Forget Me Not by Lawna Mackie @lawnamackie #romanticsuspense

Posted on June 16, 2020 by fundinmental

Preorder price $2.99. Due for release 6.19.20.

Forget Me Not by Lawna Mackie has a beautiful cover to go with the wonderful story inside.

MY REVIEW

Pippin had been snatched by her mentally ill father. It’s a miracle, and thanks to Agent Matt Lalor, that she is alive today. Even Monty, his dog, had known that fate was calling.

My heart jumped out of my chest when Matt bade Monty to FIND Pippen…and he jumped. Great writing. That had me racing through the pages, and, even though I felt I knew where the journey would end, I was looking forward to the ride.

Ten years later…and Pippin returns home. It’s time to visit the past and put it behind her…forever. Yeah. Right. I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Matt Laylor is known as a cold fish, a loner, a recluse, a hard man.

I loved spending time with Vallor on Snow Lake, as he taught Pippin the fine art of ice fishing. I love a book that brings memories roaring back. I remember those huts on the frozen lake, like a small city on the ice, that appears and disappears at nature’s whim.

Lydia is Pippin’s editor for the mystery series she has been writing, and when she comes to town the action knows no limits. I knew she would add some good times…and maybe some bad times…to the equation. She has a very strong personality, but she’s one of those kind of people that make your life a richer place if she is in it.

I laughed out loud when she reached the cabin. I could see it playing out like a scene in a movie.

Levi, may be a bit slow, but he has a big heart. He comes and goes throughout the novel and I am worried what Lawna Mackie has in store for him. He is so sweet. She couldn’t kill him off, could she? At this point, every time I see his name, I feel a sense of impending doom, like he has a part to play and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him.

James? Chance?

I didn’t spot the villain right away. He sure has a lot of patience, waiting in the shadows for THAT moment.

Yes there were a few teary eyed moments. I even felt a Pretty Woman moment adding some good feels, which we always want in a romance…don’t we?

Predictable? Sure. Suspenseful moments? You bet. Laughs and love? For sure.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Forget Me Not by Lawna Mackie.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

He was dead…or so she thought.

At the age of twelve, Pippin Bartlett, is abducted by her mentally ill father who goes on a killing rampage. Fortunately she is rescued outside the small town of Snow Lake, Manitoba by ex-sniper and CSIS Agent Matt Lalor, who shoots and reportedly kills the man although the body is never recovered.

Fast-forward ten years and we find Pippin writing successful novels in New York under the alias of Avery Woods. Her words help lessen the impact of the terror she lived through. That is until a series of fan letters arrive. And not just from any fan, but one who sounds a lot like her father and is determined to finish the failed job from ten years ago.

Matt Lalor has secrets of his own. A career that ended badly and one he wishes to forget. He lives his life in a remote cabin in Snow Lake where, whenever possible, he avoids people. With two notable exceptions he mostly succeeds. The first is the day he is required to rescue a twelve-year old girl. Never missing a shot he believes whole-heartedly the man is dead. The second is the day twenty-two year old Pippin drives into a snowbank on his property to turn his world upside down. She’s being hunted by a killer for a second time, and Matt refuses to let harm come to her. What he doesn’t expect is for the fearless and sassy beautiful young woman to capture his heart in the process.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lawna Mackie was born in Jasper, Alberta. After finishing high school and post secondary she moved to Calgary, Alberta, married her husband and settled in the small town of Didsbury, Alberta.

Lawna would tell you that a lot of her creativity comes from her mother, who could design and build, just about anything. Her mother never lacked the talent for hand-making toys. “She always amazed me. My brother and I were never bored because she made us flutes, toy cars, and even parallel bars in the trees,” she explains.

Her other creative inspiration comes from her husband Jeff, and the many adventures they have had. It was on one particular trip to British Columbia, when she stopped at the Enchanted Forrest that the fairy tale world called to her to write a story.

Along with the love she has for her husband and family, is the deep admiration and compassion she has for animals. “They bring so much joy and inspiration to my life I don’t know how I would ever live without them,” she says. Alaskan Malamutes are near and dear to her heart. With one Malamute, one Bichon Shih Tzu, one farm cat and a Bengal, her house is never quiet.

Lawna writes contemporary romance and paranormals. One fan writes, “Lawna’s books are well-written and are impossibly good! The scenes are unexpected and very creative. I highly recommend her books!”

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MY LAWNA MACKIE REVIEWS

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Precious Gems – Crushed Ruby by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

Posted on April 23, 2020 by fundinmental

Crushed Ruby by Jane Blythe is Book II in the Broken Gem romantic suspense series. Each story is about one of the ‘broken’ sisters and it may even break your heart too.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Ruby and her four sisters had been sold to sex traffickers…by their parents. I can only imagine the terror and sense of betrayal they felt, knowing no one would be looking for them.

She was not a virgin, so there were no hands off signs on her and the kidnappers took advantage of that. She was a sex object. On call. Anything goes. She can’t say no. How many times can she let her mind go before she would never be able to get it back.

It had been four years and it still felt like yesterday when she would hang out with her friends doing things seventeen year old teens do. She especially missed her twin. She felt used up at 22. She didn’t care any more. No friends, no family. She’s done.

Four years…a chance at escape appears….and she takes it.

Seven years later and Sapphire, her sister is getting married. Even though one of them is still missing, Emerald, Ruby feels hopeful, though the biggest part of her life is lost in books, shelf after shelf, floor to ceiling books.

This took a twist I didn’t see coming. Jane Blythe is great at book surprises.

A Skull. A Black Cat. A Witch. A Ghost.

Judah and Zeb hadn’t been partners for long, but they clicked, working together seamlessly. The case they are working now is urgent, but will become more personal as the days pass and Judah will be more drawn to Ruby.

Ruby is still a prisoner…in her own mind. Will she be able to allow him entrance? Suicide calls to her. Will she ever be normal? She feels tainted, poisoned, unworthy. Ruby has no idea how strong she really is and when the time comes, will she be able to save herself?

I love when Ruby was reading, looking for a plot twist, because I was too. And I got it.

Jane Blythe writes some of the most suspense, nail biting, mind twisting romantic suspense novels and I am always eager to grab the next one. She doesn’t fail to give me more than I am expecting, and characters that I grow to love and worry and fret over.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Crushed Ruby by Jane Blythe.

GOODREADS BLURB

Betrayed. Sold. Tortured. Now she’s fighting to rebuild her life.

Ruby Hatcher escaped human traffickers, and she has her life back, but a nagging voice at the back of her mind keeps telling her the world would be a better place without her in it. When a home invasion throws her together with Detective Judah Willow, she learns that she’s not as alone as she thought.

Judah wants to ask Ruby out, but he knows about her traumatic past and won’t push her into doing something she isn’t ready for. But when Ruby gets mixed up in his latest case, he is determined not only to keep her safe but also to prove to her that not all men treat women like property. Earning her trust and her heart will push him to confront his own turbulent past, but if it helps Ruby, it’s worth it.

↝ Trigger warning – mature content, issues of sexual assault/abuse, violence ↜

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

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

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

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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Giveaway – Flight Risk by Cara Putman @cara_putman @partnersincr1me

Posted on April 10, 2020 by fundinmental

Flight Risk

by Cara Putman

on Tour April 1-30, 2020

Synopsis:

Flight Risk by Cara Putman

Bestselling author Cara Putman returns with a romantic legal thriller that will challenge the assumptions of truth tellers everywhere.

Savannah Daniels has worked hard to build her law practice, to surround herself with good friends, and to be the loyal aunt her troubled niece can always count on. But since her ex-husband’s betrayal, she has trouble trusting anyone.

Jett Glover’s father committed suicide over a false newspaper report that ruined his reputation. Now a fierce champion of truth, Jett is writing the story of his journalism career—an international sex-trafficking exposé that will bring down a celebrity baseball player and the men closest to him, including Savannah’s ex-husband.

When Jett’s story breaks, tragedy ensues. Then a commercial airline crashes, and one of Savannah’s clients is implicated in the crash. Men connected to the scandal, including her ex, begin to die amid mysterious circumstances, and Savannah’s niece becomes an unwitting target.

Against their better instincts, Jett and Savannah join ranks to sort the facts from fiction. But can Savannah trust the reporter who threw her life into chaos? And can Jett face the possibility that he’s made the biggest mistake of his life?

Book Details:

Genre: Political/Romantic Suspense
Published by: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: April 7th 2020
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 078523327X (ISBN13: 9780785233275)
Series: This is a Stand Alone Novel
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

The conversation flowed over the antipasti course and into the pasta della casa. Every bite of Savannah’s manicotti alla fiorentina was wonderful, the ricotta and spinach blending perfectly. Just when she knew she couldn’t take another bite and get anything done afterward, thanks to the food coma, a waiter came out with a slice of cheesecake. Her mouth watered as she took in the raspberries atop the homemade delight. She put a hand on her stomach and then smiled. “I hope you brought fresh forks for everyone.”

The handsome waiter flashed a bright smile. “Whatever the birthday donna wishes is my command.” He gave a slight bow and turned away. A moment later when he returned, a fist of forks at the ready, his demeanor had changed.

Emilie watched him a moment. “What’s wrong, Antonio?”

“There has been a horrible accident. It is on the TV in the office.”

“What kind of accident?” Savannah leaned toward him. “Does it involve someone you know?”

“No.” The man shook his head, and not one of his dark hairs moved. Yet his eyes were weighted with sadness and the shadow of something more. “It is a plane. It looks bad.”

“Oh no.” The memory of a plane careening by as she looked out a courtroom window in downtown Washington, DC, years earlier flashed through her mind. Savannah fought a shudder as she withdrew a credit card from her phone case and placed it on the bill, only for Hayden to slide it back to her and replace it with her own.

“Thank you.”

Please let this be a terrible accident and not the beginning of another 9/11.

Jaime’s head was bowed over her phone as she clicked the screen. “Looks like an isolated crash.”

All Savannah could think was that Jaime should add so far to her sentence. “That’s what we all thought on 9/11 too.”

Then a second plane careened into the Twin Towers. She saw the plane that hit the Pentagon, and a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania, killing one of her fellow law students. She cleared her throat and stood, motioning the gals to join her.

“Let’s get back to work and see what we can learn.”

As they left her favorite restaurant, her phone buzzed and she paused to pull it out of her pocket. She glanced at the text message on the screen and her blood froze.

911. From Addy. Their emergency code.

***

Author Bio:

Cara Putman

Cara Putman is the author of more than twenty-five legal thrillers, historical romances, and romantic suspense novels. She has won or been a finalist for honors including the ACFW Book of the Year and the Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Cara graduated high school at sixteen, college at twenty, completed her law degree at twenty-seven, and recently received her MBA. She is a practicing attorney, teaches undergraduate and graduate law courses at a Big Ten business school, and is a homeschooling mom of four. She lives with her husband and children in Indiana.

Visit her at:
CaraPutman.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, Twitter – @Cara_Putman, & Facebook – Cara.Putman!

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

Enter To Win!!!!:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Cara Putman and Thomas Nelson. There will be 2 winners. Each winner will receive a set of three (3) print copies by Cara Putman. The giveaway begins on April 1, 2020 and runs through May 2, 2020. Open to U.S. addresses only. Void where prohibited.

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Out of the Darkness by Jane Blythe and Amanda Siegrist @jblytheauthor @amanda_siegrist

Posted on March 24, 2020 by fundinmental

I am a huge fan of Jane Blythe and Amanda Siegrist. I loved the first book in the series, Drowning in You, so to continue on and read about Miles and Jade is a no brainer.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Jade lives in a friendly neighborhood, so when Miles asked her over for pizza and a movie she jumped on it. She is a cop, working on a tough case and could use a break. She has no idea he has a huge crush on her.

Miles is a computer whiz. He is shy, a nerd, and she has doesn’t realize how much he will help when she needs it most.

HE was peeping through the window, watching his next victim. He likes Charlie a lot and thinks about not hurting her…but that won’t stop him.

As Jade and her partner, Carter, begin investigating Charlie’s disappearance, she felt sure it was the serial killer they were looking for. There had been three women found in the park and she was afraid Charlie would be the fourth.

The title is appropriate, because Jade is terrified of the dark. At times her fear paralyzes her, putting her in danger because of her inability to act.

We have plenty of suspects and as we begin to eliminate them, one by one. The clock is ticking. Will they catch him before he kills again? The suspense is building, because I do know what comes next. At least, I think I do. And it’s not good.

We all know Jade and Miles will hook up, so to say the romance is a slow burn works. Have you ever looked at someone and, all of a sudden, saw them in a completely different way, like they’re not the same person you always knew? That’s Jade.

When I hear a noise at Miles door…

Each book introduces us to a new couple that will face danger and fall in love and are able to stand alone. Out of Darkness contains all I need for a horrible mystery to be solved with enough danger to fill me with suspense and characters that will enthrall me to the very end.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Out of the Darkness by Jane Blythe & Amanda Siegrist.

GOODREADS BLURB

Don’t turn out the lights. Anything can hide in the dark.

Some childhood fears follow you into adulthood. Detective Jade Hawkins is smart, reliable, and successful at her job. At least that’s what she’d like everyone to believe, but, in reality, she leaves a tiny piece of herself with every victim of every case she works. She’s starting to wonder whether one day she will run out of pieces of herself to give, but when a case has her needing the expertise of a friend, she may realize that what she’s been searching for could have been right in front of her all along.

Miles Thomas isn’t shy to admit he’s an expert in computers. Women, on the other hand—that’s an entirely different story. When his friend Jade asks for help in her latest murder case dissecting the victim’s computer, he doesn’t hesitate. He loves computers; they’re his forte, but he also can’t deny Jade anything because he likes her way more than a friend. If only he had the nerve to tell her. He might be shy to admit his feelings, but he refuses to back down when he sees how much Jade truly needs him—no matter what he has to do.

The entire Conquering Fear Novel series: (Each book can be read as a standalone.)
Drowning in You (Book 1): Carter and Rose
Out of the Darkness (Book 2): Miles & Jade

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

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MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

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Giveaway – The Mocking Man by Leslie Georgeson @lesliegeorgeson @pumpupyourbook

Posted on March 20, 2020 by fundinmental

We’re happy to host the book blast for THE MOCKING MAN by romantic suspense author Leslie Georgeson. Leslie is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Be sure to enter on form below and good luck!

THE MOCKING MAN
By Leslie Georgeson
Romantic Suspense

THE PACT: Two friends. One pact. A dangerous plan with an elaborate deception. In a world where they must rely on each other to survive, how far will each of them go to honor the pact?
_____

The Mocking Man:

Deception.

Not a word I would have associated with myself fifteen years ago. Back then I was innocent and carefree, a teenage boy with big dreams.

Then my best friend Rafe was kidnapped, and my world fell apart. I foolishly thought I could save him.

I was wrong.

Now my entire life is a web of deceit. My every breath tainted by lies. I don’t like what I’ve become. But it’s essential for my very survival.

My job now is to stay in the shadows and keep Rafe’s sister Isabella safe. She can’t even know I’m here.

Then danger lurks closer. Somehow, I must protect her while keeping my secret.

But I get so caught up in my own twisted game that I eventually make a terrible mistake.

Now she’s a part of the pact. And I can’t let her go.

But what kind of life can I give her if I can never be anything more than the mocking man?

***This series is a romantic suspense duet. Book 1 is Alex’s story, and Book 2 is Rafe’s story. Each is a separate romance with an HEA (and no cliffhangers). However, events from book 1 lead to events in book 2. Therefore, it is recommended that they be read in order to get the full story. These books contain strong language, adult situations, and dark subject matters. Recommended for readers ages 18 and up.***

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2TLM1S0

Mr. Wilson could be watching me right now through the video surveillance he’d mentioned.
Be very careful, Izzy. You could go to jail if you get caught.  

My boss’s words about being unethical flashed through my mind. What I was contemplating now wasn’t ethical at all. It was dishonest. Wrong.

But I needed to find out if Alex was alive. I needed to find the mocking man. And I needed to do it today. So while Mr. Wilson slept, I was going to quietly snoop while I cleaned, and see if I could find something that might give me answers.

Video surveillance be dammed. If I moved around just right, carrying my supplies and acting like I was cleaning, then he wouldn’t know I was snooping, right?

A half hour later, I’d searched through this entire side of the villa and found no evidence suggesting Alex Davies might live here. Was I wasting my time here? Was Alex truly dead?

I tiptoed back into the kitchen. Then I went around past the sunroom area and down a separate hallway, checking each room. Nothing.

The last door to my right was closed. The sun wasn’t all the way up yet, so it was still a bit dark in the hallway. As I drew nearer, it became apparent the “closed” door actually stood slightly ajar. Just a crack. As if someone had forgotten to close it all of the way.

For some reason, that small opening called to me, saying, “Come check me out. There are secrets in here.”

And I fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker.

I gravitated toward the opening, eager to see beyond, taking no heed to my inner warnings that shrieked, curiosity killed the cat, Izzy. Be careful.

Gently pressing on the door, I pushed it open.

The room was shrouded in darkness, the curtains drawn.

A sense of eeriness crept over me as I tried to make out what I was seeing.

I stumbled back, a scream erupting from my throat.

What the…crap was that?

Leslie Georgeson writes romance and suspense, sometimes with a dash of sci-fi or paranormal tossed in to make things more interesting. She is the author of the military romantic suspense series, THE DREGS, which was nominated for the 2018 TopShelf Indie Book Awards. Her other titles include the UNLIKELY HEROES series, the UNDERNEATH series, the standalone romantic mystery, NO SON OF MINE, and the newly released romantic suspense duet, THE PACT. Book one, The Mocking Man, is now available on Amazon and book two, The Honest Liar, is scheduled for an early June 2020 release. Leslie lives with her husband and daughter on a quiet country acreage in Idaho.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: http://lesliegeorgeson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lesliegeorgeson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlesliegeorgeson/

Leslie Georgeson is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Card.
This giveaway ends midnight April 10.
Winner will be contacted via email on April 11.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Giveaway – Deceived by Lisa Hughey @lisahughey @XpressoTours

Posted on February 25, 2020 by fundinmental

Deceived
Lisa Hughey
(Alias, #5)
Publication date: February 3rd 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

He’s done rescuing people. She doesn’t want to be rescued. They’re both about to be disappointed.

The next installment in the ALIAS world features disgraced partner Marsh Adams who is seeking redemption and Ayesha Brown, an up and coming artist with a huge problem. This reverse heist, bodyguard for a woman in peril interracial romance features a strong family theme.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

The door swung open with a crash. “Sorry I’m late.” A slender Black woman swept in like a tropical storm.

His first impression was color.

Bright, vibrant movement. Whirling dervish. And color.

He started at the bottom and surveyed his way up.

Worn, pale blue Converse high-tops splattered with paint. Ripped skinny jeans with splotches of paint in bold red, yellow, bright blue, even some neon green and orange. A white tunic sweater slipped off one shoulder revealing bare skin and collarbones. The nipples of her small breasts pushed against the top, boldly proclaiming her braless.

Her face was stunning: high cheekbones, regal nose, black arched brows. Striking hazel eyes shimmered with secrets and mirth, as if she had a private joke just for them.

Except everyone probably felt like that around her.

She was one of those people who oozed magnetism and sex appeal.

Just like his father, if he were honest. And that thought made him want to gag and then spew all over the old man’s office.

She had skin the color of rich Brazilian hardwood and hair a natural halo around her face. She had another splotch of paint on her bare neck, and her fingers were long and elegant and adorned with paint, as she gestured at the old men. “Problem on the metro. Was stuck on the train.”

Everything about her screamed free spirit and unrestrained joy.

“Ayesha, darling.” The judge walked toward her with open arms and embraced her. He squeezed her tightly, just a little too long. But in an odd turn of events, Marsh didn’t think his father’s touch was sexual. He seemed almost paternal.

That was weird.

“Good to see you again as well, Uncle Bobby.”

“Lovely to see you again, my dear.” His father slung his arm over the woman’s shoulder and turned her to face Marsh. “This is my son, Marsh.”

Uncle Bobby? Now Marsh was really confused.

“Marsh, I want you to help Ayesha.”

What the hell?

Ayesha Brown stopped in her tracks. Raised one eyebrow and scanned her gaze over Marsh Adams.

So this was Marsh Adams.

She’d been hearing about the prodigal son for years, but she’d never met him.

He was…not what she expected. Oh, he looked a little bit like his father, taller, thinner, with his paternity written in the austere lines of his pale white face. She tilted her head and studied the angles of his face—he had the square jaw and high forehead that emphasized his eyes, but his nose was crooked, adding interest to the otherwise perfect lines. Peripherally she noted his clothes, appreciating the suit porn.

Pinstripes. Tie. Shiny shoes. Stuffy. Tightly wound. Buttoned up. But that nose didn’t fit with the rest of his appearance.

Since she knew how much heartache he had caused his father, she nodded once at him and stuffed her hands in her pockets. A clear rejection of cultural normative standards. She wasn’t about to shake his hand.

Author Bio:

USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa Hughey has been writing romance since the fourth grade, which was also about the time she began her love affair with spies. Harriet and Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys later gave way to James Bond and Lara Croft and Jason Bourne.

Exploring the complex nature of a profession that requires subterfuge and lies fascinates her. She loves combining her two passions into fiction. As evidenced by her Black Cipher Files series.

Archangel Rafe was her first foray into the paranormal but after spending time in the Angelic Realm, it won’t be her last. At their heart, the Seven novels are about the dynamics of family relationships. But the really hot Archangels don’t hurt.

And recently she’s been immersed in the Stone Family novellas, four stories about a blended family of brothers and sister who have a lot more in common than they realize. But of course she couldn’t just write about family and romance. There are complex plots, bad guys, and suspense too.

Lisa loves to hear from readers and has various places you can connect with her, although, shh, Twitter is her favorite.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
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New Release – Cracked Sapphire by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

Posted on February 7, 2020 by fundinmental

Cracked Sapphire, Book I in the Broken Gem series, is Jane Blythe’s newest release, fresh off the press. She is an amazing author and never ceases to give me hours of reading enjoyment and book surprises. I can hardly wait for the next one.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Every time I open a Jane Blythe book, I do so with high expectations and she did not let me down in her newest release, Cracked Sapphire. The book is filled with triggers that many people will want to avoid, but NOT ME! I want to walk the dark side. I want to be disgusted and outraged…and I am. WOW. Jane can sure deliver the shock factor!

I have more than a full page of notes and I know I can’t share all my thoughts, so what do I do, other than encourage you to walk the dark side with me and find out for yourself.

Amelia…I felt something was coming, but not that. Truly frightening when I believe it can be all too true. Jane Blythe has a wonderful ability to weave ‘it can really happen’ with her fiction.

Jane’s character descriptions make them easy to visualize, bringing them to life…or in some case, death.

Now, let’s talk about the series character’s names. They are all precious gems, like the characters themselves. They have been put through a horrendous experience with human traffickers, but they are determined to have a ‘normal’ life. How they were saved was the first of many book surprises.

“I like you,” he drawled. “I like the strong ones; they always have a better chance of surviving.” What the hell does that mean? I have a feeling a twist is coming.

Sapphire has made it her mission in life to catch as many criminals as possible. She devotes her life to it. The only friends she has is her sisters. She keeps tight control of her emotions, feeling she has to be strong for them. Her life is her sisters, catching the bad guy, and then…death. No marriage. No children. But, that’s okay, until…

She doesn’t always play well with others, and definitely has no respect for shrinks. She sees Dr Gideon Barlow as a necessary evil, when he is assigned to work the serial killer case with her. Dr Barlow does like a challenge and he knows Sapphire will be a big one, considering he is immediately attracted to her.

Jane never ceases to amaze me with the depth of depravity her villains will go to to satisfy their itch. It’s not surprising that this villain is not a people person. The suspense level rises as he slips through their fingers. They had him, but…well, I can’t tell you what happens. And that makes their case even harder to solve, because, now he knows, they are hot on his heels.

I loved watching Sapphire grown and change, quit taking the blame for everything that happens, letting the ‘normal’ be a possibility.

Romantic suspense has a push/pull, give/take wrapped up in miscommunication. But, Jane Blythe has written a unique take on the issue of keeping the suspense alive, the problems coming in an original way. I didn’t find myself saying, “well, I knew that was coming.” She didn’t prolong the agony by creating the romance conflict we are all so familiar with and I LOVE IT! Kudos for handling the romance in such an awesome way!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Cracked Sapphire by Jane Blythe.

GOODREADS BLURB

Betrayed. Sold. Tortured. Now she’s fighting to rebuild her life.

Detective Sapphire Hatcher was sold to human traffickers when she was sixteen. She was lucky. She was rescued, and now she has dedicated her life to saving others. When a criminal psychiatrist is brought in to work alongside her, she tries to ignore the way he makes her feel, but he won’t let her.

Gideon Barlow travels the country working with police departments on the most depraved of cases. When he meets Sapphire, the attraction is instantaneous, but if he can’t help her realize that there is more to life than her job, she might end up losing not just her chance at happiness but her life as well.

↝ Trigger warning – mature content, issues of sexual assault/abuse, violence ↜

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

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Giveaway – Blown Away by Charlene Johnson @shadowmoonplace @SDSXXTours

Posted on February 2, 2020 by fundinmental

Blown Away

The Crimes of Passion Series Book 2

by Charlene Johnson

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Zack Daniels grew up in a rundown apartment complex off the Las Vegas Strip. At an early age, he learned to protect and support his mother and sister with determination and grit. After his sister is raped by the son of a local Russian mobster and commits suicide, he joins the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police to seek justice for her and to protect the public.

When a high-profile executive is murdered in his best friend’s hotel, Zack is assigned to track down the killer. The sole witness to the murder is a beautiful high-priced escort. He must let go of his vendetta against his sister’s rapist to work the case.

Sonnet Banks goes to the wrong hotel room and witnesses a murder. She is stunned. She knows the killer. He’s someone from her past. Someone she hoped to never see again.

During her police interview, Sonnet tells Zack she doesn’t recognize the killer, but Zack is convinced she’s lying. Zack needs the lovely, evasive woman to tell him what she knows and is willing to use seduction to get it. Yet, was it still seduction when all he could do was think about her?

Zack Daniels is so hot he makes Sonnet’s knees weak. He checks every box for her. Every box. But even if he wasn’t her protector, she can’t risk getting close to him or anyone. And she can’t tell him the truth.

After a bold attempt on Sonnet’s life, Zack enlists the help of two close friends and someone completely unexpected to protect her. The countdown to an all-out war looms before them. Would they all survive? Time was running out.

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Charlene is a Waynesburg, Pennsylvania native. She went to Waynesburg High School and graduated Cum Laude from Waynesburg College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. Currently lives in Sacramento, California where she spent the last 33 years working at Northrop Grumman.

Books have always been her passion. She started reading at an early age and progressed to full-length books by age nine. The first supernatural book series she read was Dark Shadows, and it sparked her interest in all things paranormal, with a spicy touch of romance mixed in for good measure. She also started writing poetry in grade school and continues to do so today.

Being an avid reader, the consummate daydreamer and an incurable romantic with a Cinderella complex, she started creating her own characters and storylines because she realized she had her own stories to tell.

She is married and has a son, a daughter, and four beautiful grandchildren.

Besides reading and writing, she also enjoys photography, travel, music, and great movies.

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Felt Like The First Time – Forgotten by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

Posted on January 15, 2020 by fundinmental

Jane Blythe has been entertaining me with her stories for some time now, and Forgotten did not let me down. Even though I knew a lot of what would happen from previous novels, it still felt like the first time. Glad I put some distance in between books.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

OMG! OMG! OMG! JANE! JANE! JANE! Even though I knew a lot of what would happen because I read the previous novels, it still felt like the first time and you blew me away.

I love these characters and it is so wonderful being back with them again. They are all flawed in their own ways, but I would still want them by my side in a clutch situation. Jane has put them through hell…repeatedly…and does not give them a break in Forgotten.

Their past comes back to haunt them, over and over again. Secrets will be exposed…and trouble, which is Tessa’s middle name, will find them.

Tessa and Parker’s inability to get past their own insecurities and trust in each other causes a separation they may never be able to overcome. Do we ever really know a person? People are not always what they seem.

Jane has brought all the events in the previous books into play and wraps it up in a NOT pretty package. She has no trouble killing off her characters and the loss of this one was gut wrenching. Even though I knew it was going to happen, I still had all the feels I did the first time around, maybe even more.

The villains are monstrous, but I understand how they got that way. I see their motivation, empathize with their pain, but they know right from wrong and there can be no forgiveness.

It broke my heart when Maisy…and then Jane finished me off with… Tears were rolling down my face as….I couldn’t hold them back. Sometimes knowing what’s coming doesn’t change anything.

You only get one shot at life and you had to make it count. We’re all responsible for our own choices.”

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Forgotten by Jane Blythe.

GOODREADS BLURB

Sometimes love can’t conquer all.

With his relationship to wife Tessa strained almost to the point of breaking, Detective Parker Bell finds himself once again becoming too invested in his latest case, that of a young woman who was kidnapped and is suffering from amnesia. As he becomes intrigued by and attracted to the beautiful and mysterious young woman he names Hope his friends and family feel that he is losing his objectivity, and risking everything he cares about in the process.

Meanwhile Tessa is working to battle her demons and finally become the woman who can give her husband what he needs. When Parker pulls away from her, intent on helping his newest project, Tessa must figure out what secrets Hope is hiding before it’s too late. Unfortunately Hope’s secrets will end up costing someone their life.

↝ Trigger warning – themes of sexual assault ↜

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Second Chance Romance Christmas Victim by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

Posted on December 2, 2019 by fundinmental

Jane Blythe is a fabulous author that has given me hours of reading pleasure, so I am glad to be back in the ~~saddle~~ series again with Christmas Victim and Savannah and Jett.

Christmas Victim by Jane Blythe was released on 12.1.19, just in time for the holidays.

Christmas Victim (Christmas Romantic Suspense, #3)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love a series where each story is complete, but recurring characters make appearances, refusing to stay by the sidelines, and Christmas Victim by Jane Blythe is one of those stories. This time we will get the low down on Savannah and Jett and find out if their second chance romance will work out.

Savannah had worked for the FBI, but injuries suffered in the line of duty have made it impossible for her to continue. Now, her job as a crime scene technician may be in jeopardy. Savannah is afraid to try to walk again, afraid to know if physical therapy will work or will she be stuck the wheelchair forever. I like how Jane Blythe dealt with her fears and insecurities. It makes it easier to understand why some people are afraid to try and move forward, paralyzed with fear. It takes a good support team and Savannah’s struggle reads like a true story of those stuggles. At times, I wanted to tell Savannah to get over herself, but who am I to judge what is right for her. I have never ‘walked’ in her shoes. Savannah is like a cat and I wonder how many lives she has left.

Savannah’s cat, Sequin (because of her spots that looked like sequins), refused to use a little box and just had to go out…at night. Okay, at night, in a wheelchair without any protection or even her cell phone, I know something bad is coming her way…but, she hears shots fired at her new neighbor’s house.

Finn, a doctor, and Chloe, am FBI agent, had worked through their problems and were now happily married with a little one on the way. She was going to spend the night with Savannah…but they found her unconscious on the ground suffering a head injury and hypothermia. Hasn’t Savannah been through enough JANE? An author after my own heart. She puts her characters through hell…repeatedly. LOL

Violet is missing and Jett has returned to work the case. And the dance of romance begins…along with the mystery. He was the one responsible for telling her to move there. He feels it is his responsibility to get her back. Jett knows who took her, the stalker she was hiding from, but the stalkers knows all the ins and outs to staying off the radar and has been impossible to locate. He and Jett have a connection and this has become the villain’s favorite game to play. He won’t go down easy.

Savannah had sent Jett away. She felt he had let her down and she could not count on him when the chips were down. This time…well, he wants her back and won’t take no for an answer.

Violet will go through hell, beatings, torture, sexual assault, but she never quits. He believes she belongs to him and will never let her go. What is the meaning of love?

When he punched her, it was only out of love. A love he wanted her to reciprocate. A love he WOULD get her to reciprocate.

Be careful if you do something to make him angry. He came from a brutal, disgusting, appalling despicable, depraved home, but he had made something of himself…or did he? Was he just good at hiding who he really was. I love stories that delve into the mind of monsters.

WOW. I am stunned, not sure what I think. HE took Jane Blythe to a really dark place and I love getting into his mind, trying to see what makes him tick, his thoughts and feelings. There were a couple of things that bothered me, but were easy to overlook. It allowed the story to continue and gave it that little twist that lets us know, monsters don’t go down easy.

Another wild ride that does NOT make for light Christmas reading, but if you are looking for the boogie man that comes out at night, this may just work for you. LOL This is the third book in the series of recurring characters, but each story is told in its entirety.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Christmas Victim by Jane Blythe.

GOODREADS BLURB

He broke her heart when he wasn’t there for her when she needed him the most.

FBI Agent Jett Crane is hunting his ex-partner who has gone off the rails. When his one time girlfriend Savannah Watson becomes an accidental casualty, he is both thrilled to see her again, and terrified that she might now become a target of the man he is searching for.

Savannah on the other hand is not the least bit pleased at the prospect of seeing Jett again. He let her down, and broke both her heart and her trust, and she has no interest in rekindling old feelings. Despite her determination to ignore his attempts to win her back and in spite of the pain he caused her, being around him softens the hard wall she had built around her heart. But with a dangerous man circling them will it all be too late for Jett and Savannah to once again find happiness with each other?

↝ Trigger warning – themes of sexual assault ↜

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS