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Posts Tagged ‘thriller’

The killer knows! I Can See You by Joss Landry ~ Tour and Giveaway

Posted: August 13, 2014 in giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, Supernatural
Tags: Author Joss Landry, I Can See You, mystery, Supernatural, thriller

It’s my turn on the tour for I can See You by Joss Landry.

I’m looking forward to telling you my thoughts on this story.

And there’s a great giveaway too so don’t forget to enter!

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My Review

I like a strong female protagonist and though Emma is only 10 years old, she’s a smart, tough, young lady.

She’s had to be. The psychic abilities she inherited from her grandmother have shown her visions of a horrific killer. A killer of young girls.

Emma’s teacher, Christina, overhears her tell a friend about her visions and turns to Detective Hank Apple for help. The situation is dicey as they have a romantic history that ended badly. She’s trusting him to handle Emma with kid gloves while not letting the parents know what they are up to.

Emma’s father wants to hear nothing about her abilities and her mother is for the most part indifferent, so Emma puts her trust in Christine and Hank to protect her from the killer, who is now coming for her.

Even without the psychic elements in this story, it would be a hair raiser. There’s nothing more evil than a killer of children and I thought Emma was very brave and resourceful. She was believable and endearing. A wonderful character.

Hank and Christine were a mess. They’d had a previous relationship that ended when Christine found him in bed with another woman. His claims that it was all part of his job didn’t fly with her and she dumped him.

Now that they are working together to protect Emma from the killer, they stumble over each other, denying the sparks that still ignite when they are together. I was worried they wouldn’t pull it together before someone else got killed.

I like flawed characters. We all are in some way and it makes the story more real. Just like Emma’s parents are flawed. You’d think they would be more worried when the killer tries to abduct her and fails. Yet, they still stay in their home, along with Emma.

That added to the suspense as the killer was now focused on Emma. He had to get her before her visions revealed his true identity. He would be coming back.

I watch a lot of suspense and thriller movies, so I could almost visualize the story as it played out. It was chillingly executed and kept me rapt to the final page.

4 STARS

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I Can See You

“Emma stuck her face to the window to watch the rain. Lightning in the background drew a fiery specter in the sky while her eyes traced the water droplets running down the pane like tears.” Emma Willis is ten years old and has a secret. She not only inherited her grandmother’s power of sight, she can accomplish much more. Like most children without siblings growing up amongst adults, she is precocious yet at times lonely. When a murderer is loose in Newark, a maniac with a thirst for killing little girls, she begins to understand why her Granny Dottie called her sight a curse. She will need all her powers to catch a killer and help the people in her life: Detective Hank Apple, her teacher Christina Tyler, and her little family of three. Only … the madman knows who she is!

Amazon / Add I Can See You to your Goodreads list!

Author Joss Landry

Joss Landry

With a degree in commerce, Joss has worked as a consultant for more than twenty years, writing copy for marketing firms and assisting start-up companies launch their business. She recently made the switch from composing copy and promos, to writing fiction and prose. She is developing her style through courses and the support of other writers. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and is presently working on honing three other novels for publication. Blessed with four children and five grandchildren, she resides in Montreal with her husband, a staunch supporter, and enjoys spending time biking, rollerblading, playing tennis, and swimming. She loves creating stories as she says they fulfill her need to think outside the box.

Website – Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – Goodreads

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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I Can See You is now on tour!
Check all the hosts and don’t forget to join the International giveaway
running here and on each tour stop!

I Can See You Tour schedule

August 11th | Vaempires (Author Interview)

August 12th | Proserpine Craving Books (Excerpt)

August 13th | Fuonlyknew (Review)

August 14th | Justified Lunacy (Author Interview)

August 15th | Ashley’s Paranormal Book Blog (Excerpt)

August 18th | Reader Girls (Excerpt)

August 19th | Lusty Penguin Reviews (Author Interview, Excerpt)

August 20th | White Sky Project (Guest Post)

August 21st | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace (Excerpt)

August 22nd | (un)Conventional Bookviews (Guest Post)

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

The Friday 56 #30 ~ I Can See You by Joss Landry

Posted: August 1, 2014 in Meme, The Friday 56, thriller
Tags: Author Joss Landry, I Can See You, some paranormal, thriller

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence or a

few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

~~~

His hold on her dropped for mere seconds, and this was all the time she needed. She ran, trying not to think how much faster a bullet flew when compared to the speed of her skinny legs.

~~~

I Can See You

by Joss Landry

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Synopsis

Emma stuck her face to the window to watch the rain. Lightning in the background drew a fiery specter in the sky while her eyes traced the water droplets running down the pane like tears.” Emma Willis is ten years old and has a secret. She not only inherited her grandmother’s power of sight, she can accomplish much more. Like most children without siblings growing up amongst adults, she is precocious yet at times lonely. When a murderer is loose in Newark, a maniac with a thirst for killing little girls, she begins to understand why her Granny Dottie called her sight a curse. She will need all her powers to catch a killer and help the people in her life: Detective Hank Apple, her teacher Christina Tyler, and her little family of three. Only … the madman knows who she is!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Who will get who first? The Eyes Die Last by Teri Riggs ~ Blog Tour and GIveaway

Posted: July 24, 2014 in Blog Tour, crime thriller, Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery
Tags: Author Teri Riggs, mystery, The Eyes Die Last, thriller

Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Eyes Die last by Teri Riggs.

I’m always ready for a new murder thriller. This one is particularly exciting as we get to go to Vegas! I’ve never been there.

The cover art has me intrigued. Is the girl on the cover Detective Kennedy (Kenny) O’Brien? The eye color works. Or is it a victim? One of the murdered prostitutes?

What do you think?

Read the excerpt and let me know.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

The Eyes Die Last

by Teri Riggs

BLURB:

The Las Vegas Mayoral race is heating up, and the incumbent doesn’t have a prayer. Wealthy real estate speculator Nick Campenelli, who wants to legalize prostitution in Clark County, and former pastor Louis St. Louis, running on a ‘clean-up-Vegas-by-getting-rid-of-the-whores’ platform, are the front runners.

They’re also front runners on the suspect list for a string of murders. Kennedy O’Brien, four-year detective with cop blood running in her veins, and her partner Wilder “Wild Thing” James, a veteran, are determined to find the man who’s murdering prostitutes who work the wrong side of the street, and they don’t care how important or politically active he is.

The killer is a man with a mission. He stalks the women before he kills them, leaving a “BEFORE” photo on their bodies, and sending an “AFTER” shot to the local news hound. Ed Hershey, an aging newscaster with just the right amount of grey in his hair, is determined to turn this story into a network gig, and his interference, along with the LVTVS legal team, are making Kennedy and Wilder look bad. Campenelli’s good looks and charm, and St. Louis’ vitriolic hatred of prostitutes are muddying the waters too, and now the killer seems to have taken a liking to Kennedy.

So the big question remains. Can she get him before he gets her?

~~~~~

Enjoy this glimpse inside The Eyes Die Last

Leaving the downtown area, Wilder and Kennedy drove past the now defunct Pioneer Club with the ever smiling, famous Vegas Vic sign sitting high on its perch. At one time, the forty-foot-tall neon cowboy had greeted visitors with a waving arm and a moving cigarette that blew smoke rings.

“Kenny, check out Vegas Vic. He’s winking at you.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Wilder? It’s a damn sign.”

“I’m just screwing around. You really need to lighten up some.”

Kennedy refused to respond.

“When I talked to Sparky and Lenny, they said you were still at Metro when they came in this morning.”

“And your point is?”

“You should have gone home and gotten some rest. Like a normal person.”

“I did go home. I slept and I showered. I am a normal person.” One that has a few issues, but hey, who doesn’t?

“Did you update your home murder board and spend hours studying it?”

She cringed. Her partner knew her too well. “I may have looked it over once or twice. But, I didn’t spend hours on it, not that it’s any of your business.”

“You need to have a life outside the job. Hell, even Vegas Vic has a girlfriend and he’s a damn neon sign. When’s the last time you even had a date?”

She looked out the window at the neon cowboy, then at the neon cowgirl sign on top of the Glitter Gulch topless club, and back at Wilder.

“Vegas Vicky? Give me a break, here.”

“Oh yeah, Vegas Vicky. What a neon babe.” His voice deepened, almost to a whisper. Then Wilder had the balls to wink at her. “I dig her cowgirl boots.”

“You’re sick, Wilder.”

He glanced sideways at her.

“Keep your eyes on the road.” She hadn’t meant to snap.

“What are you so sour about, Kenny?” He laughed. “You just realizing a freaking neon babe has a boyfriend and you don’t?”

She couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her mouth and had to look away before he saw. “Wilder, this conversation is so over.”

“Look on the bright side.” She faced him again, just in time to see his wicked

“There’s a bright side?”

“Oh, yeah.” He winked at her. “At least you don’t have to worry about some other neon babe shining your guy’s bulbs.”

“Like I said, Wilder, you’re one sick puppy.”

~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Teri Riggs was destined to be a writer. As a small girl she didn’t read bedtime stories, she made up her own. Who needed Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs when there were so many great tales bouncing around in her head? When she grew up and became a mother to three little girls, she continued the tradition of making up bedtime stories. On the occasions she chose to tell conventional fairytales, Teri usually gave them a bit of tweaking here and there or added a new ending. Her girls loved it.

After her daughters had the nerve to actually grow up and leave home, Teri discovered she had a passion for writing and jumped right in. It came as no surprise she chose to write mysteries and happily-ever-after’s since that’s the genres she loves to read.

Teri lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, one of her daughters and two dogs that seem to think they rule the world. And some days Teri thinks maybe they do.

Teri still frequently tells herself stories as she falls asleep. The only difference now is she wakes up the next morning and turns her bedtime stories into books.

Amazon ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

$50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Follow the tour for more fun posts and remember to comment. The more you comment the more chances to win!

Follow the tour by clicking on the banner below.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Author Denise R. Stephenson shares with us what drove her to write Isolation

Posted: July 22, 2014 in Blog Tour, Dystopian, giveaways, Guest Post, Science Fiction, thriller
Tags: Author Denise R. Stephenson, dystopian, Isolation, Science Fiction, thriller

Yesterday I shared my thoughts about Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson.

Today, I’m thrilled to turn over my blog to the author for a guest post.

Be sure to check out the rest of the post for more about the book and how to enter the giveaways. There’s two.

So Denise, tell us.

What drove you to write this book?

I was driven to write this book by a little boy who found a pornographic image in his mother’s garage. Before that all I had were ideas from contemporary events suggesting I had something to write. The germs of my novel Isolation came from the fear of a swine flu epidemic in the fall of 2009, the CDC changing our behavior by teaching us to sleeve the sneeze, and my concerns about the overuse of 99% bacterial killing soaps and sanitizers. But it was hearing this line in my head: “and laying a finger aside of his nose” that told me I had something worth pursuing. In that line, I suddenly imagined a world in which face-touching had been outlawed—an outrageous idea, one worthy of a dystopia.

The gift of a sabbatical in the Spring of 2012 gave me the time to create this particular world torn apart, not by a virus, but by a variety of bacteria no longer within medical control. I did a great deal of research, some over the two years of gestation and lots during the first month of the actual writing. I probably spent at least a couple of hours every day researching food-borne bacterial contaminants, produce recalls, genetically modified foods, and the practices of agri-business. I watched many documentaries and a few fictional movies like Contagion. I also read many, many dystopias, discovering intuitively how to build a world falling apart.

I consider myself an organic writer, meaning I don’t outline, but rather, allow a story to grow organically from the seed of an idea or the voice of a character. Typically I have no idea where a story is going and find ways to push myself to just keep writing until plot develops, usually through characters’ interactions more than through exterior devices like chase scenes or explosions.

My characters reveal their lives to me. Sometimes they do so in excruciating detail that I have to sift through, discovering which aspects are important to a particular story. Other times characters show me only a swipe of the canvas and I need to imagine what fills the rest of it. Either way, I don’t plan or outline. I find myself sitting in a coffee shop, walking along a beach, or reading for pleasure and suddenly needing to take notes or capture a line of dialog. Once I have an opening, I’m at the computer drawing the characters actions in words, making sure to capture the emotional tone of the details.

In the case of Isolation, though Gary was a tweener who found The Night Before Christmas children’s book in his mother’s old belongings and recognized that Santa Claus touching his own nose was an illicit image, it was taking Gary into adulthood which became a driving force that kept me working toward a novel. Isolation is epic in scope, spanning three generations. Figuring out that I could use Gary both in his adolescent years and then as an adult really helped me develop that timeline.

In the end, Gary was only one of a cast of six characters who form the central story of the novel. He was the first I imagined, but not the first I wrote. In fact, the first character I developed ended up being cut from the novel altogether. And in the end, Gary’s was one of the story-lines that took the longest for me to close. I think I wanted something for Gary that a dystopia couldn’t give him, so it took me awhile to be willing to end his story as it had to end.

No spoilers, so I’ll stop there. The drive to write Isolation was a combination of world events and a line from a children’s book which brought with it a concept I’d never imagined and wouldn’t want to live with—a world without touch.

Thanks so much Denise. I just wanted to add that the ending was special. I’m glad you stayed with it.

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Publisher: Mill City Press (April 15, 2014)
Category: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Political Thriller, Medical Thriller
ISBN: 13: 978-1-62652-760-7
Tour Dates: June 15-July 30, 2014
Available in: Print and ebook, 383 Pages

Isolation depicts a bleak but recognizable future in which the fear of contagion reaches a fever pitch as a bacterial epidemic catapults the US into an apocalyptic crisis.

Touch is outlawed. Mothers like Maggie bind their infants’ hands, terrified they might slip fingers into mouths. Gary, a Sterilizer, uses robots to scour the infected, avoiding all contact with human flesh. Trevor, the Chief Enforcer, watches, eager to report any and all infractions.

One inadvertent touch will change all of their lives.

For those of you who missed my post yesterday, click HERE to read my review and enter the giveaways.

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About Denise R. Stephenson:

DENISE R. STEPHENSON resides in Oceanside, CA, but she has lived in all the isolated locales of this novel at one time or another. Her publishing history is primarily academic, though as a member of Attention Deficit Drama, she has written and produced monologs and short plays. This is her first novel.

Website: http://denisestephenson.com/

Facebook: h ttps://www.facebook.com/DeniseStephensonIsolation
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookArts_Denise

Buy Isolation:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have two giveaways!

You can enter both!

The first one is for an eBook copy of Isolation (Open Internationally)

Now for the second giveaway!

5 Print copies of Isolation

Go HERE to enter.

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Follow the Tour:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus June 16 Excerpt & Giveaway
Library Educated June 17 Review
Creating Serenity June 18 Review
Room With Books June 18 Interview & Giveaway
Reviews From The Heart June 19 Review & Giveaway
Paranormal Romance & Authors June 24 Review
Always a Book Lover June 25 Guest Post
Lightning Chronicles June 27 Review
Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author July 1 Interview
Deal Sharing Aunt July 2 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt July 3 Interview & Giveaway
Books & Quilts July 9 Review
Mary’s Cup of Tea July 10 Review & Giveaway
Manic Mama of 2 July 10 Review
TreeHouseJuly 12 Giveaway
Book Talk With Alana July 14 Review
Book Talk With Alana July 14 Interview
Nerdophiles July 15 Review
Nerdophiles July 16 Interview & Giveaway
She Treads Softly July 17 Review
Kritters Ramblings July 18 Review
fuonlyknew July 21 Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway
Open Book Society July 23 Review & Giveaway
Cassandra M’s Place July 24 Review & Giveaway
Giveaways and Glitter July 25 Review
Two Children & a Migraine July 28 Review, Guest Post & Giveaway
JeanzBookReadNReview July 30 Interview & Giveaway
Heart of a Philanthropist July 31 Review, Interview & Giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Could this be our future? ~ Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson ! Tour Review and Two Giveaways

Posted: July 21, 2014 in apocalypse, Blog Tour, Dystopian, giveaways, reviews, Science Fiction, thriller
Tags: Author Denise Stephenson, dystopian, Isolation, Science Fiction, thriller

I’ll admit it. The cover art caught my attention first.

Then I read the blurb and had to read Isolation. I love reading about a scenario that could happen, that may be happening as we speak.

Check out Isolation, enjoy my review, and don’t forget to enter the giveaways. Yep, there’s two!

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MY REVIEW

Imagine not being able to touch yourself or others for fear of punishment. Imagine a world where so many have died from bacterial infection that it’s now a law, strongly enforced, of no touching of any kind.

We already see signs of this in some countries. People going out in public wearing face masks and gloves. Sanitizer stations in business entryways.

The author approaches this clinically and emotionally.

I couldn’t imagine not being able to kiss my babies face, hug a friend, or even wipe the tears from my own face.

For those born before the outbreaks, old habits die hard. It’s a slip of the mind to reach up and scratch your nose if it itches, and if you are spotted, you’re reported and punished.

Enforcers and Sterilizers are recruited and put in place supposedly for your own protection. This is where big brother thinks they know what’s best for everyone. And putting fear into the equation makes most people go along with their mandate.

But there are some who feel differently. Who secretly break the rules. Who dare to want more.

I don’t read reviews for a book until after mine has been published, but I’m betting a lot of people have said the same thing. This could happen and it might not be too far off. How often do you turn on the news and hear about this or that food product being pulled from the shelves because it’s contaminated? How people have sickened from it and even died?

The author approached this scenario with a dystopian and science fiction genre. At least that’s how it felt to me.

While I didn’t have a favorite character, there was one I wish had chosen a different employment, and three I wish could have prevailed together.

The ending is deeply moving. Profound.

I enjoyed this glimpse into a possible future and highly recommend it.

4 STARS

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Isolation depicts a bleak but recognizable future in which the fear of contagion reaches a fever pitch as a bacterial epidemic catapults the US into an apocalyptic crisis.

One inadvertent touch will change all of their lives.

Read or Listen to An Excerpt

Praise for Isolation:

“I was fortunate enough to read a preview copy of Isolation and I have to say it is a timely and thought provoking, if not haunting, look into the future. I can’t imagine simple day-to-day tasks like getting food at the market being either impossible or dangerous. Written from a variety of perspectives and far-reaching communities, it kept the reader wondering, “Could this really happen to me? Could this be part of my world?” This book made me look into the foods I eat, the lifestyle I live and the value of my friends and family. To what extent would I go to keep those I love safe? Looking for answers kept me turning the pages.”– Michelle Keeton

“Denise Stephenson’s novel Isolation is situated in a not-too-distant future, one we can all imagine, in which bacterial diseases decimate human populations world-wide. Though other novelists and filmmakers have relied on viruses to frighten us with tales of pandemic diseases, Stephenson makes bacteria seem much, much more dangerous—in part, because the vast majority of bacteria we come in contact with are necessary for our survival. For one thing, we can’t digest food without the help of bacteria in our stomachs.

In Isolation, government agencies struggle with the question of how to isolate the dangerous bacteria from the life-saving sort. Eventually, hospitals are turned into Anti-Bacterial Centers, robots are used to cleanse individuals who are exposed, touching one’s face is banned, then touching others is banned, and finally everyone is quarantined inside their own homes in a final, desperate attempt to stop the spread of the lethal bacteria. It’s a frightening vision, but each step, each decision, makes perfect sense in light of the threat of contagion.

It’s a gripping tale, at once outrageous and yet plausible. Through news articles, a scientific report and a press release inserted throughout the novel, Stephenson reveals how woefully unprepared American society is for this sort of calamity.

In spite of the doomsday vision the book presents, it remains hopeful and optimistic by focusing on the lives of individuals. In the direst of circumstances, their humanity, their compassion, and their hope shines through.”– Bob Mayberry

“Isolation” paints a bleak picture. In order to keep humankind safe, the government imposes increasingly stricter bans on touching. From Do-not-touch one’s own nose and eyes to, in the end, the Total-Touch-Ban. People live in ever more isolation; at times, confined to their homes like prisoners.

While the prospect of living in, or even reading, about such a world may not sound appealing to everyone, Stephenson’s lovingly created characters, who accompany the reader from the present to a future two to three generations away, confirm that our species can adapt and survive.

Stephenson’s care to give each of her main characters a distinctive voice makes, in turn, the reader care about them; and that is what makes “Isolation” a pleasure to read.”– Irene Gerold

“Isolation gripped me. It’s a mesmerizing dystopia about the quiet and deadly menaces in our lives. These dangers may be hidden in the jargon of the latest government health report, lurking under the frilly curl of a romaine lettuce leaf, or triggered by a minor cut to a finger while using an ordinary kitchen knife. The characters in Isolation are people I know. It was easy to imagine myself as a sister, friend, or neighbor to any of them – or most of them.

I was in the story wondering, “What would I crave? What would I do for my family and my friends? Isolated, what could I do to fight back?” These questions linger.

The story is well paced, well written, and scary. Stephenson’s research is excellent. It provides a persuasive foundation for explaining why the home-bound isolation of the population becomes the awful solution for stopping the spread of disease. The story compelled me to mull my complacency about the safety of our food, drugs, and government promises to always protect our freedom.“- Karen Baum

~~~~~

About Denise R. Stephenson:

Website: http://denisestephenson.com/

Facebook: h ttps://www.facebook.com/DeniseStephensonIsolation
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookArts_Denise

Buy Isolation:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have two giveaways today!

You can enter both!

The first one is for an eBook copy of Isolation (Open Internationally)

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

“Would you break the rules of no touching if you were in the privacy of your own home, if no one could see you?”

Now for the second giveaway!

5 Print copies of Isolation

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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Follow the Tour:

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

The Friday 56 #24 ~ Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson

Posted: June 20, 2014 in horror, The Friday 56, thriller
Tags: Author Denise R. Stephenson, Horror, Isolation, thriller

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence, or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

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When they walked into the restaurant, the techie reached for the AB wash. Before he could squirt it into his hands, the professor began his rant. “Don’t do it. Don’t use their antibacterials. They’re all broad spectrum.”

“Yeah,” the young technician said, “that’s good, right? They’ll kill everything.”

“That’s bad – they kill everything. There are many good bacteria.”

“I don’t have any friends among em.”

“Oh, but you do,” the professor said.

~~~~

Isolation

By Denise R. Stephenson

IMAGINE: You can’t touch your face. You can’t leave your home. You don’t dare get sick, that would lead to removal and -likely-death.

Isolation” depicts a bleak but recognizable future in which the fear of contagion reaches a fever pitch as a bacterial epidemic catapults the US into an apocalyptic crisis. Touch is outlawed. Mothers like Maggie bind their infants’ hands, terrified they might slip fingers into mouths.

Gary, a Sterilizer, uses robots to scour the infected, avoiding all contact with human flesh. Trevor, the Chief Enforcer, watches, eager to report any and all infractions.

One inadvertent touch will change all of their lives.

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

There’s a new zombie in town ~ Euphoria – Z by Luke Ahearn ~ My review and a giveaway

Posted: May 22, 2014 in apocalypse, Blog Tour, giveaways, thriller, Zombies
Tags: apocalypse, Book #1, Euphoria - Z, Luke Ahearn, thriller, zombies

More zombies you ask? Yep. You all know me by now. If it says zombies I’m going to check it out. And I’m glad I had the opportunity to read Euphoria – Z. It’s unique and packed with zombie action.

Check out the excerpt.

Read my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Oh yeah! What about that cover art? It’s spectacular isn’t it?

Look and see.

Euphoria – Z

Book 1

Luke Ahearn

Genre: Thriller/Zombie Apocalypse

Publisher: Luke Ahearn / Date of Publication: May 19, 2014

ISBN-13: 978-1497497382 / ISBN-10: 1497497388

Number of pages: 409 / Word Count: 118,099

Cover Artist: Steven J Catizone

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MY REVIEW

You’ll get a strong dose of zombie gore in this book. Nothing you can’t handle though.

I was all excited about the comet that was going to strike. Then, once it hit, I was as disappointed as the characters. Nothing happened. But then it did. Just not how I expected.

People got happy, strangely happy, then they died horribly and rose again. The author got creative with this. It’s nice to find a new idea on how people came to be zombies.

You’re then in the beginning of the apocalypse, but the story focuses mostly on after it starts. You follow the characters as they first realize what’s happening and then through their struggles to survive.

There are lots of bad guys. Still trying to figure out why the rich dudes wanted to end the world.

One thing I had a problem with was the switching POVs. They happened suddenly and sometimes I had to go back and read again to see who I was reading about. Just got a bit confusing at times.

This is not a quick read. It took me several sittings to finish it. Not that I was bored by any means. The author gave me plenty of action, great characters to care about, and lots of zombies. I just needed to sleep sometime.

The only thing I’ll tell you about the ending is that it isn’t over.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a good zombie story.

4 STARS

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Book Description

Civilization shuts down as throngs of speechless hedonists fill the streets in deadly revelry. They feel only pleasure and never pain, even as they are injured, maimed, and mutilated. Few people remain in the world unaffected, left to witness the madness unaware that things are about to get unbelievably worse.

Cooper is among the few survivors of a conspiracy to depopulate the world. One week ago, college was his biggest concern. Now he is on a dangerous journey to find his sister as an ever-present threat of nightmarish proportions engulfs the world, throwing him in the path of some of the most malicious people that ever walked the earth.

Excerpt:

The present, Monterey, California

“Fuck!” The wiry, gray-haired old man felt his eyes go wide with surprise, but he quickly got his shit together. Jasper scowled; now he was very pissed off. He might stoop and shuffle when he walked, but he didn’t take any shit.

Some big fat bastard was bear-hugging him from behind. He could see white mountains of wet flab before his eyes, and he smelled vomit. He felt a massive wet belly and man tits pressing against his back. Large folds of cold wet flesh engulfed him, and he shuddered at the sensation.

He hated hugs, especially from men, and hugs from big fat sweaty bastards were absolutely unacceptable. He carried his best spiked hammer, an old-school Craftsman from back in the day, before the gooks were making them. He was just itching to use it. The fat bastard was yelling something in his ear.

“I love you! I love you, man!”

“Ahhh, geez!” Jasper twisted out of the flabby cocoon and took a few steps back. What he saw disgusted him. It was a giant fat kid, a head taller than himself, who looked like a giant baby, all hairless and soft. The kid was smiling like an idiot, and that made Jasper even more pissed off. Food smeared the kid’s face and ran down his chins in greasy streams between his man tits and over his belly. All Jasper could think was that all that shit was all over his back. Now he would have to burn his shirt and take a long, hot shower.

The kid wore nothing but baggy white underwear soaked in sweat. Jasper shuddered at the clammy coldness on his back. His flannel shirt clung to him and felt like a cold, wet bathing suit.

“I love you, man!” The big fat kid smiled as he came at him for another hug.

“Ahhhh! Fuck you!” Despite his advanced age, Jasper moved with an efficiency and force that spoke of his many years as a carpenter. He brought the spiked hammer down on the kid’s skull, and it collapsed inward with little resistance. He liked the sensation of cracking a head but hated wasting the time to do it.

The kid dropped to the concrete like a wet sack. He was still smiling, which made cracking his skull less enjoyable. Jasper wished he could bash every asshole around with his trusty hammer. He looked around to make sure another shithead wasn’t looking for a hug.

A woman came at him, hooting so loud he could hear it over the crowd, waving her tits at him. He took her out too, with an easy smack between the eyes. He had enough of this shit. He cracked a few more skulls for fun, but he got bored. It was always the same: an easy tap to the skull and the moron dropped, still smiling.

The streets were crammed with people, and they were all acting crazy. Jasper just wanted to get home. It seemed everyone was congregating downtown, streaming in from the surrounding neighborhoods. People were walking in large groups, arm in arm, naked and clothed, dancing, running, and hugging. It all made Jasper sick, just god-awful sick.

He tried to go all the way downtown and almost got caught up in the crowd. People were pushing and jamming each other into doors until they cracked open. He heard the crash of large plate-glass windows, but no one reacted. In fact, he saw people just getting pushed through the windows in a wave. He could tell that people were getting seriously injured and killed, and he just wanted to get the hell out of there.

He left at the right time. The press of the massive crowd smashed and suffocated, ground and trampled, and killed many—and the party continued to grow. No one screamed in panic or pain. No one yelled for help or dialed 911. And no one stopped to offer assistance, an apology, or true human interaction of any kind. Everyone was bent on doing exactly what they wanted to do, and what anyone else wanted didn’t matter to them in the slightest.

In any place where people gathered for a good time, the crowds were thick. The mall was packed, but the hospital was empty. The wharf was so full that hundreds fell into the icy waters of the bay. The office parks and businesses were dark and silent. Some groups formed parties on random streets for one reason or another.

A large majority of the city was empty, devoid of people. Most left their homes and walked away, leaving doors unlocked and often wide open. They would join a group and wander away.

There were still a few souls hiding indoors who were anything but euphoric. They watched with fear and horror the goings-on outside their windows. Jasper had been one of these, but he needed his goddamned pills and had to drive through all this crazy shit to get them. Of course, when he got to the damn pharmacy it was closed. He had tried to call ahead, but no one answered the phone. He was pissed. He wanted nothing to do with this crazy shit. He didn’t want to see any of it and certainly didn’t want to walk through it. He saw quite a few people doing things he had only seen in his buddies’ dirty magazines. But there was one thing every single person was doing: smiling like a retard with a lollipop—every single one.

At first, he thought all the outlandish behavior was confined to idiots, kids, and queers. It had to be some new drug to get them this nuts, he thought. But too many people were acting bonkers, too many people who just didn’t fit the behavior.

He walked as quickly as he was able away from the crowd and back to his car. He’d seen some shit in his day, but in the last few the world had descended into pandemonium. There were reports that almost everyone around the world was walking away from their jobs, no matter how critical. Everything was grinding to a halt. Transportation, communication—private or military, trivial or critical—everything was just going belly up. Jasper had known this day was coming ever since the blacks were allowed to vote.

And the crooks in Washington didn’t know anything. They said it was an unknown virus and creatively named it Euphoria-Z. Z because they didn’t know what it was, only what it did. And their advice? Stay indoors and away from crowds, bunch of geniuses.

Jasper had never expected he would need to kill people, not since the war, but in the last few days he had been forced to. The streets were crazy, and he wouldn’t even be outside if he hadn’t needed his pills. He felt as if he were the only sane person for miles. He looked at his feet and wondered, only briefly, if something were wrong with him? No, couldn’t be, he thought. None of this was right. The world had gone crazy.

~~~~

About the Author:

Luke Ahearn has over 20 years of professional game development experience and has authored numerous nonfiction books on the topic. He ran his own computer game company for ten years and currently owns MasterWerxStudios, an animatronic prop shop in Monterey, CA.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

~~~~~

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Tour giveaway

4 life-sized, handmade, zombie heads.

One of a kind and made by the author.

Click on the Rafflecopter to enter.

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Chasing Prophecy by James Moser ~ Author Spotlight and Giveaway

Posted: May 13, 2014 in Blitz, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, thriller, YA
Tags: Chasing Prophecy, James Moser, paranormal, thriller, young adult

I have a great book to show you today and a fun giveaway.

But first let’s here from the author himself!

Author Spotlight: James Moser, on Chasing Prophecy

I have always wanted to build a story around someone or something like Boo Radley, my all-time favorite literary character. I love how he dominates that book while remaining largely off-stage. I looked around the Seattle area and the closest thing I could think of was our local legend of Bigfoot. Once I had my own version of Nathan Arthur Radley in place, I started thinking a lot about monsters, especially monsters we make bigger in our imagination. I also thought about Boo living in society without being a part of it, which made me think of different separatist groups turned into cults. My young characters are based on bits and pieces of hundreds of former students.

The setting of Boulder Creek, Washington, like everything else in the book, is based on bits and pieces of lots of things. There is no town called that. Boulder Creek is where my wife and I hiked for our first date, in the foothills of the north Cascade Mountains. The mountains in my book look like the ones around Darrington, in Snohomish County. The main street is like Arlington (where I had my first teaching job). The log bridge is something I remember from a family trip to Yellowstone National Park, 1,000 miles away. People who have read Twilight will think Boulder Creek feels like Forks, which it does, because that’s what every small town in Washington feels like. The Bethlehem compound is the Boy Scout camp I attended in northern Idaho, complete with the same wood carvings on the fireplace.

~~~

Chasing Prophecy

by James Moser

Publication date: January 2nd 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Thriller, Young Adult

Synopsis:

“Chasing Prophecy” is the story of Mo, a teen boy just trying to survive high school in the mountain town of Boulder Creek, Washington. Boulder Creek is an isolated and mysterious place, proud of its reputation as the “Bigfoot Sighting Capital of the World”. Mo falls in love with a girl named Prophecy who lives with a group that some call a commune and others call a cult. When she disappears, Mo must find the courage to face the monster that her family has become. “Chasing Prophecy” is a heartwarming contemporary coming of age story. This book chronicles the adolescence of one boy who must transform himself to save the girl of his dreams.

Purchase: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

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AUTHOR BIO

When he’s not dazzling Goodreads members with his wit and charm, the author is typically reading, writing, or watching way too much TV while snacking on chocolate treats from Trader Joe’s (and who can blame him–those things are GOOD, yo!).

The author wanted to write about teenagers transforming themselves to survive. The result is “Chasing Prophecy,” a story about love, loss, redemption, and monsters. Boo Radley is the author’s all-time favorite book character, which is how the Seattle-area legend of Bigfoot entered this story.

Moser holds a B.A. in bookish matters and a Master’s in the same. He lives in Seattle with his wife and eight year old son.

Author links:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Open INTL

Three $50 Amazon Gift Cards

Click on the Rafflecopter below to enter.

Ends May 20th

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

A .99 cent sale and Giveaway ~ Sierra by Taylor Dean ~ A 5 Star Romantic Suspense

Posted: November 4, 2013 in Book Blast, giveaways, reviews, Romance, suspense, Trailer
Tags: 5 Star Review, romantic suspense, Sierra, Taylor Dean, thriller

I’ve read every book Taylor Dean has written. She’s a favorite author of mine and I’m always looking for her next book.

Once you read one of her stories, you’ll be like me, excited and bursting to tell someone about it.

Sierra is Taylor’s favorite of her books and it’s mine too.

Read my 5 star Review Here.

I was lulled by the cover art but that was just the outside of the book. What happens once you begin reading is a romantic suspense that grabs you and spins you out of control. Setting you down only to grab you again.

~~~~

Sierra by Taylor Dean

Have you ever been lost in the woods?

Alyssa Fontaine’s life, loved ones—everything familiar and dear—are brutally taken from her.

Taken captive by two men, she endures a horrific nightmare. A new life is forced upon her and even a new name.

Just when it appears that no hope is in sight, she is saved by an unlikely twist of fate. Trapped in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains, life will open its arms to her again and she will embrace it. She will find love such as she never knew existed.

Sierra is a heart-wrenching story of the power of the human spirit to survive amidst impossible circumstances and severe losses. It is a story of survival . . . and hope.

Smashwords / Amazon

***

Excerpt from Sierra:

This is one of my favorite scenes in Sierra. It’s a pivotal moment, wherein Alyssa’s life can change for the better–or for the worse. After facing extreme cruelty, she is faced with utter kindness. I love the marked difference between her experiences. ~Taylor Dean

“Please sit,” he whispered. Her eyes were drawing him in. She didn’t seem to be scared of him, she seemed to know he wanted to help her. First, he filled a glass with water and held it to her lips. She drank thirstily, but then shook her head negatively when he wanted her to finish all of it. At the sink, he filled a small plastic tub with warm water, grabbed shampoo, and went back to Alyssa. The kitchen sink doubled as his bathroom sink. He had all he needed to clean her up, including a small first aid kit. He knelt in front of her. Once again, he gently touched her chin and lifted her face to his. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. She had the biggest brown eyes he’d ever seen.

“Just relax and let me take care of you, Alyssa,” he whispered softly.

She responded with a slight nod. Sitting in the kitchen chair, he had her slowly lean her head back till it was resting just above the tub. He gently began to wash her hair, first getting it wet and then massaging the shampoo into her scalp. She winced when he touched the spot where dried blood matted her hair, so he was extra gentle there. Her long hair was tangled and filled with dirt and bits of dried leaves. It took some time to get it clean and several refills of warm water in the tub as he rinsed. Alyssa closed her eyes and relaxed for probably the first time in days. He worked conditioner into the long locks and then had her sit up as he gently combed through it, removing all of the snarls. He then parted the hair where the wound on the scalp was located and took a look at the gash. It was angry and red, and it needed stitches, but would have to wait till he could retrieve his medical supplies from the supply room. He disinfected it with alcohol and moved on.

He again knelt in front of Alyssa. Her eyes opened and stared deeply into his, desperately trying to communicate without words. A lone tear fell, drizzling down her cheek. He brushed it away with his fingertips. This was harder than he thought. He knew this was the first gentle touch she’d felt in days. The abuse she had suffered was obvious to him as he noticed her many bruises. He grabbed his kitchen stool and sat before her. Using a washcloth, he began to wipe her face clean. As he worked, their eyes met and held. Ever so gently he wiped the dirt and grime away from days spent outdoors. And with it he wiped away tears and pain.

“Please help me,” Alyssa whispered.

Alex stole a glance at Pa and Adam. Pa’s eyes were closed and a soft snore emanated from him. Adam was wide awake, his shotgun pointed at Alex, but he stared into the fire sullenly. Alex leaned forward to grab the tube of anti-biotic ointment on the table. With his lips to her ear as he brushed past, he whispered, “Everything’s going to be all right, Alyssa. I won’t let them take you, I promise.”

Alex then applied the salve to the small cuts on her face and lips. Each and every one of his ministrations clearly brought relief to her. Every time Alex looked her in the eyes, she met him with eyes that spoke volumes. He refilled the tub and washed her arms and hands and then took his time cleaning her fingernails, occasionally massaging her hand as he looked into her eyes. He also applied cortisone cream to her numerous mosquito bites. Next, he decided to tend to her neck and wrists. He cringed inside at the raw, bloody skin underneath the ropes. The first thing he’d wanted to do was cut the ropes, but he didn’t want to push his luck. However, now it was time. He went to the kitchen counter and unsheathed a kitchen knife. The sound of the knife being unsheathed brought Adam to his feet immediately.

Shotgun aimed at Alex, he yelled, “Put it down, Doc.”

Alex faced him without flinching. “I’m cutting the ropes. They’ve rubbed her skin raw and it’s going to get infected,” he said with steel in his voice. “You can have the knife when I’m done.”

Pa awoke from his snooze in the commotion. “Sit down, Adam. Doc’s right. Let ‘em fix her up,” he growled.

Adam continued to stand, anxiously waiting while Alex cut the rope on her neck and freed Alyssa from her leash. He then cut the other ropes and freed her wrists. She closed her eyes and Alex could see the relief on her face. He wondered just how long she had been bound. He handed the knife to Adam roughly and stared him in the face. “Satisfied?”

“Won’t do any good, I’ll just be puttin’ the ropes back on ya know,” Adam taunted.

Not if I have anything to say about it, thought Alex.

Book Trailer

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfodo9vCZRU&w=480&h=270]

Praise for Sierra:

Every now and then you come across a novel that profoundly takes your breath away, and Sierra is that novel. -Kathleen of Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Riveting from beginning to end. Be prepared to read straight through. -Sherry of Fundinmental Book Reviews

I thought I had read romances before, and books like “Jane Eyre” and “A Tale of Two Cities,” I had always considered the peaks of romantic literature. Let me say this. This is the most romantic book I have ever read in my 38 years on this planet! -Ruth of My Devotional Thoughts

What I like most about Sierra was how Taylor lulls you in the beginning, then she shreds the peaceful scene to pieces. It happens so fast you barely have time to comprehend what is going to happen. Just like in real life. -Laura of FUONLYKNEW Book Reviews

~~~~

Author Taylor Dean

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.

~~~

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/22/13

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

~~~

You can read my reviews of other books by Taylor Dean by clicking on the titles.

Lancaster House

The Middle Aisle

I Have People

Reviewing shortly.

Finished reading and will review soon.

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go HERE.

WWW Wednesday #19 ~ Humor, Horror, and Hellish Visions

Posted: October 3, 2013 in Meme, WWW Wednesday
Tags: Horror, humor, thriller

WWW Wednesday

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

~~~~~

What are you currently reading?

Shadow of Danger

by Kristine Mason

17973169

Four women have been found dead in the outskirts of a small Wisconsin town. The only witness, clairvoyant Celeste Risinski, observes these brutal murders through violent nightmares and hellish visions. The local sheriff, who believes in Celeste’s abilities and wants to rid their peaceful community of a killer, enlists the help of an old friend, Ian Scott, owner of a private criminal investigation agency, CORE. Because of Ian’s dark history with Celeste’s family, a history she knows nothing about, he sends his top criminalist, former FBI agent John Kain to investigate.

John doesn’t believe in Celeste’s mystic hocus-pocus, or in her visions of the murders. But just when he’s certain they’ve solved the crimes, with the use of science and evidence, more dead bodies are discovered. Could this somehow be the work of the same killer or were they dealing with a copycat? To catch a vicious murderer, the skeptical criminalist reluctantly turns to the sensual psychic for help. Yet with each step closer to finding the killer, John finds himself one step closer to losing his heart.

~~~~~

What did you recently finish reading?

The Haunted House on Wheels

by Dennis Yates

18592844

Brothers Jerry and Mark have taken a long summer trip to visit their cousin Cindy. When Cindy insists that they go see a haunted house at a traveling carnival, the boys are skeptical at first. It’s not until they actually see it for themselves that they begin to change their minds.

Even after hearing the chilling stories Cindy has told them about the man who built the house, they only have an inkling of what awaits them inside.

Little do they know how those stories barely scratch the surface, that there are angry ghosts within who have other plans for them!

And it’s way too late to back out now, never mind a refund.

Because it’s beginning to look like there’s no way out!

~~~~~

What do you think you’ll read next?

Forever After

by David Jester

Forever After follows Michael Holland, a grim reaper in a grim town. An embittered and melancholic man who struggles to grasp the purpose of his own existence, or lack thereof. He is a minuscule cog in a monumental machine and knows less of his role than those surrounding him — from his boss, the mighty Angel of Death, to his friend and flatmate Chip: a grubby midget tooth fairy with an addiction to pot and procrastination.Brittleside is a dank, dark and decrepit town, and Michael Holland is its reluctant reaper. From dealing with the drunks, the druggies and the wasters, to tracking an escaped demon who believes he is Santa Claus; Forever After follows his escapades over four dark and humorous tales.A paranormal and comic romp through a fantasy world where the mythical, the fantastical, the insane and the typical combine. A mix of dystopia and comedy, if the works of Philip K. Dick and Terry Pratchett were to ever procreate, Forever After would be the bastard child of their creative communion.

~~~~~

So, whatcha readin?

WWW Wednesday #19 ~ Empaths, Guardians, and Magi…Oh My! (fuonlyknew.com)

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The killer knows! I Can See You by Joss Landry ~ Tour and Giveaway

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The Friday 56 #30 ~ I Can See You by Joss Landry

Who will get who first? The Eyes Die Last by Teri Riggs ~ Blog Tour and GIveaway

Author Denise R. Stephenson shares with us what drove her to write Isolation

Could this be our future? ~ Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson ! Tour Review and Two Giveaways

The Friday 56 #24 ~ Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson

There’s a new zombie in town ~ Euphoria – Z by Luke Ahearn ~ My review and a giveaway

Chasing Prophecy by James Moser ~ Author Spotlight and Giveaway

A .99 cent sale and Giveaway ~ Sierra by Taylor Dean ~ A 5 Star Romantic Suspense

WWW Wednesday #19 ~ Humor, Horror, and Hellish Visions

WWW Wednesday

Follow Blog via Email

Recent Posts

categories

Find me on X

Follow me via Bloglovin

Say hi on Facebook

My Pins

Books I’ve Read

Archives

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Posts Tagged ‘thriller’

Amazon / Add I Can See You to your Goodreads list!

Website – Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – Goodreads

WWW Wednesday

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