Posts Tagged ‘urban fantasy’

Giveaway Tour ~ The Harvesting ~ It’s all fun and games until someone ends up Undead!

Posted: June 22, 2013 in apocalypse, Blog Tour, giveaways, horror, reviews, Series
Tags: , , , ,
24

harvesting The Harvesting Banner 450 x 169

Have I got a treat for you!

The Harvesting  by Melanie Karsak is on tour and today I’ll be doing my review and giving you a peek inside the book!

There’s also an awesome giveaway, so don’t forget to enter!

Read on to see what I thought of this exciting apocalyptic, urban fantasy!

But beware, there be zombies, and something else!

Harvesting Printed Front vistaprint

goodreads-badge-add-plus

The Harvesting 

The Harvesting Series, Book 1
Melanie Karsak

Genre: Horror/Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Steampunk Press

ISBN-10: 1479327247

ISBN-13: 978-1479327249

ASIN: B009GI3YBY

Number of pages: 394

Word Count: 71000

Cover Artist: Michael Hall Photography

TV interview with book info:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGHrhTv5YAA

Amazon    Smashwords

Book Description:

When mankind finally consumes itself, can any spark of humanity survive? Layla fights to keep those she loves alive when the zombie apocalypse unfolds, but she soon learns that zombies are not the only problem. With mankind silenced, those beings living on the fringe seek to reclaim power. Layla must learn who to trust, fast, if she hopes to save what is left of our kind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Review

I enjoyed the beginning. I got to know a little about what made Layla tick and the descriptions about her sword play and discipline were important later on.

The story takes place at the beginning of the apocalypse, which I really liked.

You get to be a part of the confusion, panic, and disbelief. I know it would take a lot to convince me the zombie apocalypse had begun. Maybe one appearing on my front lawn would do it!

Layla gets an urgent phone call from her grandmother telling her she must come home.

When she arrives, the farmhouse has been turned into a gated compound, her grandmother is acting odd, and every available space is packed with supplies.

Her grandmothers cryptic explanations about why she’s doing this leave her confused, but Layla indulges her and helps to get the things on her list.

Before her grandmother can go into detail, people start getting sick.  You know the story, don’t panic, this will pass.

Well, it doesn’t and people start dropping like flies. But, then they rise and begin feeding on anyone unlucky enough to be in their path.

All hell breaks loose and even though Layla may be safe in the compound her grandmother built for them, she’ll have to venture out of the gate.

What Layla doesn’t know is, there are other things out there, things that are taking advantage of this world in chaos. They no longer feel they have to hide, and now there is not just zombies stalking the remaining survivors.

The Harvesting is fantastic!

I loved Layla and the author really helped me to connect with her. I liked her toughness, and no-nonsense attitude. You don’t have time to be flighty when the world is ending.

The zombies are zombies. Causing all kinds of mayhem and showing up at the most inopportune times, keeping the action and scares going throughout the book.

Then there are the others. The other things coming out of the woodwork.

I must say, the author really got me. I didn’t expect this story to take the turn it did, but this isn’t your typical zombie story. There’s a psychic element to it and the supernatural bleeds into the story as you read further.

You move from one thing to the next easily, and the author makes it believable, as long as you remember this is fiction.

About the ending. It leaves you hanging, yes. But in a good way, with just enough of a lead to make you have to read the next book.

I can’t wait!

28 Days Later meets 30 Days of Night, with a pinch of True Blood!

I recommend this book to all of you brave fans of horror and the apocalypse and the creatures that come with it.

5 Stars

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside The Harvesting!

Chapter One

“If you ever need to slice someone’s head off, this is the blade you want,” I said as I lifted a curved sword off the table in front of me. “We’ve been practicing épée and foil so far, but tonight I want to introduce you to the sabre.” The practice sabre’s curved blade reflected the orange streetlight shining in through the window. A grant from the Smithsonian where I worked allowed me to teach my two passions: ancient weapons and their arts. “The sabre is a slashing weapon,” I continued and then lunged, showing the wide-eyed and excited students a few moves. “And in general, it’s my favorite,” I admitted with a grin.

The students laughed.

“Is that why you have it tattooed on your arm?” Tyler, one of my best fencers, asked.

My hand went unconsciously toward the tattoo. The ink was a sword interlaced with other once-meaningful symbols. “That’s not just any sabre,” I said, mildly embarrassed. “Here, let me show you. I brought something special tonight.” Setting the training sabre down, I lifted a rolled bundle. I laid it down on the table and unrolled it to reveal weapons in various elaborate scabbards.

“Some are épée, foils—you can tell by the hilt—a broadsword, a claymore, a katana, a scimitar, throwing daggers,” I said, pointing, “but this, this is a Russian shashka.” I pulled the shashka from the bundle. “It’s like a traditional sabre, but has no guard. She’s light, single-edged, wielded with one hand, and good for stabbing or slashing. Not awkward in close quarters like a Scottish claymore, but it will kill you just as dead,” I said with a smile. I unsheathed the weapon and gave it an under- and over-hand spin around my head, shoulders, and back.

The students grinned from ear to ear.

I put it back in its scabbard and handed the shashka to them. “Pass it around, but keep in mind it is sharp enough to cut a blade of hair in half.” I then turned my attention to Tyler. “Now, since you’re so interested, let’s see how you do with the sabre.” I tossed one of the training swords to him.

Tyler, already in his gear, jumped up and lowered his fencing mask. “But you’re not in gear,” he said.

I shrugged. “Hit me–if you can.’”

We stood at the ready, made the ceremonial bow, and began. Tyler was not overly aggressive, which is partially why he was so successful. He waited for me, moving slowly. He was smart, quick, and often tried to over-tire his opponent.

I waited, dropped my sword a bit, and let him make the lunge. He took the bait.

The swords clanged together, and we clashed back and forth across the strip. He lunged and slashed while I dodged and blocked. He was fast. I was faster. When he lunged again, I ducked. With an upward movement, I went in.

“A hit,” Kasey called.

They clapped.

“Man, that’s what you get for taking on a former state champ—and the teacher,” Trey told Tyler with a laugh.

Tyler pulled off the mask and smiled at me.

Just then, my cell rang. I would usually ignore it, but something told me to answer.

“Everyone pair up and start working with the training sabres,” I said and pointed to the sword rack. I went to my bag and grabbed my cell.

Before I could say hello, she spoke.

“Layla, Grandma needs you to come home,” my grandmother’s voice, thick with Russian accent, came across through static. I was silent for a moment. My grandmother lived 500 miles away, and she never used her telephone. With the exception of her T.V., she hated technology. She’d cried and begged me to take away the microwave I’d purchased for her one Mother’s Day.

“Grandma? What’s wrong?”

“Come home now. Be here tomorrow,” she said. She hung up.

I lowered my cell and stared at it. Confused and worried, I dialed her back. The phone rang, but she did not answer. I had obligations: practice, bills to pay, groceries to buy, tons of work to do, and a date for god-sakes. But my grandmother was the only one I had left in the world.

“Sorry, guys. Emergency,” I called to my students.

Disappointed, they groaned.

“Sorry. Let’s pack it up for the night.” My hands shaking, I slid the shashka back into the bundle and rolled up the weapons. What had happened? Maybe Grandma was sick. Maybe she had some problem. Or maybe she had seen something.

The monuments on the Mall faded into the distance behind me as I made my way to my Georgetown apartment. It was Friday night. Wisconsin   Avenue was packed. The upscale shops and restaurants teemed with people. In the crowd you could see the mix of international tourists, Georgetown students, and designer-dressed hotties headed to clubs. I sighed. For the last month I had turned myself inside out trying to get the attention of Lars Burmeister, the German specialist the Smithsonian had brought in to consult on our new medieval poleaxe exhibit. He had finally asked me to dinner; we were going to meet at Levantes, a Turkish restaurant near Dupont Circle, at nine that night. I had dreamed of authentic dolma and a chance to sit across from Lars somewhere other than a museum. I had even bought a new dress: black, strapless, come-hither.

I circled my block three times before I finally found a parking space. Regardless, I loved Georgetown. It was early fall. The mature trees had turned shades of deep red and orange and were losing their leaves. The air was filled with an interesting mixture of smells: the natural decay of autumn, dusty heat from the old cobblestone streets, and the mildly rancid odor of too many people. In my 4th floor attic apartment of an old Brownstone, I could occasionally catch the sweet scent of the Potomac River. It reminded me just enough of home.

The apartment was ghastly hot. The small, one-bedroom had been closed up all day. I lifted the window and let the noise of the city fill the room. The street lamps cast twinkling light across my apartment. The weapons I had mounted on the wall, swords, shields, axes and the like, glimmered. I peeled off my sweaty practice clothes. Pulling a bag from the closet, I threw in several changes of clothes and a few other supplies. On my coffee table, my laptop light blinked glaringly. An overflowing email inbox, an article on bucklers that needed editing for a peer-reviewed journal, and a PowerPoint on Medieval Russian swords for a presentation for next week’s symposium all called me. My coffee table was stacked with paper. I was flooded with work; half my department was out on sick leave. There was a bad flu was going around. Thankfully, I had not yet gotten sick.

I pulled my cell out of my bag. I stared at the phone for a moment; Grandma’s recent call was still displayed on the screen. I dialed Lars’ number. My stomach shook when he answered.

“Guten abend, Lars. It’s Layla.”

“Ahh, Layla, good evening,” he replied.

I loved his German accent. He’d learned English from a British teacher; he said arse with a German lilt. It made me smile. I could tell by his tone he was trying to hide his excitement. I didn’t let him get far. I told him I had been called away for an emergency. I could sense his disappointment.

“I’ll be back by Monday. Let me make it up to you. Dinner at my place Monday night?”

He agreed.

“Gute nacht,” I said as sweetly as possible, hoping I had not pissed him off, and stuffed my phone into my bag. I stared out the window taking in the view. I did not want to go back, not even for a weekend. I loved my life. Hamletville was an old, ghost-filled place: too many memories, too much heartache. Yet I knew my grandmother. If she said I needed to come home, then I needed to come home.

I closed the windows, slid on a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, boots, and a light vest. I looked again at the display on the wall. At the center I had crossed two Russian poyasni or boot-daggers. One dagger had the head of a wolf on the hilt. The other had the head of a doe. I grabbed them and tossed them in my bag. I then headed back downstairs and into the night. It was the last time I would lay eyes on D.C. for many years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the Author:

 harvesting KristyCN

Melanie Karsak, steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, and caffeine junkie, resides in Florida with her husband and two children. Visit the author at her blog, melaniekarsak.blogspot.com, to learn more about upcoming projects.

http://melaniekarsak.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/MelanieKarsak

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieKarsak

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6539577.Melanie_Karsak

~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway

 A Tour wide giveaway
10 swag packs (as seen in the picture attached) which includes a t-shirt, an autographed hard copy of the novel, a bumper sticker, and postcards  (US Shipping Only)
10 ecopies of the novel (open internationally)
~~

harvestingGiveaway Pack

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

Harvesting Button 300 x 225

Related articles

Hex and the Single Witch ~ Freebie and Giveaway Blitz!

Posted: June 1, 2013 in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Freebies!, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, Steamy Romance
Tags: , , ,
9

Hex and the Single Witch Free kindle Banner

You can get Hex and the Single Witch FREE on Amazon.

How can you resist this sexy cover art.

Go here to get yours.

Free June 1st thru June 3rd.

Read on to learn more, watch the fun trailer and enter the awesome giveaway!

Yep, there’s a giveaway too!

Hex and the Single Witch (Vehicle City Vampires #1)

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Hex and the Single Witch

Vehicle City Vampires Book One

By Roxanne Rhoads

 

Publisher: Bewitching Books

 

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance / Urban Fantasy

 

Word Count: 83,000

Anwyn Rose is descended from a long line of powerful witches yet she can barely cast spells young witchlings have mastered. She has one functioning witch gift, the power of knowing, which she puts to good use as a Detective on Flint’s Preternatural Investigation Team.

It’s a new era in VehicleCity, supernaturals are running the town.

The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.

Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone. Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.

Mysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.

Hex and the Single Witch contains magick, a little bit of mystery, a lot of supernatural mayhem, and a sexy love triangle that will leave you wanting more.

 

Amazon Kindle     Print

Book Bonus material http://roxannesrealm.blogspot.com/p/hex-and-single-witch.html

Book Trailer  http://youtu.be/TnlTlZ2VEMY

Reviews

If you enjoy ALL things paranormal with an erotic twist, then this is definitely the read for you! It has a darker side to the Paranormal world, but still has plenty of humour and mystery thrown in to keep you wanting more. ~ Nomi’s Pararanormal Palace

Hex and the Single Witch had a little bit of everything from romance, murder and snarky one liners. If you are looking for a quick, steamy and well fleshed out plot to read then you should give Anwyn, Mike and the others a go in the first book of the Vehicle City Vampires series. ~The Book Nympho

This book is fun and full of all things supernatural and smexy! Featuring not one, but two sexy men to keep you squirming in your seat wanting more. The heat level was a lot higher in this book than I was expecting, but hey I’m not complaining! ~Book Liaison

From beginning to end the pages of Hex and the Single Witch were full of supernatural creatures, fun sexy music, action, mystery, smokin hot scenes, and magic. This book has something for everyone age 18 and over. Simply put Hex and the Single Witch was fun, witty, and hot. ~ Brenda Demko

Reviews from Amazon

I loved everything about this book and really can’t wait for the next instalment. ” ~ sarah brown

No one told me to have a glass of ice water at my side while reading Hex and the Single Witch. By the time I realized how much heat this book generates, I was too engrossed to put it down and too busy turning pages to go to the kitchen. Passion, desire and hot, steamy sex are a big part of this book but there’s so much more. The sign of good Erotica is removing the sex and seeing if you still have a story, otherwise it’s just porn. Hex and the Single Witch delivers a great story. This paranormal thriller will keep you guessing on a couple of levels and leave you anxiously awaiting the next release.  ~ Deborah Sanders

This was a great book that left me wanting more!! Good writing, great characters and a good story… ready to read more!!!! ~ HB

This book really grabs you from the start and makes you hold on tight for the ride. Can’t wait for the next one 🙂 ~ Jen b

Roxanne Rhoads spins book one of her riveting tale that captivates you at the beginning that I can’t wait for book two! ~Linda Bass

Excerpt

“So you have a complete data base storing the images of magick you take with the camera?”

“Yeah, I have used my talents for combining technology and magick for more than just weapons and wards for the P.I. T. Crew. I’ve created this camera to record everyone’s signature magick. With some tweaking, like I did a moment ago, I can also capture images of magick placed on someone or something. I upload it all into my magickally altered computer and start sorting out the spells, bindings and threads layered on you. While I am at it, I can also add your personal magick signature to my database.”

“How many Others have you stored in that thing so far?”

“I have almost every known witch in the area. I have been snapping discreetly, but I don’t have too many vamps, weres, or demons yet.”

“Wow, amazing. I didn’t know magick could be caught on film.”

“The wonders of digital technology are now used magickally. Just look at vamps, for years they couldn’t be seen on film or in mirrors because of the silver used in film processing. Now digital technology allows them to use cameras and screens to see themselves and be caught on camera.”

I was completely awed by Mel’s abilities. “So how long will it take to unravel all this?”

“It’s going to take a while and I really need to concentrate. I don’t mean to kick you out honey, but you know I do my best work when I’m alone.”

“I understand, Mel. I’ll let you work. Call me as soon as you find something or figure something out.”

“You bet, Wyn.” Suddenly a thought seemed to pop into her head, “Hey, are you going to the Vampire Ball Saturday night?” she asked.

“The Vampire Ball? You mean that crazy costume party downtown where humans dress up as vampires not realizing real vampires walk among them?” I snorted, the whole thing seemed ludicrous to me. Plus, no one asked me to be their date.

Mel’s eyes narrowed. “Wow, your Gram really has kept you out of the loop. How do you keep your job as Preternatural Liaison when you don’t know jack about the supernatural activity in this city? Satinka Tala puts on The Vampire Ball so preternatural types and humans can mingle—safely, on her terms. Guardians will be all over the place, making sure no one gets out of hand. And I guess you didn’t get the P.I.T. Crew memo, team members are encouraged to be there. I would think because of your job as Liaison it would be a requirement for you.”

Shit. “Sorry Mel, I didn’t know. I haven’t even checked my mail box at work or my email in days. This whole Galen-Mike thing has thrown me for a loop and is obviously keeping me out of it. Not to mention the fact someone is messing with my personal mojo. And as far as the ball…I was kinda hoping a certain vampire would invite me.” I looked down at the floor.

“Honey, this is the twenty-first century and we aren’t in high school, you don’t need a man to ask you to go anywhere. Nobody asked me and I’m still going, you can be my date.” Her smile was radiant.

“Okay, Mel. It’s a date. Now I need to find something to wear.”

“Don’t worry about it, I have something perfect tucked away in my closet. I bought it but the color doesn’t work with my skin tone, for you…it’ll be perfect. Come by tomorrow and we’ll play dress up. Now, I have to get to work on tracing your bindings.”

“That’s great Mel, thanks.” I smiled at her realizing I had really missed hanging out with her.

“That’s what friends are for, Wyn. Now get the hell outta here.” Laughing she gave me a big hug and practically shoved me out the door.

Giveaway

Here’s what you can win!

Signed copy of Paranormal Pleasures, Hex and the Single Witch keychain, Bewitching Book Tours Witches Broom Ink pen
****Open to US Shipping****
~~~~~

Hex tour giveaway

***Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.***

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Don’t forget to get your free copy!

About the Author:

The Real Roxanne

Story strumpet, tome loving tart, eccentric night owl…these words describe book publicist and erotic romance author Roxanne Rhoads.

When not fulfilling one the many roles being a wife and mother of three require, Roxanne’s world revolves around words…reading them, writing them, editing them, and talking about them. In addition to writing her own stories she loves to read, promote and review what others write.

Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours and operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books.

When not reading, writing, or promoting Roxanne loves to hang out with her family, craft, garden and search for unique vintage finds.

Visit her online

Author blog www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com

Book Blog www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

Bewitching Book Tours www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com

Facebook

www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoads

http://www.facebook.com/BewitchingBooktours

http://www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoadsAuthor

http://www.facebook.com/FangtasticBooks

Twitter @RoxanneRhoads

Roxanne can also be found on Linked In, Goodreads and Google+

Related articles

Murder on Olympus ~ They’re all jerks! ~ Paperback Giveaway

Posted: April 9, 2013 in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, New Release, otherworldly, Series, urban fantasy
Tags: , , , ,
13

Murder on Olympus Blog Tour Banner

I love greek mythology. So many fascinating beings and stories.

I just had to read this book and when I spotted the tour, I signed up immediately.

While I haven’t read the book, YET, I will be soon and I’ll be telling you all about it!

Murder on Olympus (Plato Jones #1)

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Description

At first glance, the Gods of Olympus are as different from one another as salt is from sugar. Despite their bickering, they share a universal bond, a thread of commonality that unites them.

They’re all jerks.

After a stint with the Olympic Bureau of Investigation, Plato Jones is through with the Gods and their political games. Against his protests, he’s drawn into a murder investigation, where the murderer’s targets are the Gods themselves.

Plato has cracked some tough cases: exposing cheating spouses, capturing treasonous heretics, hunting three-headed dogs. But this time he’s in over his head. How can he solve a crime that’s impossible to commit? And what chance does Plato—a mere mortal—have against something powerful enough to kill a God?

A Character Profile

zeus photo: Zeus Zeus.jpg

Zeus:

Zeus is the King of Olympus, and President of the Olympic World Council. Ageless and wise, he has brought about a golden age for mortals and immortals alike.  Along with his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, Zeus is one of the most powerful beings in existence, if not the most powerful. He possess a plethora of superhuman abilities, which include immense strength and speed, invincibility, flight, enhanced senses, astral projection, regeneration, telethapy, telekinesis, shape-shifting, mind-control and  teleportation. But most notable is his ability to wield lighting. Having defeated the Titans thousands of years ago, Zeus believed that no one would ever become strong enough to challenge his rule. But when a God of Olympus is slain, Zeus and his fellow Olympians must face the most dangerous enemy they’ve ever known: mortality.

Giveaway

I have one paperback copy of Murder on Olympus to give away!

Us/Canada Only ~ Sorry to my International friends.

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question –

“Who is your favorite mythological being?

Giveaway ends April 14th.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter to win an e-book.

It’s an International Giveaway.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Thank you for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

greek gods photo: Greek Gods Greekgods.jpg

About the author

A fan of thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction, Robert B. Warren has been writing stories ever since he could hold a pencil. In 2009, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and creative writing from the University of Alabama—Roll Tide! He currently lives in the South.

Links

Twitter

Facebook

Murder on Olympus Blog Tour Button

Freebie Alert! What The Dark Brings ~ I dare you!

Posted: April 7, 2013 in Freebies!, horror, otherworldly, reviews, Short stories and collections, suspense, thriller, urban fantasy
Tags: , , , ,
10

Edward Lorn’s collection What The Dark brings is free to download from Amazon April 7th thru 12th.

This post is a bit long, as I added my review of Edwards bonus stories and there are two killer trailers to watch. Can’t wait for you to see those!

Go here to get your copy!

What the Dark Brings

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Follow Edward Lorn out of the light and into the darkest recesses of his mind.

What the Dark Brings is a collection of 19 short stories, beginning with “Literary Sweets”, a tender jaunt into Christmastime that proves all is not lost for one jaded gentleman. But by the time you reach the final tale, “Come to Jesus Meeting”, the darkness is all encompassing.

Tales of hope, heartache, and horror abound.

Come find What the Dark Brings

***As an added bonus to new fans, Edward Lorn has included his mini-anthology, Three After, complete and uncut, at the end of this collection. A total of 22 tales of terror coming it at over 40,000 words.***

My review

This collection has everything!

A man on awakens on a train headin who knows where, no memory of how he got there.

Detective Franklin learns why the caretaker said, “The thing is no good, I tell ya.”

Penny always believed what her father said about the water, “There’s nothing out to get you.”

The sign said:

Opening December 20th:

Literary Sweets

Books and Candies for all ages

A combination of Treasures Await!

Raul had no idea how giving the homeless a few bucks would change his life.

Walter just had to have the chess set, the one made from the wood of the legendary ship, Titanic.

Everyone’s heard the urban legend about the man who goes missing on Christmas, only later his family finds his rotting body in the chimney.

A picture does paint a thousand words for Valerie. She just should have looked more closely.

Two young men, high on pot, watch the news as Chucklers gleefully rampage around the world.

Two young friends meet The Beast of Briar Bank.

There are so many delightfully wicked and twisted tales in this collection.

They each have their own flavor and many may seem a bit familiar. But that’s where the author steps in and takes you in a whole other direction.

I’ve read  his anthology, Three After, so I knew where he might take me with these.

If you like the macabre, the noir, the twisted and the darkly humorous, you’ll like this collection.

There was no stopping when I started, as I sped from story to story. Each one so different, so engrossing.

I’d love to see these as episodes for Tales From The Darkside or The Twilight Zone.

Or, maybe, the From The Mind of Edward Lorn Show!

Thanks for some really great writing and plenty of shivers. Edward.

What The Dark Brings gets 5 Stars for bringing it on!

.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq7FwJfMm2g]
.

Here is my review of Three After from an earlier post.

Check out my thoughts on Edward’s Bonus stories.

Edward Lorn’s Three After takes you to the darkside with three chilling tales.

Three after

If you like your horror twisted and dripping blood, these three tales will give you that and then some. I will give you fair warning that Edward writes very descriptive, almost visual scenes, and they ain’t pretty.

1. World’s Greatest Dad

This is every father’s, hell, everybody’s worst nightmare.

Kimmy is gone. While Carl was trick or treating with his daughter, somebody snatched her. He was only distracted for a moment, but that was all it took.

The last time Carl saw Kimmy, she was talking to a man sitting in a rocking chair wearing a wolf costume. Now the chair is empty and Kimmy is gone.

They found Kimmy, but it was too late. Her body was discovered in a garbage bin, thrown away like so much trash.

Carl is consumed by grief and guilt. The police investigation is going nowhere. There is no consolation to be found.

Carl’s friend David inadvertently hands him a cup of coffee, the cup made by Kimmy. It reads World’s Gratest Dad and, yes, that is how she spelled it. Not able to bear it, Carl asks for a different cup. As he passes it back to David, the words on the cup change.

Help Her

He was the only one to witness it. Believing it to be a message from his daughter, Carl uses the messages that appear on the cup to try to save Her and find his daughters killer.

This is a story of redemption, betrayal and vengeance. What wouldn’t you do for your child?

2. An Affair To Remember

Jimmy has crossed the line. His rage at finding out his wife was having an affair, and with a jerk like Ray, pushed him over the edge.

What happens to Ray is horrific, but he has only himself to blame. Should have kept his pants zipped and stopped taunting Jimmy when he was caught.

But after brutally torturing and killing his wife and her lover, things get really bizarre for Jimmy.

Maybe Jimmy should have just walked away from the whole sordid mess.

3. Snuggles

She seems like such a sweet young girl. Elizabeth loves cats and she has three, Cuddles, Snuggles and Bumbles. Her favorite is Snuggles.

One day, her dad accidentally lets Snuggles outside. These are indoor cats and are not supposed to be let outside because of the road.

Yep, you guessed it. Her mom finds Snuggles in the road and tells her that he has gone to heaven.

Elizabeth is heart-broken and what she does to get Snuggles back is beyond belief.

This story goes from shocking to stomach-turning in a blink. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Five screams for really creeping me out!

I was racking my brain a while ago, trying to remember the name of a story I read, and now I’ve found it. World’s Greatest Dad!

That’s how much I love Edward’s writing. That short story is still with me.

Check out his new release, should be out this fall!

.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjpkCSgpfuQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent]

.

About the author
Image of Edward Lorn

Edward Lorn is an American horror author presently residing in the southeast United States. He enjoys storytelling, reading, and writing biographies in the third person.
Once upon a time, during a session of show and tell, a seven-year-old Edward Lorn shared with his class that his baby brother had died over the weekend. His classmates, the teacher included, wept while he recounted the painful tragedy of having lost a sibling. Edward went home that day and found an irate mother waiting for him. Edward’s teacher had called to express her condolences. This was unfortunate, as Edward had never had a baby brother.
With advice given to her by a frustrated teacher, Edward’s mother made him start writing all of his lies down. The rest, as they say, is history.
Edward Lorn and his wife are raising two children, along with a handful of outside cats and a beagle named Dot. He remains a liar to this day. The only difference is, now he’s a useful one.

For more about Edward Lorn and his books:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

Related articles

Release Day Blitz and Guest Post ~ Gateway to Reality Giveaway

Posted: March 26, 2013 in Blog Tour, giveaways, New Adult, otherworldly, Science Fiction, urban fantasy
Tags: , , ,
7

GTR web button scavenger hunt

Welcome to my stop on the Release Blitz for Gateway to Reality by Becca Campbell. Becca has stopped by to tell us a little something about her newest release and her exciting giveaway and scavenger hunt! Please, enjoy her post, enter the giveaway and read on for details about bonus entries in the scavenger hunt!

GATEWAY TO REALITY; A MIND-BENDING URBAN FANTASY TALE BY BECCA J. CAMPBELL

GtR kindle cover final websize scavenger hunt

goodreads-badge-add-plus

I’m thrilled to announce the publication of my second novel, Gateway to Reality, now available at Amazon US and Amazon UK and Barnes and Noble.  Keep reading for a chance to win one of three prize packs!

Gateway to Reality

Here’s a little more about the story:

Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.

Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn’t real. A harrowing truth presents itself—the real world lies in his dreams, not when he’s wide awake.

inception photo: likefluffy inception010.png

The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes’s parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.

Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.

But now he has feelings for the real Emily.

The Matrix Meets Inception

This book explores ideas similar to two of my favorite movies, though it wasn’t directly inspired by either. Dreams are key in the story, as is the idea of two worlds—one that’s real and one that isn’t. Gateway to Reality merges the two concepts and fuses them together with a good dose of romance in a way that is fresh and vibrant.

Genre-wise, Gateway to Reality is a New Adult novel that walks the line between Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction. It is a topsy-turvy, reality-bending, relationship-driven tale that explores the relationship between truth and fantasy.

the matrix photo: Matrix matrix.jpg

Giveaway

I’m giving away several prizes to celebrate the book’s release. The Grand Prize is a Chicago-theme prize pack and it will include:

  • An autographed paperback of Gateway to Reality
  • A journal with an artistic representation of Chicago on the cover
  • A Cloud Gate button
  • A Gateway to Reality button
  • Three postcards: Gateway to Reality, Cloud Gate, and Crown Fountain

The Second Prize is:

  • An autographed paperback of Gateway to Reality
  • Gateway to Reality postcard

The Third Prize is the full Becca J. Campbell ebook library (your choice of Kindle or ePub version):

  • Gateway to Reality ebook
  • Foreign Identity ebook
  • Not the Norm (Sub-Normal #1) ebook
  • Unmasked Alloy (Sub-Normal #2) ebook

You can view the prizes here.

Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour

detective photo: LEGO Series 5 Detective Detective_zps02188e7a.jpg

You can enter the giveaway now, but to really amp up your odds at snatching one of these prize packs, bookmark this page and come back in a week to check out each site along the blog tour. Follow the schedule below: collect a clue at each stop on the correct day and put them all together to reveal the answer. Plug that into the giveaway below to win TEN BONUS ENTRIES.

April 1st     Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

April 2nd     The Peasants Revolt

April 3rd     Catharsis of the Bogue

April 4th     The Pen and Whisk

April 5th     Write for Life

April 6th     S.M. Boyce

April 8th     Paranormal Lounge

April 9th     Lisa Is a Bookworm

April 10th     Jade Kerrion

April 11th     Paper Book Princess

April 12th     Now is Gone

April 13th     Worlds Away Book Blog

April 15th     FU Only Knew

April 17th     Sarcasm and Lemons

April 18th     Brandon R. Luffman

Good Luck!

Click on rafflecopter link below to enter.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Where to find Becca

Becca J. Campbell

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca J. Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity.

Becca’s journey into writing began as many of her other creative endeavors do – by daring herself to try something new. The question “what if I wrote a novel?” and some hastily scribbled notes on a church handout were the inspirations that jump-started her first book. Since then, she has written three additional novels and several shorter works.

As the wife of a musician and mother of three young boys, Becca’s life is never dull. Whether it is writing, painting or knitting, she enjoys making stuff that wasn’t there before.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Author Blog | Pinterest | Amazon

Blog Tour banner medium scavebger hunt

Related articles

Witches Gone Bad ~ Witchblood Review~ Enter to win the series!

Posted: March 16, 2013 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Series, urban fantasy, Vampires, werewolves, Witches
Tags: , , , , ,
98

Finally! I get to tell you about Witch Blood, Book Three in the Vampire in the City Series by Donna Ansari.

Life happened and it’s taken me a bit to get this review ready. So, let’s get to it!

Oh yeah. Don’t forget to enter the awesome giveaway following my review.

Image

goodreads-badge-add-plus

I’m thrilled to hear there will be a fourth book in this awesome series, Cold Blood. This is great news!

Warning: This is the third book in the series. I’ll try not to put in any spoilers.

Here’s a bit about the book:

Vampire Emma Hammond and her best friend and roommate Tammy Torres have rarely had a disagreement, but that’s all about to change. Apart from hating each other’s boyfriends, the duo have more monumental problems to deal with, like controlling Emma’s growing and increasingly dangerous bloodlust and trying to get blood stains out of the carpets. And when new witch Tammy joins a coven whose leader’s lust for power knows no bounds, Emma is unwittingly pulled into their plan.
.
My Review
In this third book, the witches are the main players.
Our furry friend David is present and, of course, Emma is the star.
Em brings her wry wit and humor to the story. I swear she can’t stay out of trouble. And she has her hands full with scheming witches and Alex is sniffing around again. He is persistent and still wants Emma. Just, now isn’t the right time, not when the head of the vampires, who is his boss, wants her dead.
.
Emma’s having a hard time controlling her thirst. She does a big no-no and drains a certain someone to death.

vampire fangs photo: fangs vampire_anime_girl4.jpg

This may be my favorite part of the story. The way it happened and how Emma dealt with it had me cracking up. She is truly becoming more vampirish with each book, leaving more of her humanity behind.

Witchy little Amy sure grows up fast. She’s quite the clever young thing and pulls a fast one on everybody.

Best friend, Tammy, has problems with Em. Tammy understands Em’s a vampire, but wishes she had better control. There’s no excuse for what she did.

These two roomies are like soul sisters. I hope they can patch things up.

“Who would have thought that when we met, almost twenty years ago, that we would end up like this?”

“You mean as being two supernatural creatures we thought didn’t even exist?”

“Yes, that. And also living together and being just as close as we were the first day we decided to trade Barbies.”

I remember my very first best friend and the hours, days, and years we stuck together like glue. The closeness between these two makes this story genuine, makes it come to life.

Must not forget, there are some big surprises in store for you, and a few witches you’ll want to bitch slap. You’ll know who.

When I read the last page I didn’t want it to end. And then I discovered the author had added the first chapter of Cold Blood, the next book in this series. It is so freakin good! I can’t wait to read the entire book.

Donna, you are such a tease! Write fast:)

5 Stars! Bring on Cold Blood!

.

spell book photo: Spell Book-Watch MERRYMEET55.jpg  spell book photo: Spell Book-Watch MERRYMEET55.jpg  spell book photo: Spell Book-Watch MERRYMEET55.jpg  spell book photo: Spell Book-Watch MERRYMEET55.jpg  spell book photo: Spell Book-Watch MERRYMEET55.jpg

I’ve read the first two books in this series and absolutely loved them! Let me show you.
.
New Blood
.
goodreads-badge-add-plus

Emma Hammond is a normal young woman living in New York City whose life changes forever when one misstep brings her very close to death. Luckily, Alex Thompson, a handsome stranger (who also happens to be a vampire), jumps in to save her, turning Emma into a vampire. She quickly discovers the numerous advantages (no more allergies, glasses, or acne) and slight drawbacks (wanting to eat her boyfriend) of joining the ranks of the creatures of the night. But Emma soon finds out her new undead life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when she gets pulled in to an age-old dispute between two feuding vampire clans.

You can read my review here

Loved it!!

Wild Blood (Vampire in the City #2)

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Recently-turned vampire Emma Hammond is not only getting used to her undead lifestyle, but also to living with her new and unlikely roommates–her human best friend Tammy, and David, a werewolf. While the girls speculate as to possible drawbacks to having such a fuzzy tenant (shedding and marking of territory, to name a few), nothing will prepare them for the dispute that is to come between the NYC clan of vampires and an upwardly-mobile werewolf pack from the suburbs. Will Emma be able to get out of it with both her undead life, and her blossoming friendship with David, intact? And, perhaps more importantly, will she be able to choose between Alex Thompson, her sire and sometimes lover, and James, a slightly-unhinged vampire with a mysterious past?

You can read my review here

  Loved it! Howling for more!

Donna also was so generous and allowed me to have a giveaway for each book and she took time out from her busy schedule to sit down for an interview. She also let the roomies stop in for an interview. We had a lot of fun and I hope to have Donna and the girls back again!

Giveaway

Giveaway

Now for the awesome giveaway.

First Place winner gets all three e-books in the Vampire in the City Series

Second and Third Place winners get choice of  Book #1, #2, or#3

Entry is easy.

Just leave your email address and answer this question:

Which do you like more, witches or vampires?

Giveaway ends March 25th.

Thanks for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

About the author and where to find her
Donna Ansari
Donna Ansari was born in New York City and has lived there for most of her life. Donna graduated from Pace University with a BA in Literature and Communications. Since then, she has been working as an editor, primarily in the field of medical education.
Donna lives in Queens with her husband, son, and large black cat. She is not currently aware of any vampires in her neighborhood.

 Related articles

Cover Reveal ~ Spirit by Shauna Granger

Posted: February 21, 2013 in Adult Fiction, angels, Cover Reveal, Demons, New Adult, New Release, otherworldly, Series, urban fantasy, YA
Tags: , , , , , , ,
5

Check out this awesome Cover Reveal organized by AToMR Tours

SPIRIT-large

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Title: Spirit (Elemental, #5)

Author: Shauna Granger

Release date: April 30, 2013

Genre: Urban Fantasy

YA/New Adult/Adult: YA/New Adult

Cover Design: Mooney Designs

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Description:

Not even a guardian angel is more powerful than Death.

Always careful to watch out for others, Shayna put too much trust her abilities to keep herself safe and has been cut down by crazed man. Now she is trapped in the land of the dead, watching as her two best friends suffer the consequences of her death; their powers are fading and soon they will too. Shayna is desperate to return to the land of the living to save them from a similar, cold fate. To save her friends Shayna must turn away from the Light and, in doing so, sacrifice her wings.

But the longer Shayna stays among the dead, the further she slips from sanity. If Shayna cannot find her way back she will be condemned and lost forever among the restless souls of the dead. With nothing left to lose, she will do whatever it takes to fight her way back, with or without her wings.

 About the Author

 shaunagranger spirit cover reveal

Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago Shauna started work on her Elemental Series and released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011. When not reading and writing, Shauna enjoys cooking and playing hostess whenever she can.

Shauna Granger| Facebook| Twitter

Untitled-1

Book Blitz – Just Breathe by Kendall Grey

Posted: January 12, 2013 in Action/Adventure, Book Promos, Freebies!, Mystery, otherworldly, Paranormal or fantasy, Series, suspense
Tags: , , ,
6

Book Blast: Just Breathe by Kendall Grey 

He made a deal with the devil to save the woman he loves…
After a terrible accident rocks the foundation of their relationship, Australian Sentinel Gavin Cassidy and whale biologist Zoe Morgan call it quits. Gavin can’t forgive himself for shattering her trust, and being with the sexy rock star is killing Zoe. Literally.
But love—and duty—are powerful motivators, and alliances are forged in the most unlikely places. With the key to salvation locked inside the mind of an unconscious child, Gavin must find another way to snuff out the Fyre Elementals before millions of humans die, or make good on his deal with the devil and lose the one he loves. Again.
.

Today is the book blast for Just Breathe by Kendall Grey.  I’m reading Inhale right now and then it’s on to Exhale.  I’ll be doing my reviews in February.

.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VISIT KENDALL’S SITE AND ENTER TO WIN A KINDLE FIRE HD!!

.

Buy Links
*All profits from the sales of INHALE, EXHALE, and JUST BREATHE will be donated to whale education.
.
If you haven’t started this series yet, you can read INHALE for free on Kindle!  Just click this link and check it out!
.
.
.
Word diddler and whale warrior, Kendall was born without an off-switch between her brain and mouth. She’s been called the “Flux Capacitor of Twitter” and “A little package of love all wrapped up in F-word paper,” but she’s really just a maniacal writer relaying eyewitness accounts of the rave inside her head. She writes urban fantasy romance and dabbles in erotica and horror on occasion. Kendall lives off a dirt road near Atlanta, Georgia, but don’t hold that against her.
.
.
.
Related articles

The Burning Bush by Kenya Wright/ Release Day Review

Posted: September 19, 2012 in Book Promos, fiction, Paranormal or fantasy, Release day, reviews, Romance, Series, urban fantasy
Tags: , , , , , , ,
4

It’s release day for Kenya Wright! The tour is upon us!

The Burning Bush (Book Two in the  Santeria Habitat Series) is available NOW!

The Burning Bush (Habitat, #2)

I love this cover! What do you think?

If you think it’s amazing, wait until you read the story. It starts out with a bang.

Let me tell you something about it. But before I forget, I should tell you that this is Book Two in the series and may contain some mild spoilers.

Now they’ve really stepped in it. Zulu and Lanore blew up Linderman‘s Blood Factory. It just happens to be owned by Dante, a very powerful vampire that wants them dead.

To complicate matters, the bumbling cop, Rivera, was tracking them with their brands and knows they did it. He uses that knowledge to blackmail Lanore into helping him with a case.

A burning bush has been left in front of the police station. Inside is a naked dead girl showing no signs of burnt flesh or decay. It has to be magic that keeps the bush burning. Hence, Rivera’s need for Lanore. He is inept and lazy, and plans on taking full credit when Lanore solves the mystery. The mystery deepens when she discovers that this is the second burning bush that was dropped off.

I really liked this part:

Rivera took off his blood spattered jacket and slung it over the chair in the corner. “This is the second burning bush with a girl tied to it.”

“Two bush victims.” I shook my head. “And why doesn’t the public know about this?”

“The first victim was just a female mixbreed. A poor one.”

The prejudice portrayed in this scene made the story very genuine.

Let me give you a little background. Lanore is a mixbreed, or mixie for short, the product of parents from different magical species. They are considered the lowest form of trash. Each species in the caged cities, or habitats, are given a brand on their forehead signifying what species they are.

Lanore has a secret, the power of fire. She also has white cords sewn into her arm, put there when her lover Zulu claimed her as his mate during lovemaking. He did this without her consent and she wants them gone.

Zulu has multi-colored cords sewn into his skin from his wrists to his shoulders. They are a spell that lets him shift into a lethal Fairy beast called Prime.

And then there is MeShack. He is a were-cheetah and he makes my blood start racing and my heart go pitter-patter.

Lanore has a lot on her plate. She has to solve the burning bush mystery and keep Zulu and Meshack from killing each other. They both claim her as their mate.

Meshack had his chance and he blew it. He cheated on Lanore. Of course he is in his season, his beast is beginning to mature and is quite randy. The season lasts for seven years and Lanore isn’t putting up with it for that long. But Meshack doesn’t give up that easily. I love his purring when he is aroused. How she resists him, I can’t figure.

She has hooked up with Zulu. A body from heaven with beautiful flowing dreadlocks and a sarcastic wit that adds to his charm. He is her lover and protector and is fiercely possessive. A real alpha male. He is called The Heart Ripper and not because of his sexual prowess.

Here are a couple of  scenes I really loved.

Meshack – “I have you alone in a cellar where no one can hear you call for help. You’re lucky I still have my pants on.”

Lanore – “You’re like a romantic serial killer.”

and this one:

Lanore – “Zulu said, and I quote,”Meshack can look but if he touches, I get to rip off the hand he used.” Then I explained that we weren’t committed and that he was acting like a possessive psycho.”

“His response?”

“Zulu just shrugged and said, “I am a possessive psycho.”

I don’t know who I want Lanore to end up with. I go back and forth, Meshack or Zulu, Zulu or Meshack? Either one warms my blood. The sexual tension just oozes from the pages.

There are also some very funny scenes all throughout the book. They add genuineness to the story, making it very believable.

I laughed out loud at this one! It takes place over the phone.

“So how would a fire witch cast a spell to create the burning bush?”

“The witch would attach their fire to the bush and then have the bush hold the girl in place like magical glue.”

Something banged and then crashed on her end of the line.

“Fox Jr.! I am on the phone!” Vee yelled and then cleared her throat. “Take your sister out of the toilet now! Partricia, get her out!”

The book is chock full of this stuff.  It’s like every page wrings some emotional response out of you. Anger, lust, disgust, glee and triumph. Sometimes more than one.

You would think keeping track of all of the species would be difficult and the explanations of their abilities a drag. But Kenya writes like a master, puts it in laymen terms you could say, making it easy to follow and understand. There is always something thrown into the scene to draw a reaction from you. Very powerful writing.

There is so much sexiness in this book, but not a lot of explicit sex scenes. The author’s innuendos are more than enough to heat up your blood.

The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are so darn likeable. These characters are the friends I would want  to hang with and have on my side if I lived in Santeria.

I could go on and on, but I can’t. I would be telling too much. You will just have to hurry over and get your own copy of The Burning Bush and enter the habitat at your own risk:)

  This book is on Fire!!

You can read my review of Fire Baptized (Book One) here.

About Kenya Wright  www.kenyawright.com
Join the mailing list to stay up-to-date with free books, giveaways, and new releases!Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sang the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.However, writing has been the only constant love in her life.Will she succeed? Of course.For she has been coined The Urban FantasyQueen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya’s head at night.
 
 

You can purchase Kenya’s books by clicking on the images below.

Newer Entries