Sherry’s Shelves #26 – Family, Food & Fun

Sherry’s Shelves is my weekly update, where I will recap what I have been doing for the past week: November 23 – November 29, 2014.

Stay tuned for more books and fun!

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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)**

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Hello fellow bloggers. I hope your holiday weekend was full of food, family and fun.

I am a huge football fan and was elated when my Detroit Lions won on Thanksgiving Day.

Needless to say, I was totally bummed when my Michigan Wolverines lost in our rivalry game against Ohio State. I was not surprised, but I am always hopeful. Our 2014 season has ended, no bowl game for us. 😥  There is always next year.

How was your holiday?

Do you have a football team that you love to root for?

I am relieved that the weekend is over and I am home, comfy, and ready to settle in to blogging and sharing the Christmas books I have been reading.

PICKED UP FOR FREE

I was not so busy that I didn’t have time to pick up some interesting freebies.

Let Us Prey was still free at time of posting.

Check for the “0”.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Crypt Keeper was still free at time of posting.

Check for the “0”.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Blood Demon was still free at time of posting.

Check for the “0”.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Blood Death and Savagery was still free at time of posting.

Check for the “0”.

Add me to Goodreads now.

The Santa Drag was still free at time of posting.

Check for the “0”.

Add me to Goodreads now.

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #25 ~ Books & Fun

Witches & Wolves ~ Winter Wolf by R J Blain

Christmas Actually Grand Finale

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Wolverines are on the Prowl!!!

THIS WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #26 – Family, Food & Fun

Cozy Christmas Capers Holiday Blitz

Scripting Change Cover Reveal & Release Day Blitz

Teaser Tuesday #29

Review – K-9 Cop Blog Tour

Friday 56 # 32 & BB #8

Giveaway – Meow If It’s Murder Book Blast.Me

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What have you been 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?

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Christmas Actually Grand Finale

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.
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It’s the MISTLETOE KISSES TOUR Grand Finale for
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By Anna Adams, Anna J. Stewart, and Melinda Curtis
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Three Harlequin Heartwarming novellas, where a sweet kiss takes place under the mistletoe.

 Did you miss any of the excerpts, guest post, or reviews on the tour?

Feel free to go back and check out all the stops now!

Launch – Intro to the Collection

Christmas, Actually – three holiday stories about three siblings living in Christmas Town, Maine, where tradition has it that a kiss on Christmas Eve in the town square gazebo will lead to wedding bells in the new year!

Christy’s Cozy Corners – An Interview with Anna Adams

How was it decided that the story would take place in Christmas Town, Maine?
We were looking for a setting that spoke of the holidays, and I’d lived in Maine in a town that decorated the green for Christmas. I described it, and someone suggested Christmas Town as a name for our fictional village.
Coffee Books & Art – Excerpt
Snowflakes hit the windshield and splayed into star shapes while Bing Crosby crooned his dreams of a white Christmas. Sophie Palmer tried to sing along, but her mind was already racing up the icy interstate to Christmas Town, Maine, where the father of her unborn child now lived. 

christmasTown2

The Book Lovers’ Lounge – Christmas Town by Anna Adams
And I imagined my own broken hero, Jack Banning, watching from the sidewalk, there in the town, but watching from the boundaries because he doesn’t belong any more.

Getting Your Read On – Review

“Yeah, I really loved my time in Christmas Town with the Banning family.  Each story was unique and romantic.  I loved all the characters.  They were real and identifiable.  It is the perfect book to curl up with as the days get colder and we get closer to Christmas.”

Colorimetry – The Power of a First Kiss by Anna Adams

Hes at her house, killing time because he cant go home and face his brothers happiness when another friend calls to offer him an investment opportunity. Mary is leaning against George, also listening on the phone, when finally, he admits to his feelings. He takes her in his arms for a kiss he clearly doesnt want even as he desires nothing in the whole wide world more than the hometown love of his life. 

Southern Chelle – Review

“I don’t think I’ve read anything by any of these authors before, but these novellas have me falling hard for their work! I used to receive the Harlequin Heartwarming books monthly, but I didn’t have room for anymore paperback books in my house and had to give it up. I’m so glad they’ve continued these offerings!”

Kelly P’s Blog – An Interview with Anna J. Stewart

5. What do you hope readers will take with them after reading your story?
There’s nothing better than a happily ever after–that’s why I write (and read) romance, but that’s kind of the easy answer. I think at its core, the story is about learning how to be open with others, to tell them how you’re really feeling about situations that are emotionally damaging them.  Dean, Callie and Eliza all have to do this at some point during the story and once they do, the happily ever after is possible.

My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Excerpt

     “Is this a bad time?” The combination of sympathy and amusement shining in green eyes, along with the tamed Irish lilt, called to mind fields of clover dotting rolling hills. She’d spent many a night and more than a few days dreaming of traveling to the Emerald Isle. Now it seemed as if Ireland had come to her.
     Shoulder-length, golden-streaked hair brushed the worn leather of the bomber jacket he wore over snug jeans, the hint of a plain white T-shirt peeking from under the collar.

Dean Inspired PhotoThe Wonderings Of One Person – Dream Cast for The Christmas Wish

There are some actors who just “hit” from the second I lay eyes on them. When looking for images of my Dean, I did not have to look much further than Chris Hemsworth.Callie Inspired Photo

Casting my heroines has always been problematic for me. Typically, I use another medium for inspiration (I’m a doll collector), but when I saw this picture of Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries), I knew that was Callie.

 

“The Christmas Date: The instant I started reading this story, I knew I was going to love it. There’s just something about those You’ve Got Mail-esque stories that I love. Nick and Gina are both so likeable, and their chemistry lept off the page. This was easily my favorite of the three stories!”

Bookworm Lisa – Review

     “Each of the author’s did a great job in telling their story. I liked the descriptions and the characters.
     This book is a fun way to get into the holiday season and find a little clean Christmas romance.”
fundinmental – My Top Ten Christmas Traditions by Anna J. Stewart
I LOVE Christmas time. Truly, from about Halloween on, I’m all about the tinsel, the trees and the music (why do they have to stop the Xmas carols on the 26th?!). For years now it’s just been my mom and me during the holiday season, but we’ve got our traditions…and they start early…even before we carve the Thanksgiving turkey.
Beck Valley Books – An Interview with Malinda Curtis

What’s your favorite aspect of the story?

One of my favorite aspects is Gina’s parents. They’ve tried for years to do what they thought was right and it strained their character and their relationship. This year, they rejoin the pageant and the town’s festivities in a very public way. It’s a small part of the story, but a set of vignettes that I love.

Mel’s Shelves – Review

“I loved seeing the siblings in each other’s stories and enjoyed getting to know them. These stories are quick, easy reads which are perfect to get you in the mood for Christmas. I love that they’re all clean so I can recommend it to everyone! Christmas Town was a fun place to visit!”

Painted Words – Review

“But what I truly loved about this book was that it didn’t feel at all repetitive which can be a big hindrance to books like this especially if written by multiple authors. It was an absolutely beautiful story, one that I look forward to reading again next year at this time and it was the perfect way to start off the season.” 

jellominisI Am A Reader – Melinda Curtis’s Favorite Treat at Christmas Time (with recipe)

My mom is a fan of Jell-o salad.  At Christmas, she’d serve us a slice of Jello salad on a leaf of lettuce with a dollop of mayonnaise on top.  The first time Mr. Curtis had this dish, he happily took a big bite, expecting it to be whipped cream on top.  Kudos to him for keeping his disappointment to himself. 

Deal Sharing Aunt – Excerpt

In the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning, Gina stood at the edge of the town square and traced the deep, jagged scar that ran from her left temple to her jawline with the tip of a gloved finger, as if her touch could erase the past. The small ball of worry, the one that hadn’t let her sleep last night, expanded like bread dough in her chest, pressing against her lungs.
I should have told him.

Wishful Endings – Excerpt (4-star review here)

“Are you kidding? You’re beautiful. Why would he do that?
“You have to say that. You’re standing in my kitchen.” With me practically in your arms. Nevertheless, she hugged his words to her heart. No one had ever called her beautiful before.
JoJo’s Corner – 10 Gifts Ideas for Your Teen/Young Adult & Review
I’m a little bit anal about the holidays.  I have a
basic list I work from that my kids will enjoy or find useful.  They’re
all in college now, but that doesn’t mean they want a package of socks for Christmas.
Here’s a list of 10 suggested gift giving categories for your teen/young adult…
Review: “Christmas, Actually is the perfect collection of stories to cuddle up and enjoy on a cold wintry night!”

“Three stories in one book, a great way to start the Christmas season off! Anna Adams takes you on three separate journeys in the life of Jack, Callie, and Gina as each tells their own story. The plot is good in each one.”

What a fun story! The reader is taken on a journey through Christmas Town, Maine and we get to see snippets of what makes this town special through the eyes of three different characters.

Christmas, Actually

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by Anna Adams, Anna J. Stewart, & Melinda Curtis
Clean Contemporary Romance
Paperback & Ebook, 202 pages
November 1st 2014 by Harlequin Heartwarming
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Discover the magic of Christmas Town, Maine!
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Three lonely strangers come to Christmas Town, Maine, and find love with three Banning siblings in the town that celebrates the holidays by decorating its square with lights and ribbons and a holiday pageant on Christmas Eve. Tradition has it that a kiss beneath the mistletoe that night means marriage for the couple in the new year.
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The Christmas Gift by Anna Adams:
Jack Banning promised to support the mother of his unborn child… But she doesn’t need money, she only needs him.
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The Christmas Wish by Anna J. Stewart:
Callie Banning’s student has declared war on Christmas, so it’s up to her to help the little girl—and her widowed father—believe again.
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The Christmas Date by Melinda Curtis:
Gina Vernay is about to meet her online mystery date…and she’s in for the surprise of a lifetime!
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About the Authors

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Anna Adams wrote her first romance in wet sand. The Atlantic Ocean washed it away, but Anna kept going. Her stories are of love, like the proverbial stone in a lake, making ripples that spread and contract and involve. From Iceland to Hawaii, and points in between, Anna and her own hero share with children and family and friends who’ve become family. All this living and loving gives Anna plenty of fodder for stories of love set in real life. Come along and live them with her!
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Anna J. Stewart can’t remember a time she didn’t have a book in her hand or a story in her head and credits her mother never saying no to a book for turning her into a writer. Anna lives in Northern California with an overly attentive cat named Snickers and is happiest when setting her heroes and heroines on their road to happily ever after amidst family, fun and laughter.
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Melinda Curtis

Melinda Curtis grew up on an isolated sheep ranch, where mountain lions had been seen and yet she roamed unaccompanied. Being a rather optimistic, clueless of danger, sort she took to playing “what if” games that led her to become an author. She spends days trying to figure out new ways to say “He made her heart pound.” That might sound boring, but the challenge keeps her mentally ahead of her 3 kids and college sweetheart husband.
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Tour-Wide Giveaway
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– Gift Card Prize Pack: $20 Amazon gift card and ebook of Christmas, Actually (open internationally)
– US Prize Pack: Paperback of Christmas, Actually and three Christmas ornaments (US only)
– 3 ebooks of Christmas, Actually (open internationally)
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Ends November 30th
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Prism Book Tours
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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?

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Witches & Wolves ~ Winter Wolf by R J Blain

Welcome to my stop for Winter Wolf by R J Blain

How would you like to run into her in a dark alley?

Enjoy the post and be sure to enter the giveaway.

Winter Wolf

Add ME to your Goodreads list now.

Winter Wolf (Witch & Wolf Book 2) by R.J. Blain

The Hunted Wizard

SYNOPSIS

When Nicole dabbled in the occult, she lost it all: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live.

The savage murder of a bookstore employee throws Nicole into the middle of Inquisition business, like it or not. Driven by her inability to save the young man’s life, she decides to hunt the killer on her own. Using forbidden magic to investigate the past, she learns that the murderer is in fact a disease that could kill the entire werewolf race.

Forced to choose between saving lives and preserving her own, Nicole embraces the magic that sent her into exile. Without werewolves, the power of the Inquisition would dwindle, and she could live without being hunted.

Nicole’s only hope for success lies in the hands of the werewolves she hates and the Inquisition she fears, but finding someone to trust is only the beginning of her problems. There are those who want to ensure that the werewolves go extinct and that the Inquisition falls.

But, if she fails to find a cure, her family—including her twin sister—will perish…

Amazon * iTunes

EXCERPT

I slammed my car’s door, spun on a heel, and swore I would have a perfectly normal visit to the mall. All I needed was one little book. Even I could walk into a bookstore, pick up a novel, and leave without causing any trouble.

This time, I wouldn’t blow out the lights. There wouldn’t be a single power surge. I wouldn’t turn on every unplugged device in the electronics store on my way across the mall. In the ten minutes it would take me to get in and out, the only thing anyone would notice about me was the fact that I wore a high-collared sweater in late summer. I had a mission, and I would complete it without fail. The novel my agent insisted I read would be mine.

For a long moment, I considered turning around and getting back into my car. Dominic would forgive me if I didn’t start reading the book until tomorrow. I could call in a favor and ask someone to pick up a copy for me. Then I definitely wouldn’t run any risk of blowing anything up. If I had been smart, I would’ve just ordered the damned thing on the internet, but I had waited too long.

Fishing my cell out of my pocket, I unlocked the screen with a swipe of my finger. The charging icon mocked me. Despite running every battery-draining app I could find, the battery held a full charge. I opened another app, a devilish program capable of killing the battery in ten minutes. It wouldn’t, not with me around, but if I was too busy keeping my phone topped up, maybe my mall shopping trip would prove to be mundane.

I shook my head, laughing at my foolishness.

No one would notice my phone. No one would notice me for more than a second. They’d notice my clothes, and then they’d file me away as yet another weirdo wearing something strange to catch attention. L.A. was full of people like that.

I had no reason to worry. Even if I managed to embarrass myself yet again by losing control of my powers, no one would know I was the cause of unplugged electronics turning on or unusual power surges.

Straightening my shoulders, I fixed my eyes on the line of glass doors and marched my way across the parking lot.

In and out. No blown lights. No power surges. No feeding power to unplugged electrical devices. No charging batteries for strangers. I was in control, and I would charge only my phone.

Making my way to the entry, I paused long enough to hold the door for a little old lady who insisted on making her way through the regular doors despite her walker. I couldn’t blame her. If I lived to be her age, I wouldn’t want to rely on automatic doors either.

She thanked me with a pat on the arm. Flashing her my best smile, I slipped inside.

Nothing happened.

Perfect.

I could handle ten minutes in the crowded corridors. Maybe if I told myself that enough times, I’d believe it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author RJ BlainR.J. Blain

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn’t playing pretend, she likes to think she’s a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She is currently on a quest for a new warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Favorite Books & Series

In no particular order:

Anne McCaffrey’s Pern
Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar & Gryphon Series
Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera & The Dresden Files
Brandon Sanderson’s Elantris
Patricia Briggs’ Alpha and Omega, Dragon Bones, & The Mercy Thompson series
Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time


Website * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest * Google+ * Goodreads

Click on the cover to get your copy of Winter Wolf by R J Blain


book blast button

GIVEAWAY

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/16/14

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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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?

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Sherry’s Shelves #25 ~ Books & Fun

Sherry’s Shelves is my weekly update, where I will recap what I have been doing for the past week: November 16 – November 22, 2014.

Stay tuned for more books and fun!

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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)**

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I have been very busy with Mr. Wonderful.

I have been too busy to even post about it. 😀

Stay tuned for more and have a great day!

PICKED UP FOR FREE

CORAL & BONE by Tiffany Duane

I have seen this series around for a long time and am excited to have been able to pick it up on a free Amazon day.

I love the cover and have been very curious about Coral & Bone.

Add me to Goodreads now.

RECEIVED FOR REVIEW

PASSING THROUGH PERFECT by Bette Lee Crosby
The Wyattsville series, Book 3.

I have loved reading her Wyattsville series.

Thank you, Bette, for the opportunity to share.

Add me to Goodreads now.

WON

A MURDER OF MAGPIES by Sarah Bromley
I love this cover and the story sounds creepy good.

I won this book through Month9Books.

Add to Goodreads now.

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

Giveaway – Tales From Feyron by Dianna L Wicker

Giveaway for Christmas Actually

Christmas in Dogtown by Suzanne Johnson Giveaway

Flury: Journey of a Snowman by Tony Bertauski Giveaway

Special Kindle Sale – One Day Only – The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy

Zombies Are “Alive” ~ Welcome to the Afterworld by Karice Bolton Giveaway

Friday 56 #31 & BB #8 – The Job by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

THIS WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #24

Giveaway Tour ~ Winter Wolf by

Book Blast – Creed by Trisha Leaver

Teaser Tuesday #29

Friday 56 # 32 & BB #8.

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What have you been 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?

animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Thanks for stopping by fundinmental!

Friday 56 #31 & BB #8 – The Job by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.

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

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

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Hi Everyone.

I hope you are staying warm and dry.

If not, try…

THE JOB by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

…and I think you will warm up.

Another fantastic suspense/thriller novel two award winning authors.

Add ME to your Goodreads list now.

(page 56% on Kindle)

Billie Dee Snipes stepped out of the shadows behind Tattoo, swung his machete at Tattoo’s head, and sliced off the knot that held the scarf in place. Tattoo’s broken jaw dropped, he screamed in agony, and reached for his face. Unfortunately, with two hatchets taped to his hands, he chopped off half his right ear before he realized is mistake.

(Book Beginnings)

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare slouched back in her tan leather executive office chair, looked across her desk, and surveyed the lobby of the Tarzana branch of California Metro Bank. The desk actually belonged to the assistant manger. Kate was occupying it because she was waiting for the bank to get robbed. She’d been waiting for four days, and she was wishing it would happed soon, because she was going gonzo with boredom

SYNOPSIS

The FBI had one demand when they secretly teamed up Special Agent Kate O’Hare with charming con man Nicolas Fox—bring down the world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons. This time it’s the brutal leader of a global drug-smuggling empire. The FBI doesn’t know what their target looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but Nick Fox has a few tricks up his sleeve to roust this particular Knipschildt chocolate–loving drug lord.

From the streets of Nashville to the back alleys of Lisbon, from the rooftops of Istanbul to the middle of the Thames, Nick and Kate chase their mark. When they find themselves pitted against a psychopathic bodyguard and a Portuguese enforcer who gets advice from a pickled head, they decide it’s time to enlist some special talent—talent like a machete-wielding Somali pirate, a self-absorbed actor, an Oscar-winning special effects artist, and Kate’s father Jake, a retired Special Forces operative. Together they could help make this Fox and O’Hare’s biggest win yet . . . if they survive.

Click on the cover to get your copy of  The Job now.

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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?

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

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Zombies Are “Alive” ~ Welcome to the Afterworld by Karice Bolton Giveaway

Welcome to my stop for the Karice Bolton tour.

I hope you enjoy the post.

Beware of the zombies.

AfterworldTourBanner1

 

Book & Author Details
Afterworld Series by Karice Bolton
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic

RecruitZ

Add ME to your Goodreads list.

SYNOPSIS

Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.

Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.

MY REVIEW

RecruitZ by Karice Bolton is the first fantastic zombie novel of the Afterworld Series.

I love the awesome cover by Phatpuppy, showing the kickass protagonist, Rebekah.

Not only is RecruitZ a zombie novel, you will find some science fiction thrown in that will have you thinking, could this really happen?

I borrowed the book from Laura, my sister, some time ago. I was staying at her house while we were taking care of my older sister. I loved this book so much, I signed up for this tour and reread the book so I could share it with you. Plus, I now have Book II, AlibiZ, to read and review. Be sure and stay tuned for that.

The action starts from the first page and never lets up. Just imagine you are trapped in a self-driving car that will not listen to your commands. Add to that a horde of zombies that are determined to get in. This should not be happening! The action is graphic and horrifying. I found myself gripping my Kindle as if MY life depended on it.

Would you resign yourself to the fact you are going to die or would you fight to the death? I always try and put myself into the characters shoes and wonder what I would do in their place?

Things are not as they should be and Becca is determined to get answers, at all costs.

The Afterworld is what they are calling this new world that has developed since the outbreak. Her friends thought she had lost it since the death of her husband, Gavin. If she wasn’t careful, they would report her to the authorities and that would be the end of her. She couldn’t let it go, but she would pretend to her friends that she was moving on with her life.

The devastation left behind is eerie; empty shops and restaurants waiting for owners that would never return were found in every city and town.

Rebekah’s first order of business is going to Shackles, a bar that she thinks will have some answers. Here is where she meets the bartender, Preston. For sport, they had cockfighting, only in place of roosters there were zombies, some of them being New RecruitZ. Imagine the gruesome and bloody sight that will be. Would you participate?

The New RecruitZ were different than the zombies that took down civilization, much more dangerous. How can that be? Zombies are not capable of thought and reasoning, or are they?

Is there more going on than meets the eye? Could there be a conspiracy?

Marcus heads the agency that oversees the remaining humans. Does he have an ulterior motive? Rebekah learns more from Preston, the bartender she met at Shackles. She finds they have a lot in common and teams up with him.

As the danger revs up, so does my anticipation.

I love the characters, especially, of course, Rebekah. I would only hope I could be like her if something were to happen in our world. She is strong, with a capital S. She is smart, determined and will do whatever is necessary to find out why her Gavin had to die. The more she learns, the bigger the danger becomes.

I love a strong female protagonist and like to watch as the character grows and develops into their own. She slowly begins to rebuild her world, sometimes not even aware she is doing it.

Karice is an excellent writer. The words flow smoothly and she creates a tension that never lets up. The pacing will have you on the edge of your seat as you wonder who will survive. As the battle continues and I reach the end of RecruitZ, I can hardly wait to pick up and continue Rebekah’s story in AlibiZ, Book II of the Afterworld series. This is an author that I will be following, eagerly anticipating each new release, plus catching up on some of her other work.

The first time I read the book, I borrowed it. To review for the tour, I reread a copy I received in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos5 Stars – Would Buy It For Others (lol)

AlibiZ

Add ME to your Goodreads list.

SYNOPSIS

The outbreak might be over, but the nightmare is just beginning…

Rebekah vows to expose the truth behind the RecruitZ that are killing the innocents. These creatures must be stopped, but so should the people controlling them. When Rebekah uncovers who is behind the uprisings, her own life becomes in danger.

Rebekah knows that she is not alone in this fight but vengeance alone won’t help her and the others to victory. It is up to her to uncover the truth for the public before the world is turned over to an elite few.

Regardless of what may happen to her, she knows it’s a race against time to destroy these creatures and the monsters controlling them before there is no one left worth saving.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karice received an MFA in Creative Writing from the U of W. She has written fifteen novels and has several exciting projects in the works. Karice lives with her husband and two English Bulldogs in rainy Washington.Books currently available:
Luke Fletcher Series: Hidden Sins (Book 1), Buried Sins (Book 2) – coming soon
Beyond Love Series: Beyond Control (Book 1) Beyond Doubt (Book 2) Beyond Reason (Book 3) Beyond Intent (Book 4) Beyond Chance, Beyond Promise, and Beyond the Mistletoe coming soon
Afterworld Series: RecruitZ (Book 1) AlibiZ (Book 2) – October 2014
The Witch Avenue Series: Lonely Souls (Book 1), Altered Souls (Book 2), Released Souls (Book 3) Shattered Souls (Book 4)
The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening (Book 1), Legions (Book 2), Cataclysm (Book 3), Taken Novella (Watchers Prequel)
The Camp
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Tour-wide giveaway (US & Canada)
  • A zombie theme prize pack + a $10 Amazon Gift Card
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Special Kindle Sale – One Day Only – The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy

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The Light Who Shines
by Lilo Abernathy
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Mystery
Amazon Rating: 4.7 Stars
Regular Price: $4.99
Sale Price: $1.99 (One day only)
Kindle Daily Deal Sale Date: Thursday, November 20th, 2014

Amazon

SYNOPSIS

When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run; and she vows to catch the killer. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimoire that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.

Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her sexy Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.

While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?

Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.

PRIMARY CHARACTER PROFILES

Bluebell Kildare: Blue is a Supernatural Homicide Detective and a gifted empath who has a pure spirit and a will of steel. She was orphaned at a young age and has had a tough life so far. Yet, she continually picks herself up by the boot straps and fights to do what is right, regardless of the cost. Just how high will the cost be?

Jack Tanner: He’s Blue’s sexy boss, the head of the Supernatural Homicide Unit in Crimson Hollow. Jack is very old and powerful Daylight Vampire with many layers. He is driven a little crazy by his desire to protect Blue in the face of her independence. Can he keep his cool when Blue needs him most?

Varg: He is a great grey wolf who comes out of nowhere and decides to be Blue’s companion. He seems to have some mysterious magical abilities and uses them to guard Blue’s life. Can he keep her safe?

Maud: She is Blue’s dear friend and mother figure. Maud used to visit Blue in the orphanage and read to her as a child. She can’t cook but she makes awesome Southern beverages. What color is her hair today? Is it blue, fuchsia, scarlet, or peach sherbet?

Alexis: She is Blue’s comrade and neighbor, as well as the sassy owner of a store called Herbal Enchantments. She is gifted in earth magic and if she isn’t busy feeding her friends, she’s telling them what to do. Does she have her hands on her hips right now, or is she waving her finger at Blue?

The Villain: Can he get any more evil? No. He is about as evil as they come . . .

AUTHOR BIO

Lilo Abernathy is a somewhat eccentric, deep-thinking, warm-hearted young woman of at least 43 years. She started out as a restaurant chain hostess and worked her way up to the exciting world of global mergers and acquisitions. She has enjoyed an on again/off again relationship with formal education and has been affectionately referred to as information hound. In the evenings, she fills her writing breaks by scanning the internet for answers to provocative questions, such as: “What causes diamonds to be formed in different colors?”

One thing that never changes is Lilo’s ongoing love affair with books. A born bibliophile, by age ten she finished all the children’s books in the house and started devouring the adult section. By age 15, she was working her way through grocery store book aisles and libraries. Just as Picasso had his blue period, Lilo had her own periods of readership–urban fantasy, paranormal romance, Gothic novels, etc. Now she’s planning on creating a bookshelf for you to enjoy.

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Click on the cover to get your copy of The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy.

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Flury: Journey of a Snowman by Tony Bertauski Giveaway

I was excited to find that Tony Bertauski has finished the third book in the Claus series.
I have enjoyed these fantasy tales of the holiday characters we all know so well.
I hope you will take the time to read and get to know them too.
Be sure and enter the giveaway at the end of the post.
Check out these awesome covers!

Through Prism Book Tours.

We’re celebrating the RELEASE of
Flury: Journey of a Snowman
By Tony Bertauski


An Introduction to Flury

Frosty had a magic hat.

There was no explanation, just a special hat that turned a pile of snow into a walking, talking best friend. Flury is more than that. And doesn’t smoke.

Born on the North Pole, Flury was created by an ancient race of elven that evolved during the Ice Age and continues to live in the polar ice today. Technologically advanced, they sustain themselves with innovation and wisdom. But even the most peaceful settlements encounter danger, such as polar bears. That’s why they invented abominables.

What we call snowmen.

The life of an abominable doesn’t magically spring from a top hat. The heart of an abominable is a metal orb—an intricately carved sphere that generates an electromagnetic field and builds a body of snow around it. Abominables are intimidating and selfless. They run, they fly. Above all else, they protect.

In the late 1800s, Malcolm Toye was part of an arctic voyage that ended in disaster. The survivors of the expedition never saw him again. Malcolm had wandered into the snowy landscape to be saved by a patrolling abominable he would come to know as Flury.

His rescue, however, became more of a curse than a blessing when the elven refused to allow him safe passage back home, insisting they remain secret from humanity. Malcolm was destined to live out his days among the elven, pining for home.

Longing for his wife.

Malcolm escaped by stealing the metal orb of Flury. Quietly, he arrived back in the United States to settle down and resume a normal life. But there was nothing normal about it. As the years went by, his estate becomes shrouded in mystery and rumors.

A hundred years will go by before the mystery is solved.

Oliver Toye, a teenage type 1 diabetic, will discover the magic hidden on his grandmother’s property. He’ll read about Malcolm Toye’s journey when he finds a set of leather bound journals. He’ll see the snowman trapped on the property, and the other things that haunt the forest. Most importantly, he’ll uncover Malcolm Toye’s master plan to harm others. And why he wants to.

Flury will come to Oliver’s rescue more than once.


Flury: Journey of a Snowman
(Claus #3)
by Tony Bertauski
YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday

Life hasn’t been kind to Oliver Toye.

As if juvenile diabetes isn’t enough, he’s forced to live with his tyrannical grandmother in a snow-bound house. He spends his days doing chores and the nights listening to the forest rumble.

But when he discovers the first leather-bound journal, the family secrets begin to surface. The mystery of his great-grandfather’s voyage to the North Pole is revealed. That’s when the snowman appears.

Magical and mysterious, the snowman will save Oliver more than once. But when the time comes for Oliver to discover the truth, will he have the courage? When Flury needs him, will he have the strength? When believing isn’t enough, will he save the snowman from melting away?

Because sometimes even magic needs a little help.

AmazonBarnes & Noble

About Tony Bertauski

During the day, I’m a horticulturist. While I’ve spent much of my career designing landscapes or diagnosing dying plants, I’ve always been a storyteller. My writing career began with magazine columns, landscape design textbooks, and a gardening column at the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). However, I’ve always fancied fiction.

My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?

I’m a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I’d rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That’s the sort of stuff I want to write, not the assigned reading we got in school. I want to create stories that kept you up late.

Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it’s only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.

In 2008, I won the South Carolina Fiction Open with Four Letter Words, a short story inspired by my grandfather and Alzheimer’s Disease. My first step as a novelist began when I developed a story to encourage my young son to read. This story became The Socket Greeny Saga. Socket tapped into my lifetime fascination with consciousness and identity, but this character does it from a young adult’s struggle with his place in the world.

After Socket, I thought I was done with fiction. But then the ideas kept coming, and I kept writing. Most of my work investigates the human condition and the meaning of life, but not in ordinary fashion. About half of my work is Young Adult (Socket Greeny, Claus, Foreverland) because it speaks to that age of indecision and the struggle with identity. But I like to venture into adult fiction (Halfskin, Drayton) so I can cuss. Either way, I like to be entertaining.

And I’m a big fan of plot twists.

Website; – Goodreads; – Facebook

I have read the first two books in the unique and original Claus series and would like to share them with you.

MY REVIEW

MY REVIEW

Click on the covers to get your copy of a Tony Bertauski novel today.

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and PhotosBLITZ GIVEAWAY

– $25 Amazon gift card and ebook of Flury: Journey of a Snowman (open internationally)
Ends November 22nd

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?

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