Giveaway – In Danger Of Judgment by David Rabin @partnersincr1me

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In Danger of Judgment

by David Rabin

August 8 – September 2, 2022 Virtual Book Tour

In Danger of Judgment

Amazon

Synopsis:

When a covert operation during the Vietnam War ends in tragedy, one of its members resolves to kill the man who betrayed it to the enemy. Now, fifteen years later, he’ll finally get his chance.

Chicago, 1987. Home of mediocre baseball teams, gangs that rule the streets, and a Mexican drug cartel that supplies the city with heroin. Chicago Police Detective Marcelle DeSantis and her partner, Bernie Bernardelli, are working a series of heroin-related murders, and their job just got more complicated. The man who sabotaged the Vietnam operation, Robert Thornton, is now the chief enforcer for a Southeast Asian heroin cartel, and after fifteen years overseas he’s arrived in Chicago to eliminate the reigning cartel and seize control of the city’s heroin trade.

Racing to stop a drug war, Marcelle and Bernie don’t realize they’re about to be caught in a deadly crossfire: another man is circling in the wings, one of Thornton’s soldiers from Vietnam, who’s preparing to exact his long-sought revenge against his former mentor. He’s the last person anyone would ever suspect, and when he finally makes his move, the paths of these four people will explosively converge.

Praise for In Danger of Judgment:

In Danger of Judgment does a masterful job of juggling multiple, full-blooded characters through high-octane storytelling as they make their way to a shocking, violent ending. David Rabin is a name that is sure to become familiar among lovers of best-selling, full-throttle thrillers”

––David Shawn Klein, award-winning author of The Money

“Mr. Rabin brings a fresh set of characters to the tried-and-true crime drama, and his breezy narrative style and crackling dialogue kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime.”

––Ronald Aiken, author of Death Has Its Benefits and former president of The Atlanta Writers

“Kudos to Mr. Rabin on the high quality of the prose, the thrilling plot with a twist and surprise ending, and the extensive research that went into this novel. I highly recommend it.”

––Jill Caugherty, author of Waltz in Swing Time

“Well-developed characters drive Rabin’s taut thriller. . . . the story builds to a lengthy, sensational final act, brimming with well-earned suspense”

––Kirkus Reviews

“A stunning debut, David Rabin’s In Danger of Judgment is an engrossing page-turner. Shocking twists barrel full-speed into an action-packed and tense crime thriller readers won’t see coming…. Builds an intricately-plotted crime thriller that’s cinematic and wildly compelling. The author’s prose is concise and ‘unputdownable,’ skilled at giving a tangible sense of the time period these characters inhabit.”

––IndieReader

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thriller
Published by: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: August 4th 2022
Number of Pages: 369
ISBN: 1685130593 (ISBN13: 9781685130596)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Black Rose Writing

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Read an excerpt:

Prologue

1968 – 1972
South Vietnam

The eight men filing into the Tactical Operations Center had six days’ beard growth, they reeked of sweat and jungle, and their clothes were smeared with soil and grime and still-wet enemy blood.

Major Henry Sampson waited for them at a table at the rear of the TOC, as far away as they could get from the beeping, static, and chatter of the radios. The men settled themselves around the table and didn’t wait for Sampson to ask a question. They’d just completed their fourth mission, and by now they knew the debriefing procedure.

“Eleven,” said the first man.

In due course, Sampson would steer them to other aspects of the mission, but they always started with what was most important: the number of enemy killed in action.

Sampson had had a rude awakening a few years earlier, during his first tour in South Vietnam. He was a West Point man, a professional soldier to the core, but Vietnam was a war unlike any he’d prepared for. In every war America had ever fought, the objective was to capture and hold territory, but in Vietnam, that was never the goal. The only metric that mattered was the body count.

“Tell me about the first one,” Sampson said.

“Sentry in the southwest sector. Older than usual, thirties, maybe, leaning against a tree with a Chicom AK slung over his shoulder. He wasn’t even scanning, just gazing into the distance, probably thinking about his old lady back in Hanoi. I snake-crawled from the rear, put my hand over his mouth, and pulled back. Three stabs and a slash through the neck. No sound.”

The man described the rest of his kills and then they went around the table. By the time they finished, the count reached 102. It was a good night’s work.

Sometimes the body count was so high that Sampson wondered whether they were exaggerating, but he questioned them carefully and they convinced him the count was true. When the two guys from the Department of Defense had given him the assignment, he didn’t dream the men would kill so many.

* * *

The DOD men had arrived by helicopter on a soggy December morning in 1968, late in the rainy season at Phu Bai, South Vietnam, where Sampson was stationed with the 101st Airborne Division. They weren’t in uniform, but from the way they exited the Huey—quickly and gracefully—Sampson could tell they’d spent some time in the bush.

There was no fanfare on their arrival. That was by design. Sampson had been told the men would meet with him and then leave, and the fewer the people that knew about the meeting, the better.

The DOD men introduced themselves as Robinson and Reese, and it occurred to Sampson that whoever gave them their code names must have been a Dodgers fan. They wore identical navy-blue suits, white shirts, muted ties, and blank expressions. Robinson was black and Reese was white, but otherwise they could have been twins.

Sampson took them to his hooch, a rudimentary structure of plywood elevated a foot off the ground and divided into four living quarters. Inside, the décor was olive drab, drab being the operative word. Sampson’s corner had a cot, a small desk, makeshift shelves, a locker, and a table fan.

He pulled over a couple of folding chairs for the two men to sit on. Sampson wished he had a conference room befitting their importance, but the hooch was the only venue at the base where they could be assured of privacy. He’d made sure that the other three officers who lived there would be absent for the meeting’s duration.

Reese got it started as Robinson shook a Marlboro out of a hard pack and lit it with a Zippo. “We’re going to tell you some stuff you may already know, but bear with us. We’ll get to the good part shortly.”

Sampson sat up straight and did his best to look attentive. “I’m at your disposal, sir.”

“When you got here,” Reese said, “you were fighting the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army. The VC are still around, but we hit them so hard during Tet that they’re no longer a major threat to the South. That’s why you’re now focused on the NVA.”

Robinson took the baton. “The NVA’s constantly moving men and supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, infiltrating into the South, probing for weaknesses. Occasionally, they attack us and the South Vietnamese, and then they hightail it back to the North. Now, we both know that in a war you’re supposed to pursue the enemy, take the fight to them instead of the other way around. That’s how it’s always been done, but this is Vietnam, where nothing gets done the way it’s supposed to.”

“We’re not allowed to send ground troops into the North,” Sampson said.

Reese nodded. “That’s right, and it’s not because our civilian leadership is spineless, contrary to what you guys in-country may believe. North Vietnam has a great, big patron on its northern border called Communist China. In ’64, the Chinese told us that if we sent boots north of the 17th parallel, they’d intervene on behalf of their North Vietnamese comrades. Meaning, they’d send a few million Red Chinese soldiers down south, just like they did in Korea when we drove too far north, and we all know how that turned out for us.”

“Not real well.”

“Yeah. Not real well. We want to help the South Vietnamese, but we don’t want to start World War Three. Frustrating for us, frustrating for you.”

“I don’t make policy, sir. My duty is to follow orders and execute the mission.”

“I’m glad you mentioned that,” Robinson said, “because we came here to give you a mission.”

“Sir?”

Robinson stubbed out his cigarette and leaned forward. “You are very quietly going to insert ground troops into North Vietnam.”

They proceeded to tell him about the operation they wanted him to supervise: how the men would be selected, how they’d be trained, and the nature of the missions. They spoke for nearly an hour. Sampson listened intently, saying nothing. When they finished, they asked if he had any questions.

He did indeed have a question, though he hesitated to ask it, fearing they might think him insolent. But it was such an obvious issue, he just had to ask. “Why go to all this effort? All this planning, the massive selection process, the special training? Why don’t you use the men you already have?”

The DOD men looked at each other without a trace of reaction, communicated telepathically, and turned back to Sampson. “That’s above your pay grade,” Reese said, “but if you’re not comfortable with this op, we can find someone else.”

Now Sampson wished he hadn’t asked, but he recovered quickly. “I can do it,” he said.

“There’s one more thing. The body count is important—the higher the better, of course—and it needs to be accurate. You’ll have to drill it into the men to keep an accurate count. Can you do that, Major?”

“I can do it.”

Sampson thought the whole thing was a crock, just another foolhardy operation in a senseless war. But they got through the selection process and trained the men, and when they were finally let loose on their missions, they surpassed everyone’s expectations. The body counts were staggering.

* * *

It was now late 1972, and Team One was nearing the end of its sixth mission. The Huey had inserted them six nights ago. They’d spent three nights approaching the target camp, followed by three nights of recon. Seven of them would attack the camp, and the eighth would remain just outside the camp’s perimeter to cover them as they withdrew.

They wore no insignia and bore no identification, all to give the government plausible deniability if things went south. For the same reason, they never called each other by name during their missions. They were Ares Numbers One through Eight, a bit of theater they deemed absurd but acquiesced to nonetheless.

They killed time with the usual idle chatter: their favorite bands, best road trips, girlfriends good and bad. In their three years together, they’d told the same stories so many times that the telling was no longer the point. It was how they reinforced the bonds among them.

“Okay, guys,” Ares One said, “fifteen minutes till go time.”

They synched their watches, and as they went through one last gear check, Four addressed the elephant in the room. “The war’s almost over, so this is probably our last mission.”

Silence. No one wanted to talk about it.

“You know I’m right,” Four continued. “The Paris peace talks are barreling down the tracks. Kissinger went on TV and said peace is at hand.” He absent-mindedly checked his M16 again. “When we started out, I thought you guys were a bunch of losers, and now I don’t want it to end.”

“Jesus, you’re a downer,” Five said. “Look, when we get back, we’ll do it up right. Get us a case of that black-market champagne, put on some CCR and turn it all the way up.”

“Temptations,” said Seven.

Everyone laughed. Seven loved Motown.

“Enough of this shit,” Three said. “If this is our last mission, I don’t want the perimeter again. I want some action. Lemme be on the assault team.”

Two shook his head. “If Sampson and Thornton find out you violated the orders—”

“Fuck ’em,” Three said. “What’re they gonna do, fire me?”

No one had a response to that unassailable logic, and Three turned to Six. “Let me take your place,” Three said. “Take the easy duty tonight.”

Six looked at the others. They all nodded.

Three and Six exchanged weapons and ammo, Six getting the sniper kit. They all gave each other thumbs-up, and the seven men on the assault team moved silently into their assigned sectors.

Six checked his watch. The men would breach in twenty minutes and return one hour after that. He had nothing to do now but wait.

He stared into the darkness, listening to the sounds of the jungle and imagining the men—

Gunfire.

There should not have been gunfire.

It was not the treble staccato of American M16s. It was the bass thuds of Chinese AKs.

The gunfire ended abruptly, and then all was silent.

A flood of thoughts coursed through his brain.

His friends were dead.

The enemy had known they were coming, and so the enemy knew he was here.

And now, the enemy would come for him.

* * *

Sampson sat in his hooch, drinking his fourth Scotch of the night. The operation had gone along like clockwork until that bastard Thornton went rogue, the chief instructor selling out his own men.

The higher-ups had immediately terminated the entire operation, and Sampson could just imagine the hysteria now playing out at DOD. First, there would be recriminations. Who picked Thornton? Who vetted him? How in the hell did no one foresee this? Then they’d have to invent stories to tell the families, explaining why the bodies of their sons and brothers weren’t coming home. They’d prime people to describe how heroically the men had died, so the families would buy it and not inquire further. And once the cover-up started, they’d have to cover up the cover-up. It would feed on itself and grow exponentially until the cover-up itself was more important than the events that birthed it.

As distasteful as it was, Sampson knew there was nothing else they could do. If the public ever learned the whole story, there’d be more heads rolling at DOD than bowling balls at the local alley on dollar night.

* * *

Three weeks after the operation ended, the DOD men visited Sampson again.

In the four years since he’d last seen them, Sampson’s world had changed dramatically. The war was winding down and would end soon—and for Sampson, that was a problem. The way to get ahead in the military was to serve in a war zone. He’d done multiple tours in Vietnam, but once this war ended, who knew when there would be another one? He would have to find a way to make himself invaluable.

When the DOD men arrived, they looked just the same as before, all the way down to their navy-blue suits and inscrutable faces. They assured Sampson that no one blamed him for the unfortunate way the operation had ended. They complimented him on how well he’d run it, and on the results the men had obtained. A promotion to lieutenant colonel was already in the works.

When he heard the word “promotion,” Sampson knew they were about to get to the real point of the meeting. Guys like them always dangled a prize before asking for something.

“There are two other things,” Robinson said. “DOD wants to keep the operation and its outcome confidential.”

No kidding, Sampson thought. “What else?”

“The upper echelon at DOD considers the remaining men to be somewhat unstable.”

“What you mean is, you think they’re crazy.”

“However one puts it, given their, uh, mental disposition, we consider it prudent to monitor them until the last of them has passed away.”

Sampson saw the logic of it. “Where do I fit in?”

“The perpetuation of secrecy and the observation of the men are related tasks, and we need someone to oversee both. We’d be pleased if you could do that, at least until your retirement, which we hope will be many years from now. Can you do that, Major?”

At that moment, Sampson saw his future.

These assignments were delicate. They were critical. They would last the rest of his career.

They were giving him a way to make himself invaluable.

He took his time and pretended to think about it, not wanting to look too eager, then slowly nodded.

“I can do it,” Sampson said, though it would be another fifteen years before he’d discover just how complicated it could get.

Chapter 1

Sunday, May 10, 1987
8:02 p.m.
Chicago

Marcelle leaned against the railing of an apartment building at the south end of the 3700 block of Wilton Avenue, waiting for someone, though not for anyone in particular. She’d been there for five minutes and decided to wait another two before moving on.

The street was deserted, the residents having battened down the hatches in anticipation of twilight. An empty Old Style can rolled down the street in a grating, metallic rhythm, pushed by the wind coming off Lake Michigan a mile to the east. The only sign of life was the rumbling of an L train on the tracks a half-block from where she stood. The neighborhood seemed peaceful, though she knew its tranquility could be deceiving.

She was about to give up on this spot when two men in their late teens rounded the corner at the other end of the block and began walking toward her. They wore the gray and black colors of the area’s predominant street gang, the Latin Eagles, and they walked with a slow swagger as if they owned the place, which they pretty much did. One was taller and one was shorter, and thus became, in her lexicon, Mr. Tall and Mr. Short.

The instant they saw her, they broke into big smiles and started conversing energetically. She’d gotten their attention. It didn’t surprise her, because she was accustomed to getting attention. She was about five-eight and in her late twenties, with dark brown hair that barely touched her shoulders and a face that belonged on a magazine cover. Tonight she wore a light coat that was open at the front. Marcelle always dressed for success.

The men were five steps away now.

She put her right hand in her coat pocket.

Que pasa, mami chula,” said Mr. Tall.

They walked back and forth around her from opposite sides, examining her from head to toe and leering at her, no doubt expecting she’d panic and try to extricate herself.

Except she didn’t.

Instead, she smiled at them.

It was a beautiful, radiant, magazine-cover smile, and because it was the last thing they’d expected, they froze in their tracks.

Her hand came out of her coat pocket.

It held a badge case.

“Detective Marcelle DeSantis,” she said, “and I want you to know I do appreciate the compliment.”

Mierda,” said Mr. Short.

“We don’t talk to police,” said Mr. Tall.

Her smile turned into a pout. “A minute ago, you thought I was sexy, and now you don’t even want to talk to me? My feelings are hurt.”

The men looked dumbfounded. Marcelle figured no police had ever spoken to them that way, and she took the opening. “I’m not here to hassle you guys. You’re just two fine-looking dudes strolling down the street. Fact is, I need your help.”

Now they looked intrigued. “Help with what?” asked Short.

“I want to find the guy who killed your friends. Hector, Ramon, Angel, and Luis.”

“We take care of our own business,” said Tall.

“That’s good to know. Have you found the guy yet?”

Again, they were speechless.

“I know you want to find the guy who did it,” Marcelle said. “You want revenge, and you want people to know they shouldn’t screw with the Latin Eagles. The problem is, you won’t find him on your own.”

“Why not?” asked Tall.

“Because he’s a pro and you guys aren’t exactly Sherlock Holmes. If he gets found, it’s going to be the Chicago Police Department that does it.”

Tall shrugged. “We don’t know anything.”

“Okay,” she said, “but maybe you’ll remember something or hear something.”

“What do we get if we help you?” Short asked.

Now she knew she was getting somewhere. When they asked for something, it meant they were interested.

“I’ll tell you what you’ll get. If we convict the guy, he’ll get a life sentence or death row. Either way, he’ll go to a prison. Probably Pontiac, Stateville, or Joliet, and you’ve got members in all three. I’m sure your buddies will give him a warm welcome when he arrives.”

It was the men’s turn to smile.

“I’m gonna go now,” Marcelle said, “but I want you to remember something. I didn’t give you any shit. I didn’t ask for ID or search you. I treated you like men because that’s what you are.”

They nodded their agreement.

“Here’s how I work,” she continued. “You play straight with me and I play straight with you. As long as you’re law-abiding, I’ll treat you like you live on Lake Shore Drive.” She handed each man a card. “If you learn anything that might help us, call me. I don’t know your names and you won’t have to give them.”

The men pocketed the cards. Short looked ready to leave, but Tall stood still, his face gripped in concentration, as if trying to recall something from long ago.

Now, he looked like he remembered.

He stood up straight and looked her squarely in the eyes. “It was good to meet you, Detective. Have a nice night.”

***

Excerpt from In Danger of Judgment by David Rabin. Copyright 2022 by David Rabin. Reproduced with permission from David Rabin. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

David Rabin

DAVID RABIN was born in Chicago and raised in its Lakeview neighborhood. He later moved to Atlanta, where he worked as a trial lawyer for thirty-three years. Now retired, he writes fiction, runs a competitive shooting program, and competes in rifle sports, including the discipline of Highpower Rifle, in which he holds two High Master classifications. He and his wife, a former clinical social worker, have two grown sons. In Danger of Judgment is his first novel.

Catch Up With David Rabin:
DavidRabinAuthor.com
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Facebook – @DavidRabinAuthor

 

 

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Little Hearts by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Little Hearts (Candella Sisters' Heroes, #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Okay, let’s start with an introduction: This is the second story of the Candella Sisters and it is time to meet Agape “Aggie” Candella and her romantic interest Nickolas “Nick” Sleigh. It’s best to read the series in order, even when each book can stand alone.

Aggie felt she was being paranoid, put the feeling she was being watched lingered.

Thinking this was too easy and predictable, I was watching for Jane Blythe to twist and turn the story to a place I didn’t see coming. She is good at that, which is why I love her novels so much and eagerly grab each one, waiting to be delighted by the trials and tribulations she will put her characters through.

Agape means love in Greek. It fits her perfectly, since all she really wants is her happy ever after, her knight in shining armor, her white picket fence. She is naive, trusting, easy prey. She would find a guy she liked, become obsessive and drive him away. We have met her family before…and her two sisters. Though they look like triplets, they all have a different mother.

Nick had learned early on to never let emotions rule him, don’t get attached. He rarely laughed or smiled….until Aggie. Her sweetness, innocence and strength was quick to entrance him, and he will protect her at all costs.

Romantic suspense is my comfort zone. My adrenaline rises, yet I feel wrapped in a warm snuggly embrace. I am just a rider, a spectator in Jane Blythe’s characters lives. I don’t know how she continually comes up with new ways to stress me (LOL), to amaze me, to keep me reading on, but I am grateful for having found her. Soooooo, thanks so much, Jane, for the many hours, days, weeks, months, and years of fabulous entertainment. You keep writing, I’ll keep reading.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Little Hearts by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

She thinks he’s her hero but he’s lying to her.

Agape Candella has been obsessed with finding love for as long as she can remember, unfortunately there has been a lot of heartache along the way. When a sexy stranger saves her from a mugging she knows that this time she’s found the real thing. No more broken hearts for her.

Nickolas Sleigh thought it would be easy. Make contact, use the woman, get what he needed, and then be out of there. Falling for her was never part of the plan. Now he’s trapped between his rapidly growing feelings for the sweet Aggie, who wears her heart on her sleeve, and the reality that his own heart is black, and that he’s going to lose her forever once she finds out the truth.

Losing her also means losing his only chance at stopping a dangerous killer who soon has Aggie in his sights.

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Saving Seals Finale – Saving Charlie by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Saving Charlie by Jane Blythe is the last of her Saving Seals series, but the series is part of something so much bigger. There are many more books and authors putting their own spin on the Operation Alpha World.

About Operation Alpha

Operation Alpha is the fan fiction world for Susan Stoker’s SEAL of Protection, Delta Force Heroes, and Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Worlds. The books all have at least one of Susan’s characters in them. The authors have created worlds where Wolf, Ghost, Dax and all the other characters interact. Check it out at Aces Press.

Saving Charlie (Special Forces: Operation Alpha; Saving SEALs #6)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Saving Charlie is Jane Blythe’s final book in the Saving Seals series, so let’s get right to it. Saving Charlie picks up where Saving Grayson left off. You might think that it ended with a cliffhanger, but really, it ended with a tease to this book, and what a tease it was.

Charlies “King” Voss and his team were captured and tortured by terrorists in Iraq. They were held for five loooooong weeks. Everyone, but him, had family to come home to. He felt the loss, though he knew in his heart that someone would come for them, he was willing to trade his life for theirs. King had enjoyed his single life, but after his capture, something had changed. He wanted his own special someone.

Faith is going through her own crisis. She is waiting…looking…focusing on surviving. She had worked at a non profit, helping women and children of domestic violence. She is stubborn, determined, strong. She had survived being held by an international serial killer, known as the Prince of Blood…and I’ll leave it to you to figure out why. Go ahead. Let your imagination run wild.

When the ladies enter the hospital room, one by one, I challenge you not to tear up.

King and Faith had both lost their bearings.. Now, they had to figure out how to move on. Was it Fate, Kismet, Karma, that they found each other in their time of need?

“…maybe I need a…a friend.”

“I…I think I need a friend too.”

It is so easy to get lost in Jane Blythe’s characters. They are strong, loyal, deetermined, loving, and will put their lives on the line for each other. I don’t have all the details, but this is romantic suspense, so they can’t have a happy ever after until she puts them through hell. LOL

Jane Blythe’s writing continues to amaze me. She is a master storyteller. I know the format, hunkalicious man meets damsel in distress…love, danger, fireworks!, doubt, denial. We are having some fun, some sweet romantic moments, while I am waiting for evil to rear its ugly head. She is great at creating suspense with pacing, creating tension that has me on the edge of my seat, cringing, white knuckled. She puts her characters through hell, but once is not enough. It keeps on coming, again and again.

If you are a Disney lover, a fan of magical dreams coming true and your prince coming to your rescue, you will love Saving Charlie.

Though Saving Charlie is the final story of Jane Blythe’s Saving Seals series, she has a new series coming in March of 2022. Prey Security is sure to become another favorite series of mine. Also, there are many more books and authors putting their spin on the Operation Alpha World.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Saving Charlie by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Suffering recognizes suffering.

Faith Johnson is the only surviving victim of an international serial killer. She survived weeks in his torture room and when she escapes she thought the hard part of her ordeal was over. She was wrong. The hard part was only just beginning. When she meets a man who makes her feel normal for the first time in months she convinces herself she’ll be happy with whatever he’s willing to give her, but she’s a romantic at heart and she’s falling hard and fast for the sexy SEAL.

Charlie “King” Voss’ world changed forever when he and his team were captured. While his teammates went home to their families he went home to an empty house. When he meets Faith he can’t deny the instantaneous attraction he feels for her, or the protectiveness she invokes, but he doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t want to break her heart. All he can offer her is his friendship but he knows it won’t be enough for her and he’ll lose the only good thing he has going in his life.

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

Jane has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series, Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.

When she’s not writing Jane loves to read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies. She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears. She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look 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!

Books From The Backlog – Streamline by Jennifer Lane @JenLaneBooks

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Streamline

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He’s captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother’s crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father’s abuse, battered and alone.

Leo’s girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida’s top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there’s an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter — her father — is in prison for murder.

Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything’s on the line… streamline.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.92  · 267 ratings  ·  82 reviews

I added Streamline by Jennifer Lane to my TBR on 1.28.13. I won the book. I like the pretty cover and I do love mystery, so this seemed like a good fit. AND, we are traveling from Pensacola to Annapolis, and that hits very close to home. I have read one of her books, On Best Behavior and enjoyed it, so I feel like I will enjoy this one too.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look 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!



Giveaway – Road to the Breaking by Chris Bennett @iReadBookTours

 



Join us for this tour from July 6 to July 26, 2021!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Road to the Breaking
CategoryAdult Fiction (18 +) , 345 pages
Genre: Historical
 Fiction
Publisher:  CPB Publishing, LLC
Release date:   January 2021
Content Rating:  PG-13Cursing, violence and war scenes, etc. 

Book Description:

Nothing survived “The Breaking” unchanged; lives and fortunes, love and hate, freedom and slavery …

It’s early 1860, and war hero Captain Nathaniel Chambers, commander U.S. Army Fort Davis in the west Texas wilderness, has received shocking news – his father is dead.  He must return home to Virginia and claim his inheritance before a maniacal neighbor can murder his widowed mother and seize the family plantation.

But he’s torn by a terrible dilemma – to stay in the army and turn his back on his fortune, his mother and his beloved childhood home, or become the thing he despises; a slave master!  Is there no other choice? 

An epic journey across a young nation seething with debauchery, brutality, corruption, and political intrigue, unwittingly on the brink of an unimaginable disaster; the American Civil War.  Nathan Chambers has left the violent army life behind in Texas, never imaging he’s on the very Road to The Breaking.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N
Bookshop  
Add to Goodreads


Enjoy Book 2 in The Road to the Breaking series:


Book Details:
Book TitleEnigma (Road to the Breaking Book 2) by Chris Bennett
CategoryAdult Fiction (18 +) , 514 pages
Genre: Historical
 Fiction
Publisher:  CPB Publishing, LLC
Release date:   February 2021
Format available for review:  print – softback, e-book ( mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF)
Will send print books out:  USA
Content Rating:  PG-13Cursing, violence and war scenes, etc.

Book Description:

“How can I call myself a man of good conscience, when I myself am no better than a slaver?”

It’s summer 1860, and former army Captain Nathan Chambers has returned home to Virginia to claim his inheritance: a large plantation with more than one hundred slaves.  Nathan wants no part of slavery and intends to sell the farm and all its slaves.  But even as he arrives home, enduring fearful and downcast stares from despondent black faces, he knows what he must do … and the price he must pay for doing it.    

As Nathan works to carry out his ambitious plans, he is troubled by rumors of succession and war, even as a villainous neighbor plots a violent end to their decades-long family feud.

And then Evelyn arrives … strikingly beautiful, spirited, and intriguing, she is the daughter of an old family friend.  But the more Nathan is drawn in by her charms, the harder she pushes him away … 

The Road to the Breaking Series is an epic tale of a young nation seething with debauchery, brutality, corruption, and political intrigue, unwittingly on the brink of a deadly precipice: the American Civil War.  In Book 2 of the series, Nathan Chambers has returned from the violent army life out West, only to face a heart wrenching Enigma at home.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N
Bookshop

Add to Goodreads

 

 Meet the Author:

Chris A. Bennett grew up on the shores of Klamath Lake in southeastern Oregon. For a young boy it was a dream world of water, hills, forests, and abundant wildlife. His love for action and adventure morphed into a lifelong love for books when his Mom read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to the family on a long road trip.
 
Chris’s thirst for adventure never faded and he began to live out his love of history onto the pages of his first book, Road to the Breaking. Once he started writing he just couldn’t stop and the result is The Road to the Breaking series; an epic journey across a young nation seething with debauchery, brutality, corruption, and political intrigue, unwittingly on the brink of an unimaginable disaster: the American Civil War.
 
Chris currently lives near Seattle with his wife Patricia. His three adult children Nick, Rachel, and Josh also live in the Puget Sound area.
 
Connect with the Author:   website  ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:


July 6 –
Cover Lover Book Review – books spotlight / giveaway
July 6 – Working Mommy journal – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1) / giveaway
July 7 – The Momma Spot – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1) / giveaway
July 8 – Books for Books – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1)
July 12 – Books for Books – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING, Book 2)
July 13 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1) / giveaway
July 13 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1) / giveaway
July 15 – Jazzy Book Reviews – books spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 16 – The Momma Spot – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING, Book 2) / giveaway
July 19 – Splashes of Joy – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1) / author interview / giveaway
July 19 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1) / giveaway
July 20 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING, Book 2) / giveaway
July 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING, Book 2) / giveaway
July 20 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING,  Book 2) / giveaway
July 20 – fundinmental – books spotlight / giveaway
July 21 – @twilight_reader – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1)
July 21 – Literary Flits – books spotlight / giveaway
July 22 – @twilight_reader – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING, Book 2)
July 22 – Character Madness and Musings – book review of ROAD TO THE BREAKING (Book 1) / guest post / giveaway  
July 23 – Splashes of Joy – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING, Book 2) / giveaway
July 23 – Character Madness and Musings – book review of ENIGMA (ROAD TO THE BREAKING, Book 2) / giveaway
July 26 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
 

Enter the Giveaway:

 A ROAD TO BREAKING Book Tour Giveaway

 


 

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Called Into Action by Paris Wynters @ParisWynters @CaffeinatedPR



Paris Wynters has a new contemporary romance from Carina Press you won’t want to miss! In Called Into Action, Penelope Ramos and her K9 Havoc aren’t prepared for Jay Gosling, the gruff park ranger, responsible for evaluating their skills, but a missing child will test them both.

Called Into Action



Amazon | B&N Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

They’ll find a way to work together. A young boy’s life depends on it.

Penelope Ramos has dreamed of being a K-9 search-and-rescue handler since she was a little girl. Armed with a quick mind and her German shepherd, Havoc, she rides into Maple Falls, Vermont, determined to get her certification. She isn’t expecting the gruff, unreadable park ranger assigned to evaluate her skills.

Park ranger Jay Gosling is a pro. It’s clear to him that neither Penelope nor her unpredictable canine has what it takes…although his boss feels otherwise. Whatever. Jay will never have to work with them and he has half a mind to escort them both right out of town. But when a young boy goes missing, he doesn’t have that luxury.

Working side by side tests their tentative peace, but Jay and Penelope are together on one thing: they’ll both do whatever it takes to find the missing child—before it’s too late.




Amazon | B&N Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One

Penelope

A whiff of damp leaves filled Penelope’s nose as she inhaled and sank back, exhausted, against a thick elm trunk. The air was crisp and invigorating with the recent rain, the pale sunshine adding freshness as it reflected off the wet leaves. The weather was so perfect. Unlike her life, which was currently in a state of upheaval thanks to her ex.

Damn you, Trevor.

It was tough enough working for Tío Enrique’s construction company. People assumed she’d been promoted because she was family. But she’d put in the time and done the work because she wanted to get the promotion on merit, or else she didn’t want it at all. Only her pendejo ex-boyfriend stole the promotion right out from under her.

A muscle in her jaw ticked.

On top of everything else, having to see his smug face at work right now was too much, so Penelope decided to take a break to clear her head and do something just for herself. Which had led her to this idyllic state park in Vermont.

Penelope pushed off the elm, glanced at her Audi, and groaned. Her dog was perched in the backseat, slobbering all over the window. The usual. Havoc always had to keep an eye on her, even when sleeping. There was nothing creepier than waking up to the serious stare of a large male German shepherd mere inches from her face. And right now, she could have sworn her exuberant dog was smiling at her, his long tongue dangling out the side of his mouth.

She’d worked so hard for little perks, like being able to afford leasing this car, and had hoped that her dedication would pay off. She closed her eyes and took a long centering breath.

Focus on the positives.

At least she had leather seats. And Havoc. She rolled her shoulders, knowing she couldn’t have asked for a better partner for her search and rescue plans.

Somehow, her ex had hated Havoc. Enough so that the total annihilation of their relationship had nothing to do with jobs or sex or money. Rather, it had to do with the dog and a pair of shoes. Almighty Ferragamo shoes to be exact.

Honestly, unwanted dog behavior was almost always the human’s fault. A dog couldn’t chew what he couldn’t find. Penelope had imparted that particular bit of wisdom every time she found one of her ex’s stupid loafers in the middle of the floor. He couldn’t blame a dog for being a dog. But he had, giving her the ultimatum of him or Havoc.

She chose Havoc.

He was not only her partner, but her best friend. Okay, so Havoc actually tied for the role with her father. Even when in grade school, she’d always considered Papá her confidant. And that relationship continued through adulthood and only got stronger when her mother died.

A sharp bark from the backseat caught her attention. The Havoc-needsto-use-the-bathroom-now bark that meant if she didn’t let him out fast, those leather seats were going to require more than a slobber wipe-down.

The moment she opened the door, Havoc bounded out, racing into the field like a bullet. At two years old, he still bounced with puppy exuberance and was stubborn as hell. But he was exactly what she always wanted. A true working dog.

She pulled out her phone to check the time as Havoc burned off some energy. Another two and a half hours to kill.

When Penelope had pulled into the driveway at the duplex in town where she’d be staying, Mrs. Dubczek, the stout and rosy-cheeked housekeeper, was still in the middle of scouring already-clean floors, fitting the bed and bathroom with fresh sheets and towels, vacuuming, and generally applying her personal brand of spit and polish to the already immaculate unit. The gray-haired woman had cast her most powerful malocchio at Havoc, but the dog seemed impervious to her evil eye curse and promptly licked her face.

So, Penelope had dropped off one suitcase and escaped the bustling—and exceedingly chatty—Mrs. Dubczek to take Havoc to the state park.

And what a slice of paradise it turned out to be.

Penelope was familiar with autumn colors, but this park was beautiful. Too bad in her rush to beat traffic, she’d forgotten to pack her DSLR camera. Havoc’s sable coat against the red, yellow, and brown leaves would’ve made for some stunning pictures.

At least she had her phone. It just wasn’t the same. Lighting is a critical aspect of photography, and like most smartphones, hers had an LED flash instead of the preferred Xenon the digital camera had. The phone’s flash just wasn’t bright enough, nor could it cover large areas, which was important for when it came to taking photos of wildlife.

But she hadn’t driven to Vermont for vacation, nor was it her first choice for her Search and Rescue K-9 Air Scent handler evaluation. She wasn’t used to the landscape, but it was the only place she could find someone to evaluate her this month since she refused to wait any longer. So, she took some time off work and drove up to Maple Falls a couple of days early to get a feel for the topography without needing to rely on her GPS. Part of the evaluation would require her to explain her location on a map based on identifying at least three landmarks by sight. Etching landmarks into her mind would be vital. Just like it had been to pass her basic land searcher certification.

Only where she tested in New York was basically flat, so there wasn’t much to memorize.

She’d white-knuckled the steering wheel until the moment she’d arrived in the southern Vermont town. The place was gorgeous, full of charming local businesses with old-fashioned Victorian architecture set against a beautiful backdrop of brown, gold, orange, and red. The townspeople had already started decorating for the holidays with pumpkins, hay bales, and mums. Not to mention the vastly forested landscape. The aura of the town relaxed her instantly.

She giggled as Havoc attempted to chase a chipmunk up a tree and stretched her arms over her head, taking in more of her surroundings. In contrast to the careful landscaping of the picnic area, to her left sat a dilapidated building, barely hanging on, close to the main trail leading off into the forest. The roof shingles were worn and missing in a couple of places, and the siding appeared to suffer from some wood rot, visible in the many bare areas where the decades-old paint had peeled away. Cardboard and packing tape held one of the broken windowpanes together. Penelope inched closer to read the “closed” sign on the door, which included an opening date about a month away. Penelope shook and waved her arms. Damned cobwebs were everywhere. Hopefully, the poor sucker who had to sit in this thing would at least get some hazard pay. A strong gust of wind would bring the whole place down.

She turned away from the building. If she wanted to see urban decay, she could head back to New York where even the garden view outside her office was tainted by reflective metallic structures. Hell, it wouldn’t take much to get used to seeing only trees and colorful flowers.

Penelope walked a couple of feet toward the trail and knelt in the grass to take a photo of freshly bloomed stonecrop flowers. The tiny maroon blossoms grouped together to form clouds of sweet-smelling blooms. Breathing in their fragrance, she recalled the roof garden of an office building in New York she’d visited once during a work conference. She’d found the same flowers there.

A big-bellied thrush landed a few feet away and posed, proudly sticking out his chest. She laughed and snapped a few pictures, a rush of warmth filling her chest. She hadn’t spent much time solely on photography in more than a year, her time mostly devoted to attempting to balance work, SAR, and a relationship. Boy, did she miss it, and kicked herself harder for not bringing the professional camera.

The thrush, who now perched on a log, cocked its head, staring at her with wide jeweled eyes, then puffed its chest out again. Penelope laughed.

“Yes, I can take more pictures of you, gorgeous.”

She looked up and glanced around to find Havoc sniffing around the check station. He paced back and forth, the distance he traveled gradually shortening before his spine curled. Penelope stood and headed back toward the car to grab a poop bag. As she reached over the console, she grimaced. Sitting on the floor behind the passenger seat was the damn box of exboyfriend crap she’d forgotten to throw out in her haste to beat city traffic.

Her fingers dug into the console. Just the sight of the box made her mad. Her dog! He’d demanded that she get rid of Havoc! Like, what, she should just dump Havoc at the shelter, over a stupid shoe? To think, all of the time she’d wasted on someone like that. Her temples pounded, and her blood pressure rose. And yeah, maybe her chest ached a little too at seeing the physical reminders of her failed relationship. All of those knickknacks, snapshots, and mushy, cornball cards, from an ass who never appreciated or understood her. She glared through a watery gaze at the ratty teddy bear with the bright pink and black button eyes that he won for her on a carnival date. With an eye on Havoc, she picked up the box—pink bear and all—and carried it to a painted red picnic table close to the old building.

Havoc chased a less savvy thrush and barked when it took flight.

“Havoc, no.”

He stopped and turned to face her, cocking one forepaw and holding it up —the way he always did when he wasn’t sure. His dark ears twitched as he turned his head in the direction where the bird disappeared. But he looked back and slowly took a few steps toward her, paws crunching the leaves.

“Good boy.”

The fading late afternoon sunlight reflected off a piece of green plastic in the grass. The tiny object blended in so well she wouldn’t have noticed it if the shiny surface and little silver cap wouldn’t have caught the light at just the right angle.

It was a sign, one she wasn’t about to ignore.

She stood and walked over to pick up the discarded cigarette lighter. As her hand closed around it, she took a quick second to thank God no one was around to read her mind.

Some things didn’t need an audience—and cleansing herself of Trevor once and for all was one of them. She picked up the box and walked over to one of the park’s steel grills, emptying the contents of the box into it. She held the lighter, arm halfcocked with indecision. Just like Havoc. If the lighter ignites, this is the right thing. If not, she’d find a dumpster and dispose of her ex the old-fashioned way.

Moment of truth. With a single flick of her thumb, a small flame danced to life. Penelope bent down and held the flame against the corner of a playbill until it blackened and caught. A breeze rolled through, and the flame burned across the items.

“Adiós, old life.” Penelope took a step back and shoved her hands into her pockets. As she stared, she could have sworn the bear smiled as its plastic-fur face melted away.

Havoc barked, startling her. She turned in time to see him bounding toward her. She sidestepped and placed herself in the dog’s path, trying to grab his collar, but he was too quick and cut to the side. “Havoc! Down!”

He dropped to the ground, his eyes locking on the bright flames and the steadily disintegrating pink bear. “No!” Penelope latched onto his collar as he lunged, but she lost her balance and knocked into the grill.

Penelope cringed and Havoc whimpered at the split-second high-pitched grinding sound that cut through the air. Her gaze jerked to the side only to watch as the top of the grill snapped off its rusted post and fell to the ground. A strong gust of wind swirled, sending burning ticket stubs and flaming embers across the roof and front elevation of the wooden shed. Within seconds, the fire burned like a temper, as if the leaping inferno was fueled by a terrible anger toward the world—the same fury that had churned inside her.

“No!”

Her fingers curled tighter around Havoc’s collar as terror swelled throughout every cell in her body. Her mouth hung open, her throat so dry she couldn’t scream. When Havoc barked, she blinked as if coming to from a trance. Her head jerked from side to side as she took in the scene. “No, no, no!”

She snatched her phone from her pocket, thumb trembling as she punched in the unlock code. One bar of service! But it was enough.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“My name is Penelope Ramos, and there’s a fire! I’m at some state park. I don’t know which one. It’s about, uh, I don’t know, maybe twenty minutes west of Maple Falls. The building here is on fire, and it’s going up so fast, I don’t know what to do!”

And I set it, but you can arrest me later.

The dispatcher asked a series of questions, probably to help keep her calm, but not being able to answer most of them only amplified her anxiety. As they continued their backward game of testing what Penelope didn’t know, she put Havoc in the car. He whimpered, doggy-smile gone, ears flattened sideways.

Penelope paced as she waited for help to come, her fingers curling and uncurling against the seams running down the outside of her jeans.

Carajo.

This was bad. Epically stupid, even. A fire. In a state park. With trees. And wind. She forced back tears, but her throat tightened, and she leaned against the car for support.

Minutes that felt like hours later, sirens blared in the distance. The first responders pulled up on the grass, hopped out, and started working to contain the blaze. Penelope watched in horror as the firefighters sprayed water onto the burning building, but the flames prevailed. She’d started a forest fire all because she’d wanted to burn everything her ex-boyfriend had ever given her. Penelope fell to her knees, sobs shaking her shoulders.

She was completely alone, and an arsonist. She’d never pass the search and rescue evaluation now.

About the Author

Paris Wynters is an adult romance author repped by Tricia Skinner at Fuse Literary. She lives on Long Island in New York with her family, which includes two psychotic working dogs. Paris is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago. Paris and her son are nationally certified Search and Rescue personnel (she is a canine handler). She is a huge supporter of the military/veteran community. When not writing, Paris enjoys playing XBOX (she is a huge HALO fanatic and also enjoys FORTNITE), watching hockey (Go Islanders), and trying new things like flying planes and taking trapeze classes.

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Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
  • Books From The Backlog – The Omega Options by Rick T Hodges #RickTHodges #booksfromthebacklog

    .

    Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

    If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

    The Omega Option: Rise of Draconis

    Amazon / Goodreads

    GOODREADS BLURB

    When a soulless, inhuman force descends upon Professor Li Jun Wong’s Antarctic expedition, search and rescue operations discover only his mutilated crew and a cryptic journal left behind. Confronted with the malevolent force, a covert government agency discovers a sub-oceanic base long abandoned by aquatic aliens in the northwest Pacific. Someone, or something…is reactivating the alien base, threatening to collapse the earth’s magnetic field, exposing the planet to catastrophic solar effects.

    Ex-Special Forces Commander, Joe Dalton, leads the interdiction force…unaware it will exhume old secrets long since buried with Professor Wong’s ill-fated expedition. Amidst the emerging threat, Dalton reassembles his former Special Operations team; finding each man imperiled among the most remote deathtraps on earth.

    Joe then reunites with his former love interest, Sunjida Wong, heiress to her missing father’s International Institute of Oceanography. Aided by her scientific genius – and the secrets of an ancient alien sarcophagus in her possession – The Omega Team launches into desperate battle against parahuman forces…in a bold quest to save the human race from impending cosmic destruction.

    Goodreads rating: 5   Rating details: 6 ratings  ·  2 reviews

    The Omega Option by Rick T Hodges has been on my TBR since 9.8.12. I can’t remember exactly why I grabbed this, but I think a sub oceanic base and aquatic aliens could play a part. I do love anything to do with water. Sounds different and I always enjoy something out of the ordinary. What do you think? Do you read Science Fiction?

    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
    • You can see my Reviews HERE.
    • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
    • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
    • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
    • I am an Amazon affiliate/product imgaes are linked.
    • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

    Books From The Backlog – The Omega Option by Rick T Hodges #RickTHodges #BooksFromTheBacklog

    .

    Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

    If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

    The Omega Option: Rise of Draconis

    Amazon / Goodreads

    GOODREADS BLURB

    When a soulless, inhuman force descends upon Professor Li Jun Wong’s Antarctic expedition, search and rescue operations discover only his mutilated crew and a cryptic journal left behind. Confronted with the malevolent force, a covert government agency discovers a sub-oceanic base long abandoned by aquatic aliens in the northwest Pacific. Someone, or something…is reactivating the alien base, threatening to collapse the earth’s magnetic field, exposing the planet to catastrophic solar effects.

    Ex-Special Forces Commander, Joe Dalton, leads the interdiction force…unaware it will exhume old secrets long since buried with Professor Wong’s ill-fated expedition. Amidst the emerging threat, Dalton reassembles his former Special Operations team; finding each man imperiled among the most remote deathtraps on earth.

    Joe then reunites with his former love interest, Sunjida Wong, heiress to her missing father’s International Institute of Oceanography. Aided by her scientific genius – and the secrets of an ancient alien sarcophagus in her possession – The Omega Team launches into desperate battle against parahuman forces…in a bold quest to save the human race from impending cosmic destruction.

    Goodreads ratings: 5   Rating details ·  6 ratings  ·  2 reviews

    I won this book back on 9.8.12. Everything about it makes me think it will be a great read.

    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
    • You can see my Reviews HERE.
    • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
    • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
    • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
    • I am an Amazon affiliate/product imgaes are linked.
    • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

    Giveaway – Steel Assassin by Geoffrey Saign @geoffreysaign

    This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Geoffrey Saign will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

    Serve justice. Discover a secret. Find his daughter. Repay betrayal.
    Jack Steel trains for the impossible, and it looks like it found him.

    On a black op to neutralize terrorists, elite specialist Steel puts honor and integrity ahead of orders when he spares a monk. He just never expected his decision to put crosshairs on his back.

    Hunted by a twisted killer, a vengeful billionaire, and the highest levels of government, Steel races to discover who’s behind a conspiracy that will decide the fate of two countries—and why one monk is the key to it all.

    Aching from a missing daughter, Steel finds it easy to fall for Christie, a beautiful counter-terrorism analyst who offers to help. But he isn’t sure he can trust anyone.

    To have a chance at love and a new life, and to serve justice, Steel just needs to stay one step ahead of a bullet…
    ***** 

    Revenge. Love. Family.
    To protect their families, Jack Steel and Christie Thorton must become assassins.

    Deadly Blackhood Ops specialist Jack Steel has moved on from his bloody past, but his past won’t let him go. He has it all; his partner Christie, his daughter Rachel, a protection agency he’s proud of, and his head on straight.

    But it’s all torn apart when a madman blackmails him and Christy. Their skills are pushed to the limit as they are forced to become assassins to save those they love. The Mexican cartel, terrorists, and people from Steel’s past force them into a non-stop fight that they can’t walk away from.

    To protect his country, and everyone important to him, Steel will be forced to trust the very people he swore to kill.

    And he might have to walk away from those he loves…

    Read an Excerpt from Book 2: Steel Assassin

    Steel heard the ooh ooh ooh cry of a Mexican spotted owl. It began softly and escalated rapidly to a louder pitch. Wishing he could just stand still and enjoy it, he kept moving. He had a deep, abiding love for nature—which always grounded him.

    As he made his way south, he also wished he had taken a firmer stand with Christie and refused her help. It probably wouldn’t have mattered. She would have come anyway. But the fact that she was in a dangerous Op, with little field experience, gave his steps more urgency.

    A deeper fear lurked beneath that idea. When the Colombian had threatened to send Christie’s photo to the cartel, he had intuited that it wasn’t just a threat, but a plan. The Colombian would have to die before that happened.

    The trees formed dark shadows under the moon. He ran from trunk to trunk until he was far enough south that he could approach the side of the house directly from the east.

    Decades of exploring caves had made moving in darkness second nature to him.

    As he got closer, the house lights guided him in. He stopped fifty feet out behind a tree. No one was visible in the windows. It triggered an alarm in his head to be more cautious.

    About the Author:
    Award-winning author Geoffrey Saign has spent many years studying kung fu and sailed all over the South Pacific and Caribbean. He uses that experience and sense of adventure to write the Jack Steel and Alex Sight thriller action series.

    Geoff loves to sail big boats, hike, and cook—and he infuses all his writing with his passion for nature. As a swimmer he considers himself fortunate to live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota. See what he’s up to at his website.

    Website: http://geoffreysaign.net
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/geoffreysaign
    FB: https://www.facebook.com/JackSteelBooks
    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/755980.Geoffrey_Saign

    Sign up for the newsletter to receive a free copy of STEEL TRUST: https://geoffreysaign.net/newsletter-free-steel-trust

    AMAZON STEEL FORCE Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Force-Action-Mystery-Thriller-ebook/dp/B07V52VYSY/ref=sr_1_1 — on sale during the week of the tour for $0.99

    Amazon STEEL ASSASSIN Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Assassin-Action-Mystery-Thriller-ebook/dp/B07YZV5BWK/ref=sr_1_1 — on sale during the week of the tour for $2.99

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    Giveaway – Tasmanian Special Forces by C R Daems @SDSXXTours

    Tasmanian Special Forces Group: Welcome to Hell
    by C.R. Daems
    Genre: SciFi Military Action
    Jolie was three when she found she was ugly and deformed.
    She was five when she found she was a sub-human and an outcast.
    She was seven when five boys and two girls dragged her out of the orphanage and beat her unconscious, leaving her lying bleeding and broken in the street.
    She was content to lie there and die, tired of being hated and abused. But a frail old man with wispy white hair and a long beard wasn’t content to let her die. He not only saved her, but he adopted her and passed on his unique martial art to her.
    She was twenty when she headed to Delphi, the center of the United Systems of Perileos (USP) and the planet of her birth-father to find her place in his society.
    Based on her unique upbringing, she decides to join the USP military, requesting to be assigned to the Tasmanians SFG, an elite all male unit. The military brass is reluctant to deny her request and admit their enlistment contract permits bait-and-switch assignments. Instead, they agree to let her enter the school, thinking she couldn’t possibly succeed–a Chihuahua competing against Rottweilers–and plan to make an example of her when she fails.
    Although Jolie is small, she is not what she appears. But can her adopted father’s art enable her to survive the treachery of the military brass, the grueling of the school, the prejudices of the instructors, and the testosterone of an all-male class?
    And if she succeeds, can she thrive in the high-octane and all male environment of the Tasmanians?
    Clem Daems is a native of Chicago, Illinois and a graduate of the University of Arizona. He served twenty-two years in the US Air Force. Since then, he has worked as a software engineer, course developer, and adjunct professor, teaching mathematics and Computer Science.
    He has always been an avid reader of Science Fiction/Fantasy but never had an interest in writing or being an author. So, it was surprising when he began his first novel, several years after his retirement, at age seventy. His first novel, co-authored with Jeanne Tomlin, “The Talon of the Raptor Clan”–recently reissued as the “Talon of the Unnamed Goddess”–was a 2010 EPPIE finalist in Fiction/Fantasy.
    Clem is an award winning author and an active member of the Science Fiction Writers of America.
    His hobby–a life-long one–has been Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Clem is currently retired and living in Tucson, Arizona.
    He would enjoy hearing from you at clemd@comcast.net on any topic: his books, the characters, writing with a co-author, Kung Fu, his website (http://clemd.home.comcast.net/~clemd/JC/Index.html), life after retirement, or…
    Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
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