Teaser Tuesday #26 – Who’s Afraid of a Little Kitty Kat?

Posted on October 7, 2014 by fundinmental

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

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!

9 LIVES by George Moser

9 Lives is George Moser’s debut novel and it is a doozy.

Do you like kitty kats?

Well, you may think twice after reading 9 Lives.

Enjoy this fun and spooktacular REVIEW:

Who’s Afraid Of A Little Kitty Kat?

MY TEASE

(page 179 of paperback)

“Come here, kitty, kitty, kitty.”
The cat raised its head, and those pointed black ears lifted before it slowly took one step toward Shawn, one front leg crossing the other in an imaginary line. The brown tail curled back and forth while it stepped closer to Shawn. Dark black eyes were wide open when Shawn realized the one was milky white.

“That’s odd.”

SYNOPSIS

Do cats really have 9 Lives? Find out in this suspense-thrilling page-turner that will definitely keep you up all night! On a seemingly ordinary day, Michael Merlino, a successful man with a picture-perfect family, accidentally killed a stray cat. Unbeknownst to him, this mundane occurrence was to become the day he would never forget as a series of eerie and tormenting events begin to haunt him and his family. Will he solve the mystery behind these series of bizarre and horrendous happenings? Where will this all lead to? Discover the answer in this spine-tingling horror story you wouldn’t want to miss.

Nine Lives is the thrilling debut novel from George M. Moser, a captivating and quirky tale in which a chilling horror rises from the most unlikely of places. Masterfully fusing legends of Egyptian antiquity with elements of popular horror and urban myth, Moser delivers an atmospheric narrative full of dark twists and turns. Moser conjures characters of deep emotional richness, bringing a heartfelt realism to his work. Nine Lives portrays the twin fears of a man who is haunted by his own psychological demons as well as demons from the beyond. Evil manifests itself as terrifying feline beasts as well as more familiar incarnations such as denial, self-doubt, dishonesty and greed. At times romantic and at times absurdist, Moser’s thoughtful and captivating storytelling delivers a tale of black comedy and powerful human drama making Nine Lives into much more than a horror story. A rip-roaring plot with a noble morality, Nine Lives is a must-read for all discerning fiction fans, cat lovers, horror buffs and indeed, anyone who likes a great read with a truly worthwhile message.

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Click on the cover to get your Amazon affiliate copy of 9 Lives by George Moser.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Thanks for stopping by fundinmental!

FREE Thriller – Jackpot by Susan Fleet

Posted on September 1, 2014 by fundinmental

Jackpot by Susan Fleet is a prequel for the Frank Renzi series. Each novel can stand alone.

Jackpot tells how and why Frank made the move from Boston to New Orleans, a story no thriller lover will want to miss.

Jackpot is free September 1 – 5, 2014.

To see my review: Is Winning the Lottery a Curse or a Blessing – Jackpot by Susan Fleet.

To see my reviews for the other Renzi novels, scroll to the end or the post.

To get your copy, click on the cover or HERE.

Jackpot, #4 in the Frank Renzi series.

A serial killer murders lottery winners. Nigel wants to be the next Boston Pops conductor. A compulsive gambler, he’s deeply in debt. When he wins the lottery, he thinks his problems are over, but they’re just beginning. Don’t miss the exciting showdown between Frank Renzi and the killer. “The coolest detective in literature today!” — Feathered Quill Book Reviews

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To see my 5 STAR Review of Natalie’s Revenge, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Absolution, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Diva, go HERE.

To get your copy of Jackpot, or any other Susan Fleet book, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look below or on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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5 Star Review & Giveaway for Ultimate Fear by Kristine Mason

Posted on August 28, 2014 by fundinmental

Ultimate Fear by Kristine Mason is another awesome novel in the CORE series.

If you haven’t read any of her work, you are missing out on a fantastic romantic suspense writer.

An angel in the Book of Life wrote down my baby’s birth. And whispered as she closed the book, “Too beautiful for earth.”

Author Unknown

CovertoCover Designs: Kari Ayasha.

MY REVIEW

The doll on the cover is pretty creepy, spine tingling. I found out, Kristine plans all her covers ahead of time. I love them all. They are simple and uncluttered, speaking loudly to me – danger, Will Robinson, danger.

I am very bad. As soon as my copy hit my Kindle, I dropped everything to begin reading! Kristine’s writing keeps me on the edge of my seat, hardly able to contain myself.

Blood – the very first word in the book. This is why I love Kristine Mason’s writing. I know it’s going to be bad, but I am loving the bad……and the good I know will come. I am riveted from the very first word and it never lets me go.

My notes are so long, I don’t know how I am going to condense them down into a coherent review. I want so much to let you know the horror, heartache, anger and rage that someone goes through when the worst thing a parent can imagine happens. Some people isolate themselves, while others need the comfort of those close to them.

The POV shifts back and forth and I love being able to see through each characters eyes.

Wayne and Dimples are some messed up people. After he told her she could no longer have children, he promised her he would do whatever it took to make her happy. The only thing that would make her happy is to ‘replace’ their Elton. His promise took him so far over the line, he will never find his way back.

Detective Jessica Donavan works murders and suicides, since the kidnapping of her daughter, Sophia. It has been six years, two months and four days. Jessica had let the tragedy drive her and Dante, her husband, apart, instead of closer together. She is stubborn, full of rage and anger, unable to see past it. She seemed real to me. Who knows how we would react. Would we be able to see past our own pain and be able to help our mate cope?

Dante has gone from a badass SEAL to a Ghandi wannabe.

I love Dante. He is so patient with Jessica, taking her abuse and rage in stride, hoping they will find their way back to each other. He bends over backwards to show her that she is his world. Dante had been the first recruit into CORE – which is second only to the FBI and CIA. He always finishes what he starts.

Jessica had left the house. The memories were so bad, she couldn’t cope with them. She refuses to accept that, even though she can’t live with Dante, she can’t live without him either.

Jessica would call to remind Dante to water the garden. Was that her excuse to stay in touch? I love the fact that Dante had put a timer on the sprinkler system for the garden, but he kept it a secret and used it to lure Jessica home, at least long enough to check on the garden.

Even though they live separately, Jessica kept in touch with another CORE employee, Rachel, their resident computer guru. Rachel kept her updated on missing children.

Dante thinks she is in deep psychological trouble, until he discovers she spends all her extra time, not just, looking for Sophia, but hunting down other missing children. She had been saving some, telling no one. She couldn’t hug her child, so she was determined to enable others with get their lost kids back. She has discovered a serial kidnapper. They will work together to chase him down.

I am already seeing their future. All the CORE men are sexy and deliciously yummy, all you want in an easy to love man package.

I loved the shower scene, each on different sides of the curtain. It seemed real. Their need to protect themselves, made it impossible for them to let down their defenses and communicate. Sometimes it is easier to if you are not face to face. Of course, we knew they will get back together, it is a romance suspense after all. The way Kristine has them work past their insecurities seems so real.

Kristine describes Jessica’s brown/green eyes to a Matuka fishing fly. Now that is some descriptive writing that enables us to visualize them. Funny Kristine, a fishing fly? LOL

Photo from english fly fishing flies website

Kristine can segue from a deep passionate kiss in the here and now, to a gruesome crime scene they had visited earlier, seamlessly. It is writing like this that keeps even a lengthy book, so hard to put down. I can only read for so many hours before my eyes start crossing or my hubby says “Is that all you’re gonna do all day? Read? Life is too short, so let’s go out to the beach for dinner and a sunset.” Well, I can’t say no to that.

When the stories converge, an urgency comes with it. A woman and her child’s life hang in the balance. The kidnappers have Chloe. I have good feelings about the drug addicted pregnant prostitute. Sometimes we can walk through the Gates of Hell and come out better than we entered.

I should have seen the ending coming sooner, but I was so into what I was currently reading to look very far ahead. I was totally absorbed in this horrific story.

Ultimate Prey, Book Three of the Ultimate Core Trilogy is Lola’s story. Lola, is Dante’s partner and he is supposed to be training her. He is a bit neglectful, because he is spending so much time helping Jessica locate the serial kidnappers. I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to read what’s up with her.

Sometimes we have to lose something to find what it is we’ve been really looking for.

“Always…and forever?”

How could she not realize she was his everything.

“Until the day I die.”

I received Ultimate Fear from Kristine Mason in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

Are you afraid of the laundry room?

The laundry room evokes many emotions for me…frustration, disgust and, yes, fear. I’m afraid of what lurks inside, especially during football season. The shoulder pads that smell like sweaty, dirty boys, the jocks that had been tossed on the floor, the muddy, stinky cleats. This room frustrates me because I have baskets to house the football equipment, only my three boys can’t seem to grasp the concept that everything has a place. This room disgusts me (remember the jocks?). But am I really afraid of my laundry room? Okay, fear is a strong word, but I do dread going in there. Since it’s the easiest way to get to the garage, I have no choice but to face what I truly dread.

My three-year-old daughter doesn’t fully understand the concept of fear, but she’s finding things that do scare her and I’ve had to find ways to reassure her that, for example, the sounds at night are just crickets singing (she’s still unconvinced and refuses to sleep with the window open). Then there’s my middle son who won’t go to sleep with the window open because what if a robber uses a ladder to climb the roof and comes through his window (I’m seeing a trend with open windows)?

I recently Googled how to overcome fear and came across several articles that all gave similar advice: A: Analyze your fear and define it. In other words, what’s your fear and what triggers it? How does it affect you? Is it dangerous or life threatening? What would be the outcome if you faced your fear? B: Don’t let fear control you. Numb yourself to those fears and confront them. C: Don’t allow your fear to hold power over you. One site I looked at suggested to “make your fears a source of fascination” and discover why your fear holds so much power over you.

When I was a kid, like my middle son, I was afraid of someone sneaking into my room, and terrified of horror movies. I could remember hating Halloween because horror movies would be airing during that week. I would become physically sick when I checked the Sunday paper TV guide and saw that Halloween or Jaws was going to be airing. Don’t even get me started on The Exorcist. That fear stayed with me until college. I can’t remember what the course I’d taken was, but I do remember that the professor had analyzed The Exorcist as a way to give the class a better understanding of how subliminal messages can affect people and, in the case of this particular movie, arouse fear. If you pause The Exorcist at certain points in the movie you’ll see these creepy flashes of a white, skeletal face. The first time I saw it, my skin crawled with unease, but it did waylay my fears to a degree and it turned my fear of horror movies into a fascination. I began watching them, studying them and had come to love them. Now when I put on a horror flick, I’m ready, waiting and wondering…will this movie scare me? Some do, but most don’t. Slasher films are meh, demonic ones? Well, those tend to scare the crap out of me. The Paranormal Activity movies had me very tense. I think taking ordinary people, living in the burbs and having strange things happening in the house is beyond creepy.

Now, I don’t write horror. I write romantic suspense. But one of the great things about a good horror movie is the suspense. You know something is going to happen. The music is telling you to prepare yourself (or in the case of Paranormal Activity it’s the time stamp on the video camera), and yet when that scare moment happens, I still get all jumpy.

I might be over my fear of horror movies, but I have plenty of other fears. Bridges and heights terrify me. Going past my knees in ocean or lake water, being stranded on the side of the road late at night with nothing but woods surrounding me and no cell phone reception. But if you want to know what really scares me…it’s in my latest release Ultimate Fear (Book 2 Ultimate CORE). I’ll give you a hint. I’m a mother of four.

So…what’s your ultimate fear? One day next week I’ll be posting more of mine on Facebook and Twitter and asking people to tell me what they fear the most. One commenter will receive a signed copy of my new release Ultimate Fear. So like my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter. Tell me what scares you and enter for a chance to win a copy of my book. I’m anxious to read what people fear the most…dying, the dark, spiders, snakes…or maybe what lurks inside your laundry room?

– See more at: http://magicalmusings.com/2014/08/21/guest-author-kristine-mason/#sthash.bupGgOWp.dpuf

Are you afraid of the laundry room?

– See more at: http://magicalmusings.com/2014/08/21/guest-author-kristine-mason/#sthash.bupGgOWp.dpuf

Ultimate Fear by Kristine Mason

SYNOPSIS

When a deranged mother’s grief drives her to replace her dead son over and over, obsession leads to murder…

Chicago detective Jessica Donavan will never stop looking for her missing daughter. Her obsession has destroyed her marriage, but the search is the only thing that helps keep her sane and her mind off of everything she’s lost—her husband and her baby girl. When she uncovers a string of unsolved disappearances and reappearances of a number of baby boys, Jessica turns to her soon to be ex, Dante Russo, a former Navy SEAL turned investigator for the private agency, CORE, to help her fit together the pieces in this perplexing puzzle. But as Dante helps her, she realizes just how much she still craves his support—and his touch.

Dante is still in love with his wife and would do anything to have her back in his life again. He’s been miserable since she left him to deal with the grief over their daughter’s abduction, never understanding how much he grieves as well. When Jessica tells him about the case she’s working, he jumps at the chance to take part in her investigation. He’s hoping not only to save their marriage and ease his personal pain over the loss of their daughter, but also to stop a serial kidnapper from taking another victim.

As Jessica and Dante work side by side, pregnant women begin to turn up missing or dead, and they start to uncover the consequences of another woman’s unfathomable grief. The childless mother doesn’t just want a baby. She wants a newborn straight from the womb.

And when forced to confront the dark and twisted perversion of a mother’s obsession, can Jessica and Dante find their lives again…or merely more death?

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AUTHOR BIO AND LINKS

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.

I’VE BEEN RUNNING A “CONTEST” ON MY WEBSITE. JOIN MY NEWSLETTER AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A $50 AMAZON GC.

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

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Click on a cover below to pick up an Amazon copy of a Kristine Mason novel now. If you are a thriller and suspense lover, this is an author you want to get to know.

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GIVEAWAY

Kristine Mason is having a fantastic giveaway on her website. Four signed copies of the suspense/thrillers listed below are up for grabs. Visit her WEBSITE to enter.

Ultimate Kill by Kristine Mason

The Collector by Nora Roberts

When Day Breaks by Maya Banks

Finding Kate Huntley by Theresa Ragan

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Check out my reviews for Kristine Mason’s novels…….so far.

My 5 Star Review for Ultimate Kill

My Review of Shadow of Vengeance

My 5 STAR Review for Shadow of Danger

My 5 STAR Review for Shadow of Perception

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Giveaway, Review and Top Ten Fun Facts – Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Posted on August 7, 2014 by fundinmental

To follow the tour, click on the banner above.

The beautiful cover hints at the goodies inside the pages of Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton.

Before we get to my review, the synopsis, and the giveaway, I have invited Kimber to share her:

Top Ten Fun/Silly Facts About Me

1) I love to sing. Doesn’t sound all that strange except I do it all the time. I had a stranger in Target tell me I have a beautiful singing voice… so flattering and embarrassing at the same time!

2) I love animals, and that includes bugs, reptiles, etc. A neighbor out for a walk caught me trying to save all the dying earthworms on my driveway after it rained. She told me I was crazy.

3) I spend a lot more time than the average person daydreaming. That’s where I get my plot and character ideas. Am I cheating on my husband when I daydream about the male characters?

4) I’m not sure if I could survive in a world without Diet Coke and chocolate.

5) I play video games every single day—even if it’s only for twenty minutes. It’s a serious addiction. They help me unwind.

6) During my teen years, I spent more than one afternoon in a video arcade fleecing innocent teenage boys dumb enough to think they could beat me in a game because I was a girl. I really enjoyed serving up their pride on a plate.

7) I have a rather unnatural addiction to cars. My car is like an extension of myself. Right now he’s a 45^th Anniversary edition Camaro. When I was fresh out of college, I would forego new clothes and eating out to pay the auto insurance on my Dodge Daytona.

8) When I was fifteen, I snuck into the Whisky a Go Go in LA to meet Vince Neil of Motley Crue (I had connections at the stage entrance). Meet him I did, but within about five minutes, an older guy friend of mine showed up. He flung me over his shoulder and carried me out when I refused to leave peacefully. Worse—I had a major crush on him after that. Unrequited.

9) I can’t stand books without HEA endings. Lately I’ve been steering clear of dystopians since it’s rather hard for a HEA ending in a doomed world.

10) My characters become so real to me, I find myself talking about them like they’re real people.

I can relate to you about cars and am a bit jealous that you have the Camaro. I, too, love hot cars and I can understand your sacrifices. LOL And the singing, I can see you walking down the aisle singing a happy tune. Do you have a favorite song?

That is a wonderful Top Ten and I enjoyed it very much. I feel we can never have too many chuckles in a day. Thanks so much for sharing Kimber.

Tortured Souls,The Orion Circle #1

Kimber Leigh Wheaton

YA Paranormal Romance

June 29. 2014

Sea Dragon Press

Amazon * Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A young adult novel about school kids, doing school kid stuff, except for the serial killer ghost. The tag line – Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option – is what caught my eye, but when I read the blurb and saw it was about a ghost serial killer, I knew I had to read it. I love ghosts and serial killers, so the combination sounds like a unique read. I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before.

“You’re not welcome here”, Logan says to the presence behind me.

He meets my gaze again.

“You know it’s there.”

Shivers run up and down my neck, just as if the presence is standing behind me. I am only 1% into the book. Now that is scary and creepy good and a very good sign that the book will meet my expectations. Do you every get the feeling that someone or something is paying a little too much attention to you?

Five nights in a row Kacie Ramsey has had the same dream, or is it a vision? She is wallowing in the girl’s blood that has pooled on the ground. Kacie is clairvoyant.

She is not a girly girl. She is on the cross country team, as is Logan. It seems they have a psychic bond. She has felt like an outsider, especially since her mother left. Kacie always thought it was because her mother couldn’t deal with her paranormal powers. She felt it was all her fault, but there is more to the story.

Kacie is a very strong psychic, but has denied it for so long that her powers have been stifled. She has no control over them and that makes her dangerous. Her best friend, Celia, is afraid of ghosts and has no idea she has supernatural powers. She keeps her in the dark.

Kodiak, her dog, looks like a polar bear. It is a goldendoodle – half poodle and half golden retriever. Designer dogs have become very popular. Here are a few mixes that I thought funny – Bassetoodle, Bossi-Poo, Cadoodle, Foodle, Schnoodle, Sheepadoodle and my personal favorite, Doodleman Pinscher. It makes me think of a Rizzoli and Isles episode that I saw recently. The punch line – what do you call a poodle? A poodle.

Logan invited her to a meeting of the Orion Circle. The Orion Circle is a mysterious group that you can only attend if you are invited. There are very few who know that it is a paranormal research group. She never belonged anywhere. Would she now that she is a part of the Orion Circle?

She sees ghosts and talks to them. Imagine waking up and a ghost is groping and pawing you. How freaky is that? She helped a young ghost move on and it brought to mind The Ghost Whisperer.

The Orion Circle made me think of a tiny Harry Potter school inside of a regular school. She has been chosen to train with them to enable her to use her powers and prepare for the upcoming battle.

The writing skims over and doesn’t flesh out all the details that I love to see for a 5 star novel. I love to be able to walk with the characters and visualize their actions. I wavered between a 3 and a 4, but the last quarter of the book confirmed a 4 for me. I was unable to put the book down, as I wondered what would become of them as they took on the Foxblood Demon .

I was given this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it’s ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie’s longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he’s never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can’t ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

About the Author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling
YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul
mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and
lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber
Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not
necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate
covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been
somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities
and states..
.

Website * Twitter * Goodreads Author Page * Facebook * Pinterest

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton.

GIVEAWAYS

There are two giveaways, so be sure and enter both.

My blog giveaway is for an ecopy of Tortured Souls.

Leave your email and a comment answering the question:

Do you have a fun/silly fact that you would like to share?

Tour-Wide Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

1 Signed Print Copy – US Only

5 sets of signed bookmarks – US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Friday 56 # 18 – A Serial Killer Ghost – Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Posted on July 25, 2014 by fundinmental

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence, or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

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TORTURED SOULS by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton is Book I of The Orion Circle.

The cover and title are nice, but that was not what hooked me.

The tag line told me ghosts, but – man, oh man – this is so much more.

A SERIAL KILLER GHOST!

As if that isn’t bad enough, the killer likes children.

(56% on Kindle)

I awaken with a start, grasping at the hazy tendrils of a dream. It was about the murdered children. That much I know, and yet I can’t seem to remember anything else. Just fog and trees, some candles….A hand smooths my hair away from my face and I realize I’m not in my bed. As the memories come rushing back, I recognize the plush brown sofa beneath me, which means – the pillow beneath my head must be Logan!

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SYNOPSIS

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn’t an option.

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton.

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What are you reading?

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look below or on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Freebie Alert – Thriller – Diva by Susan Fleet

Posted on July 7, 2014 by fundinmental

Susan Fleet does her research, and if you visit her Website, you will see that she keeps up with a lot of news, past and current, that deals with the depravities of the criminal world.

You can find my 5 Star Review HERE.

Diva by Susan Fleet is FREE from July 7 – July 11, 2014, but you don’t want to wait. Get your copy now.

Diva (Frank Renzi, #2)

Belinda Scully, a solo flutist and soon to be famous, he thought. Today he would send her a message.

Renzi was just finishing up, when she walked into the precinct. Her escort insisted someone tried to run her over. Belinda shrugged it off, playing the Diva. Renzi knew neither of them was telling the whole truth, but before he could question them further, the phone rang. He was called away.

Belinda would repeat, over and over, “never give in to fear. Act successful and you will be successful. Believe in yourself and you cannot fail.” She behaved like a Diva to protect herself.

It was the thirteenth anniversary of her brother’s death. And it was the day before Friday the 13th. She avoided everything thirteen, but sometimes things are out of our control.

Belinda was returning home from a successful performance concert in London. She watched as the SUV followed her, keeping pace with her. Suddenly, it veered and slammed into the back of her Infiniti.

Frank had told her to call if anything happened. But what could she tell him?

Two accidents and now the letters were getting angry and threatening. Following Renzi’s suggestion, she hired a body guard.

“I know all your secrets Belinda. What would your fans think if they knew?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan Fleet Music & Mayhem is my game. Started my trumpet career in my teens, got into the mayhem later. My print journalist father taught me how to play pool in the police station. Maybe that’s how I discovered my dark side.

After gigging on trumpet in the Boston area for many years (while teaching at Brown University and Berklee College of Music), I moved to New Orleans, which became the setting for my crime thrillers.

I survived Katrina, but moved back to Boston in 2010. On my website I post profiles of women musicians and just began a blog, DARK DEEDS, about serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides. Please come visit!!

You can stalk Susan at the links below:

Website / Goodreads / You Tube / Amazon Author Page

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Click on the covers below to get your Amazon copy of a Susan Fleet novel.

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5 Star Review – Dark Deeds by Susan Fleet

5 Star Review – Is Winning the Lottery a Curse or a Blessing – Jackpot by Susan Fleet

5 Star Review – Diva by Susan Fleet plus a Free Thriller

5 Star Review – Absolution by Susan Fleet

5 Star Review – Dragon Lady Step Aside For Natalie

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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“KILLER COVERS” for the Unknown Assassin Series by Allen Zadoff

Posted on June 21, 2014 by fundinmental

Hi Guys. Just wanted to take a minute of your time to share these fantastic covers for Allan Zadoff’s, The Unknown Assassin Series.

I love any book with an assassin in it and I am loving these covers.

What do you think?

SYNOPSIS

I AM THE WEAPON

(The Unknown Assassin #1)

Previously published under the title Boy Nobody

They needed the perfect assassin.

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn’t stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend’s family to die-of “natural causes.” Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.

But when he’s assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program’s mission.

In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.

SYNOPSIS

I AM THE MISSION

Allen Zadoff

Series: The Unknown Assassin #2

Published on June 17, 2014

Genres: Dark, Mystery,Psychological,Romance,Romantic Suspense,Thriller,Young Adult

HE WAS THE PERFECT ASSASSIN

No name. No past. No remorse. Perfect, that is, until he began to ask questions and challenge his orders. Now The Program is worried that their valuable soldier has become a liability.

And so Boy Nobody is given a new mission. A test of sorts. A chance to prove his loyalty.

His objective: Take out Eugene Moore, the owner of an extremist military training camp for teenagers. It sounds like a simple task, but a previous operative couldn’t do it. He lost the mission and is presumed dead. Now our assassin is confident he can finish the job. Quickly.

But when things go awry, Boy Nobody finds himself lost in a mission where nothing is as it seems: not The Program, his allegiances, nor the truth.

The riveting second book in Allen Zadoff’s The Unknown Assassin series delivers heart-pounding action and a shocking new twist that makes our hero question everything he has believed.

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Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of the Unknow Assassin Series by Allen Zadoff

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE TOUR

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Fantastic new thriller – Ultimate Kill by Kristine Mason – Excerpt and Giveaway

Posted on June 6, 2014 by fundinmental

I love Kristine Mason’s books and this is another fantastic, riveting romantic suspense thriller that will leave you breathless.

I have read The Core Trilogy and am so happy that Kristine Mason is going to continue these stand alone thrillers with The Ultimate Core Trilogy.

I didn’t think Kristine Mason’s books could get any better, but boy was I wrong. I think this may be the best one yet.

I will be reviewing the book in the near future, so be sure to keep a look out.

SYNOPSIS

When the past collides with the present, the only way to ensure the future lies in the ultimate kill…

Naomi McCall is a woman of many secrets. Her family has been murdered and she’s been forced into hiding. No one knows her past or her real name, not even the man she loves.

Jake Tyler, former Marine and the newest recruit to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, has been in love with a woman who never existed. When he learns about the lies Naomi has weaved, he’s ready to leave her—until an obsessed madman begins sending her explosive messages every hour on the hour.

Innocent people are dying. With their deaths, Naomi’s secrets are revealed and the truth is thrust into the open. All but one. Naomi’s not sure if Jake can handle a truth that will change their lives. But she is certain of one thing—the only way to stop the killer before he takes more lives is to make herself his next victim.

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Goodreads

EXCERPT

Ultimate Kill By Kristine Mason

PROLOGUE

How many narcissists does it take to change a light bulb?

One.

He holds the bulb while the world revolves around him.

“DID YOU FIND her?” He glared at the man he’d overpaid to find the one thing that belonged to him. Rage simmered in the depths of what most men might consider a soul. Not him. Essence, the nonphysical aspect of a person, that which survived after death and all of the other metaphysical, intangible drivel of poets and priests…that kind of shit was for pussies. He had one life to live and he’d live it to the fullest.

With her.

Carl Blackborne, the former CIA agent and the investigator he’d forced into his employment, shifted his gaze to the desk. “I’m sorry, sir, but…no. That’s not to say that I didn’t discover any new leads,” he quickly added.

He followed Blackborne’s gaze and looked at the handcrafted replica of the first ship ever built by his great-great-grandfather. Made of gold, and worth over three hundred grand, the piece had been in the family for five generations. “It’s lovely, no?” he asked the investigator and touched the ship’s golden mast.

Blackborne blinked. “Yes. Truly one of a kind, sir.”

“If you break down what’s in your savings and life insurance, it’s worth more than you are.”

“I…I don’t know how to respond to that.”

He ran a manicured finger along the golden stern and wondered if the ship would become damaged if he slammed it against Blackborne’s over-sized head. “Of course you don’t.”

“Sir, if I may, I’ve exhausted—”

“Do you know how old my great-great-grandfather was when he built his first ship?” he asked and touched the life-like sailor standing at the helm of the golden ship. From what he’d been told, his forefather had been a ruthless son of a bitch. He didn’t emulate the man, nor did he worship him. He didn’t have to. Not when he was better than him. More powerful. More coldblooded. More merciless.

“No, sir, I—”

“He was twenty. Twenty,” he repeated, sliding his gaze to Blackborne. “By the time he was twenty-five, he was worth over one million dollars. That was in the mid-1800s. By today’s standards, he would have been worth over twenty-five million. Amazing, no?” He waved a hand, and leaned into his chamois-soft leather office chair. “Over the past one hundred and fifty years, his company has endured many ups and downs. Right now, under my rule, it’s up. I’ve had the foresight to take this company to new places. Literally. My planes, ships and trucks are worldwide. I’ve made this company a household name. Now that’s amazing shit.”

Blackborne rubbed the back of his neck. “Truly amazing, sir. But if you’ll let me explain my new leads.”

He folded his hands and rested them on the luxurious, handcrafted desk. Made of six different kinds of exotic woods, like ebony and Carpathian elm, it too was worth more than Blackborne. “By all means. It’s not like I don’t have anything better to do with my time. Right, Ric?”

Ricco Mancini, his aide-de-camp and most loyal confidant, sat stone faced, his focus on the investigator. “All the time in the world. I see no reason why Blackborne shouldn’t waste yours.”

Clearing his throat, Blackborne nodded. “Understood. Sorry, sir. I’ll make this quick. When I was investigating her past, I came across family lineage that might be of interest. I thought that maybe—”

“How is this a new lead?” Blackborne wasn’t the first investigator he’d hired, and based on the others, he could rattle off the woman’s family tree by heart. Hell, he’d stripped that tree of its leaves and snapped the branches until she no longer had a family.

“Well, it’s not exactly a lead, just a new avenue.”

“My trucks travel down avenues all the time,” he said, finished with Blackborne and their conversation. He’d had high hopes for the investigator. During his previous employment with the CIA, Blackborne had been known to successfully track terrorists and international criminals. Diabolically brilliant men who had the means to hide and, if they’d wanted, never be found. And yet Blackborne couldn’t find a simple woman? Fucking useless idiot.

“I’m not interested in hearing about avenues—at all,” he said. “I paid you a lot of money to bring me—”

“I told you I wasn’t sure if I could find her,” Blackborne countered, his voice rising.

His rage went from simmering to boiling.

No one interrupted him.

No one dared to shout at him.

He slid his gaze to the two men flanking the office’s double doors. Santiago Ramirez, the Columbian he’d taken under his wing over fifteen years ago glared at Blackborne’s back. So did Santiago’s counterpart, former Russian heavyweight boxer, Vlad Aristov. He looked to Ric, whose mouth tilted in the subtlest of smiles. Knowing that the chance of this conversation ending well was slim to none, the sadist would enjoy Blackborne’s faux pas.

“She’s obviously changed her name,” Blackborne continued without apology. “Covered up paper trails. She has no immediate family, her friends and associates have no idea where she moved to…I’ve bribed several IRS officials and even they couldn’t help me. That’s why I thought if I could—”

“Pull up her family tree?” he asked with an easy smile that in no way matched the raw fury constricting his chest. “It’s a brilliant plan. I wish my other investigators had the foresight to come up with such a unique idea.”

“Thank you, sir.” Blackborne relaxed and grinned, obviously not understanding sarcasm. “I appreciate the compliment.”

He looked to Ric and caught the laughter in his eyes. “What would you need for this brilliant plan of yours?” he asked, transferring his attention to the investigator.

“More money and, of course, more time.”

His last four investigators had given him the same request. They’d eventually come to him empty handed and wound up dead.

“I suggest we expand the scope and not just focus on her family,” Blackborne said, his tone enthusiastic. “The friends and associates I checked with…these were people who knew her, or rather knew of her, when she was in her early twenties. As you know, she went off the grid around the time she turned twenty. I think if I go back further, say into her childhood, and find people she was close to, then maybe—”

He raised a hand. “No.”

Blackborne’s face contorted with confusion. “Sir, we might be able to find a link from her childhood that could lead us to her current whereabouts.”

“Might…could.” He rested an elbow against the leather armrest and cradled his chin between his index finger and thumb. “If a broke redneck plays the Lotto enough times, he might eventually win. If you give a seasoned whore the money to go to college and educate herself, she could go on to run a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Blackborne, what are the chances of a broke redneck winning the Lotto and a seasoned whore going on to run a Fortune 500 company?”

Blackborne looked to the desk again. “Let me rephrase then, digging into her past may…I mean, it’s probable…” He scratched his head. “Sir, I can’t guarantee anything, I can only try this route.”

He straightened and opened the desk drawer. “Not interested.” His fingers stroked the AAC Evolution-45 silencer, a weapon ironically used by U.S. Military Anti-Terrorist units. He grasped the handle of the gun. “I know everything about her past. Her preschool teachers, her fourth grade Girl Scout troop leader, who she lost her virginity to during her senior year of high school.” His stomach tightened with anticipation as he pulled the lightweight gun from the drawer and aimed it at Blackborne’s head. “I know everything about her, except where she is now.”

Blackborne staggered back, holding his hands in front of his body. “Please, sir. This investigation—”

“Is over.” He tensed for the slight recoil and pulled the trigger. As if the man had sneezed, a puffy mist of blood burst from Blackborne’s face before he crumpled to the ground. He slipped the weapon back into the drawer, then pulled out a file from the hidden center console. “Well, that was a disappointment.” He glanced to Ric who, in turn, looked to Santiago and Vlad.

“Get him out of here, then kill his wife and kids,” Ric told the men.

Without a word, Santiago and Vlad picked up Blackborne and took him from the office. When the door closed behind them, Ric rose from his chair. “And the woman?” he asked. “Should I find another investigator?”

“No.” He opened the file and stared at the eight by ten glossy of her. Although not beautiful in the classical sense, she’d caught his attention the moment he’d seen her. While she’d been bustling through the club where she used to work, taking drink orders, he’d pictured her naked, curvy body on his bed, her long, straight brown hair fanning out along his silk sheets as she spread her legs and welcomed him. He had eventually made what he’d imagined into a reality. And after having her once, he’d wanted her again.

Only she hadn’t.

That was her first mistake.

When she ran from him…that was her second.

After he’d found her, he’d tried to be reasonable. He’d tried to give her everything she would ever need, and she’d rejected him.

That was her last mistake.

He always got what he wanted. Always. Growing up with enough money to run a small country, the world and its contents were his for the taking.

She was his to take.

Ric pressed his hands against the desk and leaned forward. “You’ve spent eight years looking for her. Are you giving up?”

He looked up from the photograph and met Ric’s eyes. Eight years. A lot had happened during that time, and over the years he’d assumed he would eventually grow tired of searching for her. But he hadn’t. She was the one object his money couldn’t buy. The only woman who had walked away from him without a second glance. He never understood why. Quite frankly, he didn’t care whether she wanted him or not. She was a lost possession he wanted found. “Have you ever known me to quit anything?”

“Never.” Ric smiled. “Now what?”

He closed the file, then returned it to the drawer. “Now we do things my way.” He rose from the chair and walked to the windows. As he looked around the spacious backyard, he found his wife and two children sitting on the lawn having a picnic lunch. “Hiring another investigator isn’t going to cut it. We’ve been down that road one too many times,” he said, and watched grape jelly drop onto his four-year-old son’s pristine white shirt as the boy waved to him.

“And your plan is…?”

“Simple.” He gave his boy a two-finger salute. “If I can’t find her, I’ll make it so she has no choice but to come to me. When I’m finished, she’ll beg me to take her back.”

“Interesting,” Ric said, his voice laced with amusement. “And why would she come to you?”

He smiled, as his wife frowned and worked on their son’s jelly stain. “Because if she doesn’t, I’m going to kill a lot of people.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AuthorPic 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

To get your Amazon copy of Ultimate Kill or to learn more about Kristine Mason, click on the cover below.

GIVEAWAY

Kristine Mason is offering a copy of Ultimate Kill for the giveaway. Show some comment love to Kristine by commenting on the cover, excerpt or bio.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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A killer new novel – Vengeance is Mine by Harry James Krebs

Posted on May 27, 2014 by fundinmental

The title of Vengeance is Mine by Harry James Krebs spoke to me. I love the cover too.

The synopsis tells me that Vengeance is a gruesome thriller that falls into my favorite genre. I love psychopathic serial killers and the creepier they are the better.

Harry James Krebs has an interesting bio, so be sure and check it out, then enter the giveaway.

Synopsis

Driven by a traumatic, violent event in his teenage years, Benjamin Tucker, bestselling true crime author, is obsessed with helping authorities solve savage crimes near his home turf of Holly Springs, North Carolina. When a series of decapitated female victims is found in neighboring communities, he is helplessly drawn in to the investigation to help bring the killer to justice. But in a bizarre twist of events, the psychopathic murderer becomes fascinated with Tucker and stalks him, presenting him with unimaginable, grotesque gifts. The hunt for the killer turns personal and Tucker isn’t sure if he’s become the killer’s idol or his next victim.

Vengeance is Mine, a gripping thriller with a healthy dose of droll humor, is a tale of sadistic revenge guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After receiving his BA in applied physics from Aurora University in Illinois, Harry spent thirty-seven years with United States Department of Energy Contractors as a senior mechanical engineer. He designed, built, maintained, and operated large experimental detectors for high-energy physics experiments at national laboratories such as the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the Superconducting Super Collider, and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University.

Krebs always wanted to write mystery novels, but his engineering career left him little time to write until now. His first novel, Fractured Persona, is based on a recurring dream where he would wake up in someone else’s body and life.

The author and his wife currently live in Raleigh, North Carolina with their Chihuahua, Lucille.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos

1 Winner will receive Autographed Print Copies of Fractured Persona and Vengeance is Mine + $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Giveaway open Internationally / 13+ to Enter

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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To get your copy of Vengeance is Mine or to learn more about Harry James Krebs, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Friday 56 #11 – New cover for Sierra by Taylor Dean

Posted on May 23, 2014 by fundinmental

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence, or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

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Taylor Dean has been revamping her covers for the novels.

New Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle covers with a Giveaway

I am going to share my Friday 56 for the Sierra novel. Taylor Dean has a way of ending books that will blow your mind. It’s not what you think it will be and your emotions may overwhelm you. Be prepared.

My favorite book of hers – so far – Sierra, also has a new cover and it is fantastic.

I am curious – which one do you like the best and why?

New Cover for Sierra