Monday Mini – Review – Children of the Revolution by Peter Robinson

Posted on June 9, 2014 by fundinmental

I have read several books by the prolific writer, Peter Robinson – Playing With Fire, Friend of the Devil and All the Colors of Darkness – so I was very happy to have won Children of the Revolution. The cover led me down a path to murder and wicked political machinations. They do make, to me, not such strange bedfellows. If you want a detailed, step by step, approach to an investigation of a murder, this is the book for you. Children of the Revolution is a convoluted tale that drives Banks decades back into the past to find the answers. I do like knowing the process of an investigation, but I am an action junkie and needed more mayhem with my murder. I enjoyed the journey and I am sure I will travel through the pages of another Peter Robinson novel in the near future. I love this quote:

Hell is other people.

I won the ARC paperback on Goodreads First Reads.

To get a copy or learn more about Peter Robinson, click on the cover above.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

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Monday Mini #9 – Chimera by David Wellington

Posted on February 10, 2014 by fundinmental

The title – Chimera – by David Wellington made me stop and investigate further. I thought it would be mythological, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was so much more that that.

Barbed wire, men in foxholes guarding a camp, an escape and the detainees running free, hmmmmm what could that mean? And who are the detainees?

BLURB

A fabulous new talent-the heir to Patrick Lee and James Rollins-delivers his first published novel: a wildly imaginative tale that combines elements of horror and science in the vein of Michael Crichton, in which a circle of unlikely heroes must uncover a nefarious cabal and prevent it from unleashing a diabolical threat that could destroy the world

7 fugitives escape from a secret military facility in upstate New York, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

7 super-soldiers gone rogue.

7 innocent citizens targeted for death.

Disabled Army Vet James Chase is drafted for a desperate mission to stop this lethal force. Aided by a mysterious woman named Angel and a courageous, beautiful veterinarian, Chase sets off on a hair-raising cross-country hunt.

But are the killers really rogue soldiers, or are they only the tip of a sinister conspiracy . . . the first piece of a shocking nightmarish plan that will lead to ultimate destruction?

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MY REVIEW of Chimera, A Jim Chapel Mission, by David Wellington

Chimera – an organism with more than one kind of DNA

David Wellington has been compared to Patrick Lee, James Rollins and Michael Crichton. That being said, I knew I would love this story and I wasn’t wrong. A sci-fi government conspiracy that will leave you shaking in your shoes. With all the genetic research being done, do you think that no one has thought about building the ultimate soldier?

Jim Chapel, a Special Forces veteran, is called in to save the day. The only clue – Chimera. The writing is excellent and the dialogue had me smiling and laughing, when I wasn’t pissed off and terrified. A sci-fi thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I knew Jim would accomplish his mission, but how? Secrets, danger, an uncontrollable evil that must be prevented from escaping into civilization. The ending – not what I thought it would be – oh, so much better than I imagined. I had tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I won a hardcover, first edition copy from Jessica at Jess Resides Here. YAY! Thank you Jessica and David. It looks beautiful in my collection.

“Is it not a glorious thing to be living in a George Jetson world?”

To get your copy of Chimera or another David Wellington novel, click on the cover below. David is a prolific writer and has many novels to choose from.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Monday Mini #8 – Evil runs free without the Watchdogs – Open Meetings by Joyce T Strand

Posted on February 3, 2014 by fundinmental

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

A Sioux Proverb

BLURB

PR Executive Jillian Hillcrest is having lunch with a reporter colleague when a woman enters and begs him not to print anything she’s told him because they will kill her if he does. A few days later, the reporter tells Jillian that the woman was killed in a car crash in his hometown. The police ruled her death an accident caused by driving under the influence of alcohol.

Although Jillian is busy promoting her Silicon Valley biotech company, the reporter draws her into an investigation of his hometown’s police department, located in California north of the Napa-Sonoma wine region. Coincidentally, Jillian’s neighbor Cynthia Anderson wonders about the untimely death of her policeman husband years earlier as part of the same police department. Meanwhile, Jillian’s ex-husband hovers over her to reverse the “ex” status. Unfortunately, none of them anticipates the frightening events that follow.

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MY REVIEW

Open Meetings by Joyce T Strand was inspired by real events. Mysteries and thrillers are my favorite novels and this one did not let me down. The Brown Act is a California law that requires government meetings to be Open Meetings. As we lose journalism as we knew it and investigative journalism seems to be coming obsolete, who will be the Watchdogs if the citizens are kept in the dark? The government is able to run amok, politicians becoming little more than dictators over their domains. Does any of this sound familiar to current events?

I found myself quickly getting involved with Jillian. I knew bad things were heading her way and wondered why she recklessly met them head on. My answer – who could really believe that corruption, conspiracy and danger could touch them in such a tragic and evil way. I fell in love with Chad. His humor and determination to make Jillian happy knew no bounds. He lived life to the fullest and wanted only to share it with her.

Open Meetings has all the qualities for a great mystery/thriller, with some romance thrown in for good measure. The writing was easy reading and I finished it in one sitting. The story was riveting, thought provoking and it down right pissed me off. I had to know what would become of Jillian and I am eagerly anticipating helping Jillian solve more mysteries.

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I won a signed paperback of Open Meetings in a Joyce T Strand giveaway back in August of last year. She signed the book – “Enjoy helping Jillian solve her second mystery.” All I can say is, I sure did Joyce and I am looking forward to helping her solve more of them.

To get your copy of Open Meetings, or another Joyce T Strand novel, click on a cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Monday Mini #7 – A Class Apart by Stephen Henning

Posted on January 13, 2014 by fundinmental

A Class Apart, by Stephen Henning is the first book in the Class Heroes series of thrillers for teenagers and adults alike. I will be spotlighting this series this week, so be sure and check back to see what’s happening with the superhero teenagers, James and Sam.

I read this book quite a while ago, before I started blogging. I am sharing a mini review now, because I be will publishing my review for the second book of the Class Heroes series, What Happened in Witches Wood tomorrow. You can see it HERE. No spoilers.

Where’s Lolly, the third book in the Class Heroes series is being released and will be free on Amazon on January 15, Wednesday, and Thursday, January 16. (Follow the links below to check it out on Goodreads or click on the covers for Amazon.)

All I can say is WOW! I was blown away. I read it straight through, it took me six hours. I devoured it. The cover was interesting and caught my eye. I really liked the clean, crisp, simplistic look. The cover and the title were both descriptive of the book. It was very well written and the story flowed smoothly. The suspense built from the beginning and continued to the last page. A lot of times, the books by authors from the UK can be difficult to read and the flow can be interrupted by the phraseology. Definitely not so here. The characters were both likeable and hateable. I loved Samantha for her goodness and naivety. I loved James for all his heroism and willingness to risk his own life, but he left me wondering what he would become in the future. I even felt empathy and sadness for the “villain”. I can hardly wait until I can get my hands on the next book. A Class Apart would make an interesting movie that would be enjoyed by people of all ages, just like the book. I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

5 STARS Would Buy It For Them (lol)

Author Links

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Google+ / Facebook / Youtube

To get your copy of A class Apart, or any of Stephen Henning’s books, click on a cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Monday Mini #6 – Travel through time with Kat as she finds the truth about Redemption

Posted on January 6, 2014 by fundinmental

I love ghosts and haunted houses. I find Redemption so fascinating, because this is about a real mansion and – guess what – it is really HAUNTED. That gives the novel a little something extra that makes me want to find out more.

Check it out at Haunted Graham Mansion.

It is up to you to decide what is fact and what is fiction.

So let’s get started on our journey for Redemption.

Clara, the ghost of the mansion, made herself known to Kat.

Kat knew she would not rest until she found the truth.

She asked her Grandpa to tell her the story of Graham Mansion and her journey began.

“We’ve got to be seekers of truth, whether we like it or not.”

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A haunted mansion, crime, mystery, time travel, sadness, tragedy and young love.

Redemption caught my eye during a tour I saw on Promotional Book Tours. YAY! I won a signed, first edition paperback copy and my journey through time began. I love ghosts and hauntings, but there was so much more to the story, especially because there is a real Major Graham Mansion and that adds an extra dimension to the story for me. The writing is excellent and the story flows smoothly, seeming as if it is really happening. Realistic and sweet descriptions of daily life. It is not all gloom and tragedy, but first love and fun as Kat learns many of life’s lessons. I was surprised when I got so involved in Redemption. I thought it would be more like a prequel with details and descriptions, but not much action. Boy, was I wrong.

“…one of the most interesting things about the mansion is that it is a house within a house, a story within a story.”

“…embrace adventure, it can take you beyond your imagination.”

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend to Others

To get your copy of Redemption now, or to learn about the authors, click on a cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Monday Mini #5 – Clean by Alex Hughes

Posted on November 4, 2013 by fundinmental

I won this book in a giveaway on the Readers Confession blog. Thank you Readers Confession and Alex Hughes.

You can click on the cover or Clean (A Mindspace Investigations Novel) by Alex Hughes, to get your copy.

Clean by Alex Hughes caught my eye with its cool cover and the futuristic storyline. I mean, a serial killer and a disgraced telepathic, druggie cop – what’s not to like?

I loved when Alex Hughes described Cherabino driving – sky lanes – they don’t use a road and using the siren just because she can. Real cops don’t do that, do they? lol

He picked up the vials, thinking of shooting up. Almost going off the wagon was a bad time to have a precognition. No one would believe he was the next target of the serial killer. No, he won’t, he can’t, but the needle is loaded and heading toward his vein. I kept saying no, no, no. Don’t do it. Just say no! OMG, he’s really gonna do it.

That passage was the most involved I was in the book. The rest of the story just didn’t grab me. I can’t really say anything was wrong with Clean and I really thought I would love it. It was well written and the story flowed smooth, maybe it was just one of those days. You know what I mean. I am very glad to have read it and want to read more about Mindspace Investigations.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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Monday Mini #3 – Deadly Paradise by Charles Ray

Posted on October 21, 2013 by fundinmental

Deadly Paradise (An Al Pennyback Mystery) by Charles Ray

I won this signed first edition paperback.

I love adding books to my collection.

A sniper crashes the wedding.

I would classify this mystery as a light and entertaining summertime read. I loved it and read until midnight, because I had to know what was going to happen. Al and Sandra are characters I want to spend more time with. Charles Ray is a prolific writer and after reading this book, I can see myself stocking up for many hours of entertaining reading.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

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Click on the cover above to see more of Charles Ray’s books.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

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Monday Minis #1 – ARC Review of An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James

Posted on July 8, 2013 by fundinmental

Books on My Bookshelf by Sherry Fundin

I have created a Monday Mini post for two reasons: (1) it is always difficult for me to have a post ready for Monday and (2) since I had to move my blog I am having difficulty catching up on reviews for all the books I want to share. So, I hope you enjoy these short, but sweet, reviews.

I got the idea for this from Laura at fuonlyknew. Thanks Laura.

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Jillian’s uncle dies when he falls from a cliff. She travels to the village of Rothewell to pack his belongings. Things immediately start going bump in the night. Was there more to his death than everyone believed?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others

I love a good ghost story and Simone St. James does not disappoint. The gothic feel reminds me of Daphne Du Maurier. As Jillian strives to solve the mysteries of Rothewell, she meets Drew Merriken, a Scotland Yard Detective. An Inquiry into Love and Death was a fun romp in the woods, with so much more to the story than a ghost. It kept me wondering what was really going on in the forest. As they strive to find the answers, I was happy to be along for the ride. I won this book from a giveaway on The Quillery. Thank you Simone St. James for signing the ARC paperback. I love adding books to my collection.

To pick up a copy of Simone St. James books or learn more about her, simply click on a cover below.