Giveaway – Guardian of the Way by Diane Moat @DianeMoatAuthor @XpressoReads

Guardian of the Way
Diane Moat
Publication date: November 7th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

It’s been two centuries since someone murdered the last Guardian of the Way, closing off this world from the many realms of magic and fae.

Cassiopeia “Cass” Wilson is an eighteen-year-old living on her own for the first time. The only magic she’s interested in is the kind that will help her pay the bills on time. Little does she know that a trip to the hospital after a fainting spell will change her life forever.

Cass soon learns she may be fae, and everything points to her being the next Guardian of the Way. There’s just one problem: whoever—or whatever—killed the last Guardian wants Cass dead too.

Cass quickly runs into problems, and an attack by djinn is just the first. But Cass joins forces with a wrath daemon, were-creatures, and fae on a quest to reach the Lighthouse—the site of the Way.

Cass soon learns about wizards desperate to keep the Way closed to serve their dark purposes, and she comes to a crossroads: will she take the test to become the new Guardian and leave her normal life behind? Or will the Way remain closed to all who need it?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

Adrenaline wiped away all of Cass’s tiredness.

“Get out! I don’t care who you are. Leave now, or I’m calling the police.”

Cass would have to move away from the door for the men to leave. So I’ll just leave. She could call the police from out on the street. As she turned the door handle and shifted around to bolt, the second man spoke. “Two more of us are posted outside, with more on the way. That’s not a threat…” It sure sounded like one. “…just an explanation. We aren’t…we can’t leave. Short of leaving, we’ll comply with whatever makes you feel safe. We brought your .38 out from the bedroom if holding it would help you.”

Cass’ open gun safe sat next to her gleaming .38 Ruger on the coffee table. She wanted to pick it up and check it, but that would bring her closer to the men. As if she had said that last thought aloud, both men suddenly appeared by the kitchen. She blinked, not understanding how anyone could move that fast. The taller man moved with grace, but the shorter man’s shoulder crashed into the kitchen hutch.

The taller man snickered. “Walk much, old one?”

The other man growled back, “It’s too bright in this world, and there’s too much space everywhere.”

Author Bio:

Diane is a Tennessee transplant, animal rescuer, and nurse. Dog Gone is her debut novel, born from years of hearing animal rescuers say about animal abusers, “If only I could get my hands on that person…” Diane is assisted by her many rescue dogs.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter



GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tag Team Event – Tainted Cure by Ashley Fontainne @AshleyFontainne

 

taguritfinal2Welcome to my Tag Team Tag Team Events & Giveaways Page!

This is where myself (Sherry at fundinmental) and Laura at fuonlyknew tag team authors and their books.

We share our reviews and giveaways, giving you two views and two chances to win!

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 Is it a cure or a curse? The cover for Tainted Cure by Ashley Fontainne is only one of the things that drew me to this novel. I have read several amazing books by Ashley and she always leaves me wanting more. This author is at the top of her game and any book by her will be a MUST READ for me.

Some of her novels have been made into or optioned for film.

Tainted Cure is PermaFree on all sales channels, so Ashley will be offering multiple copies of her new book, Ruined, for the giveaway. Be sure and scroll down to see this beauty.

Cover design by One of a Kind Covers

ashley fontainne tainted cureAmazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Tainted Cure by Ashley Fontainne is a unique and original look at drug addiction and the search for a cure for it. People are very creative and Tainted Cure will show you how something lifesaving and good can become twisted and evil. Do you believe in conspiracies…you may when you are done reading this.

Dr Everett Berning had been recruited to work for the covert program – Rememdium.

Their goal: find a cure for addiction.

A meth head had taken out his entire family, so how could he refuse?

Word gets out about a possible cure and the story takes an unexpected turn. Is it a cure or a curse?

At the beginning, I wondered where Ashley Fontainne could take a story about drugs. Haven’t we read all the storylines? She writes such great stories, I still expect a high level of entertainment and suspense with a unique and original twist and she did not let me down.

OMG. I didn’t see this grisly and horrific twist but I love it. They created monsters, monsters that may be the end of the world. Would anyone survive or would this be the apocalyptic event that wiped mankind from the face of the earth? The epidemic that creates the apocalypse is not what is foreseen by the doctors and medical community of today.

I never saw Tainted Cure going in this direction, fanfrickintastic. I love it and I will not tell you much, because I refuse to spoil it for you.

They don’t care who is good or bad, they just take whoever is unlucky enough to get in the way.

The twists and turns, the suspense, thrills and terror of what would come on the next page kept me reading at a rapid pace.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Tainted Cure by Ashley Fontainne.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb: Dr. Everett Berning, a leading researcher into the causes of addiction in the brain, spent ten years of his life dedicated to one thing: finding the cure. Recruited after a strange encounter with the enigmatic Dr. Roberta Flint, Director of Research on Code Name: Rememdium, Dr. Berning is sent to work in a secret lab as part of the research team.

When the moment the scientists waited on for years arrives, Dr. Flint and her team are ecstatic.

Unfortunately, not everyone in the world feels the same way.

Benito San Nicholas isn’t ready to give up his lucrative business. When the news of a cure arrives on his doorstep from a crooked informant, Benito enlists the help of other drug lords from around the world to stop the cure from hitting the streets and destroying their livelihoods.

What happens next ends up uniting the globe–just not the way society ever intended or hoped.

ABOUT ASHLEY FONTAINNE (from her website)

Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne is an avid reader of mostly the classics. Ashley became a fan of the written word in her youth, starting with the Nancy Drew mystery series. Stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters that lurk within us are her favorite reads.

Her muse for penning the Eviscerating the Snake series was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Ashley’s love for this book is what sparked her desire to write her debut novel, Accountable to None, the first book in the trilogy. With a modern setting to the tale, Ashley delves into just what lengths a person is willing to go when they seek personal justice for heinous acts perpetrated upon them. The second novel in the series, Zero Balance. focuses on the cost and reciprocal cycle that obtaining revenge has on the seeker. For once the cycle starts, where does it end? How far will the tendrils of revenge expand? Adjusting Journal Entries answered that question: far and wide.

Her short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five, touches upon the sometimes dangerous world of online dating. Number Seventy-Five took home the BRONZE medal in fiction/suspense at the 2013 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards contest and is currently in production for a feature film.

Her paranormal thriller entitled The Lie, won the GOLD medal in the 2013 Illumination Book Awards for fiction/suspense and is also in production for a feature film entitled Foreseen.

Ashley’s decided to delve into the paranormal with a Southern Gothic horror/suspense novel, Growl, which released in January of 2015. The suspenseful mystery Empty Shell, released in September of 2014. Ashley will be teaming up with Lillian Hansen (Ashley calls her mom!) to pen a three-part murder mystery/suspense series entitled The Magnolia Series. The first book, Blood Ties, is due out the Summer of 2015.

Ashley also hosts The WriteStuff, a popular BlogTalk Radio show, each Friday night at 10 p.m. CST.

GIVEAWAY

Because Tainted Cure is PermaFree, Ashley is offering a copy of her new novel, Ruined Wings, to be released in December.

tainted-cure-giveaway

Eleven (11) Winners

1 hardback copy (US) and 10 copies of Ruined Wings by Ashley Fontainne, 5 ebooks and 5 audiobooks (INT).

Entry is easy peasy. Leave your email and what format you would like.

Do you believe in conspiracies?

Be sure and hop on over to see Laura @ fuonlyknew for another chance to win.

Ends 11.23.16

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Ashley Fontainne’s writing is so spectacular, I am always anticipating the next book I will read of hers. Here are my reviews…so far:

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Giveaway – Giant Slayers by the Jeff & Ken Altabef

 

Giant Slayers
by Jeff Altabef & Ken Altabef
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: September 20th 2016


Summary from Goodreads:


The Kingdom or the Girl?


Demons attack him.
Spirits protect him.
A seer foretells his shocking destiny.


In a primitive land filled with magic, witches and giants, a sixteen-year-old musician named David is summoned to chase away the nightmares haunting the King each night. But more than bad dreams trouble the King. Demons torment him, and David will need more than music to break the curse.


Demons are only the first sign of a deeper and darker evil that plagues the countryside. Bent on revenge and an insatiable thirst for power, the Witch of Endor and a giant named Goliath lead an invading force against the kingdom. King Saul’s army is crumbling and only a champion can save them, but who would be fool enough to face the giant?


Princess Michal is frustrated by the constraints of palace life, but David’s arrival makes things infinitely more interesting. She finds herself drawn to him, but the King strictly forbids her from having a romance with a poor musician. Only by defying her father’s wishes and risking her freedom do they have a chance to be together.


Armed with just his sling and his love for Michal, David must prove his worth by defeating Goliath against impossible odds. Worst of all, he must choose between saving the kingdom or being with the girl of his dreams. He can’t do both.

 
 
 
Buy
Links
: Amazon
 
EXCERPT:
Look closely at a woman’s face and you can read her entire life story. It’s all there in the crevices and contours, the tiny expressions and doubts. Such little things, but they combine to give away her secrets. Men’s faces, however, were still mysteries to Michal. She’d spent so little time with men that their lines seemed written in a foreign language, unique and indecipherable.
           
In Hadi’s face, Michal saw rivers flowing down cheeks rich with experience. The canyons carved into her forehead spoke of a tough life, one without the blessing of children, where she had served as a house servant for as long as anyone could remember. The old woman’s walnut eyes sparkled with a hint of summer wheat, still sharp and bright and full of mischief, and the wrinkles creeping from the corners of those eyes had been etched by laughter.
           
Michal frowned at the way Hadi’s tunic drooped over her shoulders and hung low on her thin frame. She had lost weight in the past month, and her back seemed more sharply stooped than it had been only a few weeks ago. She must be ill, thought Michal. But whenever I try to summon a priest for help, she shrugs me
off.
           
Hadi slid close to Michal. Her whisper sounded coarse, as if age had stolen its smoothness.  “This is too dangerous. I should never have told you about the staircase.”
           
“It’s too late for that. You know I’ve been waiting my whole life to see the Ark.”
           
“Your whole life,” Hadi chuckled. “You’re just fifteen. Barely a babe. Only yesterday, you were toddling around learning your first prayers.”
           
“That was a long time ago. Tonight’s my only chance to see the Ark before everything gets turned upside down for the festival. Who knows how long I’ll have to wait if I don’t go tonight?”
 
           
Hadi sighed and shuffled farther into the cellar. Her small lamp cast just enough light for them to make their way, brightening small swirls of dust ahead. The cool air smelled both sweet from raisins and acidic from the large oak casks of wine. It created an odd mix and Michal wondered if it meant a good omen or a bad one.
 
About the Authors
 
Jeff Altabef lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller, is his debut novel. Jeff has a blog designed to encourage writing by those that like telling stories. You can find his blog, The Accidental Writers Workshop, on The Patch. Jeff also rights a column for The Examiner under the byline – The Accidental Writer.
Author Links:
 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png  photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png
 
Ken Altabef – As a Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America member, my short fiction has frequently appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. I also had stories in Interzone, Buzzymag, Abyss & Apex, Unsettling Wonder and Ominous Realities. 
ALAANA’S WAY, my 5-part series of epic fantasy novels is published by Cat’s Cradle Press. Described as “cutting-edge fantasy from the top of the world” the arctic setting and unique characters will bring something new to even the most jaded fantasy enthusiast. You can preview this work and others at my website www.KenAltabef.com
Author Links:
 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png  photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png

 

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Teaser Tuesday #81 – Tainted Cure by Ashley Fontainne @AshleyFontainne

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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of booksandabeat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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This author is at the top of her game and any book by her will be a MUST READ for me.

Some of her novels have been made into or optioned for film.

Cover design by One of a Kind Covers

ashley fontainne tainted cureAdd me to Goodreads

MY TEASE

“…Can’t create the antidote unless we have the sickness. Understood?”

“As you wish, sir. Consider it done.”

(25% on Kindle)

I will be sharing my review for a Tag Team Event tomorrorw, 11.9.16, so be sure and stop in to check it out and enter the giveaway.

GOODREADS BLURB:  Dr. Everett Berning, a leading researcher into the causes of addiction in the brain, spent ten years of his life dedicated to one thing: finding the cure. Recruited after a strange encounter with the enigmatic Dr. Roberta Flint, Director of Research on Code Name: Rememdium, Dr. Berning is sent to work in a secret lab as part of the research team.

When the moment the scientists waited on for years arrives, Dr. Flint and her team are ecstatic.

Unfortunately, not everyone in the world feels the same way.

Benito San Nicholas isn’t ready to give up his lucrative business. When the news of a cure arrives on his doorstep from a crooked informant, Benito enlists the help of other drug lords from around the world to stop the cure from hitting the streets and destroying their livelihoods.

What happens next ends up uniting the globe–just not the way society ever intended or hoped.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Ashley Fontainne’s writing is so spectacular, I am always anticipating the next book I will read of hers. Here are my reviews…so far:

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Book Tour – Explosive Decompression by John L Sheppard

explosive-decompression-a-novel-banner

screen-shot-2016-09-27-at-15-05-24Isaac Asimov meets Charles Dickens with a dash of Jonathan Swift…
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In a world that is a science experiment gone horrifyingly wrong, scientist Audrey Novak awakes from a centuries-long sleep to discover that her work has been used to create an appalling world. Aided by commoners, bots, and another refugee from 20th century America, Audrey takes on the power elites on Earth and on the Moon in a novel that is equal parts adventure, science gone haywire, and rollicking humor. ?
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A sampling of acclaim for John L. Sheppard
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“Sheppard’s characters pretend not to be funny, to not be emotional, to not need each other, when of course, they are and they do. There’s a clarity to the chaos, the restraint, the vulnerability Sheppard creates, something so human and essential you can’t help but turn the page.”
–Entropy magazine
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“…an easy affection for his characters and a sense of natural, unforced humor.”
–Booklist
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“…You have a good time seeing someone have a bad time. It’s fun…”
–Padgett Powell
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“…raw feeling and taut smart prose.”
–Sam Lipsyte
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“The author grips you from the beginning, I couldn’t have put it down if I wanted.”
–Amazon reviewer
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screen-shot-2016-09-27-at-09-23-33

John L. Sheppard wrote the novels After the Jump, No Brass, No Ammoand Small Town Punk.

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Follow the Book Tour

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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

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One Sentence Reviews for 3 Pembroke Sinclair Novels @PembrokeSinclai

I won this awesome package some time ago from Pembroke Sinclair and Laura @ fuonlyknew. All the books were signed…YAY!

I didn’t purposely wait so long to post my review, but you know how it goes.

Now seemed the perfect time to share my reviews.

I read all three books in one day, unable to stop!!

Now…I really need a Bloody Mary.

2014-05-18-04-07-00

My Review for Life After the Undead, Book I by Pembroke Sinclair

I bonded with Krista quickly because of her curiosity, the need to know why the zombies do what they do and  we head to Florida, traveling through the grisly horror with the excellent writing and storyline, including a laugh or two along the way.

Amazon Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB:  Seventeen-year-old Krista must quickly figure out how she’s going to survive in the zombie-destroyed world. The one advantage humans have is that the zombies hate humid environments, so they’re migrating west to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors plan to construct a wall at North Platte to keep the undead out, and Krista has come to Nebraska to start a new life.

Zombies aren’t the only creatures she has to be cautious of—the other survivors have a dark side. Krista must fight not only to live but also to defend everything she holds dear—her country, her freedom, and ultimately, those she loves.

Join Krista in her quest to survive in this thrilling apocalyptic novel by Pembroke Sinclair.

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My Review for Death to the Undead, Book II by Pembroke Sinclair

Pembroke Sinclair keeps the twist and turns coming and the seed that was planted in my mind in Book I, Life After The Undead, comes to life, yet they battle the depths of depravity that are so far out there my mind has a hard time wrapping around the fight that seems futile, battling zombies and humans alike because, “What are the options?”

Amazon  /  Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB:  Seventeen-year-old Krista has already proven she can survive the zombie hordes.

After moving to North Platte with her distant cousin General Liet to help build a wall that will keep the zombies in the West, it becomes apparent that the zombies aren’t the biggest threat—some survivors are far more dangerous than Krista had ever imagined.

With the help of Quinn, a survivor and fighter from the zombie-infested wildlands of the West, they free the garrison at North Platte from the power-hungry Liet. But there is a bigger battle to fight.

The Families who rule Florida and use intimidation and the threat of the zombie horde to coerce their territory want Krista and Quinn captured, the zombies want to devour them, and other survivors want them dead. Caught between powerful forces, will they survive long enough to devise a new plan and put it into action? Or will they self-destruct?

Find out in book two of this thrilling apocalyptic series by author Pembroke Sinclair.

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My Review for Finding Eden by Pembroke Sinclair

This original and thought provoking novel of zombies, angels and God gave me lots of food for thought as each person told their story while driving through a horde of zombies with body parts flying willy nilly and I was not able to quit thinking about the story long after I put the book down.

Amazon  /  Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB:  Drunk womanizer Duke, spends his life selfishly taking care of himself and screw the rest of the world. After one particular black-out alcoholic binge, he wakes to find the world changed—the dead are rising from their graves.

Lonely, guilt-ridden Hank is someone who minds his own business, and sympathetic but strong-willed Lana is on the receiving end of harassment by other students.

Forced together for survival, the three misfits must confront their world gone strange. God said the people of Earth would be punished for their sins, and so the end has come.

Duke, Hank, and Lana must walk their own paths to salvation, but they also must depend on each other. Will their salvation lie in Finding Eden? A Zombie story with inspirational elements.

All the books received the same rating:

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

Isn’t he cute?

2014-05-18-04-07-54

  • To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

 

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The Spotlight Is On A Vampire’s Honor by Carla Susan Smith #CarlaSusanSmith @pumpupyourbook

 

Inside the Book:

Title: A Vampire’s Honor
Author: Carla Susan Smith
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Ebook/Paperback

Sins Of The Past …

Rowan Harper thought being with a vampire would keep her out of harm’s way. But true evil lurks in the darkness, and not even her lover, Gabriel, knows all of its tricks.

Rowan may be his Promise, the one woman who can save Gabriel’s soul, but the two of them have a long and complicated history that Rowan is only now discovering–complete with old enemies who will stop at nothing to make them suffer.

When Rowan is abducted and forced to witness unspeakable violence, secrets of the past begin to unfold. Secrets that show Gabriel’s best friend Aleksei in a new light.

Will the truth destroy all three of them or bind them more tightly together, and if evil prevails, will it be Rowans’s soul that ultimately needs saving?

 

Meet the Author:

Born and raised in England, I now call South Carolina home where I  live with my wonderfully supportive husband, awesome son, and the most discerning canine critique group ever – if tails aren’t wagging then the story isn’t working!

I owe my love of literature to my mother, who, after catching me  reading by flashlight beneath the bed covers, calmly replaced the romance book I’d ‘borrowed’ with one that was far less risqué, and much more appropriate for a pre-teen! She encouraged me to include a wide variety of genres in my reading tastes, but romance, and  paranormal romance in particular, has remained my first love.

I never really thought about writing a romance novel until I read one that was so bad I can only assume it got published by mistake! Making such a comment to my BFF, Sharon, she challenged me to do better. The result was a 250-thousand word epic that I affectionately refer to as my ‘bodice-ripper’ romance – and yes, I still have it!

When I’m not writing I can be found in my kitchen. I love baking, and my husband will actually admit his love of Christmas fruitcake. (Personally I think all that brandy in the fruit has something to do with it!) If not baking then I’m working on my latest tapestry project or  playing catch-up with my reading list where I always seem to be at least three books behind!

It’s a crazy-good life, and I wouldn’t change it for anything, although I wouldn‘t object if I came up with the winning lottery numbers!

Visit her at http://www.carlasmithauthor.com/index.html

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Tour Schedule

 Tuesday, September 27 – Book featured at Books,Dreams, Life
Wednesday, September 28 – Book featured at Bound 2 Escape
Thursday, September 29 – Book featured at Celticlady’s Reviews
Friday, September 30 -Book featured at 3 Partners in Shopping
________
Monday, October 3 – Book featured at The Book Tree
Tuesday, October 4 – Book featured at I’m Shelf-ish
Wednesday, October 5 – Book featured at The Literary Nook
Thursday, October 6 – Book featured at Mello and June
Friday, October 7 – Book featured at The Review From Here
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Monday, October 10 – Book featured at A Title Wave
Tuesday, October 11 – Book featured at Harmonious Publicity
Wednesday, October 12 – Book featured at The Dark Phantom
Thursday, October 13 – Book featured at Write and Take Flight
Friday, October 14 – Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
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Monday, October 17 – Book featured at Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic
Tuesday, October 18 -Interviewed at Deal Sharing Aunt
Wednesday, October 19 – Book featured at Fundinmental
Book reviewed at I Smell Sheep
Thursday, October 20 -Book featured at The Bookworm Lodge
Friday, October 21 – Book featured at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
________
  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak @MelanieKarsak @XpressoReads



The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak is one of those series that I meant to read in its entirety because I loved the first book so much, but I am terrible at following up and never got to it.

If you would like to read my thoughts, here is my REVIEW.

The Harvesting
Melanie Karsak
(The Harvesting, #1)
Publication date: January 8th 2014
Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Zombies

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up undead.

Layla Petrovich has spent her whole life running away from her hometown of Hamletville. Raised by the town’s medium, and dubbed the “weird” girl for her fascination with swords, the last thing Layla wants is to go home.

But when she receives a desperate call to return just as a mysterious outbreak sweeps the country, Layla’s instincts urge her to go. Good thing, because the dead are rising.Layla, however, isn’t entirely on her own. With her psychic powers growing, surely everything will turn out okay, right?

Not so fast. Just when Layla believes she might survive the apocalypse, a sinister and ancient force rises from the shadows to finish mankind for good.Because the truth is, we were never alone in this world.

Begin The Harvesting Series with The Harvesting, Book 1.

Goodreads / Amazon

tornworld-fb2

EXCERPT:

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

The students laughed.

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

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

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

The students grinned from ear to ear.

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

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

I shrugged. “Hit me, if you can.”

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

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

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

“A hit,” Kasey called.

They clapped.

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

Tyler pulled off the mask and smiled at me.

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

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

Before I could say hello, she spoke.

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

“Grandma? What’s wrong?”

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

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

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

Disappointed, they groaned.

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

i-am-nothing-no-one-i-am-a-ghost-inside-a-corpse-please-end-it

 

Author Bio:

Melanie Karsak is the author of The Airship Racing Chronicles, The Harvesting Series, and The Celtic Blood Series. A steampunk connoisseur, zombie whisperer, and heir to the iron throne, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.

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You can get the entire series for $14.95

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Giveaway – Pale Riders: Zombies vs Dinosaurs by James Livingood @longtailwriting @GoddessFish

 mbb_bookblast_paleriderThe bright red cover for Pale Rider: Zombies vs Dinosaurs made me pause.

Then I saw the title and all the other goodies and thought this is a perfect read for me.

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Pale Rider: Zombies vs Dinosaurs

by James Livingood

GENRE: Science Fiction & Fantasy

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BLURB

Two worlds collide in this action novelette. Zombies have destroyed civilization. Gasoline fuel is no longer an option, but humanity must find a way to survive. In response to trying to restore our way of life, we engineer franken-monsters. Because of their small brains and massive sizes, these beasts make quick work of farming and clearing land. These large creatures are immune to the zombie virus and perform excellently in loud conditions. They are easy to train. They behave like war horses, prone to help charge in and defend our livelihood.

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EXCERPT

Blues often hunt for weaker and sick humans. Standing your ground and appearing strong will scare off blues. In the beginning, we had become so used to being the top of the food chain, that the thought of being hunted was frightening. Most of the population ran, and that led to massive feasts. Furthermore, our distaste for mandatory physicals meant pockets of blues formed. Gun owners and others brazen enough to stand their ground often kept their ground. Yet, as humans became replaced, the blue’s tactics became more complex. Soon, only standing your ground with a gun was not enough. The practice still works in isolated regions, but the best escape from a blue is to retreat to a safe city.

New Eye City was formed for just that reason. Survivalists knew how to build flash communities, which would then focus on walls. As many of you know, gasoline fuel was no longer an option as the infrastructure collapsed around humanity. Cars, trucks, and farming equipment gathered rust from disuse. Humanity needed a new approach to surviving.

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mediakit_authorphoto_paleriderABOUT JAMES LIVINGOOD

James was born in Montana, raised with three brothers, and provided trouble for two parents. In his 20’s he fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. He then moved out to Seattle after college and started a life. In 2014, he started to write full time.

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

GIVEAWAY

James will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Follow the tour and comment. The more your comment the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour Here.

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One Sentence Review for Mutation Z by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

I have been reading Mutation Z by Marilyn Peake, a novella series, that, even with the zombies, smacks of realism.

You can find out more and check out my reviews at the links below, but for now, I will share #5 and #6, the final chapters of a truly frightening glance at the apocalypse that could make the human race extinct. Do you believe something like this could happen in real life?

If you want to find out if this zombie horror is for you, the first story is FREE.

Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies (Mutation Z, #1)

Amazon  /  Goodreads

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Mutation Z:  Dragon in the Bunker Novella #5 by Marilyn Peake

Mutation Z: Dragon in the Bunker (Mutation Z, #5)

Amazon Goodreads

Mutation Z:  Dragon in the Bunker Novella #5 by Marilyn Peake

MY REVIEW

Journalist Hunter Morgan is a seriously messed up guy who has lost so much because of the Z virus, but he never gives up and I love that, because in this apocalyptic horror novella, all my conspiracy theories developed into full blown betrayal and treason showcasing an evil so potent that it makes me so angry I want to jump into my Kindle and beat the hell out of someone…or so much worse and with writing like that I say, “Well done, Marilyn,” as we move on to a new beginning in Hunter’s life.

GOODREADS BLURB: Journalist Hunter Morgan gains an unlikely ally in his search for the truth about the origins of the zombie virus. Mark Chen, youngest son of a co-owner of Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals, shows him information more frightening than his greatest nightmares. Together, they travel all the way from an abandoned meth shack in the Mexican desert to China, evading the authorities by communicating with Mark’s contacts through a video game on the Dark Web. NOVELLA. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars

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Mutation Z:  Desperate Measures, Novella #6 by Marilyn Peake

Mutation Z: Desperate Measures

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Marilyn Peake wraps up this novella series, exposing all the conspiracies and corruption, the perverted reasons for setting the zombies loose, and my juices were flowing as they pissed me off and sickened me beyond words, but left me with the faith that a ‘few good men/women can make all the difference in the world.

GOODREADS BLURB:  Sixth and final book in the series.

As things heat up in the United States with both the U.S. military and radical militias targeting those trying to develop a vaccine and cure for the Zombie Plague, more researchers flee to Mark Chen’s bunker in China. There, they will be free to carry on their research. Bringing patients afflicted with the Zombie Virus to China on a cargo ship, they’re attacked by pirates. It becomes very clear that they’re in a race against time to try and save the human race. NOVELLA. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars
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Marilyn Peake has now created a complete set of all 6 novellas for the Mutation Z series at an amazing price of $.99.

Mutation Z Series, Books 1-6: The Ebola Zombies, Closing the Borders, Protecting Our Own, Drones Overhead, Dragon in the Bunker, Desperate Measures

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Each novella is an important part of the whole in the Mutation Z series by Marilyn Peake. Her writing amazes me, bringing the characters and the world they created to life. The Zombie Virus was developed by some of the most evil men ever to walk this earth, all for their own gain and self interest. The brutality they dealt out as the blood and guts flew, the lives that were lost as the good people struggled to expose the conspiracy, is shocking. I felt this story rang of possibilities, that something like this could really happen. Maybe not exactly as written, but when push comes to shove, the elite will sacrifice anything and anyone to get what they want. If you want to be shocked, pissed off, saddened, frightened, left with food for thought, then Mutation Z is for you.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB:  Omnibus Edition of All Six Books in the Mutation Z Series

Ebola, one of the most feared of the hemorrhagic diseases, begins spreading across the borders of countries in West Africa. Soon after, the disease mutates into the “Z” or Zombie Virus. Journalist Hunter Morgan uncovers a disturbing connection between Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals and this mutation. Further investigation reveals a web of sinister intrigue connecting the pharmaceutical company to a treatment and research camp in West Africa, U.S. government officials, the CDC and the World Health Organization. Racing against time to find a cure, Hunter and several scientists go underground in order to hide from powerful forces trying to silence them forever.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

MY REVIEWS FOR MUTATION Z BY MARILYN PEAKE

Mutation Z:  The Ebola Zombie

Mutation Z:  Closing Our Borders

Mutation Z:  Protecting Our Own

Mutation Z:  Drones Overhead

With the fantastic price for the entire series at a shocking $.99, I did not feel it necessary to list them individually, but if you would like to see if this is for you, you can grab the first novella for FREE HERE. Grab your Amazon copy today!

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