. Here, ‘caretakers’ guard and protect against the evil and vengeful ‘jumpers’ who slip back and forth between worlds to prey upon the living.

For one man, news of his impending demise sets off a deadly chain of events fueled by a jumper’s burning vengeance. Now he’s in a race against time to stop an unrelenting evil unleashed upon the earth. And if he’s to protect his family, and the world, he must breach the tenuous boundary between life and death to confront a killer—and a shocking secret from his long-buried past.

Goodreads / Amazon

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

“Hello, Robert.” The stranger advanced toward him. “You’re late.”

RG steadied himself against the entryway table as his heart lurched in his chest, the air thickening like a smothering rag over his face. With gradual boldness, he slid his arm against the wall and triggered the light switch. “What the hell—?”

“I feared we’d missed each other,” the man interrupted. “That would have been a shame. You see, we have a problem to discuss.” His face hardened as he stepped forward, shoes clicking on the hardwood floor.

RG’s pulse quickened. “Who are you?”

“I wish I didn’t have to be here, Robert.” The stranger unfolded his hands from behind his back and stepped forward, “but I have a job to do.”

As the man advanced, RG backpedaled, snatching the old-school, wooden baseball bat stashed behind the coat rack. He never imagined grabbing the lumber for anything other than Tuesday night softball, but now found himself flapping it back and forth in a hardwood batter’s box.

The man took another step. “Death has come for you,” he said, shaking his head, “and no Louisville Slugger will stop it.”

~~~~~

Q&A with Stephen Paul Sayers, author of A Taker of Morrows

 

Q: What’s your new novel, A Taker of Morrows, about?

A: It’s about a man who’s visited by a stranger, who tells him he’s got twenty-four hours to live. You see, deaths are scheduled and schedules must be kept. In his desperate attempt to stay alive, he discovers the world isn’t what he thought it was, that it’s actually a battleground between the forces of good and evil from the afterlife, a place where ‘caretakers’ protect earthly souls and ‘jumpers’ prey on them…and now he’s become the prey. And if he’s to keep himself and his family alive, he must straddle the boundary between worlds and face the secrets of his past.

In a broader sense, it’s really a story about the nature of life and death, and the eternal price paid for what we carry in our souls.

 

Q: What inspired you to be a writer?

A: I never set out to be a writer, but after a challenge from my daughter, Kaylee, I decided to write her a novel. I figured I’d write something for her, give it to her some holiday or birthday, and it would collect dust on her bookshelf. But when I started writing, a switch turned on inside me, something I’d never felt before, igniting a passion I didn’t know I had. It helped me finally figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up.

But more importantly, it has solidified a real bond between my daughter and me. She’s an amazing writer who has a full length novel under her belt at age seventeen. We now have this shared thing we do together. We talk about story ideas, read each other’s work. She gave me this great idea in A Taker of Morrows that became a key to the series in my opinion. So, she’s my inspiration.

 

Q: Why do you write in the genre that you do?

A: My brother and I watched horror movies all the time when we were kids. I think the 70s and 80s were a golden age of horror movies – and we got really into it. That’s also when I discovered Stephen King, and I read just about everything he wrote. That was my base, and no matter what different literary roads I may travel, I always veer back into the genre. Even the horror books I read today transport me back to childhood and reignite those feelings again.

 

Q: What do you enjoy reading and who are your favorite authors?

A: I have so many authors I love reading in so many genres. I grew up on a steady diet of Stephen King and Peter Straub, so I got a good horror base. I’m also a big fan of a new generation of horror writers, Joe Hill, Paul Cornell, J. Lincoln Fenn, and Paul Tremblay, so I definitely get my fill. I also love writers of suspense and thrillers, especially Jo Nesbo, Dennis LeHane and Randy Wayne White. I’ve recently discovered Melissa Lenhardt’s “Jack McBride” mystery series, which sort of borders on chick lit, and yet I really like it. So, bottom line, I read just about anything.

 

Q: What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

A: Horror and thriller fiction should be entertaining, number one. I want readers of my work to feel as if the time spent between the pages was a good investment. If they can escape from their world for a few hours, connect to my characters, and feel like they’ve made some friends they’re going to miss when they turn the final page, then I’ve done my job.

 

Q: On a lighter note, what are the top five things on your bucket list?

A: Hopefully, I’m not in ‘bucket list’ territory yet, but here goes:

  1. Cage dive with the Cape Cod great white sharks
  2. Stroll across the Abbey Road crosswalk
  3. Drive to Graceland in an RV
  4. Own a 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible
  5. Gain the advantage over my Gibson SG

~~~~~

Author Stephen Paul Sayers

Stephen Paul Sayers grew up on the sands of Cape Cod and spent his first thirty-five years in New England before joining the University of Missouri as a research professor. When he’s not in his laboratory, he spends his time writing and devouring his favorite forms of genre fiction—horror, suspense, and thrillers. His short fiction has appeared in Unfading Daydream. A Taker of Morrows is his debut novel and the first in the planned Caretakers series.

Throughout his journey, he has accumulated five guitars, four herniated discs, three academic degrees, two dogs, and one wife, son, and daughter. He divides his time between Columbia, Missouri and Cape Cod writing and teaching.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

XBTBanner1

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

What I Am Reading, Again ~ Horror / Thriller/ Supernatural Edition

Posted: June 13, 2018 in horror, Supernatural
Tags: , ,
26

Every now and then I like to go back and reread a book. Especially ones I loved. I find that I discover something new no matter how many times I’ve read the book. Just like when I watch a good movie again.  I also discovered that I don’t always enjoy some books as much the second time around. Usually this occurs with ones I read some time ago.

When I feel a reading slump coming on or I just can’t decide what to read next ( me being lazy) I stand in front of my book shelf that holds all of my most favorite books and choose one to read again. It allows me to just relax and enjoy the story instead of always thinking about the review that needs to be written after finishing a new one.

Here are some I have stacked and ready to read again over the summer. I’m sure I’ll be adding more to this. My son spied me standing, staring at my books, and thought something was wrong with me. I had this seriously screwed up look, he said. I told him that’s my I’m thinking face. He said I looked like I was in pain. I know I mentioned rereading a favorite is relaxing, but not choosing which one. LOL

293032

17902158  3429805

28474289  13546207

14995  12295280

Most of these are a series and I’ll read every one. I do love to binge a series!

~~~~~

What about you. Do you read a book more than once?  Do you have a go to book that you read many times? And why do you reread a book?

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Older Entries
Newer Entries