A Mind Blowing Betrayal in A Killing Truth by @dvberkom

Posted on March 23, 2016 by fundinmental

DV Berkom is back today with her new prequel to the Leine Basso stand alone series, A Killing Truth. I have been very curious about Leine’s life as a government assassin, before she started chasing down serial killers, and now I get to know how she came to be the person she is today and the mind blowing betrayal that changed her life forever.

So come along on another grand adventure as the action and suspense take us down a long and ugly road of betrayal of the worst kind.

And if you missed DV Berkom’s guest post on Writing a Killer as Your Main Character, you can check it out HERE and enter the giveaway.

MY REVIEW

The Leine Basso series by DV Berkom is jam packed with action and adventure and Leine Basso is one badass protagonist that I would love to have on my side in my time of need. When I found out DV Berkom was going to write her story about before she started hunting down serial killers and taking out drug cartel, I thought, bring it on.

I have been looking forward to learning about Leine Basso before…

Leine Basso is an ex assassin, strong on the outside, yet soft on the inside, even though she does her best to hide it from everyone. She is super smart and does what needs to be down, no matter how tough the job.

What drove her to quit her government job as an assassin?

The betrayal by her boss leads to horrific consequences for Leine, so tragic, that it will haunt her for the rest of her life as she struggles to reconcile with her daughter. Will she ever be able to have a “normal” life…well, normal to her. You know love, a relationship, a man you can trust with your life. She has sacrificed so much, she deserves a chance at happiness…and DV…I believe you will give it to her. Right? LOL

I had wondered if I may be disappointed with A Killing Truth because I have been wanting to see how DV Berkom would write her story ever since I met Leine Basso. Now, I can breathe a sigh of relief. Disappointed? NO WAY. I am not surprised that this prequel is my favorite Leine Basso story yet. It explains her motivations, at the same time it is filled with action packed danger and suspense that kept me hanging on every word.

I found that I am happy I didn’t know her story before hand. It carries so much more meaning for me now and I feel her sense of betrayal and my anger makes me wonder how she could have ever allowed him to live and breathe. I am so pissed off, I don’t know how Leine manages. I never saw the twisted story that DV Berkom created and I love/hate it. I love it because it was such a horrible surprise that, in hindsight, I should have caught, but DV wrote it in such a way that shes slid it right by me. Excellent job! And I hate it because…well…you will have to read it to find out for yourself.

I received a copy of A Killing Truth by DV Berkom in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

And if you missed DV Berkom’s guest post on Writing a Killer as Your Main Character, you can check it out HERE and enter the giveaway.

GOODREADS BLURB

Before serial killers and drug cartels, Leine faced the ultimate betrayal…

Leine eliminates terrorists for a living. After a routine assassination almost gets her killed, she chalks it up to a fluke. Her lover and fellow assassin, Carlos, has another idea altogether. He thinks their boss is setting them up for a fall.

When Carlos goes missing and a bombing thwarts another mission, Leine suspects the stakes are far higher than she could ever imagine, and wonders if the man in charge might have it in for her after all.

A Killing Truth is the prequel to the award-winning Leine Basso thriller series of crime novels. If you like no-nonsense heroines, page-turning plots, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love D.V. Berkom’s tension-filled series.

Download A Killing Truth to find out how the story began…

ABOUT DV BERKOM

DV Berkom is a slave to the voices in her head. As the author of two popular thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating resilient, kick-*ss female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

Raised in the Midwest, she received her BA in political science from the University of Minnesota and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Many, many cross-country moves (and several years) later, she now lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with the love of her life, Mark, an ex-chef-turned contractor, and writes every chance she gets.

For more information, please visit her website at www.dvberkom.com.
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Author Pages: Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes & Noble / itunes / Kobo

And if you missed DV Berkom’s guest post on Writing a Killer as Your Main Character, you can check it out HERE and enter the giveaway.

I am reading my way through DV Berkom’s The Leine Basso Thrillers:

I am also reading my way through DV Berkom’s Kate Jones Thrillers:

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
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Giveaway – Those Who Walk in Darkness @AuthorJLavene

Posted on March 17, 2016 by fundinmental

I am excited to have Joyce and Jim Lavene on fundinmental today, sharing

Those Who Walk in Darkness.

Scroll through my review before entering the giveaway.

Those Who Walk In Darkness
(Jacks Jackson Mystery Book 1)
Historical Mystery
Print Length: 266 pages
Publisher: J. Lavene (March 8, 2016)
ASIN: B01AS8NN6Q

MY REVIEW

Westerns aren’t big on my hit list, but anything by the Lavenes and you can count me in. Those Who Walk in Darkness by Jim and Joyce Lavene is a step back in time, to the Wild West days of the Pinkertons. Beware, you’ll need a quick draw to survive.

Jacks is Julia. After her fiance died at her feet, she went to Allan Pinkerton. He said he would help her find the killer and hired her on the spot. Only two people know she is female, Allan Pinkerton, her boss, and Lil. Lil is a madame who recognized her femininity and felt a need to “mother” her. I can only imagine how hard it would be to change ALL your mannerisms. Cutting the hair and binding the breasts would be simple, but learning to walk, talk and act like a man would be much more difficult. She would have to be ever vigilant.

Jacks can take care of herself. She’s a cigar smoking, whiskey drinking, quick draw and is doing just fine, until Hume Boyd and Running Wolf. She preferred to work alone, but that would not be the case this time.

Now…what can I say about Hume. I can picture him, looking so young you wonder if he can even pick up a gun, naive, sweet and innocent and too eager for his own good.

I have a bad feeling about Boyd, but a good one about Running Wolf. With a name like that, I think we have some paranormal and mystical machinations coming up and I am looking forward to them. Jacks keeps denying the appearance of the raven, but we shall see.

The mystery unfolds and I am delighted to be teased…it can’t be him…too obvious, but he’s not a nice guy and that’s putting it mildly. So, what’s his beef? Okay, then how about…it could be him, and I waver back and forth. The big question is “Why?”

The characters are well developed and the mystery prolonged. I know something is coming…very soon. Even though I am expecting it, it’s still a shock when it happens. I jerk and gasp, laughing at myself for being caught off guard.

I have a love/hate feeling for the ending. The Lavene’s wrap this novel up in a neat package, but Jacks story lives on. There is no happy ever after and I will be more than glad to go on the next adventure to find out…who is the real Jacks.

This was a surprising 5 stars for me. When I began reading I was rating it a bit low, but it kept getting better and better. Fantastic writing and I would highly recommend Those Who Walk in Darkness by the Lavene’s for a great combination of multiple genres.

I received a copy of Those Who Walk in Darkness by Joyce and Jim Lavene in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

Synopsis

Three years ago, Julia Jackson was a well to do young woman from Boston whose fiancé, Jonathon, was killed right before her eyes. Obsessed with finding the killer, a man whose face she saw only in a flash as he walked up and shot Jonathon, she leaves her family and her life behind. She starts a new life as ‘Jacks’ Jackson—a cigar smoking, dead eye, female Pinkerton agent…pretending to be a man.

Now Allan Pinkerton needs Jacks to find the man who kidnapped the wife and son of a railroad official, David Boyd. Their only clues are the severed finger from the man’s wife, complete with wedding ring, and a map of the Qualla boundary, the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina.

Jacks doesn’t like the way the whole thing sounds from the beginning. David Boyd isn’t important enough to target for sherry fundina kidnapping. And why travel so far with two hostages?

But Pinkerton tells her that he believes the man responsible for the kidnapping worked with Jonathon’s murderer in a train robbery five years ago. Jacks agrees to go after the kidnapper with hopes of catching him before he can reach his home grounds.

Pinkerton insists that Jacks bring three men with her—Boyd, her new partner, and a Cherokee guide named Running Wolf, who’s always watching her, like he’s trying to figure it out.

Can Jacks catch the kidnapper with her secret—and her life—intact?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

Webpage – www.joyceandjimlavene.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
Amazon – http://amazon.com/author/jlavene
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene
Purchase Link Amazon

Tour Participants

March 8 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 9 – A. Holland Reads – INTERVIEW
March 10 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GUEST POST
March 11 – Author Annette Drake’s Blog – INTERVIEW
March 12 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 14 – Book Babble – REVIEW
March 15 – Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf – REVIEW
March 16 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
March 17 – fundinmental – REVIEW
March 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT
March 21 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW
March 22 – Community Bookstop – CHARACTER GUEST POST

GIVEAWAY

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

@JadieJones1 excels in Moonlit Trilogy – All Three Reviews

Posted on March 16, 2016 by fundinmental

Jadie Jone’s debut novel, Moonlit, has a beautiful and fantastic cover. Gorgeous.

I can almost feel the power radiating from these amazing animals.

That alone made me want to read the book.

But…I have more.

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The cover made me choose this book. It is so beautiful. I love the horses. Wildwood, the horse farm in Shenandoah Valley, made me think of Bonanza. Does that date me?

I was amazed by everything in this book. I loved it. It took me places that I haven’t been before and didn’t see coming. It was riveting from beginning to end. I can hardly believe this is Jadie Jones’ debut novel.

This novel has everything and more that you would want in a paranormal story. It was very well written and the characters come alive on the pages. Watch out for the twists and turns and be careful of who you trust.

Even after being warned, Tanzy takes her nightly ride on Hopewell. When someone tells you don’t go in the woods, then don’t. It is not going to end well. I always laugh when I come across this example in the books I read. Don’t open the door. Don’t go down in the basement……….

I was crushed when I realized I wouldn’t find out what happened to Tanzy until the next book. I hope Jadie Jones is a fast writer because I can hardly wait to get my hands on Book II.

5 STARS

You can find my original review here, written June 6, 2013.

SYNOPSIS

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

Amazon * WiDo Publishing * Barnes & Noble

I read Moonlit for a tour, but I loved this book so much and I had to know what happens, so I broke down and bought Windswept and Wildwood. I rarely buy books any more. I either get them free, or borrow them from friends, family or the library.

Read on to see if the trilogy holds up to my 5 star rating for Moonlit.

Windwept, Moonlit II by Jadie Jones

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Windwept, Book II of the Moonlit trilogy, picks up where Moonlit left off.

We have action and intrigue from the beginning.

Tansy has changed, but she is still determined to save Lucas at all cost. Is he still alive? How far would you go to save soeone you love?

Tansy has been set up and is running for her life. She has been betrayed and is confused, not knowing who she can trust. Jaycee is still by her side. Can she be trusted? Is she meant to fulfill the prophecy?

Imagine, if you will, an Unseen world, existing side by side with ours, unknown by us. What if the veil was dropped and both worlds shown, allowing the evil to come through?

I know her road is a long and treacherous one and I am very excited to be traveling it with her. As I walk with Tansy, my questions are being answered. No decision will satisfy all her desires and I wonder if they will satisfy mine. Do I agree with her thoughts of what is to be done? Well, my question…which is the right one?

Love and sacrifice, friendship and betrayal. I have been anticipating this wonderful world created with fantastic characters and I was not disappointed.

5 Stars

Wildwood, Moonlit III by Jadie Jones

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MY REVIEW

Wildwood, Book III of the Moonlit trilogy picks up where Windswept left off.

I am excited to be back with familiar characters and saddened at the thought of their story coming to an end. I loved every step I took with them and will not spoil anything for your.

I have loved every gorgeous cover of the magnificent horses.

War makes strange bedfellows and that has been proven to be true here and heroism comes in some of the most surprising packages.

Twists and turns, love and sacrifice, hope and love kept me “turning the pages” of my Kindle. I knew some of what was coming, but was not able to figure out the exact ending.

I am so happy I broke down and purchased the books I needed to finish the trilogy. I would highly recommend the Moonlit trilogy!

5 Stars

ABOUT JADIE JONES

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.

She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she’s not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

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Monday Mini Review – Blindsighted by @SlaughterKarin

Posted on March 14, 2016 by fundinmental

Karin Slaughter is a thriller and suspense writer that I have been reading for years and Blindsighted amazed and thrilled me beyond my expectations.

Blindsighted is the first book of her new The Grant County Thriller Series. I look forward to reading many more.

MY REVIEW

Blindsighted begins in a small Georgia town when a college professor is found murdered.

WOW! The level of violence and depravity of the villain filled me with anger and disgust, yet the writing drew me in…deeper and deeper.

I love Sara, but her character is predictable, whereas Lena captivated me with her independence, strength and inability to let her defenses down and let people close. Sara is a pediatrician and and coroner. I love the “Bones” aspect, there is room for more than one.

The flawed, realistic characters are ones I want to meet…again and again.

The mystery and suspense builds, making it hard to put the book down…

Blindsighted is the first book of her new The Grant County Thriller Series. I look forward to reading many more.

5 Stars

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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Saturday Shorts Review – Water & Fire @DemelzaCarlton

Posted on March 12, 2016 by fundinmental

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

MY REVIEW

Recommended for Adults.

What do Belinda, Aidan and Lin have in common?

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

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

Aidan is an intern and…

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

Fact or fiction? Fact, but..

I believe we’ll find out…

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

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

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

4 Stars

My 5 Star Review for Ocean’s Gift

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

Hidden Chamber of Death Giveaway @iReadBookTours

Posted on March 11, 2016 by fundinmental

Hidden Chamber of Death by Hawk MacKinney is Book I of the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. I love murder, mystery and suspense, so let’s see if we can solve this one.

I love to learn more about authors than what is listed in their bio and Hawk MacKinney is here today to share some of his thoughts. Welcome, Hawk.

What is your next project?

The Cairnes of Sainctuarie Series sci-fi… Volume 3

The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series…Book 2/Book 3

The 3 manuscripts are in edit. Try to keep 3-5 manuscripts going at the same time. Lets me edit one while the others are on the shelf.

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you?

Funny in hindsight…at the time definitely NOT…early-teens…where one knows all the answers before learning one doesn’t even know the questions. Title this Halters and Bits. We raised horses and mules, mainly Quarter Horses…for rounding up/herding cows, calves, colts, heifers/heffers, & assorted yearlings. It was fall, corn cribbed; hay baled; fields ploughed & harrowed…which proved a good thing. My job…corral those brought from the pastures…among our colts—one young colt-stallion. Bareback was an okay-ride…NOT with the gaps down, a rope halter, no bit, and fence gates to the feed stalls wide open. It was plowed cornfield; the stallion decided he wanted me OFF; top of his stall would strike me right about my waist. He went to a full-out gallop. I bailed. Spit dirt clods, corn & corn shucks for a good 10 minutes. Never rode that sucker again without a bridle and spurs.

What is (your) writing schedule?

Up early before the crack of doom, 4-4:30a. Break for lunch, 3-4 hrs afternoon, another break, a couple of hrs. Turn in by 9:30-10p and loose my fantasies to resolve any conundrum dropped into the plot, or have a character I like do the unexpected. ALWAYS keep a note pad by my nightlight

What do you do for fun when not writing?

Read historical non-fiction or the latest quantum revelations out of CERN…there’s some outstanding quantum physics writers that have a gift few ‘scientist-researchers’ possess…their writing is understood by the person in the street.

Have you a favorite actor?

Ingrid Bergman, Katherine Hepburn, Ava Gardner…I’m dating myself, but these actresses don’t need paparazzi or media blitz of so-called stars. They let their craft speak for them…most certainly not available to cast as the young widow of a SEAL

Critters do have a mind of their own and sometimes let us know it. LOL Glad you made it through in one piece. Quantum physics? You lost me, but to know there are scientists out there wanting to reach a lay person, like me, and telling it in words that even I can understand is a great thing. Thanks so much, Hawk, for sharing bits of yourself. 🙂

Be sure and enter the great giveaway at the end of the post.

MY REVIEW

Don’t let the cover for Hidden Chamber of Death by Hawk MacKinney fool you. This story is darker than you think.

A death brings ex-Navy seal, Craige Ingram, and Terri, a recent widow and bank examiner, together. Embezzlement puts Terri smack dab into the middle of danger. Craige will come to the rescue, which is what I expect from a hero. 🙂 Craige is a great guy. He takes you as you are, no bigotry, no judgments.

A grizzly murder and a psycho serial killer always catch my attention. I find out early who the killer is but there is more going on than murder. A death starts an inquiry into the bank records that someone desperately wants to keep quiet.

A bit of romance, a psycho serial killer, greed, embezzlement…it’s all good to me.

I’m not sure what it was about the writing, but it seemed a bit slow and I stumbled off and on…BUT, the ending makes it all worth it, so read on. I will be looking for the next adventure into the Vault of Secrets.

3 STARS

I received a copy of Hidden Chamber of Death by Hawk MacKinney in return for an honest review.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Hidden Chamber of Death is a compelling tale of intrigue, murder, deception and suspense that leads retired Navy SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram in search of the connection between seemingly random murders and a banking conspiracy.

Working with the local homicide investigator, who just happens to be a former Navy buddy, Craige Ingram’s attempts to protect a lonely widow and solve the case before another person dies are only thwarted by a psychotic killer whose motivation is based on pure depraved pleasure. In this first book of the MOCCASIN HOLLOW MYSTERY SERIES, the instincts and skills Ingram and his buddy acquired as Navy SEALS are tested to their limits.

Buy the book: Amazon Barnes & Noble

ABOUT HAWK MACKINNEY

Internationally acclaimed author and public speaker, Hawk MacKinney began writing mysteries for his school newspapers. Following graduation, he served in the US Navy for over 20 years. While serving as a Navy Commander, he also had a career as a full-time faculty member at several major state medical facilities. He earned two postgraduate degrees with studies in languages and history. He has taught postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel.

In addition to professional articles and texts on fetal and adult anatomy, Hawk has authored several novels that have received national and international recognition.Moccasin Trace, a historical novel, was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award. This was followed by the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. In a change of direction, October of 2012 saw the release of Hawk’s first science fiction novel, The Bleikovat Event, in The Cairns of Sainctuarie series. Volume II, The Missing Planets, was released in 2014 with Volume III in the works.

Hawk’s latest project focuses on The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Hidden Chamber of Death is Book 1 in the series.

Connect with the author: Website

GIVEAWAY

Win 1 of 5 ebooks or print copies of Hidden Chamber of Death and a $25 Amazon gift card (International)

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
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Monday Mini – A ray of hope in Mutation Z: Drones Overhead by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

Posted on March 7, 2016 by fundinmental

I have been eating up Marilyn Peake’s zombie series, Mutation Z. This is the fourth book, Mutation Z: Drones Overhead, and the story continues at an M & Ms pace, I gobble them up.

You may not be so hungry after sharing dinner with some of these guys.

If you are a zombie, conspiracy, genetic engineering lover, you can check out the series with Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies, #1, FREE.

Mutation Z is now available in boxed sets for .99. Check them out and my reviews below.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Mutation Z: Drones Overhead by Marilyn Peake is the fourth novella in this zombie series that had me feeling like upchucking one minute and kicking ass the next.

Journalist Hunter Morgan awoke in McAllen, Texas, and remembered the massacre. As he raged, tearing apart the cell he had been placed in, they shot him with a tranquilizer dart…but there is a ray of hope and it is more important than ever he survive.

The virus is reaching epidemic proportions and a madman is running the Zombie Hunters.

The situation becomes more dangerous. Isolated and housebound, they plot their next course of action. They had to stop THEM before the situation reached an apocalypse, wiping out humanity.

Can it be stopped? Is it already too late?

With governments running AMOK, the media spewing lies and terror, the zombie population growing and the attempt to stop them reaching a level of savagery nobody could have foreseen, the clock is ticking and time is running out.

Maybe it is was me, but I didn’t feel the level of urgency that I felt leading up to #4. Maybe because, in Drones Overhead, we cover details of how they stay hidden, what they do to disguise themselves, and planning what comes next. We can’t be running willy nilly or no one will survive.

Needless to say, I can hardly wait to read Mutation Z: Dragon in the Bunker, #5. The title alone makes me think something even more terrible is going to go wrong (if such a thing is possible) and I want to be there!

4 Stars

The first 3 novella reviews: Mutation Z by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

You can find out more about Marilyn Peake and her books HERE.

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Saturday Shorts – Beyond Belief by Helen Smith

Posted on March 5, 2016 by fundinmental

Beyond Belief by Helen Smith is An Emily Castles Mystery that may cozy up to some of you mystery lovers out there.

I won this book some time ago, sorry I forget where.

Cover: Scott Barrie

The cover makes me think of a movie and I am in a box of popcorn.

What does it say to you?

MY REVIEW

Beyond Belief’s cover makes me think we are off to the carnival and that seems to be true.

I thought with the quirky characters, the psychics and fortunetellers, the psychic wiener dog (LOL) and the humor, horror, murder and Emily, I thought I may have a roller coaster ride coming. Alas, that was not the case. I don’t know if it was the writing style, which seemed dry to me, or my expectations were too high, but I felt something was lacking and I found it unsuspenseful. I did finish reading it, because I was curious about the murderer and I try to finish every book I pick up. Sometimes the ending will make it worth the read for me. Not this time.

I did not find Beyond Belief by Helen Smith a worthy read, but reviews are subjective so you may want to check this out for yourself.

The 84 Amazon ratings go from 5 to 1 with an overall average of 3.8 out of 5 stars.

2 STARS

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

When famous psychic Perspicacious Peg predicts that someone will drown at the Belief and Beyond conference in the seaside town of Torquay, twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles is recruited to investigate.

The potential victim of this “future crime” is celebrated magician Edmund Zenon. He provokes outrage and excitement by offering £50,000 to anyone who can prove the existence of the paranormal, then announces he will stage a daring walking-on-water stunt the same weekend.

Potential suspects include local fortune-teller Madame Nova; kindly Bobby Blue Suit and his three psychic dachshunds; grieving parents Sarah and Tim Taylor; and religious cult members Hilary, Trina, and the Colonel.

Edmund Zenon doesn’t believe he’s in danger. If he’s right, Emily will enjoy a weekend of séances and positivity circles, puzzling over nothing more troubling than the fish supper menu at the Poisson d’Avril restaurant.

But if he’s wrong, Emily will have to use good old-fashioned detective skills to solve the case. Fortunately Emily’s best friend, eccentric philosophy professor Dr. Muriel, is on hand to assist.

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Monday Mini – FREE – The Academy @robertdugoni

Posted on February 29, 2016 by fundinmental

The Academy is the first story (a short) of the Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni.

The simple cover tells me a lot. What does it say to you?

Cover: Salamander Hill Design Inc

Get it free on Amazon by clicking on the cover below!

MY REVIEW

The Academy is a short story that shows the determination and fortitude in one woman’s story to serve a higher purpose.

After the disappearance of her sister, Tracy chose her mission in life, to become a police officer. Her ultimate goal was to be the first woman detective in homicide.

The need to have a woman on the Seattle police force opened a door her.

The Academy reads as if it is a true story of the good ol’ boy network in police departments all over the country. She held her own against the bigoted and sexist assholes that did all they could to make her life a living hell. And through it all, she goes above and beyond to help a fellow female officer.

Tracy takes no shit, but goes about fighting her battle in the right way. My feelings of respect and admiration for her makes me want to read more. I can only think her story will get better. I would recommend The Academy to all those who are looking for inspiration and a happy ending.

4 Stars

From Goodreads: Driven by the disappearance of her sister, Tracy Crosswhite quits her job as a high school science teacher to join the Seattle Police Department. While most of her classmates and instructors at the academy want her to succeed, Detective Johnny Nolasco is hell-bent on keeping the boys’ club intact.

The training sessions offer plenty of opportunities for humiliation, but Tracy’s not the type to give in. Fueled by a confrontation with her in the middle of a class, Nolasco is determined to see Tracy fail. Tracy, harboring memories of the loss of her sister and the disintegration of her family, has too much at stake to let one pigheaded detective stand in her way. With so much to lose, will she make the cut in this competitive world?

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Giveaway – Hastings’ Dead by Rohn Federbush

Posted on February 27, 2016 by fundinmental

I am excited to have Rohn Federbush visiting fundinmental today. When I saw the setting for Hastings’ Dead, Michigan, I felt I had to share, seeing Michigan is my home state.

So…let’s get to it.

About the Book

Hastings’ Dead by Rohn Federbush

Amazon
Genre: Mystery / Romantic Suspense
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Length: 136 Pages

MY REVIEW

Hastings’ Dead by Rohn Federbush takes place in Michigan and the main characters attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor…GO BLUE. I hail from Michigan and root for the Wolverines during football season, so I was happy to spend some time in the small town of Hastings.

The villain is exposed from the very beginning, and boy is he messed up. I can almost feel sorry for him.

David wanted to stay in Hastings and Diane wanted to stretch her wings and fly. Well…

Arancia, nicknamed Range, and Ben, her boyfriend, attend the University of Michigan, but head to Hastings, Arancia’s home, for the Christmas holidays. She missed her small home town and planned to return there after college to teach. Ben wanted the big city life, where a lawyer can make a name for himself.

Problems arise immediately, but Range refuses to acknowledge them. I had a problem with Range. She ignores what her instincts are telling her. Is she just naive? Or is there more to the story?

Her brother, Coco is quite the character and I love his feisty personality. He could understand Ben better than Range, because he felt the same way. Until…

Hastings’ Dead reads like a cozy mystery. If anyone is the hero, it will be Range, but the peripheral characters supply a large part of the entertainment and contribute their problem solving to the story.

There was even a laugh or two and I loved when the brides to be made their grand entrance for the wedding. Very nice touch and it still puts a smile on my face as I write this.

I had some trouble with the writing, especially when dealing with Range. I didn’t like her very much and could not figure out what she was thinking. Was everything tainted by her need to live in Hastings? Well…the end was not what I thought and that is always a good thing and I enjoyed it. I really wanted more depth to the story, but Rohn Federbush threw in a twist or two to keep the story lively. If you like a quick read, murders to solve, and some romance, Hastings’ Dead could be for you.

“Since when is love a bad thing.”

“When demands snuff out freedom.”

I received a copy of Hastings’ Dead by Rohn Federbush in return for an honest review.

3 STARS

SYNOPSIS

What’s a guy to do when people don’t see things his way?

“Hastings’ Dead” is set in a small Michigan town, where a University of Michigan student, Range Goloso, has promised her father she’ll return to teach grade school.

In college Range falls in love with Ben Adler, a New York based law student who can’t very well start a lucrative practice without a substantial client base. She defends a local artist accused of pushing his girlfriend off the church bell tower when she wanted to leave town. Actually Range is upholding her town’s reputation and realizes her dreams of settling down in Hastings might be dead.

Hastings’ Dead – Excerpt

Prologue

Hastings, Michigan – Summer
St. Rose of Lima’s Bell Tower

David Dahlton encouraged his best girl to follow him up the narrow staircase. “Diane, you’ll love the view.”

Diane Pettergill shook her head. How many times must she wear herself out following him up creaking staircases to capture yet another view of their hometown? “Who’s going to look at your pictures?’

David sat down on the top step, realizing he had a problem. Photography would rescue him from farming drudgery without leaving the secure confines of Hastings. “Maybe I’ll publish a book someday.”

She smiled at him. “That’ll be the day.”

“Don’t you want to see our town become famous?” He noticed he hadn’t thoroughly cleaned the mud from his shoes. Maybe Diane was reacting to the smell of recycled pig food.

“I’m more interested in our future than this stupid town’s.”

“You don’t want to live here after we marry?” David’s mind spun out of control. He thought she loved him, wanted to have his babies and see them grow up in town. “Wouldn’t you miss your parents and your sister?”

“Betty said you wouldn’t listen.” Diane tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “We could visit, you know.”

Their life wouldn’t be the same. “We’d be strangers to everyone—even to our own folks if we stayed away too long.”

“You are a stick in the mud.” Diane turned her back on him.

He listened as she slammed the side door to the tower. David climbed up to the landing under the bell. Hanging over the side nearest the front door, he called to her. “Come back. I don’t want to lose you.”

Diane stopped her retreat down St. Rose’s front walk. She stood with her back to him. Then shaded her eyes as she looked up. “I’m not ready to say goodbye either.”

“Wait for me.” He wanted to ring the bell for the celebration in his heart. Instead he took several hurried photographs in each direction. He’d need to come back to get more shots. They’d known each other since childhood. Out on Route 43, only a corn field separated their farm houses. Both their families were among the first settlers of Hastings.

Once he reached her, Diane apologized, offering her hand. “I’m sorry. I know you love to take pictures. But, don’t you want to photograph the entire world?”

“It’s been done.” David dropped her hand. “I want the world to love our town as much as we do.”

“What makes you think I’d be happy in this dinky burgh?”

“Dingy?”

“Small. I said dinky.” Diane stretched her arms out. “I want to unfold my wings. Do something important before I die.”

That’s when David got the idea he couldn’t share. “Okay,” he lied. “I promise this will be the last time you ever need to climb a flight of stairs for me to click my camera in all four directions.”

“I knew I could convince you.” Diane smiled. “College will be more fun, together.”

David followed her up the stairs again. However as soon as they had both reached the landing, David lunged at her. He knocked her down against the west ledge, away from the view of any onlookers in town. For a second he wanted to turn her around to get a good look at her fear, but he decided she might survive and ruin his life.

“Let’s see how far you can fly with those important wings of yours.”

David watched her all the way down. In the struggling three-story fall, her body flipped over.

Diane stared right into his eyes until she hit the very hard pavement in the parking lot.

About Rohn Federbush

Rohn Federbush retired as an administrator from the University of Michigan in 1999. She received a Masters of Arts in Creative Writing in 1995 from Eastern Michigan University. Frederick Busch of Colgate granted a 1997 summer stipend for her ghost-story collection. Michael Joyce of Vassar encouraged earlier writing at Jackson Community College, Jackson, Michigan in 1981.

Rohn has completed fourteen novels, with an additional mystery nearly finished, 120 short stories and 150 poems to date.

The Giveaway