Giveaway – Super Bad by Kai Strand

Posted on August 20, 2015 by fundinmental

Super Bad by Kai Strand

The world is in chaos. Violence and thievery reign. And with the supers still balanced, it’s only getting worse. Without good versus evil, the supers care less and less. In order to restore purpose, the world needs its super heroes and its super villains, but the one who balanced them in the first place is missing.

Sandra’s concern over finding her brother, Jeff, isn’t her only problem. Her pathetic excuse for super powers has left her needing a new ankle. And though she’s still very much committed to her boyfriend, Source, she’s growing unreasonably attracted to Set, the boy who double crossed Jeff by stealing his girlfriend.

When Sandra is taken and held as bait by some kids who want to unbalance the super world, it becomes the inciting event that changes things for supers everywhere and forces them to answer the question, “Hero or villain?”

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Excerpt

The classroom door opened and Sandra glanced toward it, along with the thirty other kids in the room. She snickered and raised her eyebrows at Lexa when a young man wearing a Hermes costume, complete with wings fluttering on his heels, floated in.

“I’m not gonna lie,” Lexa leaned over to whisper. “I hope a draft lifts his skirt so we can see what’s underneath.”

Sandra giggled. “My guess is bun huggers. Gold lame to match his shiny winged cap.”

Lexa waggled her eyebrows. “Shiny gold buns. I like.”

The teacher frowned at the young man. “Can I help you?”

“I have a delivery for Sandra Tohler.”

Sandra gulped. This couldn’t be anything besides embarrassing. A tidal wave of heads turned toward her causing her cheeks to flush with heat.

Seeing where everyone’s attention settled, the Hermes guy floated between the rows of desks and came to rest near hers. “Sandra Tohler?”

Reluctantly, she nodded.

He cleared his throat before delivering a soliloquy in a clear, resonating voice that Sandra was sure the students in classrooms across campus would hear.

“Sandra, oh Sandra, my lovely, stormy vixen, hear my humble plea. Your essence has absorbed into my every thought and now I wonder how I will sit for my exams. Will I answer essay questions by describing the intense sable color of your hair, or the enticing moss of your eyes that makes me imagine us lying in each others arms in a fairy forest?”

Sandra’s forehead hit her desk with a loud thunk, her voice a mumble against the surface. “Please stop. Go away.”

But the Hermes guy continued in his orator’s voice. “I’ve relived our kiss uncountable times. Your lips were velvet soft, but demanding.”

A chorus of “Ooo,” erupted through the room.

Praise for the Book
I have enjoyed every minute I’ve spent with the characters of the Super Villain Academy world, but I have to say that this is my favorite book of the series. There’s action, romance, and a show down I didn’t see coming. –Mary Waibel, author

This is a great series and I am disappointed that it’s over. I will miss these characters. I may just have to reread the three books again! – Amazon customer

[Y]ou’re in for an exciting ride with Jeff and the other superheroes. Told from different point of view characters you get to see inside the heads of the major players. Sometimes that’s a bit scary. –Beverly McClure, author

Author Kai Strand
When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and a short story blog, Lightning Quick Reads, Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Blog

Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/6/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Cover Reveal & Giveaway – Silenced in the Surf by Kate Dyer-Seeley

Posted on August 20, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to the cover reveal for Silenced in the Surf by Kate Dyer-Seeley! This is book three in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series and releases March 29th, 2016.

About the Book:

Covering a windsurfing competition should have been a breeze for reporter Meg Reed, but with a killer in the curl, she’s headed for rough waters…

Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge is the windsurfing capital of the world, and Meg is stoked to cover the King of the Hook event for Portland’s Northwest Extreme magazine. Before the competition gets under way, Meg has a chance to try some windsurfing on her own. But when the current sweeps her downriver, she spots a body snagged on the rocks. The dead man is Justin Cruise, aka Cruise Control, a celebrity windsurfer and not exactly a nice guy. It’s soon clear his death was no accident, and Cruise had no shortage of enemies. As Meg dives right in to discover who wiped out the windsurfer, she’ll need to keep her balance–or she too may get blown away.

Praise For Scene Of The Climb

“A splendid overview of the greater Portland and Columbia River Gorge region, perfect for travel buffs. Her protagonist shows promise with her determined attitude and moxie.” –Library Journal

“A fun, terrific adventure.” —Suspense Magazine

Includes Adventure Guides!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

—————————————————————-

Don’t miss out on the first two books, Scene of the Climb and Slayed on the Slopes!

About the Author:

Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing. The first book in the series, Scene of the Climb, features the rugged landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge and a young journalist who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme.

Her work has appeared in a variety of regional and international publications including: The Columbian, The Vancouver Voice, Seattle Backpacker, Portland Family Magazine, and Climbing Magazine.

Kate lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

Signed copies of Scene of the Climb and Slayed on the Slopes, Windsurfing Barbie kit, Pink inflatable pool float, Clif bars, Burt’s Bees Pink Grapefruit lip balm, Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate bar with raspberry

US only

Ends August 27th

Prizing provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Who Took Out The Trash? Dead in a Dumpster by B L Blair

Posted on August 19, 2015 by fundinmental

Dead in a Dumpster

by B.L. Blair

Series: Leah Norwood Mystery, #1

Genre: Mystery/RomanceCover Designer: Nicole Spence/Cover Shot Creations

Release Date: September 23, 2014

When Leah Norwood finds the body of Isabel Meeks in the dumpster behind her store, she can’t believe the police consider her a suspect. Sure, she didn’t liked Isabel, but then again, neither did anyone else. Isabel had a condescending attitude and a bad reputation. As manager of the antique store, Patina, she had made a lot of enemies.

There is Patina’s assistant manager, the handsome and charming Trent. Isabel was blackmailing him. There is Patina’s owner, the aloof and influential Anthony Thorpe. Isabel was smuggling drugs through his store. And there is the entire drug dealing Cantono family. Isabel had lost a box containing heroin from one of their shipments. That is just to name a few and didn’t even include the stranger who was seen arguing with Isabel just hours before her death.

The police have too many suspects and too many soft alibis. Leah needs to prove to the sexy new chief of police that she had nothing to do with Isabel’s death.

Leah loves a good mystery. Can she find the killer before the police arrest her for murder?

We were standing by the dumpster and trying not to look at Isabel. I don’t think Keith had ever seen a dead body either because the look on his face made me think he wanted to follow in my footsteps – scream, run into the nearest building, and lose his lunch. But the kid was made of sterner stuff. My estimation of him rose as he held his ground and questioned me.

“What were you doing out here?” he asked. Okay, so my estimation of him fell a little. I glanced at the trash bags sitting at our feet and tried to keep my voice even as I answered.

“I was taking out the trash.” I don’t think I succeeded as he looked at the trash and then flushed. Now I felt bad, like I had kicked a puppy.

“So did you …”

“Cisneros.” A deep, smoky voice cut through the night. Both of us jumped and then turned toward the voice. Keith’s car was parked nearby, and his front lights were illuminating the vicinity around the dumpster. With the lights from the nearby stores, it was a well-lit area. From the shadows, a figure emerged. If I had any nerves left, I might have been a little anxious. The man walking toward us moved like a stalking panther. Smooth, long strides that ate up the space.

He was breathtaking. Not gorgeous or handsome but there was a power about him that drew the eye. He wasn’t exceptionally tall, standing about five eleven, but his shoulders were broad and his hips narrow. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on his lean, hard body. Dark hair cut short in a military style, covered his head. His face was attractive in a timeless way. Chiseled and clean-shaven but with just a hint of a five o’clock shadow. He had a small indentation on the right side of his mouth that was trying very hard to be a dimple. It was as if he was willing it not to appear with the strength of his personality alone. He had intense green eyes that swept over me briefly before settling on Keith. He was dressed casually in blue jeans, a dark t-shirt, and a navy sportcoat. He had to be freezing, but it certainly didn’t show.

He looked familiar, but I knew we had never met. I would have remembered him. He wasn’t the type of man you would ever forget. I searched my brain for a name to go with the face but came up empty. He stopped between us and turned to Keith. “What have we got?”

The kid stood straighter. I guess the man was his supervisor. Although he didn’t look much older than I did, his physical presence alone commanded authority. Keith answered quickly while consulting his notes. “Victim identified as Isabel Meeks. Gunshot wound to the chest, close range.”

The man looked at Isabel still sitting where I found her. He leaned closer. “Looks like a Glock 9mm.”

I was impressed. He was able to identify the type of gun by looking at the body. I owned a Glock and also knew what type of bullet hole it made, but I would have never been able to tell by looking at Isabel. Keith nodded and then looked back at his notes. “She was found about seven fifty p.m. by Ms. Norwood.”

Keith pointed to me, and the man turned his eyes to mine. His gaze swept down my body and back up. He then dismissed me without a second glance before turning back to the rookie. “Has the ME been called?”

Now, I know that I am not the most attractive person in the world. I am what most people would call average. Average height, average weight, average looks, but being dismissed so completely really pissed me off. I was cold, wet, tired, and quite frankly, still a little queasy. And it had been a really bad day. The two men were in deep conversation about the medical examiner when I interrupted.

“Can I leave now?”

Both of them turned toward me. Keith seemed a little surprised that I was still there. I guess he had forgotten about me. The other man just seemed irritated that I had interrupted him.

“You found the body?” he asked and then continued when I nodded, “We’ll need to ask you some questions.”

Keith had been asking me questions. My nerves were shot and my temper short. I am not usually such a bitch, but I had enough of standing out in the freezing rain. I probably shouldn’t have mouthed off to a police officer, but I figured my day couldn’t get any worse. I summoned up my inner diva, gave him my most haughty look, and asked in a snooty tone. “And you are?”

He stared at me a minute, his eyes hard and unyielding. He raised his eyebrows just a notch, pulled out a badge, and held it toward me. “Chief of Police Alexander Griggs.”

Well, damn, my day just got worse.

CreateSpace

B. L. Blair writes simple and sweet romance and mystery/romance stories. Like most authors, she has been writing most of her life and has dozens of books started. She just needs the time to finish them.

She is the author of the Holton Romance Series and the Leah Norwood Mysteries. She enjoys reading books, writing books, and traveling wherever and as often as time and money allows. She is currently working on her latest book set in Texas, where she lives with her family.

Leah Norwood Blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Cover Reveal & Giveaway – Sword by Realm Lovejoy

Posted on August 19, 2015 by fundinmental

Today I’m excited to share the cover reveal for SWORD by Realm Lovejoy! SWORD is the sequel to HENGE and is a part of the Le Fay Series. It is a young adult fantasy and releases November 11, 2015.

HENGE (Le Fay Series Book 1) is on sale for only .99 cents to celebrate the cover reveal, grab a copy while it’s cheap!Also, a limited edition Le Fay Series T-Shirt is available on Mister Dressup! The illustration is from HENGE (Le Fay Series) and features Morgan le Fay in front of Camelot. The T-shirt will be on sale for a month only so grab one while it lasts!

About SWORD:

Evil lurks. Camelot sits, vulnerable. The fate of a future king hangs in the balance.

After surviving a string of brutal trials, sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is an official member of Camelot. But beneath its shining façade, Camelot is a crumbling government where loyalties are divided.

Nobody believes Morgan’s suspicions that enemies are closing in. Prince Arthur, a boy more interested in playing video games than ruling, will not listen to her, and neither will Lancelot, Camelot’s head of security. Even Morgan’s friend Merlin refuses to take action.

When Morgan discovers that someone is plotting to assassinate the future king, she must take her destiny—and his—into her own hands. With the sword Excalibur beckoning in the distance, Morgan embarks on a seemingly impossible mission. And before her journey ends, everyone will know what she is truly capable of . . .

In this second book in the LE FAY series, author Realm Lovejoy takes readers deep into the heart of a splintering Camelot.

Don’t miss out on book one, HENGE, available for only .99 cents from 8/19-8/22!

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author:

Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry. CLAN is her first book. Her second book is HENGE (Le Fay Series).

Website; | Twitter; | Facebook

;

To be eligible for a review copy of SWORD, be sure to read HENGE and check out the review policy set by the author.

GIVEAWAY:

$10 Amazon giftcard, 6 HENGE (Le Fay Series Book 1) ebooks (international)

Ends Aug. 30th

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Teaser Tuesday #47 – A Killer Past by Maris Soule

Posted on August 18, 2015 by fundinmental

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of adailyrhythm.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 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!

~~~~~~

A Killer Past by Maris Soule

Can we run from the past? I don’t think so.

Add me to Goodreads now.

TEASER

“He’…How to explain? ‘I think he threatened me.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me to stop checking into Mary Harrington’s background. Said if I didn’t my actions could have consequences.”

(57% on Kindle)

SYNOPSIS

When two gang members choose Mary Harrington as their target, the quiet widow has a secret to share of her own

Most people in the town of Rivershore, Michigan view Mary Harrington as a quiet widow whose only oddity is that she spends a lot of time at the gym. Her son thinks it’s time for her to move into a retirement home. Two gang members think she’ll be an easy target. No one in Rivershore knows what Mary did in her younger years—really did—but the two gang members discover they’ve underestimated their victim . . . and Mary fears reverting to old habits may have jeopardized her future.

Cover linked to Amazon. I am an affiliate.

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

What are you reading?

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

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

Posted on August 17, 2015 by fundinmental

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

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

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

Add me to Goodreads now.

Big Mojo by Jack Getze

Down & Out Books

Cover: J J Lindroos

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

ABOUT JACK GETZE

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

Author Links: Blog / Website / Goodreads

My review for Big Numbers by Jack Getz

My review for Big Money by Jack Getz

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

.

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads.

Sherry’s Shelves #48 – Books & Fun

Posted on August 16, 2015 by fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves is my weekly update for August 9 – August 15, 2015.

Happy to have you join me for some books & fun.

Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Bought, Borrowed & Bagged is hosted by TalkSupe

**all images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**

**The small amount helps keep my blog running**

~~~

Busy, busy, busy. How about you? Anything new and fun you would like to share?

Something bugging you? Feel free to vent.

~~~

FREE BOOKS

Still free at time of posting, but check for the “0”.

The Spookshow by Tim McGregor

I found this through Booklover’s Heaven.

Accompanying two friends on a tour of the infamous Murder House, reluctant psychic Billie Culpepper uncovers a secret that about her tragic family history.

~~~

NEW to fundinmental

Easy Innocence (Georgia Davis, #1)

Shiftless

~~~

FOR REVIEW

I am behind on reviews, so I told myself, “Self, NO!”

~~~

WINNINGS

Been writing a lot, so I haven’t entered many giveaways. No worries, bloggers, I will be visiting you real soon.

Hope you had some goodies come your way. 😀

~~~

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #47 – Books & Fun

Scavenger Hunt for Samantha and Sara’s hot new Romances

Can you hear…the Call of the Sea by Rebecca Hart

Teaser Tuesday #46 – Mortal Musings by Aria Glazki

Chilling Must Read Thriller – Perfectly Twisted by Kristine Mason

Giveaway – Dragon’s Future by @kandijwyatt

Are you a Dragonlover? Check out Dragonlove by Marc Secchia

Another Hit by Patricia Cornwell – Flesh and Blood

Friday 56 #50 & BB #26 – Books & Fun

Let’s Meet at Mack’s – In The Drink by Allyson K Abbott

Do you know someone with cancer?

New Cover and Update for A Vampire At Christmas by Anthony Renfro

~~~

THIS WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves

Giveaway – Hair of the Dog by Susan Slater

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

Winners from my giveaways

Teaser Tuesday

Super Bad by Kai Strand

Friday 56 & Book Beginnings

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

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

What have you been reading?

Have you any plans for the upcoming week? 😆

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Are you a tsu member?

I would love to keep in touch.

Let’s Meet at Mack’s – In The Drink by Allyson K Abbott

Posted on August 14, 2015 by fundinmental

Before we get started, how about preparing a nice, cool beverage, then sit back, relax and get your read on.

Murder on the Rocks by Allyson K. Abbott

MILWAUKEE RIVER ICED TEA

1 oz. vodka

1 oz. gin

1 oz. tequila

1 oz. white rum

1 oz. Triple Sec

1 oz. lemon juice

Beer

Combine all ingredients except beer in a shaker half full of ice and shake for about thirty seconds. Pour into a glass and top off with a beer of your choice.

For a mocktail version, combine 4 oz. strong black tea with 6 oz. apple cider and 1 oz. of fresh lemon juice. Pour over ice and top off with ginger ale and a maraschino cherry.

In the Drink (Mack’s Bar Mysteries Book 3)

Cozy Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Kensington (July 28, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0758280190

MY REVIEW

Suspense and mystery from the opening words. This is the third book in the series, but it did not affect my reading In The Drink in any way.

Duncan Albright is a homicide detective in Milwaukee. He is MacKenzie’s lover and they must keep their meetings secret, because of his suspension. It had been discovered that he used her on one of his cases and the higher ups didn’t like that.

MacKenzie owns a bar, left to her by her murdered father. She has synethesia – mixed up senses, sees music, hears smells… She works with her lover, Duncan, using her abilities. That she was even born is a miracle in itself. Could that mean she was meant for something great?

Her friends and bar customers formed the Capone Club to help her solve crimes. The group works as a whole. There are two mysteries going on and the lives at stake are the ones closest to Mack.

Cora and the Signoriello brothers are her closest “family”. She would trust them with the news about the evil game that was afoot, the challenge someone has issued to her.

M & M – Mack & Mal. I love both the guys. Can we keep them Allyson, pretty please? I don’t want Mack to have to choose. Mal has stolen my heart. I know Duncan is a busy cop, but so is Mal. Mal keeps Mack at arms length because he would not betray his friend, Duncan. But Mack is very hard to resist. Their attraction puts him to the ultimate test. He is chivalrous, hot. I feel bad about Duncan, but hey out of sight, out of mind.

The characters are individuals, with something of their own to contribute, whether its computers skills, connections to someone…

I am ticked off about the ending and that is all I am saying.

I love cozy mysteries, suspense and thrills. There is more going on than meets the eye at first glance. Plots, yep, more than one. Mystery, yep, plenty to go around. Suspense, yep, some of that too. Just be careful as you read In The Drink, because you may very well be caught up in the mystery, having to return in the next episode to keep up with all the wonderful characters. I know I am.

I received In The Drink by Allyson K Abbott in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Mack’s Bar and its crime-solving clientele are quickly gaining notoriety for helping solve some high-profile cases. But Mack is learning the hard way that not all press is good press…

By day, Mackenzie “Mack” Dalton is the proprietress of a popular Milwaukee watering hole. But after last call, she uses her unique cocktail of extra perceptive senses to help solve some of the city’s most grisly homicides. Now, Mack and her barstool detectives are happy to help when Tiny, one of the bar’s newest patrons, asks them to look into his sister’s murder. Though the case has gone cold, Mack’s heightened senses quickly put her on the killer’s trail. But when a throng of reporters intrigued by her talents descends on Mack’s Bar, her efforts are muddled as a real-life Moriarty begins putting her infamous skills to the test, leaving Mack feeling shaken and stirred…

* Includes drink recipes *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allyson K. Abbott is the pseudonym of a mystery and thriller writer who also works as an emergency room nurse. She lives in a small Wisconsin town with her family. Visit her at bethamos.com or Goodreads.

Purchase Links

Amazon / B&N / INDIE BOUND

Tour Participants

.
August 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

August 11 – fuonlyknew – Review, Recipe

August 12 – deal sharing aunt – Interview

August 13 – Girl with Book Lungs – Review

August 14 – fundinmental – Review, Recipe

August 15 – readalot – Review

August 16 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review

August 17 – Babs Book Bistro – Review, Recipe

August 18 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Recipe

August 19 – Jane Reads – Review, Recipe

GIVEAWAY

2 book copies, and a HobbyReads Travel Sewing Kit

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads.

Another Hit by Patricia Cornwell – Flesh and Blood

Posted on August 13, 2015 by fundinmental

Flesh and Blood

Patricia Cornwell

on Tour August 2015

Book Details

Genre: Women Sleuths | Crime | Suspense

Published by: William Morrow

Publication Date: 06/30/2015

Number of Pages: 512

ISBN: 9780062325358

Purchase Links:

MY REVIEW

I love Patricia Cornwell’s novels and there is never any need to investigate further when seeing a new release. She is on my automatic grab it list.

In the world of forensics, Scarpetta is at the top of the list. Now, we have a serial sniper leaving dead bodies up and down the east coast and she is hot on the case.

Scarpetta is a well developed and strong character. She has a Greyhound named Sock – what a cool name is that? She is the chief medical examiner of Massachusetys and also works for the Pentagon. Believes in doing the right thing sometimes involves bending the rules a bit. Kay is Dr Death, a stickler for details and take of care of business now attitude, which can rub others the wrong way.

Benton, her significant other, comes from money, but he is not a snob. He is an FBI profiler and very good at his job.

Lucy…how can I describe this dangerous dynamo. . I love this character, flaws and all. She is bold, confident and can kick your ass from here to tomorrow. She knows weapons, drives a Ferrari, owns and operates her own chopper and is a genius when it comes to computers. If you mess with her and hers, it could be deadly.

Marino, another friend of our Scarpetta’s cast of characters, had been working at CFC with her, but was lured back to the Police Department. He still assumes they are a team and Scarpetta will drop everything to help him whenever heeded. He is a bit cantankerous. I love him and his bull in a china shop attitude. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Nothing, noone stands in the way of his investigations. Kay at times feels she works for him not with him, whether making a call or cleaning his sunglasses.. I find that funny.

Does their work and stress of job create an aura of competition, turning friends into antagonists, or worse yet, enemies, working against each other, causing problems on cases they are forced to share?

Bloom is an insurance investigator. Why does he keep turning up like a bad penny? He works for an insurance company that does all they can to deny claims.

What do a man accused, but innocent, of being a terrorist, a young girl supposedly in a drowning accident, seven bright and shiny copper pennies, a ruthless insurance investigator, a 61 year old murdered woman, a dead crane operator have in common?

As usual Patricia Cornwell took me on a roller coaster ride of mystery, danger and intrigue at every turn with Flesh and Blood. She kept me on my toes with twists and turns and I am unable to put all the pieces together. I know they will fit, I just don’t know how. It doesn’t matter if I figure it out or not, I am still on pins and needles as I read to the very end.

Kay Scarpetta is not the only adventurous, do it myself kind of investigator, so is Patricia Cornwell. Be sure and read her bio, which is almost as entertaining as the book itself.

I received a copy of Flesh and Blood in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

It’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta’s birthday, and she’s about to head to Miami for a vacation with Benton Wesley, her FBI profiler husband, when she notices seven pennies on a wall behind their Cambridge house. Is this a kids’ game? If so, why are all of the coins dated 1981 and so shiny they could be newly minted? Her cellphone rings, and Detective Pete Marino tells her there’s been a homicide five minutes away. A high school music teacher has been shot with uncanny precision as he unloaded groceries from his car. No one has heard or seen a thing.

In this 22nd Scarpetta novel, the master forensic sleuth finds herself in the unsettling pursuit of a serial sniper who leaves no incriminating evidence except fragments of copper. The shots seem impossible, yet they are so perfect they cause instant death. The victims appear to have had nothing in common, and there is no pattern to indicate where the killer will strike next. First New Jersey, then Massachusetts, and then the murky depths off the coast of South Florida, where Scarpetta investigates a shipwreck, looking for answers that only she can discover and analyze. And it is there that she comes face to face with shocking evidence that implicates her techno genius niece, Lucy, Scarpetta’s own flesh and blood.

ABOUT PATRICIA CORNWELL

Patricia Cornwell is recognized as one of the world’s top bestselling crime authors with novels translated into thirty-six languages in more than 120 countries. Her novels have won numerous prestigious awards including the Edgar, the Creasey, the Anthony, the Macavity, and the Prix du Roman d’Aventure. Beyond the Scarpetta series, she has written a definitive book about Jack the Ripper, a biography, and two more fiction series. Cornwell, a licensed helicopter pilot and scuba diver, actively researches the cutting-edge forensic technologies that inform her work. She was born in Miami, grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston.

Catch Up with Patricia Cornwell:

Tour Participants:

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads.

Chilling Must Read Thriller – Perfectly Twisted by Kristine Mason

Posted on August 11, 2015 by fundinmental

Perfectly Twisted (Book 1 C.O.R.E. Above the Law) (C.O.R.E. Series) by Kristine Mason

I am a super huge fan of thrillers and Kristine Mason is at the top of her game in Perfectly Twisted, her latest chapter of the stand alone CORE series. I have read all of her books and find myself on pins and needles waiting for the next one, but first…

Check out this Perfectly Twisted cover!

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Are you curious about the snake on the cover? You should be! I LOVE it.

With each novel Kristine Mason writes, her creativity and imagination shines brighter. Perfectly Twisted is a perfect title for this romantic suspense thriller. I don’t know how Kristine produces such brilliantly written novels that should be at the top of any thriller list, but I am glad to have found her and be able to share her with you. The story is not for the faint of heart and I would highly recommend it to adult readers.

The Reverend uses his position for his own wickedly evil purposes, him and his son laugh at the gullibility of the congregation they serve. The things they do are so horrendous they defy description by me, a lowly reader. I wonder how Kristine comes up with her storylines and makes them so believable.

The Above The Law CORE group operates on the edge, keeping a low profile and dealing with situations that may cross the line. Lola, Ryan, Harrison, Vlad, Mel and Barney walk a fine line but believe in doing the right thing. It’s just sometimes the right thing requires more than the law allows. Each member is chosen for their particular expertise and function as a fine tuned instrument. They are as close as any family could be.

I love Kristine’s ability to make her characters come alive on the pages. I fall in love with her powerful, yet loving male characters. Her male protagonists are to die for and they would gladly do it for their brave and courageous women partners. Her female characters I want for my best friends.

Perfectly Twisted’s romantic couple being spotlighted are Shane and Beth. I feel for Shane who paid for a crime that never would have happened if he wasn’t in the wrong place at the wrong time. Deputy Beth Price risks her job to be with him. Little does she realize his dalliance with the law is just the tip of the iceberg.

Kristine Mason’s characters are complex. You will find that you either love them or hate them, root for them or root against them, and sometimes pray at the end some of them no longer walk the earth.

After reading Perfectly Twisted, I can’t help but wonder how many perverted and depraved sickos run around at any give time? The question in Perfectly Twisted is how many sickos are operating in the same place at the same time. Is there more than one? Is there a copycat?

The game of cat and mouse is afoot. Who will be left standing?

The sweet and sexy banter has a humorous flavor even during the horror. I never used to be much of a romance fan, but Kristine Mason is one of the amazing authors I have found that I cannot help but let the love, romance and passion wash over me while I swoon and drown in it. The sexual situations read as romance and passion more than just the physical act.

You may have played strip poker, but have you ever played strip scrabble. It is writing like this that elevates Perfectly Twisted to such a high level for me. I love a little humor with my horror.

When I finally found out who the necrophiliac was it made sense, but I am still shocked. I didn’t see it coming. Kristine goes that extra mile of creepiness! We can label this as a horror/suspense/thriller.

Mel has become one of my favorite characters. She carries a knife and knows how to use it. Need a body disposed of? A car or a boat? Just give Mel a call. When I saw Mel’s story is next I was ecstatic. I can hardly wait. Her whole persona spoke to me – she’s a real badass and I want to know her better. I wonder…

If you are a romantic suspense fan of the dark kind, Kristine Mason is an author that MUST be on your reading list and Perfectly Twisted is one of those novels that stuck with me long after reading it. I love novels with serial killers and her writing is so thought provoking that at times I forget it’s not real. I am so engrossed, that I feel a real sense of loss when the last page is read.

I received Perfectly Twisted by Kristine Mason in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

What do you get when you mix a snake-handling reverend, a necrophiliac, a cop, and an ex-con? Something perfectly twisted…

Sounds like the start of a bad joke? Not to Shane Monahan. The ex-con and newest recruit to the underground criminal investigation group, A.T.L. or Above the Law, has it bad for Collier County Deputy Beth Price. But ex-cons and cops don’t mix, especially when this particular ex-con is looking at going back to prison for his involvement with A.T.L.

All Beth wants is a fun distraction from the stress of her job and law school. She thinks she’s found that when she meets Shane during an airboat tour through the Florida Everglades. But Shane’s a felon, a man who could destroy her career as a deputy, and jeopardize her future as an attorney. She doesn’t know what to do—until dead bodies start showing up around the county.

When three abused corpses are found with snake remains inside them, the discovery brings a murderer out of retirement. The Reverend, as he calls himself, doesn’t like his kills being mimicked, especially by a man who abuses the dead—after all, the Reverend does have a reputation to uphold and a congregation to scam. Now it’s time to teach his copycat a deadly lesson…

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Google Play

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good came from writing it. I realized my passion and found a career I love.

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.

Website / Email: authorkristinemason@gmail.com / Facebook / Twitter

MY REVIEWS FOR KRISTINE MASON’S NOVELS

Shadow of Danger / Shadow of Perception / Shadow of Vengeance

Ultimate Kill / Ultimate Fear / Ultimate Prey (review coming soon)

All covers link to Amazon.

The Celeste Files of the Psychic CORE series are paranormal and supernatural novels that star Celeste, from the very first book in the CORE Shadow Trilogy, Shadow of Danger. I love the mix of psychics and ghosts, with murder and thrills. Check them out below.

Perfectly twisted is the beginning of another series, CORE Above the Law, that takes the characters even further than I thought they would go. I am LOVING it!!!

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads.