Giveaway – Thunderstruck by Brenda Drake @brendadrake @XpressoTours ‏

Posted on September 12, 2017 by fundinmental

Thunderstruck
Brenda Drake
Published by: Entangled Crave
Publication date: September 11th 2017
Genres: Mystery, Mythology, Romance

Stevie Moon is famous…at least to the subscribers on her comic review vlog. At school, she’s as plain as the gray painted walls in the cafeteria. So when Blake, the hot new guy at school, shows an interest in her, she knows trouble when she sees it. Been there. And never doing it again.

As the son of the god Thor, Blake Foster’s been given an important mission—to recover the Norse god Heimdall’s sacred and powerful horn before someone uses it to herald in the destruction of the entire universe. But while Blake is great in a fight, the battlefield that is a high school’s social scene is another matter.

Blake knows his only choice is to team up with the adorable Stevie, but she’s not willing to give him even the time of day. He’ll need to woo the girl and find the horn if he hopes to win this war. Who better to tackle Stevie’s defenses than the demi-god of thunder?

“Every page brims with captivating Norse mythology and deliciously creative worldbuilding.” Pintip Dunn, New York Times bestselling author.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

After disposing of the troll, Blake rushed to May’s house and showered. His thoughts kept going to Stevie. After hearing what Jörd said to him, he wanted to see her. The pull to go to her was too strong. He had no choice but to give in to it.

He climbed the tree outside Stevie’s room and sat on the branch. A blue light blinked on and off inside the room. He lightly tapped on the window. Muffled voices from within the room hummed against the glassed pane.

The curtain pushed aside. Amira was close to Stevie’s back when the curtain slid to the side. Stevie said something to Amira that Blake couldn’t hear through the thick glass. Amira turned away and dropped onto the bed. Stevie flipped the locks and opened the window.

“You scared the shit out of us,” Stevie snapped.

Amira crossed her arms. “Yeah, we’re watching scary movies here.”

Blake tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t hold it in. “My apologies. Can I have a moment alone with you, Stevie?”

“With me?” She glanced back.

“No.” Amira heaved a sigh. “With the other Stevie in the room.”

“Where do you want to go?”

He reached his hand out to her. “Out here is fine.”

She narrowed her gaze on him. “I don’t think so.”

“Come on,” he said. “It’s perfectly safe. This branch is thick. Trust me.”

“Stop being a chicken and go already. I have to pee.” Amira shuffled off.

Stevie hesitated before grabbing his hand and letting him guide her out the window and onto the branch. “This is crazy, you know that?”

“If you never throw caution to the wind, you’ll never be rewarded.” He sat on the branch and held her hand as she came down beside him. Her hand was warm and soft in his, and he wanted to hold it forever.

The loose pajama bottoms she wore had cats on them. Her pink tank top rode up a little and exposed a bit of her midriff. Her light-brown hair, the color of the acorns he’d gathered with his grandmother when he was a boy, rose in the wind behind her. Wide, dark eyes met his, her full lips parted in a smile.

“What did you want?” She glanced at the ground. “Wow, this is pretty high.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall.” He slid his hand across her lower back and held her waist. She shivered. “Are you cold?”

“A little,” she said.

“Hold on.” He let her go, shrugged off his hoodie, and draped it around her shoulders.

“Thank you.”

She held it closed at the zipper. He returned his arm around her, grasping her waist. She shuddered, and he smiled at her response to his touch.

“You didn’t answer me,” she said. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Actually, I’m not here to talk,” he said. “Have you ever had an urge to do something, and once it’s in your head, you can’t sleep or think until you do the thing?”

“I guess.” When she looked over at him, they locked eyes and an intensity passed between them like the energy he felt in the handle of his hammer after catching lightning with it. He noticed a faint scar just above her cupid’s bow.

“How did you get the scar?” he asked.

“Scar?” She glanced down at her chest.

“Not there,” he whispered, lifting her chin to look into her eyes. “On your lip.”

She touched it. “Oh this? It’s an embarrassing story. Let’s just say, I learned to watch where I’m walking, especially when poles are around.”

He chuckled. “I can imagine what happened.”

She lowered her head again, her feet kicking back and forth.

He decided to take his chance and cupped her face in his hands, bringing her face to his and kissing her. It was a gentle, wanting kiss. Her lips were soft and warm against his. She tasted like May’s brownies. When Stevie hadn’t responded to his kiss, he was about to release her, but then her lips began moving with his. He cradled her in his arms and they balanced together on the branch.

Author Bio:

Brenda Drake is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction. She grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Giveaway & Review – The Dark Mermaid by Christine L Barr @ninjadustpub @XpressoReads

Posted on September 6, 2017 by fundinmental

The Dark Mermaid
Christina L. Barr
Publication date: September 5th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

MY REVIEW

I like mean, vicious mers, but I also like the ones that fall in love with humans. Here, we have both, and because of the title I am curious where Christina L Barr will take me.

The Bermuda Triangle and Atlantis. Splash…in a dark way.

Her father has six girls, but has chosen her to train as a warrior. She has no idea what his real motivation is. Her father had declared war on all humans. When they attacked the ship and she met her first human, her life was changed forever.

Would her father kill her for saving one?

Her fathers order…kill him before she turned seventeen or he would kill them both.

We meet the Sea Witch, where she learns more about her heritage than she ever learned from her father. And Napa. He is an interesting character, a shapeshifter and I wonder what part he will play.

Halfway in and I’m liking it. I am looking forward to what will become of Luna…Ian, her father, her family, and, of course, the Sea Witch. Will she find true love? Will the mers and humans go to war? What side will Luna be on? Who will she have at her side? So many questions.

The action is amping up. It’s getting exciting and I can’t help but smile at the turn the story takes. It is not like other mermaid stories. A pooling of all the other mer tales I have read, with a dash of something extra on the side.

The battle between dark and light, good and evil…I am very suspicious, untrusting, some would say paranoid. I believe nothing is at it seems, and I am waiting for the lies, the betrayal.

Some parts were lacking detail and I would have liked them fleshed out, developed and drawn out, so I could enjoy them more. They felt a little rushed, glossed over. I wanted the story to unfold in full detail, slowly, and this would be a WOW. Or maybe it’s just me and I wanted more. (?)

Still, The Dark Mermaid by Christina L Barr is one that stands out from the crowd.

The end…and it does end…was great.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Dark Mermaid by Christina L Barr.

4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

“True love is not a myth. It’s mystic. It’s a force in the universe that draws two people together, resulting in incredible power, for either good or complete chaos.”

On the day Luna proves that she is powerful enough to be her father’s heir, she is banished for saving the life of an enchanting human boy. Her father, the king, gives her two options: kill Ian and regain her honor by the time she comes of age, or be destroyed.

Luna finds shelter in forbidden waters and comes under the protection of her father’s greatest enemy, the Sea Witch. As her ward, Luna becomes a fearsome warrior, but struggles with the fear of turning her powerful magic dark.

With only days remaining before her seventeenth birthday, Luna finds Ian sailing the seas in search of answers. Luna is determined to escape her father’s wrath, and the Sea Witch’s plot of revenge, but dark forces won’t allow her to live a human life without making an impossible sacrifice.

Goodreads / Amazon

Want to receive a free song inspired by the book that Christina sang herself?
Fill out this form here before Sept 9th!
—

EXCERPT:

True Love
When I returned to the lair, the Sea Witch was much too distracted gutting her catch of shark to care much about my adventures. She had no idea that I had found Ian and kissed him. I wanted to keep it that way. For all she knew, I spent my day with Napa, and I most certainly didn’t fight my sister to the almost death. I made sure to heal my wounds before she saw me.

I hid the pendent, dagger, and lock of hair in a satchel and hoped the Sea Witch wouldn’t be able to sense the magic. I also had to hope that she wouldn’t sense any special magic in me. It was odd that I wasn’t fatigued from my battle. Instead, I felt energized. My magic was leaking out of my body. I tried to keep my movements limited and to remain completely calm.

Unfortunately, somewhere between the chewing of our dinner, the Sea Witch cocked her brow at me in suspicion. “Did Napa bring you a new gift?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I sense new magic.”

I panicked on the inside, but I would not allow that panic to the surface of my thoughts. Of course, she would have been able to sense the pendent. I reached into my satchel and handed it to her without any fuss, and I hoped she didn’t ask any questions about the other item of interest. “Napa didn’t know any better.”

“Interesting.” It only took a moment for the Sea Witch to analyze what it could do. I don’t know why I was so surprised when she disappeared. “This would be more useful on the surface world.” She tossed it back to me and became visible once more. “Quite interesting.”

“Very.” I grinned hard and continued feasting, but I had the sense that she knew I was hiding many details from her. It’s not that I didn’t trust her. I just wanted to make sure she would take the news well, so I didn’t have to worry about her killing everyone outside of our immediate sphere.

It wasn’t easy. I wanted to tell her about Ian’s infatuation with me. It was flattering after my father threw me away. I wanted to tell my mother how his smile enchanted me, and now, I was under his spell. I tried to get him out of my head, so the Sea Witch wouldn’t find out, but while I brushed my hair and stared into the broken mirror Napa gave me, I began to imagine that I was staring at myself from his point of view, and I knew I was truly as beautiful as he made me feel. The thought of never seeing him again was crushing my heart and suffocating my insides. There had to be a way to see him again beyond tricks, smokes, and mirrors.

“Luna, what’s wrong?”

I saw Ian’s face too clearly in my mind. She must have known that I was thinking about him, but that wasn’t so strange. I could still hide the truth for a little while. “Why would something be wrong?”

She floated in front of me with a furrowed and curious brow. “Because you never sing.”

I hadn’t even noticed. I was singing the same song I sang to Ian when I first said goodbye. If he had his hooks in me that deeply, was there truly any escaping him? “You’ll think I’m being a fool.”

The Sea Witch surprised me and held me by my shoulders from behind. “Out of the two of us, I’m the one that made a blood oath with your father. You could be foolish for a thousand lifetimes and not end up as foolish as I once was.”

Perhaps I was being unfair to her. If she were trying to be a real mother, she deserved a chance. As my elder, she might have sound advice to put my mind at ease. “Napa told me that humans believe in true love. I know it sounds childish, but I think I’m experiencing it. I’ve found true love.”

I was so embarrassed that I kept my eyes focused on the teeth of the comb in my hands. I was responsible for ruining Ian’s childhood, and I delayed his life afterward. I didn’t deserve to feel such a consuming joy, especially if Ian were the root cause.

“I’ve heard of true love.” The Sea Witch nicked my chin up with her finger to force her eyes into mine. “The humans teach it like a fairytale, but true love is not a myth; it’s mystic. It’s a force in the universe that draws two people together, resulting in incredible power, for either good or chaos.”

“Chaos?” I laughed. Frankly, it was difficult to believe that there was an actual explanation to how I felt. Napa referred to love as “irrational logic”. I wasn’t sure if having a legitimate reason was worse or better. “How can what I feel ever lead to destruction?”

“I’m not saying that it will, but true love is a dangerous magic.” The Sea Witch got uncomfortably close to my face. I tried to back away, but she swam around to observe me fully. Nothing about me had changed physically, but I’m sure she wasn’t seeing with her natural eye. “I can sense it on you. Your magic is stronger.”

I thought of how quickly I defeated my sister, but then, I quickly pushed that out of my mind. “How is that possible? Is it just because I have feelings for Ian?”

“No. That would be ridiculous, but it is possible that you’re drawn to each other for a reason.” She, once again, became agonizingly uncomfortable. I didn’t back away or cower from her glaring and curious eyes. I tried to be firm while I blanketed my mind with thoughts of training battles, meditation, and the past few lonely years of my life. I would not think of Ian, and I certainly wouldn’t think of the kisses we shared!

Except, I completely did.

I don’t know if my sudden memory of Ian’s kiss was vivid enough to burrow into her brain, but she certainly seemed more suspicious after I indulged in it. “You must have seen him again!” I covered my face. I would have hidden in my clam, but she was already inside of it with me. She grew impatient and pulled my hands away from my flustered face. “I did. Napa found Ian, and I went to see him. He gave me the dagger I had been searching for, and we spoke.”

“That’s not the only thing you did.”

I straightened out my body and tried to look a little taller and mature than I had been acting a moment ago. “We did share a kiss, yes.”

Instead of lecturing me, she twirled around the cavern, shrieking in delight. I hadn’t seen her genuinely happy or excited over anything, so I was a little terrified. “Did he have magic?”

“He didn’t seem to have knowledge of having magic.” “Perhaps he’s an amplifier,” she suggested with much intrigue. “What do you mean?”

“They are extremely rare, but an amplifier can increase your magic, even without being able to use it.” She swam to me and clasped onto both my hands and smiled. “If you were to mate, you could create new magic for your offspring and leave your own power intact. If that’s true, you should definitely mate him.”

“Uh…” My mouth opened in shock. The desire to feel and be more of an adult was ripped away from me. “I’m not ready for this conversation.”

“Why? Do you love him?” “It’s preposterous that I love him!” “But you do!” She chuckled. “I see it in your eyes. I feel it through your magic. He’s made you more powerful. If Fate is pulling you to love this man, don’t push back. There’s no sense in fighting what will be.”

Was it truly possible that Ian made me feel stronger? Was he the reason why I could use my magic to fight my sister so effortlessly? Even if it were true, what did it matter? I only wanted to control my magic so it wouldn’t accidentally go dark. I had no desire to be the greatest sorcerous in the world.

It was silly to think that I could take human form and live with Ian. I hardly knew him. But, for some reason, the thought of leaving to discover the world with him began to fill my chest and gut with a ticklish light that turned into a glorious rumbling. I clutched onto my chest as I felt it vibrating. My entire body was radiating heat. I tried to convince myself that I was merely embarrassed, but my hands were tingling.

“The thought of escaping with that human is causing your magic to burst from you,” the Sea Witch said. “You can’t deny what you want or may very well need.”

Author Bio:

As the daughter of sci-fi enthusiasts and a pastor, Christina L. Barr has been taught to believe that anything is possible. She’s been a serious composer as far back as twelve-years-old, and has had the opportunity to sing her songs around the world.

In 2007, she graduated from Holly High School number nine in her class and attended College for Creative Studies. She started a pop culture website called The Gorgeous Geeks with her two older sisters, and was even featured on Times Magazine.

Her addiction to writing emerged when she was eighteen and started her first novel. To date, she has nine novels published, fourteen completed, and her goal is to finish thirty books by her thirtieth birthday.

She is currently a Creative Director and spends her days making graphics and videos.

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Mermaids are alive and well in Salt by Pauline Creeden @P_Creeden @PromoBookTours

Posted on August 11, 2017 by fundinmental

Salt-FB-FINAL

Her kind treats her as less-than-human, but she’s always been so much more.

Mermaid life has never been easy for Verona. Her scars give evidence of her abuse. When her day of reckoning arrives, she is determined to endure exile. According to her father’s experience, exile is better than becoming a land-walker and risking her life among the humans.

However, when she saves the life of a drowning human boy, she inadvertently sets off a chain of events which force her to choose a path: stay with the humans she has become attached to or return home to a life of scorn. A savage hunter draws closer, threatening even the humans. Her only hope is to keep everyone safe until the next full moon, but those around her devise their own plans.

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Mermaids can be cruel creatures...

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Giveaway & Review – A Desolate Hour by Mae Clair @MaeClair1 @SDSXXTours

Posted on August 5, 2017 by fundinmental

I am sad to see The Mothman’s story end, but happy to have Mae Clair here to share her thoughts.

Cryptozoology, Urban Legend and Myths
By Mae Clair

The word “cryptozoology” is one that often leaves people scratching their heads. Simply put it’s a pseudo-science devoted to the study of creatures that may exist, but haven’t been proven to exist. Most commonly, Bigfoot and the Lochness Monster spring to mind. I love reading up on cryptozoology, urban legends and myth, so I thought I’d share my Top Ten:

The Mothman
I spent three years researching this winged “cryptid” including visiting the area where he was sighted in 1966-67, so of course he gets the number one position! My Point Pleasant Series incorporates the mythology of the Mothman, UFOs, Men In Black, and an ancient curse.
The Lochness Monster
I’ve been fascinated by Nessie since I was a kid. I honestly hope no one ever discovers she’s “real.” The mystery is far more compelling.
The Van Meter Monster
This gargoyle like creature haunted the town of Van Meter, Iowa during the autumn of 1903. Most of the eyewitness accounts were made by businesses men and other professionals who couldn’t afford to be viewed as “crackpots,” thus lending credence to the sightings.
Jellyfish of the Air
In 1953 William Reich and an assistant raised an “orgone-charged” rod into the air in the hopes of attracting invisible beings he believed co-existed in our in our dimension, but were invisible to the naked eye. Within five seconds, a huge jellyfish-like creature attached itself to the rod, becoming visible long enough for Leistig to capture it in a photograph.
The Squonk
I love the name! This Pennsylvania creature is reputed to be so hideous in appearance it spends its entire life sobbing and will vanish in a pool of tears if captured.
The Hopkinsville Goblins
Extraterrestrial visitors who descended on the Sutton family farm in August of 1955, terrorizing the Suttons and their guest. No evidence of a hoax was ever discovered, causing many to believe the events an authentic UFO encounter.
Men in Black
Mysterious men in black suits descended on the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 1966-67 with the sole intention of warning UFO witnesses not to talk about their encounters.
Scotland’s Dog Suicide Bridge
Since the 1960s more than fifty dogs have leapt to their death from the Overtoun Bridge in Scotland. Even stranger, all the dogs jumped from the exact same spot, and each apparent “suicide” has occurred on pleasant, sunny days.
Ley Lines
It’s believed many of the old places of the Earth resonate with power—hillforts, crossroads, standing stones and old funerary paths among them. When these and other “ley markers” align in a geographical pattern, they create a hypothetical link capable of releasing powerful energy.
The Snallygaster
Maryland’s half-bird/half reptile creature was given enough credence in 1909 that Teddy Roosevelt almost canceled an African Safari to hunt it.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share The Mothman’s story.

A DESOLATE HOUR

by Mae Clair

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Pub Date: 7/18/2017

MY REVIEW

This is the third book in the series, and the finale, so I will do my best to not include spoilers. Just make you want to run right out and buy this mystery series. If you are a creature feature lover, like me, this will be a must read collection you want on your reading shelf.

It’s nice to be back in Point Pleasant, with familiar friends and monsters, waiting for the next adventure to begin.

Book II left me feeling so sad for Mothman and I worry about what will become of him. He has lived for A Thousand Yesteryears, the only one of his kind.

The Ouija Board had foretold QM would become a part of Sarah’s life. WTH is QM?

The curse brought HIM to Point Pleasant.

Caden is a cop in Point Pleasant and knows the Mothman, and others, that I won’t speak about. You’ll have to meet them all yourself…and you might want to have someone with you when you do.

Lach is back and there is always trouble when he makes an appearance.

Stone amulets…a deadly blade…a curse

Shawn and Preech will play their part as the curse rises from the past, demanding retribution. You can never escape the past…innocent or guilty, it just doesn’t matter.

A Desolate Hour, great title by the way, has an aura of menace from the beginning.

“A Desolate Hour when a tear in time renders past and present in one.” How can that be anything but bad news?

When Mothman vanishes for long periods of time and everything is normal in Point Pleasant, I wonder where he goes, what he’s doing. He didn’t ask for his fate. Alone. Isolated. Angry. Suffering.

As the people and forces in Point Pleasant draw together, it is ‘the culmination of A Desolate Hour’, and the door closes on the Mothman’s story. Mae Clair did a bang up job with the ending, leaving me satisfied, but…

I am so sad to be leaving Point Pleasant and the marvelous characters and adventure I have had, but I do not despair. I know Mae Clair has another marvelous story up her sleeve and I aim to get my hands on it.

If you are a creature feature lover, if you crave reading about myths and legends, if you like to be scared and surprised, run and soar through the air, this is one series you don’t want to miss.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of A Desolate Hour by Mae Clair.

5 Stars

Sins of the past could destroy all of their futures . . .

For generations, Quentin Marsh’s family has seen its share of tragedy, though he
remains skeptical that their misfortunes are tied to a centuries-old
curse. But to placate his pregnant sister, Quentin makes the
pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hoping to learn more
about the brutal murder of a Shawnee chief in the 1700s. Did one of
the Marsh ancestors have a hand in killing the chief —the man who
cursed the town with his dying breath?

While historian Sarah Sherman doesn’t believe in curses either, she’s compelled
to use her knowledge of Point Pleasant to uncover the long-buried
truth. The river town has had its own share of catastrophes, many
tied to the legendary Mothman, the winged creature said to haunt the
woods. But Quentin’s arrival soon reveals that she may have more of
a stake than she realized. It seems that she and Quentin possess
eerily similar family heirlooms. And the deeper the two of them dig
into the past, the more their search enrages the ancient mystical
forces surrounding Point Pleasant. As chaos and destruction start to
befall residents, can they beat the clock to break the curse before
the Mothman takes his ultimate revenge? . . .

Add to Goodreads

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Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked
back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her
to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on
summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to
mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with
conflict, romance and elements of mystery. Married to her high school
sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about
writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

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Giveaway – The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm by Sybrina Durant @Sybrina_spt @GoddessFish

Posted on July 31, 2017 by fundinmental

I love the magical and elusive unicorn, so when I heard about The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm, I had to ‘saddle up.’

The Blue Unicorn’s Journey To Osm by Sybrina Durant

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

GENRE: Teen Fantasy Book

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MY REVIEW

There’s no place like home…OSM means awesome.

He is supposed to be their savior. But how can that be possible? He has no magic.

He feels an outsider, he just doesn’t fit in. Does anyone feel a touch of Rudolph in this?

The fun, colorful, imaginative illustrations are wonderful, filled with fantastical creatures, both good and bad.

Each creature is unique, individual, just like in real life.

Is there such a thing as a fish unicorn? If so, imagine the possibilities.

Set your imagination free.

The Blue Unicorn…reads like old time fairy tales…where life and death choices are made…And …maybe, you will learn why you never see a unicorn.

This magical fantasy filled with fun and humor, sadness and happiness, and lessons learned. We are not alone.

I voluntarily reviewed The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm by Sybrina Durant.

4 Stars

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

BLURB

The book is about a little blue unicorn who was born into a magical metal-horned tribe of unicorns. He is expected to save the tribe from the evil sorcerer, Magh but how will he be able to do that with no metal and no magic? Read the book to find out how a plain blue unicorn comes of age with the help of a brave stag and a loyal firebird. The book is meant for teen readers and anyone else who love unicorn stories with lots of pictures.

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EXCERPT

“Why, would you take off alone, Ghel?” Alumna asked. “You know how dangerous it is out there. You were almost a manticore’s dinner.”

It was obvious Alumna was angry. She tried to control her voice but it came out in sharp, short tones.

“Or worse,” Lauda exclaimed, “you might have been captured by Magh’s minions and had your hooves and horn taken.” The hide on her back rippled fearfully.

Ghel shuddered, too. She had thought she was doomed when she first saw the manticore. She would have been if Nix had not arrived in the nick of time to save her.

All the other unicorns put on brave faces but the thought scared them, also.

The seriousness of their situation was fully revealed when Alumna said, “The entire tribe is going to have to make a journey all the way across MarBryn to Mumna said sadly. “The Numen told me Blue’s destiny is to ensure the safety of our tribe. He said it is time for Blue to join with the Moon-Star.”

No one tried to hide the shock they felt. They all spoke at once: “Join with the Moon-Star?”

“Corn feathers! Is he gonna sprout wings to do this trick?” Lauda exploded. “The Moon-Star’s in the sky and Blue sure as heck can’t fly.”

They all thought it sounded like nonsense. Unicorns cannot fly.

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

AUTHOR Bio and Links

I am the author of the “Learn To Tie A Tie With The Rabbit and The Fox” series of instructional books for boys and girls. I also co-write, edit and publish children’s books by other authors, Sandi Johnson (Children’s books) and Britt Brundige (Tween graphic novel). For the older crowd, there’s a little bit of romance by Historical Regency Romance author, Gina Rose.

I am also the publisher of the 4 volume set – Sybrina’s Phrase Thesaurus.

Createspace / Amazon / B&N / Smashwords / ITunes / Kobo / Newsletter / Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / LinkIn

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

GIVEAWAY

Sybrina Durant will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

Posted on July 8, 2017 by fundinmental

Welcome to Christmas in July and Saturday Shorts.

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

I love this beautiful cover by Karri Klawiter

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

He meets Nichole.

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

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

What a sight to see.

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

4 Stars

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Friday 56 #135 – Twenty Four Potential Children of Prophecy by Emily Martha Sorensen @CleanYAFantasy

Posted on June 16, 2017 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.

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I have been a fan of Emily Martha Sorensen’s ever since I read Dragon’s Egg, so I was excited to get my hands on Twenty Four Potential Children of Prophecy, her new novella series.

Amazon / Goodreads

My 56

I hid behind one of my favorite garbage receptacles to root through…

(56% in Kindle, published in May of 2017)

Book Beginnings

It was Prophecy Day at the market, and I had to duck through and doge around hundreds of people as I fought to get to the front of the crowd. The food stalls around the edges were selling snacks and breakfasts in a frenzy, and the whole place had the air of a festival.

MY REVIEW

Many times I find it hard to rate novellas. I like a lot of depth and detail in my stories, but sometimes the characters win me over, and Henina does that very nicely.

Henina is a fabulous character that kept me in stitches with her antics. She never stops talking and loves to argue. She’s in no hurry to get married and have children, like so many other girls.

She is an apprentice for her father, dumpster diving for items they can repair and sell.

“The days of the war are numbered…She will rule with wisdom and grace.”

Twenty four girls were rounded up and taken to the castle, Henina among them. Because of her personality, she never thought of herself as the chosen one.

A fun and quick read, filled with lots of smiles and chuckles.

I’m excited to meet her dog, Mud, and spend more time with her in Fifty Three Assassins With a Head Cold.

I found this hard to rate and bounced between 3 and 4…but because I couldn’t help but smile and laugh at Henina’s antics, loving her brash and witty personality, and left wanting more, I went high.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Twenty Four Potential Children of Prophecy by Emily Martha Sorensen.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB: Henina tends to irritate people. She can’t help it — she’s bad at shutting her mouth. So when a prophecy is made that someone will stop the war, she figures she’s the worst possible choice.

Too bad.

The Fates have their sights set on her, and it will take all her cleverness and quite a lot of offending the king to foist the prophecy off on somebody else instead.

But she can do it. After all, there are a lot of potentials to choose from.

MY REVIEWS FOR EMILY MARTHA SORENSEN

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To see all my reviews, go HERE.
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Mermaid Giveaway – Salt by Pauline Creeden @P_Creeden @PromoBookTours

Posted on May 26, 2017 by fundinmental

Salt-FB-FINAL

I love a good mermaid story and have read the first one, Scales by Pauline Creeden, so I am very happy to share Salt, and find out what’s been happening to Verona.

Her kind treats her as less-than-human, but she’s always been so much more.

Buy

FREE Coloring Book with purchase:

http://subscribepage.com/SaltPreorder

Get the prequel book for FREE

Check out my review for Scales: To Be Or Not To Be: Scales by Pauline Creeden

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Teaser Tuesday #94 – Born of Water by A L Knorr @ALKnorrbooks

Posted on May 2, 2017 by fundinmental

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday hosted by The Purple Booker, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:

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

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I love mermaids and Born of Water by A L Knorr is a refreshing and novel glimpse into their life, both in and out of the sea.

I picked this up on a free day, so be sure and check for the “0”.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY TEASE

‘”You’re playing with fire, Antoni. You think You’re in control here?…”

(48% on Kindle)

GOODREADS BLURB: Everything you thought you knew about mermaids is wrong.

Life for a small-town high school kid in Saltford should be simple and straightforward – for 17-year-old Targa MacAuley, it’s anything but. Navigating life with a supernatural mother is tricky enough, but dealing with the feelings of guilt that she’s never been able to ‘change’, and confusion that she doesn’t seem to be attracted to boys (or girls for that matter), Targa feels like she’s got more demons than the average kid.

When the opportunity to salvage a mysterious wreck in the Baltic arises for her mom, a professional salvage diver by day, Targa jumps at the chance to go abroad for the summer. But it’s when she meets Antoni Baranek, and a boating accident puts them both in danger, that Targa’s world turns completely inside out in more ways than one.

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Giveaway – The Sisterhood by Alison Clarke @mythologist200

Posted on December 18, 2016 by fundinmental

The Sisterhood

by Alison Clarke

Genre – YA, Middle Grade Fantasy

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When Oppie and Aurie are faced with a terrible battle between good and evil, they discover that friendship and sisterhood are the most precious things in the world.

In a realm where magic and legend still exist, it’s easy to think that when you’re just an ordinary girl, you’ll never get the chance to be written into the history books. But when Oppie, and her dragon friend Aurie, find themselves on a mission to defeat the evil, oppressive forces of darkness, in the form of the dragon, Royzendeus, they discover that history is never made alone. As they travel, their army of light grows, and Aurie discovers that as a girl, she is blessed with an entire sisterhood she never realised existed.

Goodreads * Amazon

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alison-clarke

Alison Clarke is a writer who delves into different fields. She is a children’s author, but is now joining the world of young adult literature. Her latest book, The Sisterhood, chronicles her latest journey in this odyssey. A tale filled with Celtic, Greek, and Ghanaian mythology, The Sisterhood will delight all audiences. Kids, ten and up, as well as adults will be entranced with the story of Oppie and Aurie. Oppie is the daughter of a sorceress, and Aurie, her best friend, is a dragon. In the first book of this trilogy, they go on a journey to save the universe. Alison Clarke’s passion for the Arthurian tales, as well as medieval literature like Chaucer, also fuels her writing. Her first degree is in Sociology with a double minor in French and English. She is now working on a Master’s degree in Children’s literature. Storytelling is her calling, and whether she is writing, painting, or drawing, story is key. Reading is another passion, and many different genres interest her, including biography, fantasy, poetry, art books, and so on. Alison believes that the word is a powerful thing, and this is evident in many different literary forms. She also believes that art, whether it’s literary or visual can change the world, can make the world a better place.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

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