Review – Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin @juliathrillers

Posted on August 3, 2016 by fundinmental

The cover for Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin told me all I need to know.

I am a sucker for a great cover and the book design by Dana Leigh Blanchette evokes feelings of mystery and intrigue, making it a book that I want on my shelf.

What do you think of when you look at the cover?

MY REVIEW

I won Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway and I was very excited to get my hands on this character-based psychological thriller. I love reading about serial killers and Black -Eyed Susans has enough twists and turns that it kept me guessing to the very end. To delve into the minds of Tessie and Lydia shows the games our mind can play with us and how nothing is ever as it seems on the surface. Being buried alive is one of the creepiest things I can imagine and even though Tessie survived the experience, the emotional scars are much deeper than the physical ones. Lydia… Is her entire story told…or does she keep some secrets never to be brought to light? Doesn’t matter to me, I love her anyway. The death penalty…O J Simpson…guilt…innocence…If you want to jump at every noise in the night, every doorbell ringing…you will want to read Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin.

4 Stars

Add me to Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB: For fans of Laura Lippman and Gillian Flynn comes an electrifying novel of stunning psychological suspense.

I am the star of screaming headlines and campfire ghost stories.
I am one of the four Black-Eyed Susans.
The lucky one.

As a sixteen-year-old, Tessa Cartwright was found in a Texas field, barely alive amid a scattering of bones, with only fragments of memory as to how she got there. Ever since, the press has pursued her as the lone surviving “Black-Eyed Susan,” the nickname given to the murder victims because of the yellow carpet of wildflowers that flourished above their shared grave. Tessa’s testimony about those tragic hours put a man on death row.

Now, almost two decades later, Tessa is an artist and single mother. In the desolate cold of February, she is shocked to discover a freshly planted patch of black-eyed susans—a summertime bloom—just outside her bedroom window. Terrified at the implications—that she sent the wrong man to prison and the real killer remains at large—Tessa turns to the lawyers working to exonerate the man awaiting execution. But the flowers alone are not proof enough, and the forensic investigation of the still-unidentified bones is progressing too slowly. An innocent life hangs in the balance. The legal team appeals to Tessa to undergo hypnosis to retrieve lost memories—and to share the drawings she produced as part of an experimental therapy shortly after her rescue.

What they don’t know is that Tessa and the scared, fragile girl she was have built a fortress of secrets. As the clock ticks toward the execution, Tessa fears for her sanity, but even more for the safety of her teenaged daughter. Is a serial killer still roaming free, taunting Tessa with a trail of clues? She has no choice but to confront old ghosts and lingering nightmares to finally discover what really happened that night.

Shocking, intense, and utterly original, Black-Eyed Susans is a dazzling psychological thriller, seamlessly weaving past and present in a searing tale of a young woman whose harrowing memories remain in a field of flowers—as a killer makes a chilling return to his garden.

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Friday 56 #90 & BB #66 – A Perfect Evil by Alex Kava @AlexKava_Author

Posted on June 24, 2016 by fundinmental

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

~~~

A Perfect Evil by Alex Kava

Alex Kava is a master storyteller that is on my hit list. I don’t even need to look at the book, just hear her name and I know I want it.

I was lucky enough to meet her a year or two ago and got her autograph for my hardcopy of A Perfect Evil. I love this cover and the story inside. This is the first book in the Maggie O’Dell series.

MY FRIDAY 56

“What makes you say that?” He was annoyed by her matter-of-fact attitude, She had been here only minutes and seemed to have it all figured out.

“You fell here when you tripped, right?” she said, pointing to the torn grass and the indent in the mud.

(page 56 in hardback)

MY BOOK BEGINNINGS

“Bless me Father, for I have sinned.” Ronald Jeffreys’ raspy monotone made the phrase a challenge rather than a confession.

Father Stephen Francis stared at Jeffreys’ hands, mesmerized by the large knuckles and stubby fingers, nails bitten to the quick. The fingers twisted – no, strangled – the corner of his blue government-issue shirt. The old priest imagined those same fingers twisting and choking the life out of little Bobby Wilson.

Uh, oh…What do you think happens next?

Add me to Goodreads

GOOREADS BLURB

A killer is watching . . .

The brutal murders of three young boys paralyze the citizens of Platte City, Nebraska. What’s worse is the grim realization that the man recently executed for the crimes was a copycat. When Sheriff Nick Morrelli is called to the scene of another grisly murder, it becomes clear that the real predator is still at large, waiting to kill again.

Morreli understands the urgency of the case terrorizing his community, but it’s the experienced eye of FBI criminal profiler Maggie O’Dell that pinpoints the true nature of the evil behind the killings — a revelation made all the more horrific when Morrelli’s own nephew goes missing.

Maggie understands something else: the killer is enjoying himself, relishing his ability to stay one step ahead of her, making this case more personal by the hour. Because out there, watching, is a killer with a heart of pure and perfect evil.

~~~

I have never see this cover before. The colors sure do pop, but it looks too cheesy.

Which cover do you like best? Why?

~~~

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Giveaway – The Cursed Canoe by Frankie Bow @Frankie_Bow

Posted on June 2, 2016 by fundinmental

The Cursed Canoe by Frankie Bow has such a cool cover, I knew I had to share.

The Cursed Canoe: A Molly Barda Mystery
2nd Book in Series
Cozy Mystery
Print Length: 338 pages
Publisher: Hawaiian Heritage Press (February 23, 2016)
ASIN: B01C5JYVXA

Professor Molly Barda investigates a mysterious paddling accident, and realizes it isn’t just business majors who cheat to get what they want. Whether it’s moving up in the college rankings, getting a seat in the big canoe race, or just looking out for themselves, some people will do whatever it takes-including murder.

author-photo-b-square

About The Author

Like Molly Barda, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, a loving family, and a perfectly nice office chair. She believes if life isn’t fair, at least it can be entertaining.

In addition to writing murder mysteries, she publishes in scholarly journals under her real name. Her experience with academic publishing has taught her to take nothing personally.

Author Links: Blog / Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon – B&N

GIVEAWAY

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Kindle Giveaway – Last Light by C J Lyons

Posted on April 29, 2016 by fundinmental

Welcome to another exciting tour with Novel Publicity. Today, I’m excited to share with you, my review of Last Light, by CJ Lyons! Also, make sure you check out the rafflecopter at the end of the post, because Novel Publicity & CJ are giving away scented candles, signed hardbacks. . . AND a KINDLE PAPERWHITE!

MY REVIEW

I love the simple cover for Last Light by C J Lyons and it has all the essentials, telling me the story will be a mystery and I do love my mysteries. It is books like Last Light by C J Lyons that are at the top of must read mountain of reading material. I loved the way the real story began…the hook. Now,.on to how we get there.

I meet the characters and feel their realness. I am being drawn into their lives, even though I was already hooked on the storyline.

Lucy used to be an FBI agent, who now works with an inexperienced crew she will shape and form to solve Cold Cases. I am a huge fan of the Cold Case Files and other crime shows, fact and fiction.

As soon as Lucy and TK got together, I felt they would click, but they both have to prove themselves to each other, above the rest of the ‘team’. I feel these two characters, each with their own flaws, weaknesses and strengths, will become tight.

I love Lucy, a person I may have been able to become, but TK is my fave…hard, pushing herself, untrusting, a loner. A person I would come to admire and respect. She is impulsive, loyal, fearless, teachable and learns from her mistakes.

A small town with asset forfeiture is a side story that had me very pissed off. It all sounds bad…is it corrupt? I can’t talk about the forfeiture storyline because I want you to experience if for yourself. I do want to mention it, because it really got me going. Just enough of a tease here and there to keep me anticipating the hammer to drop on the gang.

The suspects list kept growing and had me guessing. I can see the story playing out and I can hardly wait to get to know how the characters will solve the puzzle. I think they are the true story, above and beyond the mystery.

Last Light by C J Lyons did not blow my mind but it does have all the elements for a fantastic read and I want more of Lucy’s adventures.

I received a copy of Last Light by C J Lyons in return for an honest review.

4 Stars

About the Books

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CJ Lyons. For fans of Lisa Gardner, Tami Hoag, and Jeffery Deaver:
“Everything a great thriller should be–action packed, authentic, and intense.” ~#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child
After leaving the FBI, life should be easy, right? Wrong–not if you’re Lucy Guardino.
Lucy has always seen herself as a normal Pittsburgh soccer mom who happened to have a job chasing the worst of the worst. But after a violent predator targets her family and she’s injured, Lucy sacrifices her career with the FBI in order to keep her family safe.

What is she now that she’s no longer a FBI Special Agent? she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims.Lucy fears she’s traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs.

Her fears appear justified when she’s partnered with TK O’Connor, a former Marine MP struggling with her transition to life back home, and sent to rural Texas to investigate a case that’s more than cold, it’s already been closed with the killers behind bars for the past twenty-nine years.

But…who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband? Why was an entire family targeted for annihilation?

What price will Lucy pay when she fights to expose a truth people will kill to keep buried?

LAST LIGHT is the seventh Lucy Guardino novel, but they can be read out of order. If you enjoy captivating suspense, intelligent storytelling,strong and vulnerable characters, and a freight-train pace, then you’ll love this adrenaline rush of a heart-pounding thriller.

Join the millions of readers who’ve fallen for CJ’s Thrillers with Heart and grab your copy of LAST LIGHT today!

[box caption=”Learn More about the Author, Anne Zoelle ” state=”open”]

Pediatric ER doctor turned New York Times bestselling thriller writer CJ Lyons has been a storyteller all her life—something that landed her in many time-outs as a kid. She writes her Thrillers with Heart for the same reason that she became a doctor: because she believes we all have the power to change our world.

In the ER she witnessed many acts of courage by her patients and their families, learning that heroes truly are born every day. When not writing, she can be found walking the beaches near her Lowcountry home, listening to the voices in her head and plotting new and devious ways to create mayhem for her characters.

To learn more about her Thrillers with Heart go to www.CJLyons.net
Connect with CJ on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

GIVEAWAY

Make sure you check out the rafflecopter, because Novel Publicity & CJ are giving away scented candles, signed hardbacks. . . AND a KINDLE PAPERWHITE!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Giveaway, Interview, Review – Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr

Posted on February 18, 2016 by fundinmental

Lauren Carr has a new novel to share, Cancelled Vows.

Welcome, Lauren! I love the book and I am so happy to have you here to share your thoughts with us.

Lauren, all of your mystery series, from Mac Faraday to Lovers in Crime to the Thorny Rose Mysteries are called complex mysteries—meaning that they challenge the reader to figure out who done it. What process do you go through to write challenging mysteries?

I do a lot of thinking. First, I come up with the murder itself. Who is the victim? Who are the suspects? Then I decide on who the killer is. After I have all that, I work on the red herrings and the twists and turns in the plot—the ride from the beginning to the end. I’ll work on all that for weeks, sometimes months before I actually sit down to start writing.

You write three best-selling series. Are there some murder plotlines that work better with one series than another? At what point do you know which murder mystery goes with which series?

I usually know right away which mystery works best with which series. If you’ll notice, each of my series has it’s own unique flavor.

The Mac Faraday Mysteries deal with the wealthy resort, country club setting. These mysteries involve people of wealth and prestige.

The Lovers in Crime mysteries deal with the rural small town setting. The characters Joshua and Cameron encounter are small town folks who all know each other.

The Thorny Rose detectives, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton, live in the metropolitan Washington DC area. These mysteries involve people of wealth and power—politics and national security.

Once I know who the characters are, then I know which series will be the best fit for it.

Do you feel like you learn something new about your characters yourself with each book?

Oh, yes. My mysteries are character driven. I’m always diving deeper into the characters to figure out myself how and why they do the things they do. Sometimes, I learn things about the characters that I don’t even tell the reader about. For example, in Cancelled Vows, I really wanted to explore the character of David O’Callaghan and his relationships with women. At the beginning of the series, I’m sure for most readers, David simply came across as a hottie who maybe had an issue with commitment to women. But, by the end of Cancelled Vows, I’m sure readers will be surprised, as I was, to discover that there was more to it than meets the eye. Not only will readers learn more about David, but he learns more about himself.

If you could put yourself into one of your books, what type of character would you be?

Been there, done that! I actually did put myself in A Wedding and a Killing, the eighth Mac Faraday Mystery. The case in this book is based on a real murder that happened at a church, in which a church secretary was killed in the church office. My husband is the business manager at a church, so I decided to kill him. The victim in A Wedding and a Killing, Eugene, is based on my real husband, and the victim’s wife, Marilyn, is an over the top version of myself. Marilyn immediately becomes a prime suspect because she books a cruise the morning after her husband’s murder, and she doesn’t understand why that would be suspicious. She’s loud and fun and comically honest. I’ve had several readers ask to bring her back in another book, which I do plan to do.

Each of your characters are fully developed and unique? Where do they come from? Do you base them on real people you know?

My characters come from all over. Some of them, the very root, core of the character may be based on someone I know or have met. But then as other facets of their personality and backstory come about, they will evolve until I have the whole character. All the time, I have to keep the murder case of the book in mind. There have been times that I have developed characters who did not fit into the role I needed for the murder mystery. When that happens, I have to ditch the character and come up with a new one. Once I fired a congresswoman from one of my books. How many people can say they fired a congresswoman?

Of all the characters you have worked with in your books, who is your favorite?

Gnarly, of course! Gnarly has a life of his own. I just never know what he’s going to do next.

What project are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on Killer in the Band, the Lovers in Crime mystery coming out at the end of April, readers will get to know more about Joshua Thornton Jr (J.J.), Murphy’s identical twin brother. J.J. has graduated at the top of his class from law school and is returning home to spend the summer studying for the bar exam. However, to the Thornton’s shock and dismay, J.J. decides to move in with Suellen Russell, a lovely widow twice his age. The move brings long buried tensions between the father and son to the surface. When a brutal killer strikes, the father and son must set all differences aside to solve the crime before J.J. ends up in the crosshairs of a murderer.

Thanks so much Lauren. It is a pleasure having you here!

Now…about the “gorgeous” cover…what do you think?

MY REVIEW

In Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr we are back to visit Mac Faraday and other familiar characters. I love a stand alone series with returning characters. I feel a connection with them and want to find out what trouble they have found now. Cancelled Vows is a clean romance with fantastic mysteries galore.

Warning: Those drive through weddings in Las Vegas are real!

David O’Callaghan, a Spencer police chief, best friend and half brother to Mac Faraday, finds himself jumping from the frying pan to the fire when he heads to New York City.

Murder rears its ugly head and Mac Faraday and Gnarly, his K-9 cohort, rush to find answers. Gnarly is quite the character. He has a big attitude to go with his big personality and is a bit of a klepto. I can’t help but laugh at his and Mac’s antics. I mean, what kind of dog gets a dishonorable discharge from the service? Nice touch, Lauren, and its makes me love him more.

Curiosity and mystery from the opening page. I’m trying to figure out why…

I like the internet angle and internet trolls. I have heard nightmares about them and they come alive on Lauren Carr’s pages.

I am not liking David very much right now. Can the whore dog change my mind? I am liking Ali Hudson though. She is a witty investigative journalist, with a slew of Texas sayings and a determination to learn the truth.

Murders are adding up. The plot thickens and the suspect pool takes a twist I didn’t see coming. I love it. The pacing and my fear for the characters makes the suspense mount.

I love a happy ever after and this is great one! Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr is one of her best…yet.

I received an ARC of Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

Book Description for Cancelled Vows:

Police Chief David O’Callaghan and Chelsea Adams’ wedding day is fast approaching. Unfortunately, at the last minute, David discovers that there is one small problem to be taken care of before he can tie the knot—divorce his first wife!

Lauren Carr takes fans of the Mac Faraday mysteries to the Big Apple in this nail biting adventure. In Cancelled Vows, David, Mac, and Gnarly, too, rush to New York City to dissolve David’s marriage to an old girlfriend—and he’s got five days to get it done. When murder throws up a road block, it is up to David’s best man, Mac Faraday, and Gnarly, K9-in-waiting, to sort through the clues to get David to the church in time!

Buy the book here: Amazon

About Lauren Carr

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday and Lovers in Crime Mysteries and the Thorny Rose Mysteries. Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real live Gnarly!) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

GIVEAWAY

Win 1 print copy of Cancelled Vows with a $25 Amazon gift card (USA) or 1 of 5 ebook copies with a $15 Amazon gift card (International)

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

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

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Jeff Gunhus has another hit with Killer Pursuit – Giveaway & Review

Posted on January 21, 2016 by fundinmental

Jeff Gunhus writes some amazing stories and Killer Pursuit is another winner!

I love covers and this one shows there is more going on than meets the eye.

Killer Pursuit by Jeff Gunhus
(Allison McNeil)
Publication date: January 10th 2016
Genres: Adult, Thriller

Cover: Extended Imagery

MY REVIEW

The cover for Jeff Gunhus’ Killer Pursuit alludes to the intrigue inside. I love thrillers and suspense novels and this is my first foray into the Allison McNeil adventures. She is a favorite of Jeff’s and now she is a favorite of mine. An amazing and riveting suspense with moments of pacing that took the last quarter of the book into hyperdrive!

Special Agent Allison McNeil is a loner. Some people think it’s by choice, but a nightmare from her past makes it difficult for her to open herself up to vulnerability. She will buck the system, doing what she knows to be right at whatever cost may come due. sAllison is a pro at entering the minds of some of the most dangerous people known to man. I love villains that are the epitome of evil. I want to know how they think and function, hiding their true nature. I want to dig and dwell in the mind of the most vicious, depraved people, trying to understand them…I don’t think I ever will, but I am not them.

Politics…Jeff does tell it like it is – corruption, cover ups, intrigue and personal agendas abound. I think Jeff encompasses every down and dirty political machination known.

Summerhayes is a character I love to hate. He wants to be President. A huge ego, greed and sex will take him down a long and ugly road. I would think politicians would learn that there are no secrets. But…they feel entitled, invincible. Power…what will they do to have it? Lying…it is a profession. Politicians make strange bedfellows and that is putting it mildly in Killer Pursuit.

Jeff’s writing makes my emotions rise to the surface, roiling and boiling as I read along.

It flows so smoothly, full of surprises that I am drawn deep into the mystery and suspense that is doled out in such a way that I must read the next page…and the next…and the next. The details walked me through Allison’s research as she looked for the answers.

There is a romance and that makes the story even more believable. After all, love is a big part of all our lives. The sexual banter and flirtation came through loud and clear in the dialogue. It brought the complex characters to life.

I followed the hints trying to solve the mystery before I reached the conclusion, but…I am TICKED OFF good when the killer is exposed and what happened next was a huge surprise. I knew it was coming, but Jeff, you kept me hoping I was wrong. OMG…I am blown away. It makes perfect sense, but I wanted it would be something else. Jeff, you manged to put a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. The story ends on a realistic “normal” family note.

I received a copy of Killer Pursuit by Jeff Gunhus in return for an honest review and I am on pins and needles waiting for another Allison McNeil adventure.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

When a high-society call girl is murdered in her Georgetown home, investigators find two cameras hidden in the walls of her bedroom. One has its memory erased, presumably by the murderer. The second is connected to the Internet through an encrypted connection…and no-one knows who’s on the other end.

Special Agent Allison McNeil is asked by beleaguered FBI Director Clarence Mason to run an off-the-record investigation of the murder. The most direct path to apprehending the killer is to find the videos, but with rumors that the victim’s client list may have included Mason’s political enemies, Allison worries about the director’s motives. As she starts her investigation, she quickly discovers that she’s not the only one pursuing the videos. In fact, the most aggressive person racing against her might be the murderer himself.

Goodreads / Amazon

AUTHOR BIO

Jeff Jeff Gunhus is the author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 100 on Amazon and have been Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists.

After his experience with his son, he is passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and is active in child literacy issues. As a father of five, he leads an active lifestyle in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel.

Author links:

http://www.jeffgunhus.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/963702.Jeff_Gunhus

https://www.facebook.com/jeffgunhusauthor

https://twitter.com/jeffgunhus

GIVEAWAY

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

$50 Amazon Gift Card

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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When Murder Calls by Emelle Gamble

Posted on November 4, 2015 by fundinmental

I would like to welcome Emelle Gamble and her novel, when Murder Calls, to fundinmental.

If you are a cozy mystery fan, this is an author you will want to check out.

Just looking at the wonderful cover drew me in.

When Murder Calls Add me to Goodreads now.

Cover: Tammy Seidick Design

MY REVIEW

When Murder Calls by Emelle Gamble is a cozy mystery that twists and turns and kept me guessing, my curiosity rising as the suspense builds. Who is the Grim Reaper?

Megan is a single parent with two small children and with a serial killer on the loose she is concerned for her children’s safety. Dead bodies are piling up around her and she should be more careful about who she trusts.

I think Jack is in for a surprise when he meets Megan. They are drawn together, but Jack is hiding something. She has freed herself from a bad marriage and does not want to go down that road again.

As if a serial killer and a questionable man in her life aren’t enough, her ex husband and his fiance appearing on her doorstep is the last thing she needs. I can imagine how the anger threatened to overwhelm her, but she would not break down in front of her children. I love that Megan put them front and center.

Dean, the on again off again dad, suddenly appearing pissed me off more than the Grim Reaper. He thought he could drop in and play dad in complete disregard for Megan, not even giving her a heads up. I was super ticked and I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.

Mystery, murders, a single woman with two small children struggling to finish school and create a better life for her and her kids, a hot looking man wanting to share that life, what more could we want in a cozy?

A serial killer is on the loose from the opening pages. I love serial killers. Several suspects pop up early, but I keep thinking they are too obvious. The suspense was slow boiling, but Emelle kept me guessing and the pacing picked up as I neared the end.

When Murder Calls by Emelle Gamble is one of those of books where I would think it’s over, then something else would happen, then I would think it’s over, then something else would happen…The action and suspense continued into the last pages. I would have liked to have more of an ending, but I know all I need to know and I am good with that.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

From Goodreads: Megan Summers, TV-ratings coordinator and single mom to two, was just getting her life in order when a killer – dubbed the Grim Reaper by the media – donned a badge and caused chaos in the cozy ocean side hamlet.

Everyone one she knows feels like a suspect, except for attractive new employee Jack Gallagher. Despite his odd obsession and his hidden agenda, he gave Megan support, shelter, and some romance she didn’t think she wanted.

But was the haven of his arms enough to shield her from the Reaper?

This cozy romantic suspense was originally published by Harlequin Intrigue in paperback.

ABOUT EMELLE GAMBLE

From Goodreads: Emelle Gamble was a writer at an early age, bursting with the requisite childhood stories of introspection which evolved into bad teen poetry and attempts at ‘real literature’ all copies of which she has since, very sensibly, shredded. She took her first stab at romantic fiction in an adult education writing class when her kids were in bed, taught by fellow writer Carolyn Haines, in Mobile, Alabama. As M.L. Gamble, she published several romantic suspense novels with Harlequin. She is now contracted with Soul Mate Publishing for Secret Sister, summer of 2013, and Dating Cary Grant, an early 2014 release.

Always intrigued by the words ‘what if’, Emelle’s books feature an ordinary woman confronted with an extraordinary situation. She most enjoys reading stories that surprise and amaze her, and hopes her readers will enjoy the challenging and exciting journeys her characters take.

Emelle lives in suburban Washington D.C. with her husband, Phil, her hero of thirty years, and two orange cats, Lucy and Bella. Her daughter, Olivia, and son, Allen, are happily launched on their own and contributing great things to society, which has always been their mother’s fondest wish.

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

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A Chilling Mystery – Dark Ice by Dave Stanton – Review & Giveaway

Posted on September 24, 2015 by fundinmental

Dark Ice by Dave Stanton took me to a slippery slope and I zigzagged my way to the end.

Genre: Crime, Murder Mystery, PI

Published by: LaSalle Davis Books

Publication Date: April 11, 2015

Number of Pages: 304

Series: Dan Reno Novel #4

ISBN: 098960313X (13: 978-0989603133)

Purchase Links:

MY REVIEW

Dark Ice by Dave Stanton has such a pretty cover and sounded a bit different, so I wanted to check it out.

I wondered if the author was an extreme skier, because he was able to vividly describe the terrain with all my senses involved. I saw the sparkling white snow, I smelt the crispness of the air, I tasted the snow on my tongue, I heard the soft hiss of my skis gliding through the snow, I felt the burn in my legs…

The body belonged to the daughter of General Raymond Horvachek and he had no faith in Captain Galanis’s ability or willingness to solve the murder. I would have no faith in him either. He was slimy, slutty and way to into himself.

The General wanted to hire Dan to solve it. Dan’s nickname, The Snake, made me think of Kenny Stabler from the Oakland Raiders football team. You can tell what time of year it is as I write this review. Football season coming up and I can hardly wait. Dan had that ball buster kind of attitude and was a party animal, until he met Candi.

His friend, Cody, on the other hand is still going strong and still quite the party animal. By the way, where is Cody? He just left, and with all the threats against Dan and his girlfriend, I would think Cody would be right behind them…but when the shit hit the fan, heeeeee’s back. I thought the book was too well written for Dave Stanton to forget about him, but I was surprised by how long it took for him to make another appearance. He is a great character and adds a bit more spice to the story.

The killer was no one I suspected, but there is a reason for that. I cannot tell you why, but it didn’t work for me.

I was curious and would not quit reading until I had the answers, but the road to get there seemed confusing and disjointed at times. I see why he kept two courses of action going, it did keep the suspense level up there, but It didn’t work very well for me. It kind of seemed like it was action for action’s sake. Or maybe it was just my mood. I finished the book in one sitting and it did keep me involved, so I would recommend you give this a try if you are in the mood for a “chilling” mystery on a cold winters night.

I received a copy of Dark Ice by Dave Stanton in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Two murdered girls, and no motive…

While skiing deep in Lake Tahoe’s backcountry, Private Eye Dan Reno finds the first naked body, buried under fresh snow. Reno’s contacted by the grieving father, who wants to know who murdered his daughter, and why? And how could the body end up in such a remote, mountainous location? The questions become murkier when a second body is found. Is there a serial killer stalking promiscuous young women in South Lake Tahoe? Or are the murders linked to a different criminal agenda?

Searching for answers, Reno is accosted by a gang of racist bikers with a score to settle. He also must deal with his pal, Cody Gibbons, who the police consider a suspect. The clues lead to the owner of a strip club and a womanizing police captain, but is either the killer?

The bikers up the ante, but are unaware that Cody Gibbons has Reno’s back at any cost. Meanwhile, the police won’t tolerate Reno’s continued involvement in the case. But Reno knows he’s getting close. And the most critical clue comes from the last person he’d suspect…

EXCERPT

The cornice stretched three feet over the sheer face below. There was about fifteen feet of vertical drop before the snow covered slope angled out at forty-five degrees. I inched my skis farther forward, the tips hanging over the void. I was wrong—it was more like twenty feet of mandatory air. And that was the shallowest entry the ledge offered.

I blew out my breath and ignored the sickly sensation of my testicles trying to climb into my stomach. Turning back now would mean a long uphill hike, while the reward for leaping off the cornice was five hundred feet of untracked powder. A slight dip to the left marked the most forgiving launch point. I pushed myself back and sidestepped higher up the ridge. A couple deep breaths, then I released my edges and glided toward the dip.

In a second I launched over the precipice, my hands thrust forward, my knees tucked toward my chest. As I dropped, I could see the distant desert floor of Nevada fall behind the stands of pine and fir at the bottom of the bowl. I extended my legs in the instant before I touched down and absorbed the shock, blinded for a second by a blast of snow. Then I cranked my skis on edge, bounced out of the fluff, and made a second turn through the deep powder. It had snowed about a foot last night, but here the fresh coverage was at least two feet, maybe more. Bottomless under my boots.

Twenty turns to the glade below, my heart pounding, my body disappearing in blasts of powder, the white coating me from head to toe. When I reached the tree line, I skidded to a stop and caught my breath. Then I looked up and admired the S-turns I’d left on the otherwise unblemished slope. Not bad, I thought, smiling at the understatement. Most of the winter storms that blow through the Lake Tahoe region come out of the warm Pacific and dump wet, heavy snow, creating the notorious Sierra cement. But last night’s blizzard swept in from Alaska, bringing colder and lighter snow. As a result, I was in the right place at the right time.

I skated along the terminus of the bowl and turned into the trees when they became sparse enough to allow passage. This was the Nevada backcountry, unpatrolled, accessible by ducking the boundary ropes at the highest elevation of South Lake Tahoe’s ski resort, right at the California-Nevada border. Before me lay 4000 feet of descent to the high desert floor where I’d parked my truck, near Route 207 outside of Gardnerville.

It was slower going now, the terrain interrupted by tangles of deadfall and icy patches where the wind had scoured the surface. I picked my way through it, my skis alternately sinking in powder then chattering and scraping across slick bands of ice. Finally I spotted a clearing—a wide, sweeping snow bank that fell toward a collection of pines hundreds of feet below. I rode the section like a surfer on a wave, turning down off the lip then riding back up, staying high and avoiding a flat area that would likely necessitate a hike.

When I reached the trees below, I entered a broad glade, the trunks spaced at wide intervals, the snow as soft and uniform as a white pillow. The morning sun had just appeared from behind a swath of swift moving clouds, and the snow glittered with pinpricks of light. I took a long moment to take in the scenery, then I picked a line and pushed off into the mild grade. The pristine snow held no surprises, the powder light and consistent, making it easy to find a rhythm. Floating through the trees and leaving a wake of rounded tracks, I become immersed in the splendor of the moment, as if the setting had been created solely for my indulgence.

My grandiose thoughts came to a crashing halt when I came around a tree and my skis rammed into something solid beneath the snow. My binding released with a loud click, and I flew forward and face-planted in a poof of powder.

“Son of a bitch,” I said, wiping the snow from my goggles. I took a quick inventory of my body and found no injuries. Then I crawled back ten feet to where my ski lay. When I pulled it from the snow, the edge caught, probably on a hidden stump, I thought. Then the powder fell aside, and I saw a flesh-colored streak. I froze for a second, certain my eyes were playing tricks on me. Blinking, I used the ski to push away more snow.

“No way,” I whispered, my heart in my throat. A bare shoulder revealed itself, then a snarl of blond hair strung with ice. I reached down with my gloved hand and carefully pushed aside the hair. The face was half-buried, one eye visible, lashes thick with mascara, a blue iris staring blankly. Using both hands like a shovel, I pushed away the bulk of the snow covering the upper body. A sour lump formed in my gut. The body was naked, the skin that of a young woman, perhaps a teenager.

ABOUT DAVE STANTON

Dave Stanton is the author of five novels in the Dan Reno private eye series. They do not have to be read chronologically to be enjoyed, but for those who want to know, the order is: Stateline, Dying for the Highlife, Speed Metal Blues, Dark Ice, & Hard Prejudice.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1960, Dave Stanton moved to Northern California in 1961. He received a BA in journalism from San Jose State University in 1983. Over the years, he worked as a bartender, newspaper advertising salesman, furniture mover, debt collector, and technology salesman. He has two children, Austin and Haley, and lives with his wife, Heidi, in San Jose, California.

Stanton’s five novels all feature private investigator Dan Reno and his ex-cop buddy, Cody Gibbons.

Catch Up:

GIVEAWAY

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Dave Stanton. There will be one US winner of 1 $20 Amazon Gift Card. The giveaway begins on September 1st, 2015 and runs through September 31st, 2015. For US residents only.
Stop by the Tour Participants sites to get chances to win copies of Dark Ice & more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants:

9/02/2015 showcase @ Bookalicious Traveladdict

9/03/2015 guest post @ Books Direct

9/03/2015 showcase @ The Pen and Muse Book Reviews

9/04/2015 showcase @ Bloody Bookish

9/05/2015 Interview, spotlight w/excerpt @ BooksChatter

9/06/2015 interview @ Suspense Magazine

9/07/2015 showcase @ Mythical Books

9/08/2015 review @ VicsMedia Room

9/09/2015 review @ Mallory Heart Reviews

9/10/2015 guestpost @ Writers and Authors

9/10/2015 review w/interview @ Deal Sharing Aunt

9/14/2015 review @ Marys Cup of Tea

9/15/2015 review @ A Fold in the Spine

9/15/2015 showcase @ Sapphyrias Book Reviews

9/18/2015 review @ Bloody Bookish

9/21/2015 review @ For Life After

9/24/2015 review @ fundinmental

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

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Another hilarious adventure with Austin Carr in Big Mojo by Jack Getze

Posted on August 17, 2015 by fundinmental

Jack Getze’s novel, Big Mojo, sent me off on another wacky adventure with Austin Carr. Austin seems to be a bit too trusting and he will pay for his naivety. Jack Getz will keep you on your toes with this Rockfordesque story and his slightly (lol) dysfunctional cast of characters.

I have read some of Jack Getze’s work (see below) and enjoyed it so much, I eagerly look forward to the next adventure.

The covers are gorgeous, the colors leaping off the page. What do you think of them?

Add me to Goodreads now.

Big Mojo by Jack Getze

Down & Out Books

Cover: J J Lindroos

MY REVIEW

I love the Austin Carr book series and Big Mojo is Jack Getze’s latest. The covers are gorgeous and each novel can stand alone. His novels make me think of Janet Evanovich and I love the fun and witty writing with quirky characters and snarky dialogue.

I am asking you, ” Are you ready for a good time?”

Austin Carr has an ability to find trouble, so buckle your seatbelt because it will be a bumpy ride.

Austin’s business is in New Jersey securities and with his penchant for redheads who walk on the wild side, I don’t see much good coming from his meeting with Patricia Willis. He has a tendency to think with his “small brain”. He’s a good guy that bad things happen to, no matter how hard he tries to do the right thing.

Austin is no stranger to Mama Bones Bonacelli and he knows better than to cross her. She is not like any Mama I’ve every known.

Vic, Mama’s son is an idiot. He wants revenge on Austin, but she won’t do it. She knows he doesn’t deserve it. Mama finally relents and agrees to a magic spell instead of a hit.

The mention of a second kitchen in the home makes me think of my best friend’s family, not to mention a house I owned in New York. It is quite common for Italian families to have a second kitchen in their basement.

I laughed my way through the beatings, double crosses, triple crosses, magic potions, insider trading, and shootings.

Austin parks his home in his buddie’s, Luis’ parking lot of his Mexican restaurant. It brings back memories of Jim Rockford on the Rockford Files TV show and his less than savory friends and acquaintances. He has an ability to defy the odds, whether it is a beating or a shooting.

So many suspects and so much action, along with all the convoluted happenings and characters, will have you wondering what will happen next and who will be doing what to who. So, pour yourself a cocktail, put up your feet and enjoy Jack Getzke’s latest hilarious adventure with Austin Carr.

I received Big Mojo by Jack Getze in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

ABOUT JACK GETZE

Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet’s oldest websites for noir, crime, and horror short stories. Through the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Syndicate, his news and feature stories were published in over five-hundred newspapers and periodicals worldwide. His two screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, are being reissued by DOWN & OUT BOOKS, with the new BIG MOJO to follow. His short stories have appeared in A Twist of Noir and Beat to a Pulp. Getze is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.

Author Links: Blog / Website / Goodreads

My review for Big Numbers by Jack Getz

My review for Big Money by Jack Getz

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

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Dirty Politics & Murder – Money, Family, Murder by Timothy Patten

Posted on July 16, 2015 by fundinmental

New Thriller Ignites Orange County with Mysterious Murder,

Glamorous Intrigue, and Family Secrets

Author Timothy Patten explodes onto the literary scene with a sleek, action-packed thriller that takes us into the dark heart of one of California’s most exclusive communities, perfect for lovers of NCIS and Criminal Minds. The mystery ignites around a beautiful corpse, a family of billionaires, and one man who must beat the clock and the system to clear his name in an enclave rife with secrets, lies, and betrayal—MONEY, FAMILY, MURDER (TMP Novels, LLC, $24.99, Hardcover, July 14, 2015).

I am thrilled to have Timothy Patten here today talking about his debut novel. I love learning about the characters and how the author feels about them, so let’s dive in.

Guest Post by Timothy Patten

Author of Money, Family, Murder

The Ladies of Money, Family, Murder

In my fiction novel, there are several female characters who play an important role in the plot, but the most dominant is Janice Martland, the Orange County District Attorney. After hearing from the local police and FBI in Newport Beach, California, which is one of the most safest, well-policed cities along the prestigious Pacific Coastline, she finds out that a murder had taken place and that the lead suspect is a multi-billionaire named Johnny Barnes.

Since her term as the Orange County District Attorney was up for reelection, she makes it her goal to take Barnes down and put him away forever. She’s a power hungry, egotistical politician that doesn’t take no for an answer. You would never want to disappoint Janice or cross her or you’d be either fired or get crushed by her looks that could kill. You do not want to be public criminal #1 in her county!

Janice grew up in a medium sized family with three older brothers who used to emotionally and sometimes physically beat her up as kids. Instead of causing emotional issues, they drove her to want to be “one of the guys” and become ruthless especially if it had to do with her jurisdiction in Orange County. She grew up to hate sentimentality and affection and never married. She would never hug or cry or offer her forgiveness to any of her siblings for what they did to her growing up.

That is why she became a lawyer in the first place because she saw law so peaceful. If she had it her way, then the whole world would be dis-passionate as well. So Janice wanted to beat her chest and pose in front of the FBI and Newport Beach police on TV and in front of the media cameras to show that SHE is the best DA that anyone could ever be.

In her mind, it was important that justice have a face attached to it, a powerful, intelligent and attractive looking woman from Orange County in a wealthy Mediterranean like city in Southern California.

She knew all of the tricks of the trade and even wrote all of her topics and questions that were asked by the media interviewers. And Janice loved the attention and focus on herself in the process.

Ms. Martland is so determined to get reelected and keep her high profile position that she stakes everything on putting Mr. Barnes away by bending some rules and evidence along the way to make sure that she is the winner when his case comes to trial for the murder of his family trustee, Eva. But she wasn’t afraid to lie her way to the top like she did in the past. In fact, Janice was used to lying, but she was used to not getting caught at it!

So if she was an actress in a movie today, then who could play her role?

Award winning actresses like Meryl Streep, like in The Devil Wears Prada, and Kate Winslet, like she played in Divergent, come immediately to mind. And as Sandra Bullock continues to expand her acting horizon in the film Gravity, I can see her playing this role if it should ever become a film. And never forget Glenn Close in Damages as another great actress.

Do I know anyone like Janice today? No. With as many metropolitan areas in the country like Southern California there may be someone out there that may think and act like Ms. Martland, but it’s up to you to decide!

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Timothy Patten’s debut novel, Money Family Murder, is a great read that combines politics, money and power and all the dirt and corruption that can come along with it. I love the vibrant colors of the cover and the yellow dress with the red blood is an awesome touch. It just screams, “Take me to the beach with you, please.”

District Attorney Janice Maitland is a blood thirsty politician who wants to use Eva Proliasky’s murder for her own political agenda. I wonder, would she have went as far as she did if the woman wasn’t from one of the most influential families in the United States?

Johnny Barnes never saw it coming. I can’t say I blame him, because why would he? He’s nobody special. Johnny is the kind of guy to hang out at a library, not a gym. Why would someone frame him for her murder?

Janice was incompetent, but driven. She went after him with all she had and then some. He didn’t stand a chance. She would do whatever it takes to win. Her narrow, narcissistic vision doomed him. Or did it?

I am so angry for John. I know life is not fair, but come on. The nerve of some people. No sense of right or wrong, just ME and MINE. It is obvious he will need to find his own answers, but I wonder if anyone will listen even if he does.

I was surprised when John went hunting. It seemed an out of place thing to do with the situation he was in. I thought he wouldn’t have done it for many reasons. I knew what was going on, didn’t he? Or is it one of those things, it’s too far out there for John to believe. It was hard for me to buy it, so the rating suffered…a tad. I get why Timothy Patten did it, but it just didn’t work for me.

The characters are great and Johnny’s kids…well what can I say…kids will be kids no matter what their age. We have the normal girl, a young woman named Mary. Then we have Mark, a computer nerd turned college playboy who knows how to throw a party. I couldn’t help but laugh along with…someone who shouldn’t (?) be laughing at the situation. I love a little humor to lighten the mood of murder. LOL

Andrew, not only is he an idiot, he is…well, you will have to read the novel yourself to find out what happens.

Money, Family, Murder is a novel that evokes emotions of rage at the injustice of the system and the people that play it. It also reminds us, when you come close to losing everything, the things most important come to light.

Predictable, it’s obvious to me from the beginning who is pulling the strings. But some predictability is to be expected. It’s very hard to come up with a story that hasn’t been written, but it is nice when Timothy Patten adds some nice twists at the end that, along with the mystery of the outcome, kept Money, Family, Murder by Timothy Patten as a novel worth adding to your reading list. Did you do it? I see more mystery coming from Timothy that I will be sure and read, so why not come along on the adventure with me?

I received Money, Family Murder by Timothy Patten in return for an honest and unbiased review.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

In the picture-perfect community of Newport Beach, violent crime is virtually non-existent—until the beautiful bookkeeper of Newport’s wealthiest family is found strangled in her bed.

Johnny Barnes—loyal husband, dad, and philanthropist—is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.

With his luck and resources running out, Barnes must battle a corrupt system to conduct his own investigation. His journey takes him from Montecito to North Dakota to Key—and draws him into a dazzling and dangerous web of intrigue, self-dealing, exhortation, and murder.

Racing again the odds and the clock, Barnes will be sent to prison—unless he is able to identify the true murderer and clear his name in time.In the picture-perfect community of Newport Beach, violent crime is virtually non-existent—until the beautiful bookkeeper of Newport’s wealthiest family is found strangled in her bed. Johnny Barnes—loyal husband, dad, and philanthropist—is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.

He is released on $20 million bail, but the tide of public feeling turns rapidly against him: from the power-hungry DA to a perspicacious police detective to his own influential and unscrupulous in-laws. With his luck and resources running out, Barnes must battle a corrupt system to conduct his own investigation. His journey takes him from Montecito to North Dakota to Key—and draws him into a dazzling and dangerous web of intrigue, self-dealing, exhortation, and murder.

Racing against the odds and the clock, Barnes will be sent to prison—unless he is able to identify the true murderer and clear his name in time.

Packed with heart-pounding intrigue and exhilarating twists, Timothy Patten’s debut novel will leave you on the edge of your seat, begging for mercy — and begging for more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TIMOTHY PATTEN is retired, grew up in Highland Park, Illinois and graduated from University of Miami, Florida with a BBA and MBA in marketing. He volunteers and supports a few local charities in Orange County, California.