Interview, Review and Giveaway for Award Winning Novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s Jubilee’s Journey

Posted on January 9, 2014 by fundinmental

To follow the tour, go HERE.

I am so happy to be sharing a new novel, Jubilee’s Journey, from the award winning novelist, Bette Lee Crosby.

Bette Lee is as warm and charming as her characters. Maybe that is why her characters are so realistic, as are their stories. Read the interview below to find out for yourself.

Spare Change was the first book of Bette Lee’s that I read and it is still my favorite. To see my review, go HERE. I have been an avid fan of hers ever since.

Be sure and check out my review of Jubilee’s Journey and Bette Lee Crosby’s two great giveaways below.

BOOK BLURB FROM GOODREADS

When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?

Jubilee’s Journey is Book Two in the Wyattsville Series. This story of discovering lost family and finding love reconnects readers with Ethan Allen and the other heart-warming characters of the bestselling novel SPARE CHANGE.

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INTERVIEW WITH BETTE LEE CROSBY

I am so happy to have you here today Bette. I believe your interview will give my readers an idea of how you are able to come up with such wonderful and interesting characters and stories for your books.

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?

My mother, born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia, was not a writer, but, she was a wonderful storyteller. Not realizing that at heart I was my mother’s daughter, I studied art intent upon becoming a graphic designer. My first job was that of a packaging designer, but it was a short-lived career. Faced with an immediate deadline and a blank space where the copy should have been, I began to write. I never looked back, and it didn’t take long for me to realize that my love for words far outweighed any design skills I acquired along the way.

2. Jubilee’s Journey is Book Two in the Wyattsville Series, but wasn’t Book One, Spare Change, written as a stand-alone novel?

Yes it was. Actually all of my books are stand-alone novels, but after Spare Change was published, I discovered that both I and my readers were not ready to leave Wyattsville and the people living there. That’s when I turned it into an ongoing series. Like many writers, I tend to favor the books that reflect the most poignant aspects of their life. For me, it’s my Southern heritage.

3. Will there be more books in The Wyattsville Series?

Although I do not have one currently planned, I’m sure there will be. Once you get involved with characters you are fond of, it’s hard to let them leave your life forever. I find that I think of characters like Olivia Doyle, Ethan Allen, Paul and Jubilee as friends. I might not get back together with them for six or eight months, but I always know they are there…waiting for me and ready to start off on a new adventure.

4. You’ve written six novels, in those books, which character is your favorite and why?

I suppose I’d have to say Ethan Allen of Spare Change and the reason why is because he is the type of kid I imagine my mom being when she was his age. She came from a family of eleven siblings and they were what many of us would consider poor; so she had to be resilient and determined to survive. And although she wasn’t one to toss around obscenities indiscriminately, she could cuss up a storm when she was really mad. When Mama started cussing we knew to step aside and mind our manners.

5. Is Ethan Allen is modeled after your mom, is there a character that you’d modeled after yourself?

There is probably a bit of me in every character, but the one most like me would probably be Olivia Doyle in both Spare Change and Jubilee’s Journey. Like Olivia, I have quirky ideas about life, I am an eternal optimist and regardless of the odds, I will always go down swinging. When life takes a turn for the worse, that’s when you need to be strong, draw on your Faith and cling to the love of those around you…which is pretty much what Olivia does.

5. What is your next book project?

I am currently working on a novel titled “Previously Loved Treasures.” Although it is not a sequel, it does dovetail into the mystery that ended “The Twelfth Child.” One of the protagonists in this book is a delightful man of magical talents called Peter Pennington and much of the story centers around a very special second-hand store. I believe this book is scheduled for release in April or May of 2014.

6. What is your favorite quote?

It probably depends upon when and where you ask me. I would love to be deep and profound like so many brilliant writers, but I’ve learned over the years that I am still my mother’s daughter – sometimes irreverent, always a story-lover, but seldom brilliant. So here is the quote that most closely reflects my own thinking…”The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

7. What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Be yourself. Discover what’s in your heart and create characters you love or love to hate. Never allow yourself to follow in the tracks of another author simply because he or she sold a million copies of their book. If you stumble on that pathway, your readers will know; your characters will sound shallow and superficial. But if you’re true to yourself and work to develop your own voice it will ring loud and true with believability. It isn’t something that happens overnight. I wrote four novels before the fifth was published, but the truth is that the first four didn’t deserve to be published, they were all part of my learning curve. So, stay with it and learn from the writers who inspire you, from the books you love, and from the books you hate. You learn something from every book you read, and sometimes that something is what not to do. Most of all enjoy every minute you spend writing—because if you’re not writing for fun, you shouldn’t be writing.

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MY REVIEW OF JUBILEE’S JOURNEY

“We’ll name her Jubilee, because this child is a celebration of our love.”

Thus, Jubilee’s story began and you will not want to miss it.

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Jubilee’s Journey is the sequel to Spare Change. Spare Change was the first book of Bette Lee’s that I read and it is still my favorite. I have been an avid fan of hers ever since.

The southern charm and giving nature of the characters captivate me. It makes me think of Hillary Clinton’s book, It Takes A Village. This book drives home the point that a community can accomplish so much more than a single individual. We can definitely learn some lessons from the loving and giving characters in Bette Lee’s novels.

I love her covers and this one speaks to me as strongly as all the others. They are some of the most touching and emotional covers in their simplicity. The cover design for Jubilee’s Journey was done by Kathleen Valentine of valentinedesign.com. Bette Lee will also occasionally incorporate a friend or fan’s name into her novels.

Living in coal country is never easy, but for Paul and Jubilee it became impossible.

Their mother died and my tears began. Paul did his best to be there for Jubilee – he never returned to school, so he did all he could think of to make Jubilee’s life better and took care of the house. After his father’s death, they were evicted from the only home they had ever known. How would Paul keep his promise to his mother to take care of Jubilee and his promise to his father to never work in the mine?

He knew of an aunt in Wyattsville, Virginia. He only had a name, Anita, but off they went.

Into the clouds – (c) Sherry J Fundin

Hurt McAdams dad had abused him and raised him with fear. As a defense, he took the offensive line and became a bully, then a murderer. He ended up in Wyattsville on his search to find his father and make him pay for his miserable life.

Oh no, Paul is in the store looking for work and here comes Hurt. I am very fearful, my heart is heavy with dread. I knew it. Bette!!!! But, what’s this? Who should arrive but Ethan Allen and I breathe a sigh of relief. No way will he allow anything bad to happen to Jubilee.

“Grandma Olivia’s nice. She helps kids in trouble.”

That being said, I knew things would be okay. Somehow.

Bette Lee Crosby writes stories as if they are biographies. They are full of the cruelties and unfairness of life, but also the beauty and wonder. The worlds and dialogue are so real, I feel as if I am there and I feel frustrated because I do not know what to do to help. She packs so much life and realism into her novels, sometimes a BOX of tissues is not enough. I laugh and cry with the characters. I go through their highs and lows, their ups and downs, all the while trying to figure out how Bette is going to make this end with a happy ever after.

The ending left me begging for more. I was sitting on the edge of my seat as if my happiness was on the line.

5 STARS Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review. I can hardly wait to see what she has in store for us next.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to
works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a
cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American
Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win
several more awards, including another NLAPW award, three Royal Palm Literary Awards, and the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal.

Her published novels to date are: Cracks in the Sidewalk (2009), Spare Change (2011), The Twelfth Child (2012), Cupid’s Christmas (2012) and What Matters Most (2013). She has also authored “Life in the Land of IS” a memoir of Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as the world’s longest living quadriplegic.

Crosby originally studied art and began her career as a packaging designer. When asked to write a few lines of copy for the back of a pantyhose package, she discovered a love for words that was irrepressible. After years of writing for business, she turned to works of fiction and never looked back. “Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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GIVEAWAY

There are two giveaways, so be sure and enter both.

The first is the giveaway here on my blog.

Check out this fantastic giveaway from Bette Lee Crosby.

US/Canada – One (1) print copy of Jubilee’s Journey

International – One (1) ebook of Jubilee’s Journey

To enter, leave your email, what giveaway you are entering (US or International) and answer the question.

What do you think of when you look into Jubilee’s eyes?

To enter the second giveaway, go to Bette Lee Crosby’s blog and enter the rafflecopter HERE.

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To get your copy of Jubilee’s Journey or any Bette Lee Crosby novel, click on the covers below.

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To see my Review of What Matters Most, go HERE.

To see my Review of Spare Change, go HERE.

To see my Review of Cupid’s Christmas, go HERE.

To see my Review of Cracks In The Sidewalk, go HERE.

To see my Review of The Twelfth Child, go HERE.

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

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

Blog Tour,Review & Giveaway for Dark Cravings by Madeline Pryce

Posted on January 7, 2014 by fundinmental

I am very pleased to be a part of Madeline Pryce’s blog tour for Dark Cravings.

I read the book when it came out as Blood Lust Rising. I had a review ready, but never published it. Madelyne had seemed to drop from sight, but I found out why. She was doing the author thing, you know, finding a publisher and such. lol

Warning: This novel is rated for Adults only.

I rarely do erotic, but this book was recommended to me by Laura, my sister, at fuonlyknew. I always pay attention to her recommendations. She could not quit talking about the first chapter. “Whew”, I say, as I blush head to toe. But Laura was right. Not only was my Kindle smoking, it was burning up! For all you erotic lovers, this is a MUST Read!

Read more about Book 1.5, Dark Innocence and Book 2, Dark Secrets by Madeline Pryce.

BLURB

As a half-breed vampire, Ella Grey’s life sucks. She does her best to pass the time killing demons and secretly admiring her Shadow Hunter partner, Micah. He’s hot, dangerous and knows it. He’d be just Ella’s type if he weren’t likely to kill her the moment she put a toe out of line.

A chance encounter with a succubus changes everything. From the second the succubus’s spell washes over them, Ella and Micah are helpless to keep their hands off one another. The sex, when it’s not leaving them on the verge of death, is earth shattering and for the first time in ages Ella is connected with someone on a level she’d feared lost forever. But a dangerous prophecy has been set into motion, and if Ella’s not careful it’ll pull her straight from Micah’s arms and into the deepest bowels of the underworld.

A Romantica® Paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published under the title Blood Lust Rising. It has been revised and expanded for EC.

BUY LINK

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My Review of Dark Cravings by Madeline Pryce

I read this book when it was Blood Lust Rising. I have reread the new and improved Dark Cravings and I must tell you, I could not put it down. That is, until the battery in my Kindle died.

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Hot cover and very appropriate title.

Dark Cravings is Ella’s story. The detail and depth of Madeline Pryce’s descriptions is amazing. It is easy to visualize the battles, Ella and Micah’s attraction to each other, the characters that surround them and the world they inhabit.

Ella Gray – I am neither human nor vampire, the thing I was raised to kill. Some consider me a demon, an undesirable, an abomination. I am a hunter and I love every minute of it. I work for the Shadow Agency My mission is to protect humans from rogue vampires and keep our existence a secret.

The vampire world has its own set of rules and regulations with appropriate penalties for those that run afoul of the Shadow Agency.

Micah is the son of the agency’s leader. Ella and Micah had an attraction they fought, but could never put aside. I thought they were already fated to be together before the succubus came into their lives.

By her and Micah being together, Ella had changed. They had changed. The gates of Hell were opened, spawning demons, and the earth protested with hurricanes and tornadoes. Who knew what else would be affected by their lust and desire.

Their journey through their destinies are treacherous. Betrayal follows them everywhere they go. The gruesome, graphic horror is peppered with humor and laughter.

Madelyne describes Ella getting dressed to go to the club and I couldn’t help but laugh at her thoughts about the choice of clothing Hannah, her sister, had chosen for her.

Either the top was too small or my tits had gone from a B cup to a C. Jesus, if I bent over, my nipples might pop out.

I was so involved with the story, the hours passed as if they were minutes. I felt a huge letdown when I reached the last page, wanting the story to continue. And it will. So, you will want to follow Madeline Pryce to see what she has in store for Ella, Micah and the cast of characters you will either love or hate in Dark Cravings.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them

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QUOTES

“The Vampire Queen and yes…the Demon Son. Destruction and Mayhem.”

“God, you’re a bitch. The way he said it, I heard goddess.”

“I crossed my arms under my breasts, which is a mistake, because they almost fell out.”

“When the hell did you get so possessive? Why don’t you just pee on me and get it over with.”

“Nothing says heartless like matching coffee mugs that read, ‘Stand back. I’ve got fleas and ‘Demons do it better’.”

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My only complaint: The cover. I know you can’t judge a book by its cover or you might miss some good reads. However, covers do have a huge influence over me.

I confess that I liked the Blood Lust Rising cover better. Ella looks so fierce, I just knew there was a fantastic story waiting to be told – and it is Ella’s story. BUT I know sometimes this is taken out of the author’s hands and that’s okay. It doesn’t affect the quality of the novel.

“So this is your little ball of claws.”

I love Madelyne’s description of Ella and the old cover fit this phrase to a T.

What do you think of the Dark Cravings cover?

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ABOUT MADELINE PRYCE

Madeline Pryce wrote her first novel when she was ten, penned with neon-pink ink in a loose-leaf binder. Captivated by romantic literature, yet intrigued by the paranormal, she continues to develop her own voice, writing the kinds of stories that inspired her as a teen.

EC AUTHOR PAGE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

To grab your copy of a Madeline Pryce novel, click on the cover below.

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GIVEAWAY

Madeline Pryce says:

For a chance to win an electronic copy of DARK CRAVINGS leave a comment (be sure to include your email). I’ll randomly pick a replier within three days for each blog stop. Don’t forget to enter the grand prize (Rafflecopter link at bottom). One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card from Amazon or Barnes & Nobles.

Emma Meade has won the ebook of Dark Cravings for my blog, BUT you can still enter the Rafflecopter below to receive the $25 gift card!

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

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

Is Winning the Lottery a Curse or a Blessing – Jackpot by Susan Fleet

Posted on December 23, 2013 by fundinmental

Jackpot by Susan Fleet is a prequel for the Frank Renzi series. It tells how and why Frank made the move from Boston to New Orleans, a story no thriller lover will want to miss.

Each novel can stand alone.

To see my reviews for the other Renzi novels, scroll to the end of the post.

Myself, I play Powerball. How about you?

Four lottery winners.

Four murders.

Is there a serial killer on the loose?

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I love the cover of Jackpot, as I do for all of Susan Fleet’s novels. Simple and direct.

Susan Fleet loves to write about serial killers and Jackpot is another murder mystery that reads like True Crime. I do not find the plot so far fetched. I have watched The Lottery Changed My Life, a tv show about lottery winners. In one episode, a man was killed at a strip club. He had been known to carry large amounts of cash, making him a prime target.

Check out The Tragic Stories of The Unluckiest Winners.

Who knows what sets off a killer?

Jackpot is full of suspense, containing plots within plots. The story keeps unraveling and what starts out as a good thing, quickly turns bad. But then again, Susan loves to write about serial killers and does a fine job of it.

The characters come alive on the pages as Susan Fleet leads us from one murder to the next.

“He’d won $12 million and he was still a loser.”

Poor Nigel. He finally got a break. He won $12 million dollars in the lottery. His need to gamble, which had ruined his life, vanished. But, some people seem to be jinxed. Bad things seem to follow them around, like bees to honey or flies to shit.

Frank is a very flawed hero, but I love him. He never hurts anyone on purpose and goes out of his way for a child. It seems Susan Fleet always has a child in her books, that crosses Frank’s path. He goes above and beyond to help.

I like my heroes tarnished. They become more real to me and Frank fits the bill. He is married and having an affair with a married woman, Gina. They have been together for years and he is faithful to her. They met because of their jobs. Frank is a cop and Gina a reporter. I would think they are an unlikely duo, until I think of how much time anyone spends at work.

Susan fleet has a book idea for Gina and the title would be The Lottery Winner. ^_^

I am very familiar with Boston and the Cape, locations in Jackpot. As Susan’s words unfold on the page, my mind develops photographs of the passing scenery.

(c) Sherry Fundin Sagamore Bridge, Cape Cod, MA

I have crossed this bridge many times and have sat in the traffic Susan Fleet talks about. We always worked at timing it to miss the worst – traffic that goes on for miles, cars as far as you can see.

She also includes music in her novels, whether if be the Jazz of New Orleans or the Boston Pops. It makes me think of the fantastic Fourth of July fireworks show.

Ryan is Gina’s husband. His dad is an alcoholic named Tom Collins. Susan always manages to include a little humor with the horror.

“…after dark the scary boogey men come out.” I laughed. You have to be there.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review. I always look forward to reading another murder mystery/thriller from Susan Fleet. What do you have in store for us next, Susan?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Music & Mayhem is my game. Started my trumpet career in my teens, got into the mayhem later. My print journalist father taught me how to play pool in the police station. Maybe that’s how I discovered my dark side.

After gigging on trumpet in the Boston area for many years (while teaching at Brown University and Berklee College of Music), I moved to New Orleans, which became the setting for my crime thrillers.

I survived Katrina, but moved back to Boston in 2010. On my website I post profiles of women musicians and just began a blog, DARK DEEDS, about serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides. Please come visit!!

You can stalk Susan at the links below:

Website / Goodreads / You Tube / Amazon Author Page

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To see my 5 STAR Review of Natalie’s Revenge, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Absolution, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Diva, go HERE.

To get your copy of Jackpot, or any other Susan Fleet book, click on the cover below.

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GIVEAWAY

Susan Fleet is offering for the Giveaway, 2 (two) Kindle copies to 2 (two) lucky commenters. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Giveaway ends January 7, 2014.

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THE WINNERS ARE: Dwayne Keller and Sandy S. Congratulations and happy reading!

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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 on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Will the Domino Effect topple them? The Blake Mistake by I C Camilleri

Posted on December 18, 2013 by fundinmental

I C Camilleri’s Blake series is a psychic adventure into the future.

Would their interference in current events be their future downfall?

Read on to see if the Domino Effect will topple them.

The cover of The Blake Mistake is awesome. I love the simplicity and subtle colors.

MY 5 STAR REVIEW OF THE BLAKE SOUL.

Emma found the trapdoor in the edge of the woods by accident.

She had no idea of the horror that had taken place in the hidden rooms.

No idea of how it would play into her future.

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The Blake Mistake has so much going on, I’m trying to think how I will describe it to you. I C Camilleri writes of the paranormal, romance, suspense, horror, murders, a serial killer, insecurity and jealousy and how the characters do there best to survive and find a happy ending.

Right off the bat, I C Camilleri surprised me. What? I should have known it would not be that simple. So many sub plots, my head would spin at times, being torn first one way and then another.

This review is really hard to write. I do not want to give away any of the good stuff. The surprises just keep on coming and I want you to find them on your own. So, here we go.

He wanted to go home. Would Jake welcome him? When I find out who he is and how he comes to return home, I’m stunned. My jaw dropped open and I just sat and sat, thinking.

Sam loved Jake as a brother and chose to marry Ben. Ben was always insecure about Sam and Jake’s relationship, but talk about really insecure, let’s talk about Emma.

Emma had set her sights on Jake as soon as she met him and got him. She is drop dead gorgeous and is so afraid that when she is old and gray, Jake will no longer love her. Emma’s brother is Ben.

Ben is a psychic, like his father Josh.

Ben’s dream took him away. He had a psychic glimpse into the future. Josh had seen it too. Ben, could choose to save his brother, Nick, but what about the others? Thousands of lives would change if he chose to rewrite destiny. It would spread out into the world, like a ripple in the water. Could you live with it?

By seeing the future, Ben had interfered before and changed Jake’s destiny. Jake in turn was there to save Ben. What if meddling is a Mistake? A minor shift could make a massive change. What would the repercussions be? And would they come back to bite them.

Jake, Sam and Cathy’s nightmare past shaped their entire future and made them best friends for life.

I was reading along, when WTF? How could Jake do that? What a bummer. I don’t like this at all. Then Sam steps in. Without her, Jake’s life would have become much different. But you will have to read The Blake Mistake for yourself to find out what is happening.

The story just keeps getting better and better. There is so much going on and I C Camilleri kept me guessing. I liked that I had to slow down and take in all she was telling me.

Awesome, how she made Jake’s world. I cannot fathom it. How does I C Camilleri come up with these scenarios? It’s a miracle that Jake ended up such a good man. His biggest downfall is jealousy. It is a ferocious beast that dominates his relationship with Emma. Between his jealousy and her insecurity, will their love for each other be enough to keep them together?

As I neared the end, my emotions ran AMOK. I felt a sense of urgency. I felt deep sorrow and am awed at I C Camilleri’s ability to take me to such a dark place. The scariest monsters are the human kind.

My eyes are watering and my hands are getting sweaty. Good thing I’m reading my Kindle and not a paperback. At least, I don’t think it will short circuit.

“You always think that you know best just because you have that Blake gift.”

“It’s not a gift, it is a bloody Curse.”

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

MY 5 STAR REVIEW OF THE BLAKE SOUL

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Something about me…well, that’s complex. Basically I’m a medical doctor living in the UK. Reading and writing have always been my passion, relieving me from the everyday stress of my medical job. My first published novel is THE BLAKE CURSE. It is a psychological thriller and a romance set in Cambridge. It pivots on three powerful characters; Ben Blake, the young and gifted British Intelligence officer embarking on his first undercover assignment; the elusive Samantha Black; and Jake Snell, the rugged Earl full of vices, the rogue who has to tease out that single thread of goodness inside his crumbling shell. He is Ben’s only lifeline in this treacherous game.
My second novel, THE BLAKE SOUL is different from my first in that it is more of a romance, focusing on the passion and love between two people with totally different backgrounds and interests. Here’s the synopsis to whet your appetite;

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Josh Blake wakes up to the sound of the chilling scream echoing inside his head. His childhood nightmares are haunting him again. But why return now after all those years of oblivion? He sets out to investigate and he changes the natural course of events, rewriting destiny and creating a whole new world for himself and those around him. His past turbulent childhood mingles with the present, unveiling the deep insecurities that lurk behind his polished exterior of fame, glory and wealth.

Stalk I C Camilleri

Twitter / Goodreads

To pick up your copy of a Blake series novel by I C Camilleri, click on the cover below.

MY 5 STAR REVIEW OF THE BLAKE SOUL

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GIVEAWAY

I. C. Camilleri is offering for the Giveaway, 3 (three) PDF copies to 3 (three) lucky commenters. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Have you ever done something that you believe will ripple out and affect others in a good (or bad) way?

Giveaway ends January 6, 2014.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. WINNERS ARE: Toni Whitmire, Jennifer Bielman & Beth.

Congratulations and thanks to all who commented.

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

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

An evil walks among us – Night Chill by Jeff Gunhus – Giveaway

Posted on December 3, 2013 by fundinmental

Trees on a cover will get my attention every time.

There is something mysterious about trees and if you take a look at this cover, I think you will see it too.

Be sure and check out my review and the giveaway at the end of the post.

Night Chill
Jeff Gunhus
Publication date: May 31st 2013
Genres: Adult, Supernatural, Thriller

Jack Tremont moves his family to the quiet mountains of Western Maryland hoping to leave behind a troubled past and restart his life. Instead, he finds himself caught up in a nightmare when his daughter Sarah is targeted by Nate Huckley, a mysterious and horrifying stranger driven by a dark power that will stop at nothing to possess Sarah. When Sarah goes missing, suspicion falls on Jack and he must uncover the secrets of the small mountain town of Prescott City and face the evil secret hidden there. As he digs further, he learns the conspiracy reaches more deeply than he could have imagined. Finally, he will have to face the question, What is a father willing to do to save his child? The answer? Anything. Anything at all.

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MY REVIEW OF NIGHT CHILL BY JEFF GUNHUS

Jack approached Piper’s and acknowledged the drunken man leaning against the wall.

Then SHE said, “Run while you can.”

From that point on, I was off and running, too. Jeff aroused my curiosity and curious minds must know.

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I have seen Jeff’s books around, even participated in some tours for him, but this is the first book of his I have read. Because I loved this book, The Templar Chronicles will be added to my TBR list ASAP.

The cover screamed chilly, ghostly.

The writing was so detailed and smooth, at times I felt I was walking side by side with Jack. It was a walk I willingly accepted, but never anticipated how bad the journey would be.

Jeff Gunhus does an excellent job of keeping the level of mystery and suspense high throughout the entirety of Night Chill.

I kept waiting and waiting as more details came to light – waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop.

The writing went back and forth between Jack and Lauren’s perspectives. The suspense seemed to last forever. Jeff Gunhus would leave me hanging with Jack then go to Lauren. He would then leave me hanging with Lauren and go to Jack. He kept the level of suspense so high, building and building, until I felt my heart pounding and my head spinning. I love this.

When Jack pulled into the rest area, I had a feeling of dread? I could feel goosebumps and the hair stand up on my arms and neck. Creepy, scariness started and kept on going and going – like the Energizer bunny. I could hardly catch my breath before another awful thing came at Jack.

Jeff Gunhus’ description of Jack driving through the rainstorm was so familiar. Being from the Gulf Coast, popup thunderstorms are not unusual. I hear the rain pounding on the top of the car. I see the wipers flashing across the windshield, unable to keep up. I feel the tensions in my body as he clutches the steering wheel struggling to see through the downpour.

I fell for Lonetree. I liked his elusiveness, as I tried to figure out his part in this horrific story. Is he going to be the hero that appears out of nowhere? Well, you will have to read the book for yourself to find out what he is doing in the small town of Prescott City?

The evil. What is it? Is it a supernatural demon from hell or just the human kind of monster?

The shit hit the fan and Jack was faced with the decision – drugs or action – he chose to act.

OH NO!. Is he really going into the cave? How many times have we seen this scenario? I mean, come on, we all know, don’t go in the cave. But…..I love it!!

“Welcome to Hell.”

Curiouser and curiouser.

Now, Jeff Gunhus takes us to Sarah, Jack and Lauren’s daughter. Sarah rolled the ball down the hall and I knew something bad was going to happen. My anticipation made me sit up straighter as if to brace myself for what is to come. I was very afraid for her and found myself calling out to her, telling her to leave it alone, let the ball go. Nooooo.

Why Sarah? Why are they so determined to take her, to kill her?

I love myths and legends. Cultures, sacrifice, civilizations little known, rituals, and Native American folklore.

When Lauren was in the most trouble and I thought it may be the end of her, Jeff gave me such a surprise. He gave a little hint and I thought something may be up, but until the end, I never saw the connection.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review. I look forward to reading his Templar Chronicle series.

Hi Jeff. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Night Chill.

I have been to the City Dock Café and I can see why you choose such a fabulous place to work on your next novel. Maybe I’ll see you there sometime.

We are all touched when we hear of a missing child. For more information or to see what you can do, go to www.missingkids.com.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In addition to writing supernatural thrillers for adults, Jeff Gunhus is also the author of the Middle Grade/YA series The Templar Chronicles. (www.jacktemplar.com) The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born and recognized as a 2012 Forward Reviews Book of the Year Finalist. Jeff has been a Stephen King and Dean Koontz fan since he was a kid reading their novels under the covers at night. Seeing Night Chill next to King and Koontz on the Amazon Bestseller lists has been a surreal experience. He leads an active lifestyle in Maryland with his wife Nicole and five incredible kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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To get you copy of Night Chill, or learn more about Jeff Gunhus, click on the cover below.

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Giveaway

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos

Grand prize giveaway

Prize (open internationally):

–a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed paperback

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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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 on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Freakin Friday #13 – Uh Oh- Freebie & Giveaway – Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Posted on November 8, 2013 by fundinmental

Freakin Friday #13 – Uh Oh- Am I supposed to skip this number.

Read on and we shall find out.

Freakin Friday!

Freakin Fridays is a meme brought to you by fuonlyknew. We will be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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OMG – Can that be real?

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ATTENTION: Special notice from Kathryn Meyer Griffith

My murder mystery SCRAPS OF PAPER (62 Amazon Reviews;
average of 4.3 stars) by Kathryn Meyer Griffith will be FREE
on AMAZON KINDLE Here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1W4A2K
on November 8-12, 2013.  Its also available as an
Audible.com audio book here: http://tinyurl.com/lfov76s

All my books are going into Audible.com
audio books for the first time in my 42 year career!

I will send ANYONE WHO EMAILS ME one or more FREE BUY
CODES if they'd give me a brief review for the audio book
afterwards on Audible.com. They just need to email me
rdgriff@htc.net and I'll send a free Audible.com audio book
buy code.

Warmly, author of 18 novels, 2
novellas and 12 short stories, and a 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS
FINALIST for Dinosaur lake, Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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Now, for my Review and Giveaway of

Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

First off, let me tell you. Don’t ask questions, JUST DO WHAT I TELL YOU!

Go HERE and find the awesomesauce story of how Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s new author revised edition of Vampire Blood came to be in your hands.

Could there be a Dean Koontz sighting?

Michelson thought he had found a home.

But Irene had been a bad vampire, leaving six mutilated victims to be found.

Now they were running again.

They were going back to Summer Haven.

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Vampire Blood starts with mutilated bodies and ends with a………..Bite.

I had read Human No Longer and loved the book and Jenny. Kathryn Meyer Griffith told me she had written a prequel to Human No Longer and I was curious to see how and why Jenny came to be Jenny.

Vampire Blood tells the story of the theater and how it changed Jenny and Joey’s lives forever.

Rumors and mystery had surrounded the theater. The townspeople always thought it was haunted. Oh no, it was much worse than that.

Jenny is the main character and I loved her. She had courage, with a capital C. Courage means that you face your fears, you do what must be done no matter how terrified you are.

This was the first time Jenny had ever lived alone. She felt it was time to find herself. She was afraid of the dark. Sounds funny, because she wrote horror novels, Vampire novels to be specific. Just because she wrote about Vampires, didn’t mean she believed they were real. It was fiction.
Vampire photo by NoLifeKing66

Until the mutilated bodies were found.

Who would have thought it was all true?

I felt so sad for Joey and that surprised me. I did not feel that way when I read Human No Longer, but when I found out about his story, it may me want to wrap my arms around him and tell him it will be okay.

Vampires and shapeshifters. Some are so cruel and blood thirsty. They like playing with their food. Made me think of Orcas playing with seals. How terrifying can that be?

Others, like Michelson, just wanted to live and let live. Can a vampire have a heart?

A small town with lots of dead and mutilated bodies? My thought was – why weren’t they doing something sooner? I would have called in “Criminal Minds”.

Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s character and world building are not to be topped. Her writing flows smoothly and draws you deep into her stories.

5 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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I have read two other books by Kathryn Meyer Griffith and they were 5 STARS all the way.

Human No Longer by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

MY 5 STAR REVIEW

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Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Nominated as 2013 EPIC ebook awards “Finalist” in their Suspense/thriller Category.

I can vouch for that nomination. See MY 5 STAR REVIEW.

Add To Goodreads

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’ve been writing for over 41 years now…published for 30 of those years since 1984; have EIGHTEEN novels, 2 novellas and 12 short stories to my name…and more coming. Aug. 30, 2012: I (first time ever!) SELF-PUBLISHED MY 16TH NOVEL *DINOSAUR LAKE* TO AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT! January 2013 I SELF-PUBLISHED MY 17TH NOVEL *HUMAN NO LONGER*, my fourth vampire novel. Also in January 2013 I self-published my rereleased murder mystery (originally a 2003 Avalon Books hardcover) SCRAPS OF PAPER-Revised Author’s Edition and FOUR SPOOKY SHORT STORIES, a collection of 4 horror/romantic horror short stories.

I write traditional supernatural horror, SF horror, romantic time-travel, murder mysteries and paranormal romance. I’ve been writing about ghosts, ancient Egyptian spirits, haunted places and evil vampires WAY LONG BEFORE Stephanie Meyer (no relation to me even though my maiden name is Meyer) and the rest of the vampire author crowd, ha, ha. And now ALL 15 of my older Zebra, Leisure paperbacks, Avalon Books murder mysteries and my Wild Rose Press books have been revised, reprinted and rereleased for the first time in many years (and in e-books for the first time ever) from DAMNATION BOOKS www.damnationbooks.com and ETERNAL PRESS www.eternalpress.biz and AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT. Yippie! So look for them.

I’m a wife of almost 35 years (husband, Russell), mother (one son, James) and grandmother (two grandchildren, Caitlyn and Joshua). I was a graphic designer in the corporate world for 23 years; and have published with Dorchester, Kensington, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle Direct, Damnation Books and Eternal Press, and Amazon Publishing. Six years ago I crossed over into e-books as well as paperbacks and now ALL my old/new books are in ebooks…and soon to be in AUDIO BOOKS from ACX. I love cats and nature, classic rock and country music (my brother, JS Meyer www.jsmeyermusic.com, is a singer/songwriter and does the songs for all my self-made book trailers that are on my websites). VISIT me at www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG or www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith to see all my book covers and trailers.

My published books: (ALL OF THESE OUT AGAIN…PLEASE LOOK FOR THEM!) Human No Longer (2013),Dinosaur Lake (SF horror), Scraps of paper-Revised Author’s Edition, Evil Stalks the Night (supernatural horror), Leisure 1984; The Heart of the Rose (historical romance) Leisure 1985; Blood Forge (supernatural horror), Leisure 1989; Vampire Blood (romantic supernatural horror), Zebra 1991; The Last Vampire (supernatural horror), Zebra 1992; Witches (romantic horror), Zebra 1993 & Pinnacle 2000; a novella called The Nameless One in Dark Seductions, an erotic horror anthology, Kensington, 1993; The Calling (supernatural horror), Zebra 1994. The Nameless One, a short erotic novella in the 1994 Zebra Anthology Dark Seductions. And Scraps of Paper (hardcover mystery) Avalon Books, 2003; All Things Slip Away, the second mystery in the series came out also from Avalon Books in February 2006 and now both are out again from Amazon and both in ebooks for the first time ever. And my three novels and two short stories from The Wild Rose Press are out again from ETERNAL PRESS: Egyptian Heart(ancient Egyptian time travel romance); Winter’s Journey(a romantic suspense novel); The Ice Bridge, (a contemporary romance e-novel with a dose of murder mystery) and two ghostly short stories, Don’t Look Back, Agnes and In This House. BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons, an apocalyptic saga from Damnation Books, June 2010. THE WOMAN IN CRIMSON, a vampire eternal love story, is out now from ETERNAL PRESS http://www.eternalpress.biz. The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Volume 1 (I did the Introduction) 2011 and Telling Tales of Horror 2012(I did the chapter on Putting the Occult into your Fiction)***

Check out website at back of book.

Stalk Kathryn Meyer Griffith. She doesn’t bite – Or does she?

Facebook / Author’s Den

Website / Goodreads / Amazon Author Page / Myspace

These are just a few of the many books published by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. Click on the cover to purchase, or be taken to Amazon for more of her books.

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GIVEAWAY

Kathryn Meyer Griffith is offering 3 ebooks for Vampire Blood. International. Entry is easy peasy. Leave an email and answer the question:

What or Who is your favorite “monster?”

Giveaway ends November 21, 2013

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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 on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

One thing CAN change your life forever – The Thief Redeemer by Leigh Clary Abdou

Posted on November 6, 2013 by fundinmental

The cover of The Thief Redeemer made me want to pick up the book and find out what is happening.

The silhouette made me curious, wanting to know – who is he?

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Marcus and I are car thieves and we are very good at what we do. It is a game to me and I am addicted to the rush.

I find the car and he gets us in.

I am the brains and he is the muscle.

Atlanta-Hotlanta is more appropriate.

My biggest mission in life, though, is finding my brothers.

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The Thief Redeemer by Leigh Clary Abdou is hard to classify. Brandon is a first class car thief. His main goal in life is to find the brothers that were taken away because he was unable to care for them.

Brandon’s plan is to use Claire to infiltrate Birch’s law office and find the files for his brothers. Birch has been after him for a long time and he was going to turn the tables on him. It was a vendetta that Brandon was determined to win.

Brandon takes it a step further when he decides to kidnap Birch’s daughter. Who does he see when they remove the bag from her head?

He never thinks of redemption until………

Claire Peters has the looks of an angel, a blond beauty. Brandon could feel the goodness radiating off her. Claire drew Brandon in, because she makes him think of good things.She was already falling for him before he kidnapped her. Is it really so far fetched that her attraction to him would grow stronger after the kidnapping?

Brandon is an angry, violent criminal, using fists and guns when fists are not enough. Is he just a punk, selfish and arrogant? A user and taker. Pond scum. Can he change? I was really curious as to how and why he become this way?

One thing can change your life. Good to bad. Bad to good.

Brandon spent years being the leader of the largest car theft ring in Atlanta, then he crosses another line by kidnapping Claire. How can it end good? I can’t figure out how Leigh Clary Abdou will make everything okay, but it is a novel so it should end happy ever after. Right?

Tweety Bird Corvette (c) Sherry Fundin

At this point I am halfway through the novel. As I read on, I start to figure it out and race through the pages to see if I am right.

It didn’t end when I thought it would. Super. Leigh Clary Abdou added another element to the The Thief Redeemer. I love it.

Would Clair choose the wild card and an unpredictable future or go for the safe and normal. What would you do? Bad boy or good guy? Hmmmmm.

QUOTES

“You’re not a good guy…”

“Doesn’t the human life mean anything to you at all? You spoke of your brothers…what if someone did this to them?”

Always pisses me off watching a show like Criminal Minds or in real life and the criminal feels sorry for himself and his posse, but could care less about anyone else. Why should any mercy be shown when they show none?

“I haven’t felt during the past ten years. Anger and rage have taken over my soul this past decade , and now that I’ve experienced hope and love, I don’t know if I can return to who I’ve been.”

“You will have to make this decision on your own. But I can tell you this. Don’t let the fear of the unknown dictate your future. Sometimes in life we have to take chances. Sometimes these chances have a positive impact, and other times they have a negative impact. You will have to make a decision and let time reveal the answer to you.”

Words to live by in any situation.

“She is the redeemer of thieves.”

Twists, turns and surprises make this book an excellent read. Even more surprising is the quality of the writing and the detailed story that kept me engrossed from beginning to end and this is a debut novel. Job well done Leigh. I can hardly wait to see what you come up with next.

I love how Leigh integrated the library and books into this debut novel – The Thief Redeemer.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

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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 on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Sierra by Taylor Dean is A 5 STAR Romance/Suspense Novel for only 99c.

Posted on November 2, 2013 by fundinmental

Taylor Dean is one of my favorite authors and I will read any book she writes. I hope you will take a chance and pick up her favorite book she has written. It just happens to be my favorite too.

I love the cover of Sierra by Taylor Dean. But, don’t be fooled. You cannot always tell a book by it’s cover.

This is a suspense/romance novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.

To see my 5 STAR review, go HERE.

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.

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

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

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.

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway Here.

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Grab your copy of Sierra, or any other Taylor Dean book, by clicking on the cover below.

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To see my Review of i have people, go HERE.

To see my Review of lancaster house by go HERE

To see my Review of the middle aisle, go HERE

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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 on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Review/Top 10 Vacation Spots for Tragically Flawed by A M Hargrove

Posted on October 8, 2013 by fundinmental

I am very excited to be a part of Ink Slinger’s blog tour for Tragically Flawed by A M Hargrove.

I have a lot to share with you, so I hope you will take a couple of minutes to browse through the post and enjoy all that A M Hargrove has to share with you.

Have a chuckle as you read her biography.

Tour her Top 10 Vacation Spots and let us know – what is your favorite vacation destination?

Be sure to enter the awesome Giveaway for an Ipad mini and an original necklace designed like the one Shan gave Riviera in Tragically Flawed.

Title: Tragically Flawed

Author: A.M. Hargrove

Expected release date: September 23ish, 2013

Age Group: Mature New Adult

Cover designed by: Amber McNemar

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BLURB

Riviera Benson’s past has been nothing but horrific. It’s filled with secrets that she intends to keep tightly locked away…terrifying secrets that keep her awake at night…that prevent her from getting close to anyone…anyone that is, until her work as a muralist drives her into the arms of the hot and sexy Shan.

Benjamin Shandon, owner of Shandon Homes, works like a thousand demons are chasing him…because perhaps they are. His business has boomed, ever since the forest fire swept through the canyon and destroyed hundreds of million dollar homes. He demands excellence in everything…from his employees to his women. He slows down for nothing, keeping a schedule that no sane person would want. But Riviera interrupts everything, twisting his guts inside out, and wedging her way into his heart, destroying a promise he made to himself.

Will they let their pasts control their future, or will they decide to let go and allow their hearts to discover each other’s?

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BUY LINKS

Amazon l Barnes and Nobles l Smashwords

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MY REVIEW

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under.

Tragically Flawed got so hot, the ice melted in my margarita glass. LOL

I never read a lot of romance, until I started blogging. I have found authors that I love, so I read anything they write. A M Hargrove is one of those authors. I really enjoy her stories and writing style. I was very pleasantly surprised with Tragically Flawed.

It is Riviera’s rags to riches story. A story of her ability to rise above her tragedies and find love and friendship from the wonderful people who enter her life when she leaves her abusive live-in boyfriend and starts her life over in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Annie has a fantastic sense of humor and a mind blowing imagination in the romance department. Makes me wonder where all that hotness comes from. Care to share, Annie?

Riviera – She has no education. She is a middle class worker. She is beautiful and trendy – tattoos, blue or pink tints in her hairs. She carries many scars, both physical and mental. She has been on her own since she was sixteen. Even though her life has been tough and people have treated her badly, she still feels people are good. She is the eternal optimist.

Amie, Riviera’s roommate, is the best. She works at Shelby’s Shack, a women’s shelter and has a very special gift – patience.

Shan – He is a construction mogul. Physically fit, built like a Greek God. He wants no relationship. He has enough baggage of his own, but he falls for Riviera when he first sets eyes on her.

Jasper was her live-in boyfriend. He is a horrendous abuser. She feels she is lucky to have lived through her time with him. He is a steroid raging weight lifter.

Marsha Sue – She is a tyrant. Riviera’s first job in Beaver Creek is with her and she is an awful employer. Have you ever had one?

When Riviera finally stood up for herself against Marsha Sue, I felt like clapping and jumping up and down. Way to go girl.

QUOTES

“Sometimes being a gentleman was a damn bitch.”

“No one likes Marsha Sue. She’s meaner than a rattlesnake.”

“I’d rather have a root canal than go out with her.”

“I am broken, Shan. And I’m flawed.”

“We’re all flawed, Riviera. You’ve experienced something tragic, but it didn’t break you.”

“Riviera suddenly felt like a stack of hot buttermilk pancakes and Shan’s voice was the warm maple syrup running all over her, dripping down her sides and seeping into every pore.” How hot is that? What are you thinking right at this very moment?

I had tears in my eyes when Shan finally got through to Riviera and she talked to him.

Tragically Flawed read like a fairy tale come true. It made me think of Pretty Woman, even though Riviera is not a prostitute. We all want to believe in fairy tale endings, don’t we?

I am so anal, I read almost every word in a book, cover to cover, The font in the chapter headings was hard to read. LOL

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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I am very happy to share A M Hargrove’s Top Ten Vacation Destinations with you and I would like to thank Annie for taking the time from her busy schedule to visit with us today.

Welcome, Annie.

Top 10 Vacation Destinations…

1. Vail, Colorado. If any of you’ve read any of my books, you’ll see a bit of this in some of them, and it’s the setting (well, actually Beaver Creek, Vail’s uppity neighbor) for Tragically Flawed. There’s a reason for this and that is I love to ski. I’ve skied in many places in the US and even in Europe and Vail/Beaver Creek still tops them all in my opinion.

Poppyfields East and West– heading to the back bowls.

2. St. John, USVI. Love, Love, Love this place. I think only 20% of the island is developed and that’s because the Rockefellers donated the rest of it to be made into the USVI National Park. This prevents overcrowding and the place is unreal. You can rent a jeep and drive along a curvy, scenic mountain road and then hit a beach that only has a handful of other sunbathers there. The water is typical Caribbean aqua and you can see clear to your toes, no matter how deep you swim. Snorkeling and scuba diving are amazing too.

Painkiller anyone?

3. St. Martin/St. Maarten. Half Dutch, half French makes this Caribbean getaway an amazing destination. The food, beaches, and duty-free shopping are all spectacular. And like St. John, the snorkeling and diving are awesome too.

4. Cabo San Lucas. Ahhh, Cabo. Love this place, especially the sunset cruises. Admittedly, I prefer the Caribbean Sea over the Sea of Cortez, but the rugged beauty of the coastline is breathtaking. Where the Caribbean is soothing and gentle, the Sea of Cortez is turbulent and awe-inspiring. You often see El Arco, the famous arch in photo shoots for various products, and when you first lay eyes on it, you get why.

It’s even better in person.

5. Monte Carlo and the French Riviera. Posh, elegant, beautiful, pristine, friendly, but DON’T drive. The streets are CRAZY!!

Easy to get lost!

6. Tuscany. Not enough to time to say what I need to. Don’t go for a week. You’ll get the urge to go back for longer. It gets in your blood and stays there. And don’t stop inland. Head to the beaches in Lucca—they’re awesome.

7. Turkey. Haven’t been, so I can’t say how great it is, but everything I’ve heard says it’s spectacular.

8. The Greek Isles. Same as above. This is on my bucket list.

9. Bora Bora. I want to go here for one of my anniversaries and stay in one of these bungalows over the water. How romantic would that be???

10. Thailand, Viet Nam and Nepal. I know that’s 3 but I had to throw them out there! And no, I don’t want to climb Mt. Everest. But I would like to see it in the distance.

Thailand (is that a tree or a rock?)

Viet Nam

Nepal (Mt. Everest)

My favorite vacation destination so far has been pretty much anywhere in the Caribbean. There is something special about the water, the beaches and the people. I have yet to visit our very own Keys in Southern Florida, but it is the number one destination on my bucket list. What is yours?

Well, Annie, I loved traveling the world with you and I raise my Painkiller in a toast – Happy Travels! I want to thank you again for sharing with us. Have a great day and Happy Reading!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove’s career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance writer. Her books include Kissing Fire, Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge, the series the Guardians of Vesturon (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, Beginnings and reEmergent), Dark Waltz and the upcoming release Tragically Flawed.

Other than being in love with being in love, she loves chocolate, ice cream and coffee and is positive they should be added as part of the USDA food groups.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

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To get your copy of A M Hargroves books from Amazon, simply click on the cover below.

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GIVEAWAY

To enter the fantastic Giveaway for an Ipad mini and an original necklace designed like the one Shan gave Riviera in Tragically Flawed, click on the Rafflecopter Giveaway link below.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

It is not required, but feel free to share with us your favorite vacation destination. I would love to hear your travel stories. Good luck in the giveaway and thanks for visiting fundinmental.

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TOUR SCHEDULE

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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 and let’s talk.

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Freakin Friday – Karma is a Bitch – Life After Dane by Edward Lorn

Posted on October 4, 2013 by fundinmental

Freakin Friday!

Freakin Fridays is a meme brought to you by fuonlyknew. We will be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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Ella Mae Peters is the mother of Dane, the Rest Stop Dentist.

Dane was put to death by lethal injection and Ella thought that would be the last time she would ever see him.

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Life After Dane by Edward Lorn is very dark and disturbing. It is a story of abuse and a supernatural evil seeking revenge.

The members of Ella’s church shunned her, just for being the mother of a killer.

I was pissed off for her, then at her.

How could she not have known that something was terribly wrong with Dane.

Abuse is tough to explain – why people live with it – why people allow it to happen.

“Why didn’t you do anything?”

Is this how a serial killer is born?

Why would a mother stand by and watch a father abuse a child?

YES, it is her fault. Even though I felt empathy for her, her inability to act for fear her husband would turn on her, it is her responsibility to care for and protect her child. He was the innocent and incapable of defending himself.

Did she really believe she would go to Heaven? Dane didn’t.

Religion. Some people are brainwashed by it. Some people misinterpret it – making it be the way they want it to be. Some people are just plain hypocrites.

The ending blew me away and pissed me off. I never saw it coming and I couldn’t help but laugh at how Edward Lorn has caught me by surprise. I sure never saw this coming. Now what? The story is over and I am left feeling a need to know more. I am afraid – very afraid.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review. I have read Deadly Bastard by Edward Lorn (see review link below) and knew I would not be disappointed. I look forward to reading more of his work.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

STALK EDWARD LORN

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

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