Christmas in July – Merry Chris Witch by C K Dawn @CloakedCKDawn

Posted on July 8, 2017 by fundinmental

Welcome to Christmas in July and Saturday Shorts.

Today I am welcoming C K Dawn and her FREE novella Merry Chris Witch.

I love this beautiful cover by Karri Klawiter

MY REVIEW

How does the magical community spend Christmas? Well, they don’t scrub the floors. A simple wave of their had and the house is clean. I would love to be able to do that too.

BUT, Chris isn’t supposed to use magic. He’s a witch, so, like Harry Potter, he feels the need to test his abilities. He’s ahead of his class and easily bored. If he doesn’t quit getting in magical trouble, they’ll strip his powers and send him to human school.

He hates everything about Christmas, except his birthday, until….

He meets Nichole.

At first it’s fun and games, but when Nichole asks Chris for his help, he drops everything.

This sweet and innocent romance shares young puppy love, wonder and adventure, traveling the world through magic, flying through the air in Nichole’s Lamborghini.

What a sight to see.

In the magical realm, all things are possible, which is why I love to read about the paranormal and supernatural, and C K Dawn has done a wonderful creating a world of imagination and dreams that will entertain the young and old alike.

4 Stars

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They Killed Santa in Cowabunga Christmas @aburke59

Posted on December 3, 2016 by fundinmental

Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke hooked me. How can I possibly resist sitting in that lounger, watching Kim and Brien hit the surf and wonder what trouble they will find as they butt into a murder mystery.

Christmas, a tropical beach locale and a dead Santa…Merry Christmas to you.

Cowabunga dudes and dudettes, “Sur’f Up.”

MY REVIEW

Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke has so much going for it…A gorgeous cover, hot surfer dudes and dudettes, Santa, a murder mystery and…

We begin our adventure by jumping the fence around the closed pool at this elite resort and taking a “midnight” swim. I have jumped a fence or two in my time, so I thought this was a good sign.

It’s Christmas, Kim is on her honeymoon with her hot and hunky surfer dude hubby, Brien. Kim was going to learn to surf and she got her very own wettie for Christmas.

They are opposites – He is hard and fast, she is slow and soft. The picture of them, in my head, is my favorite two characters from NCIS Los Angeles, Kensi Blye, Daniela Ruah, and Marty Deeks, Eric Christian Olsen.

Shortly after their pool jumping adventure, a body is found floating in the pool…dead. Oh no, it’s Santa.

We have a double and a triple cross and is there a treasure?

Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke with its easy reading and colorful characters has all the elements for a fun and humorous cozy mystery.

One mystery is solved…but, wait, there’s more on the horizon in Gnarly New Year.

“Cowabunga Christmas – it’s the most epic Christmas anyone could every have. We had one of the most awesome mornings surfing.” From Brien.

3 Stars

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A Psycho Serial Killer – A Piece of You by D M Annechino @DMHemingway

Posted on April 16, 2016 by fundinmental

I was very excited when I won a signed paperback of A Piece of You by D M Annechino. I love books about psycho serial killers and HE is a doozy. Suspense thrillers are my favorite genre and even the cover tells me this story may hold a piece of my heart. I love jigsaw puzzles and look forward to finding that missing piece.

My thanks go out to D M Annechino and IReadBookTours.

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A Piece of You by D M Annechino has all the elements I love, from the bloody cover with the missing piece, to the serial killer running AMOK within the pages. I mean…with a line like this:

He opened his duffle bag and removed a hacksaw, a utility knife and a thick towel. He whisered into her ear as if she was still alive. “I’m so sorry Theresa…All I want is A Piece of You.”

in the opening pages, I am HOOKED.

Sometimes when the justice system lets them down, a vigilante thinks it is up to them to right the wrong. HE is making a horrific statement and feels he has nothing to lose. I feel so bad for HIM, but no matter how I twist it, this cannot end well for him and rightly so.

A Piece of You also tells Sami’s story. Have you ever wondered how big someone’s heart can be? When it comes to Sami, the answer is HUGE! . I could not do what she does and I love her for it.

Sami is a tough and righteous homicide detective that will not be swayed from doing the right thing. For some reason, serial killers have become her specialty.

A Piece of You is the third book in the Sami Rizzo Thriller series, but reading out of order didn’t affect my enjoyment. The blanks are filled in and it only makes me want to go back and read what I missed.

I know the story and writing is fantastic, when it makes me fall in love with the villain, feeling his anguish, but knowing no matter what he does, his actions are futile and the price he will pay is high and I cannot stop reading, wondering how it will end.

I want more of Sami Rizzo’s and D M Annechino’s stories and I want them now.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Homicide Detective Sami Rizzo is at it again! She never dreamed “America’s Finest City,” would be tormented by yet another serial killer, but for the third time in the last five years a depraved maniac is stalking the streets of San Diego. Based on her qualifications and prior successes dealing with multiple murders, who else would Captain Davison assign to head the investigation? Different from Sami’s past experiences, this fanatic is like no other. His methods of killing defy everything profilers think they know about serial killers. As an intense investigation begins and bits and pieces of evidence emerge, no one can understand his motivation. He’s merciful, yet brutal. And just to make things even more confusing, all of his victims are blood-related. Is he settling a vendetta? Did he randomly pick a name out of the phone book and begin a rampage? Or is there a deeper story? Based on very little evidence and a lot of gut instincts, Detective Rizzo pieces together a complex puzzle and narrows the field of possible suspects. She learns that the killings may connect in some way to powerful people within the judicial system and doesn’t know who to trust. Ultimately, she comes face to face with the killer for a battle of brain and brawn. Can she outwit the shrewd killer, or will she be his next victim?

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Women Take Justice into Their Own Hands in Thirteen to None @ceebee308

Posted on April 2, 2016 by fundinmental

The gorgeous cover makes me feel I am stepping into EVIL in Thirteen to None by Claude Bouchard. Women take justice and there are no holds barred.

I was soooooo right!

MY REVIEW

Thirteen to None by Claude Bouchard is the 8th book in the Vigilante series. Even though it is a series, it is not necessary to read them in order. It is also the #3 Kindle Bestseller in Vigilante Justice and I can see why. I have watched and rewatched and rewatched Charles Bronson in his vigilante series. I love it…when justice is not served, sometimes it is necessary to take the law into our own hands.

The events take place in a week’s time and Thirteen to None is jam-packed with action. It starts out with a gang of thirteen sadistic killers leaving two burned bodies in their wake. When their men are taken…next on the blood thirsty killer list of victims…three women make it their mission to rescue them.

Thirteen to None contains some great twists that add that extra bit, making a novel stand out from the rest. This shocking thriller has a fantastic cast of characters, whether they are the lowest of the low or some of the most heroic and determined females I have had the pleasure to know. I am amazed at the story Claude Bouchard has created and wonder why I haven’t read his work before.

The storyline was written in an engrossing way, leaving me unable to put the book down until the last page had been read. Stupendous job, Claude! I want more.

5 Stars

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Saturday Shorts – Ocean’s Infiltrator @DemelzaCarlton

Posted on March 26, 2016 by fundinmental

I have finally picked up and read Book II of the Ocean’s Gift series, Ocean’s Infiltrator and I will have my answer to the question…will she let him live, now that he knows she’s a mermaid?

MY REVIEW

Recommended for Adults. Lots of hot and steamy sex scenes.

Ocean’s Gift, Book I, made me teary eyed as I was left with the most awful cliffhanger imaginable for a mermaid story. Alone…in the sea…watching her human sail away.

Ocean’s Infiltrator by Demelza Carlton is Book II of the Ocean’s Gift series and I am so happy to find out if Sirena (Vanessa is her human name) will have a happy ever after or kill her human. What would she do…send a Hitfish to take him out? I couldn’t help but laugh!

The Ocean’s Gift series carries a message along with the fantasy. Sirena (Vanessa) is the Ocean’s Infiltrator, doing her best to warn humankind of the damage being done to the oceans and seas. Now the question – continue to help the humans or let them die?

Carved Wood Mermaid (c) Sherry Fundin

She travels between the ocean and land, making the transition easily. On land she is a Harley riding badass. She is very much her own “woman” – funny, a tease, a lover, a mommy, a leader, and a mermaid – the complete fantasy package.

Joe and Vanessa cannot keep their hands off each other. They are soulmates, fins and all.

Do you want to know how mermaids have sex? Well, you will learn more than you ever thought to ask, in Ocean’s Infiltrator. The sexual tension between Vanessa and Joe steam up my Kindle, love and romance oozing off the “pages”, making it too hot to handle. My only complaint is sometimes I thought the sex was there, just for sex’s sake, but maybe mermaids have to grab it when they can. LOL

The characters, mermaid and human alike, are complex and I am sure you will find your favorite, just like I did.

Politics and a world beneath the waves to rival our own. Atlantis…I was there!

I love the hints and warnings of the damage being done to the oceans and seas. They fit right in and leave me thinking, what can I do? Who is our Ambassador of the deep? After all, I don’t want to be the one that contributes to the extinction of the mermaids. Do you?

Demelza Carlton’s writing brings the Ocean’s Infiltrator world to life. I was entranced and enchanted, letting the story wrap around me like a warm, wonderful cocoon, leaving me with a dreamy smile on my face and a wandering gleam in my eyes.

I hated to see the Ocean’s Gift series end and it will stick with me for a long, long time. I look forward to reading more of Demelza Carlton’s work!

4 Stars

Saturday Shorts Review – Water & Fire @DemelzaCarlton

Posted on March 12, 2016 by fundinmental

Water & Fire is a prequel novella to the Ocean’s Gift series by Demelza Carlton. My introduction to the series was through a tour for Ocean’s Gift and I am happy to read Belinda’s story and get to know her better.

MY REVIEW

Recommended for Adults.

What do Belinda, Aidan and Lin have in common?

Belinda is a midwife at the Albany Regional Hospital in Australia. She handles things in a calm, matter of fact manner, not allowing anyone to know…

Lin delivers more than TLC at the hospital and I couldn’t help laughing when Belinda caught her bedhopping all over the hospital.

Aidan is an intern and…

The Nannup Tiger is a native species of Australia, thought to be extinct.

Fact or fiction? Fact, but..

I believe we’ll find out…

Water and Fire is a fun and romantic paranormal story that had me smiling and…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination. The reading is easy and the writing whimsical. At times the heat builds and the story turns sweet and sexy.

I love a good mermaid story and I read Ocean’s Gift before Water and Fire, so I had already met Belinda. I was happy to get more insight into her character.

Demelza shares hints of so much more sprinkled throughout Water and Fire, enticing me, the reader, to want to know more.

4 Stars

My 5 Star Review for Ocean’s Gift

Ocean’s Gift made me teary eyed as I was left with the most awful cliffhanger imaginable…for a mermaid story. Alone…in the sea…

Saturday Shorts – She is the Prime Target by Ellis Vidler

Posted on February 20, 2016 by fundinmental

Prime Target by Ellis Vidler is a thriller and suspense novel that had me on pins and needles as I hid out with Grace.

Are you safe in WitSec?

MY REVIEW

All I can say is Ellis Vidler outdid herself with this awesome story filled with suspense, thrills and romance. What do a stray dog, a severely damaged veteran and a wanted woman have in common?

It all started with, “Maddie, come home right now. I’m in trouble.”

It was the end of life as she knew it. Now she is on the run and even WitSec is not safe. She is the Prime Target and they come at her like the Mafia of old, determined to take her out. Imagine looking over your shoulder, unable to sleep, jumping at the slightest noise, forgetting to answer to your name and looking at everyone you meet with suspicion.

Who would you be if you could reinvent yourself?

I love stories with strong women in difficult situations. Ellis Vidler took me into a world that I can believe is real with her creative writing and ability to keep me guessing as to what comes next. The story was predictable, but the journey, not so much. She adds those extra flourishes that touch my emotions and keep the pacing of the book at a high level of sorrow, romance, danger, terror and…I do love a happy ever after.

I would highly recommend Prime Target by Ellis Vidler.

It even contains a bit of humor along with a lot of suspense:

“They shot Frank again.” I couldn’t help but bust out laughing. I mean, how many times can you kill a guy?

5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb: Suspense with a love story. Adult language and situations. After witnessing her husband’s murder, Madeleine Schier becomes a killer’s target. She flees her upscale New York life to become a name on a tombstone, relying on her wits and imagination to survive in a world where danger is everywhere. One wrong move could be her last. Should she trust the damaged recluse who’s always near? Before long, her new life turns into her old nightmare when crimes that were once distant horrors on the nightly news turn up on her doorstep.

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You can also see my review for Time of Death by Ellis Vidler.

Saturday Shorts – Stranger Than Fiction @EmelleGamble

Posted on February 6, 2016 by fundinmental

The title and cover for Stranger Than Fiction by Emelle Gamble are attention getters. They drew me in and I could not resist.

I love covers and think this one tells me there is trouble on the horizon.

Cover: Tammy Seidick

What does it say to you?

MY REVIEW

Claire had the feeling something was wrong…and she was right.

Claire is a buyer at a publishing house. Mr Harrison, her boss, sent her to investigate an accusation that a book they were getting ready to publish had been stolen, printed under another name. The dreaded word…plagiarism has reared it’s ugly head.

Claire considered herself boring, but to me she was one of us. You know, we are not rich, nor are we famous. We are just the average Joe helping the world go round. We all have a life and living it is not always exciting or adventurous.

The mystery grows the more I read. I’m not sure which characters are good or bad. Emelle Gamble is not giving me many clues to help me either, but I did know who the killer was early on. That’s okay, it’s all about the journey for me.

Hmmm…could we have the beginnings of a romance? I think so. But, is the player being played? Their affection in the office almost made me burst out in laughter. Love it.

The suspense is there and I am afraid for Claire. My only complaint is that when the suspense built, the pacing would slow, interrupting the flow.

3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB: A Classic Tale of Romantic Suspense…Set in Manhattan and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island in 1993….

If books could kill…Plagiarism is an ugly word. And Tony Nichols keeps repeating it. Claire Kennedy is forced to consider that her bestselling, reclusive author might have stolen her latest mystery novel from one of Tony’s college students. Was Claire’s reputation, and the future of her employer, Cauldron Press, in jeopardy? Or is Tony masterminding a hoax?

The mystery takes a terrifying turn when these uneasy allies, who each realize they are more than a little attracted to one another, discover a corpse. Claire realizes that the truth behind The Poison Pen Pal’s creation not only threatens her career, but her life.

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

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Saturday Shorts – Come to the Cemetery by Jackson Dean Chase

Posted on January 30, 2016 by fundinmental

Come to the Cemetery by Jackson Dean Chase is a ghostly tale of love and revenge.

Does this cover make you afraid?

Well…I will tell you…DON’T GO INTO THE CEMETERY.

It could be hazardous to your health.

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MY BOOK REVIEW

All Cara’s friends are dropping dead and are found in the cemetery.

Her parents said she would be okay. YEAH. RIGHT.

Is she cursed? Would she be next?

She didn’t shy away from the problem and went looking for answers. I like her gumption and determination.

Jake, thank God for Jake and his love for her.

A scary short story that tells me don’t listen to the voices from the beyond. I will think twice before making love in the cemetery, especially on a grave.

I enjoyed this ghostly tale of a misguided…or evil?…love.

The story is predictable, but scary with a romance and mystery.

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

A weird tale of ghostly love and revenge!

All of sixteen-year-old Cara Jones’s friends are dead. Their bodies were found lying atop the same grave in Duskhaven Cemetery. The coroner’s report lists the girls’ cause of death as “massive cerebral hemorrhage,” but Cara doesn’t believe it. She knows something strange and terrible is happening.

When Cara hears a voice in her head commanding her to “Come to the cemetery,” she knows time is running out. With no one else to turn to, Cara asks her secret crush, Jake Rogers, for help. As they begin to put together clues, the mysterious voice gets louder and it feels like she’s losing her mind…

Can Jake and Cara unravel the ancient secret before she joins her friends in death?

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

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

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