Giveaway & Review for The Nutcracker Conspiracy by Lauren Carr @TheMysteryLadie @iReadBookTours

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“Steps up several levels into an exciting category all its own. It’s thriller, cold case, mystery suspense, and police procedural, all rolled into one exciting novel. Set amidst the political drama that comes with Washington DC and the Pentagon, a current multiple murder becomes a search years in the past. With a young, hot lieutenant assigned to NCIS, and his beautiful new wife, you have all the makings of a bestseller.  Nicely done, Ms. Carr!” – Review by Merry Citarella, Mystery Suspense Reviews



The Latest Best-Selling Thorny Rose Mystery Available Now!

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Join us for this tour from Jan 20 to Feb 28, 2020!

MY REVIEW

Is that a lycanthrope that stole that hamburger patty right out of Orville’s hands? LOL

I think I know the answer to that question. The critters in Lauren Carr’s books have distinctive personalities that have me laughing, and at times worrying about them.

Newman is a basset hound TV addict. Don’t mess with his remote. Gnarly, a German Shepherd, is a force of nature. Spencer is the sweet loving female of the group.

Archie has her own thoughts on the death of the vice president’s wife and I do love a good conspiracy. Was the president their target and Paloma just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Lauren Carr has thrown in so many twists and turns and multiple mysteries that make me wonder what they could possibly have in common.13 victims. Is there more than one murderer?

I read The Nutcracker Conspiracy in one sitting. I couldn’t believe how fast I flew through it, having to know who would be the next victim and why.

Lauren Carr has upped the game in this mystery, thriller, police procedural. There are a lot of characters, so to choose my favorites is hard for me to do. Of course, the dogs are always a hit and I look forward to what they are up to next. The love and romance is sweet and sexy without the details. Who wouldn’t love to have a husband like Murphy?

Every time Lauren Carr has a new novel, I jump at the chance to read it. She keeps me entertained, unable to put the book down until the last page is read. She keeps the mystery alive and the story filled with lots of action that is so well written it is easy to fly through the pages…having to know who did what to who and having some laughs along the way. I do love some humor with my murder. 🙂 I will be waiting…patiently (?)…for the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Nutcracker Conspiracy by Lauren Carr.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars
Book Details:

Book TitleThe Nutcracker Conspiracy (A Thorny Rose Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  388 pages
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:   January 30, 2020
Content Rating:  PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!


Book Description:

Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin.  Even after numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital.

Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist who’d disappeared months earlier.

“She was number twelve,” Dean says.

“Twelve?” Murphy asks.

“Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.”

Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy:

 “13”


Check Out These Other Thorny Rose Mysteries:

“The plot was original, fresh and fast paced in spite of the “traditional elements” employed which can normally be found in any other thriller of this genre. The USP of this story would be its unpredictability. When you think you have it all guessed up, the plot would change its course keeping you hooked. There were a lot of suspense twists and turns that kept the momentum up. Needless to say, the writing was simply perfect. One thing that writer needs to be lauded for is the humor she inculcated in the book. Minus those humorous parts, the book would have been one serious read.” – Reviewer: Book and Ink

Book Description:
Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.

Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.

The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.

In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to shift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?




“Mysteries, murder, danger, and memories that threatens their lives keeps the action and suspense at a high level and even when the answers are found, it left me wanting more.” – Review by Sherry Fundin of Fundinmental

Book Description:

After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in the darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family while visiting family at the winery near-by, and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?
 Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
Add to Goodreads

Murder by Perfection is a wonderful read and a perfect to escape from the challenges of a busy day. Danger, intrigue, humor, and love all take their turn in this tale which will keep you reading into the wee hours.” Review by Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn

Book Description:

Beware: Perfection has a dark side!

Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night. The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and business.

When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.



Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads


Meet the Author:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

A popular speaker, Lauren is also the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram


Tour Schedule:

Jan 20 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / author interview / giveaway
Jan 20 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Jan 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / author interview / giveaway
Jan 20 – #redhead.with.book – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Jan 20 – redpillows – book spotlight / guest post
Jan 21 – My Reading Journeys – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / author interview / giveaway
Jan 21 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 22 – Jypsylynn – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
Jan 22 – eBook Addicts – series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 23 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Jan 23 – Leels Loves Books – book review of A Fine Year for Murder
Jan 24 – Bookmark and fork  – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post / giveaway
Jan 27 – Christa Reads and Writes – book review of Murder by Perfection
Jan 28 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Jan 29 – 411 on Books, Authors, and Publishing News – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post / giveaway
Jan 30 – Library of Clean Reads – series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 30 Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Kill and Run / giveaway
Jan 30 – 411 on Books, Authors, and Publishing News – series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 31 – fundinmental – series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 31 – redpillows – series spotlight
Feb 3 – b for bookreview – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
Feb 3 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – book review of the Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Feb 4 – Christa Reads and Writes – book review of the Nutcracker Conspiracy
Feb 4 – Blooming with Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 5 – Leels Loves Books – book review of Murder by Perfection
Feb 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – series spotlight / giveaway
Feb 6 – Dab of Darkness Book Reviews – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / author interview / giveaway
Feb 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post / giveaway
Feb 7 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Murder by Perfection
Feb 10 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
Feb 11 – Laura`s Interests – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post / giveaway
Feb 11 – eBook Addicts – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Feb 12 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Feb 12 – Leels Loves Books – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
Feb 13 – Casia’s Corner – book review of Kill and Run
Feb 13 – I’m All About Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 14 – Pause for Tales – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
Feb 17 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of A Fine Year for Murder / giveaway
Feb 18 – Bookmark and fork  – series spotlight / giveaway
Feb 19 – JBronder Book Reviews – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post / giveaway
Feb 19 – Literary Flits – book spotlight of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Feb 20 – Svetlana’s reads and views – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
Feb 21 – Divas With A Purpose – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post
Feb 24 – Laura`s Interests – series spotlight / giveaway
Feb 24 – My Devotional Thoughts – series spotlight
Feb 25 – Peaceful Pastime – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Feb 25 – Svetlana’s reads and views – series spotlight
Feb 26 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – book spotlight of the Nutcracker Conspiracy / author interview
Feb 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post / giveaway
Feb 26 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / guest post / giveaway
Feb 26 –fundinmental – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Feb 27 – My Devotional Thoughts – book review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 27 – Read and Review – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 28 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway
Feb 28 – Casia’s Corner – book review of The Nutcracker Conspiracy
Feb 28 – Adventurous Jessy – book review of the Nutcracker Conspiracy / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:
 
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MY LAUREN CARR REVIEWS

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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Giveaway – Blood Bound by R J @rj_blain @XpressoTours

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Blood Bound: A Lowrance Vampires Novel
R.J. Blain
Publication date: January 28th 2020
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

After waking in a shallow grave and clawing her way to freedom, Penelope Francis hunts for the rogue who stole her life and transformed her into a vampire. Despite being corrupted into a feared preternatural, she clings to her humanity and refuses to prey on innocents, instead slaking her thirst on other miscreant vampires.

In exchange for a chance at revenge, she joins forces with the charismatic master of the Lowrance brood, a choice that may spell the salvation—or destruction—of humanity as she knows it.

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

EXCERPT:

Another night, another vampire, another double-dead end. If I didn’t get lucky soon, I’d run out of miscreants to drain, stake, decapitate, and decorate with holy wafers. In reality, I only needed to stake the toothy bastards, but I figured if I was going to kill every damned unclaimed vampire in New York City, I’d do so with style and get a free meal out of the deal at the same time.

In life, I’d done well for myself; I’d become my father’s perfect daughter, dedicating every waking moment to my budding career as a corporate lawyer on a mission to protect his business interests. In death, or undeath as it was, I’d become a big nothing. I couldn’t even claim I’d become a big fat nothing, as I kept losing weight instead of gaining it, no matter how many of my kind I tagged, bagged, drained, and tossed out with the trash.

Penelope Francis was dead and gone to everyone who mattered, even me.

My stomach reminded me of my neglect with a displeased gurgle. Grunting my dismay over having completely drained another vampire without slaking my hunger, I checked his pockets for cash and found nothing but lint, not even a wallet, ID, or pocket change.

If he’d had food hidden in his pockets, I might’ve been tempted to try my luck. If I ever ditched the relentless hunger, I’d never take food for granted again. I resented my maker’s decision to abandon me in a shallow grave, forcing me to fend for myself. The bastard could’ve left a damned note with a few clues, especially in the feeding department. A manual about life as a vampire would’ve been appreciated. I still wasn’t sure what I could eat. Shortly after I’d risen, I’d tried a slice of pizza once and only once. It hadn’t ended well. I dodged food, afraid I’d throw it up along with my literal guts.

Just to be sure, I rechecked my victim’s body to confirm his lack of cash, ID, or food.

Nothing. Color me not surprised.

I hated killing those as destitute as I, but I refused to harbor guilt over ridding the world of a vampire who hunted homeless teens struggling to survive New York’s harshest streets. While I hoped the kids would survive, I had my doubts.

Miscreants—unclaimed, rogues, or whatever society called the illegal vampires lurking on the streets—couldn’t afford to let their prey live to tell the tale. When found, humans and preternatural alike hunted us to ensure we never bothered anyone again.

Living on borrowed time sucked, as did homelessness. When I found the vampire who’d turned me, I’d take my time draining him. I’d enjoy every swallow. I’d turn his last moments into a masterpiece of brutality.

All I knew was that my maker had been a man, and he’d left some dark mark on me, something that tainted my soul. I could still feel his corrupting influence deep within, a pressure on my heart.

Until I breathed my last for the second time, I’d spend every night seeking him out so I could end his miserable existence. I still wasn’t sure why I’d been targeted or how I’d survived the transition from human to vampire without help. My desire for revenge confirmed one unassailable truth: I was no better than the filth I hunted.


Author Bio:

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

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

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Zombies – Day 2: Dead Meat by Nick Clausen @NickClausen9

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We are back with Nick Clausen and Dead Meat: Day 2. Dan is my favorite character, though Nick didn’t plan for him to play such a big part. Sometimes the characters speak and will not be denied.

There are two covers. Both are great, but I love the first one below. There is something about eyes that speak to me…silently. Look deeply. What do you see? Which do you like best?

Dead Meat: Day 2 by [Clausen, Nick]
Dead Meat: Day 2 (Dead Meat, #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Zombies. A missing girl, Jennie Nygaard. A bloody bite.

Selena, a young girl with big courage.

Allen, a cop who saw the truth.

Dan, my favorite character and brother of Jennie, knows what’s happening.

Nick Clausen gives us lots of gruesome violence and tons of action.

There’s a moment in time when in could have been stopped…but what’s the fun in that?

The saying about courage overcoming fear is pertinent to Dan. Does the world rest on his shoulders and his refusal to quit?

Nick Clausen does not hesitate to kill off his characters, regardless of how good they are, so be careful who you choose as your favorite.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dead Meat: Day 2 by Nick Clausen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The dead have awakened.
Driven by insatiable hunger.
In eternal search of fresh meat.
The infection spreads like the plague.
Nothing stands between the undead and humanity.

Is it too late to save the world from disaster?

Day 2 follows the second day in the story of Dead Meat.

ABOUT NICK CLAUSEN

Born 1988 in North Jutland, where I still live with my wife, who also happened to be my earliest childhood girlfriend. From 2017 I have lived as a full-time writer. Up until then, I had different jobs beside the writing. I have been studying as a carpenter for three years, and have also read two years of psychology at Aalborg University. It turned out that the writing had a much more powerful pull on me.

Nick Clausen

I decided early on that I would be an author when I grew up. In fact, the decision came to me already when I read my first book, Snevampyren by Dennis Jürgensen. My first “real” stories I wrote at 14-15 years of age. They were rejected by the publisher, but still got praise. There were some years when I was busy with being a teenager and trying to get an education before I suddenly remembered that I should be an author.

That day I made a promise to write 1,000 words a day until I got a book published. I sat down and started writing. I continued to write every single day for a year and a half. I sent the finished manuscripts to different publishers, and the rejections piled up. Twelve of them by the end. But each time I could feel it was a little bit better. The criticism became more positive. The thirteenth story was called Tidevandet, and it was adopted by the publisher and came out a year later.

I have always enjoyed writing, although in the beginning I put a lot of pressure on myself. My approach to the process has become much more free over the years. For example, I no longer plan my stories. That way, I feel that I’m experiencing the story while writing it and the characters feel like real people. I do not know where the ideas come from, but I’ve never had trouble finding them.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

MY NICK CLAUSEN REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
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Books From The Backlog – The Omega Option by Rick T Hodges #RickTHodges #BooksFromTheBacklog

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Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

The Omega Option: Rise of Draconis

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

When a soulless, inhuman force descends upon Professor Li Jun Wong’s Antarctic expedition, search and rescue operations discover only his mutilated crew and a cryptic journal left behind. Confronted with the malevolent force, a covert government agency discovers a sub-oceanic base long abandoned by aquatic aliens in the northwest Pacific. Someone, or something…is reactivating the alien base, threatening to collapse the earth’s magnetic field, exposing the planet to catastrophic solar effects.

Ex-Special Forces Commander, Joe Dalton, leads the interdiction force…unaware it will exhume old secrets long since buried with Professor Wong’s ill-fated expedition. Amidst the emerging threat, Dalton reassembles his former Special Operations team; finding each man imperiled among the most remote deathtraps on earth.

Joe then reunites with his former love interest, Sunjida Wong, heiress to her missing father’s International Institute of Oceanography. Aided by her scientific genius – and the secrets of an ancient alien sarcophagus in her possession – The Omega Team launches into desperate battle against parahuman forces…in a bold quest to save the human race from impending cosmic destruction.

Goodreads ratings: 5   Rating details ·  6 ratings  ·  2 reviews

I won this book back on 9.8.12. Everything about it makes me think it will be a great read.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product imgaes are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Clans and Castles (Checkmate Book 1) by P M Terrell @pmterrell

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P M Terrell writes some fabulous historical fiction. Clans and Castles: Checkmate is based on a true story that takes place in Ireland. She is wonderful with her research, drawing me in and bringing the world alive. Soooo, let’s take a step back in time.

Clans and Castles (Checkmate Book 1)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

P M Terrell surprises me every time I open one of her historical novels. I never used to read them very often, but she has completely won me over. Traveling back in time, whether it’s in the times of Indians in the United States or Clans and Castles in the countryside of Ireland. She incorporates her own personal history with fiction and I look forward to each and every adventure.

The characters leap off the pages as they struggle to survive the turbulent times. They grow and develop throughout the story.

P M Terrell takes a complicated history, unfolding it in easy to follow steps, drawing me in further and further.

Will’s curiosity earned him a place at Captain Stewart’s side. In his wildest dreams he never could have imagined what the future held in store for him…and it was the ride of a lifetime. He fit in quickly, adapting to his new role, using intuition and common sense.

P M Terrell made the political and personal machinations hard for me to figure out. I see betrayal and treachery around every corner. When you think some of the characters existed in one form or another, tweaked for fictional reading, it becomes more real to me.

Who is good and who is bad? It depends what side of the story you’re on, except for the one that pops up now and then, the narcissist in a position of power, a power that he uses and abuses causing much brutality and bloodshed.

P M Terrell brings the location alive by describing the bogs and mists with an otherworldly feel. It seems magical and mysterious.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Checkmate by P M Terrell.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A window into the ancestors of anyone of Scot-Irish descent…

In 1608, William Neely left Wigtownshire, Scotland for Ulster. He was looking for his place in the world but what he found was the adventure of a lifetime.

Surrounded by powerful clans that had ruled Ulster for more than a thousand years, he came to know some of the most mighty chieftains of the time, including the formidable Cahir O’Doherty, who launched O’Doherty’s Rebellion with the burning of Derry and the killing of Sir George Paulet of His Majesty King James’ service. It would put in motion a chain of events that would transform Ireland and it would mark Cahir O’Doherty as the Last Gaelic Irish King in Ireland.

Cahir O’Doherty became the Lord of Inishowen as a teen after the death of his father. Known as The Queen’s O’Doherty due to his loyalty to Sir Henry Docwra and the English Crown, he saved his clan lands on the Inishowen Peninsula and his people from the fate that had befallen other Irish clans.

Peace would be short-lived, however, when Henry Docwra, Governor of Derry, was replaced by the ruthless Sir George Paulet, who ushered in a new wave of hatred for the Gaelic Irish. It would all come to a head on one fateful night when O’Doherty took the commander at Culmore Fort hostage along with his wife and son. Gaining access to the weapons at Culmore Fort, he led an invasion of Derry, burning the village to the ground. It would touch off a wave of events that would unite the major clans of Ulster, leading to a bombardment of Burt Castle, a counterattack in the Inishowen Peninsula and the burning of Ulster; a major battle at Kilmacrenan and finally a siege at Tory Island.

And when O’Doherty’s Rebellion was complete, it would usher in the age of The Plantation and mass immigration of Lowland Scots, encouraged by King James I to transform all of Ulster.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

P.M. Terrell

p.m.terrell is the pen name for Patricia McClelland Terrell, the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of more than 21 books in four genres: contemporary suspense, historical adventure/suspense, computer how-to and non-fiction.

Prior to writing full-time, she founded two computer companies in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Among her clients were the Central Intelligence Agency, United States Secret Service, U.S. Information Agency, and Department of Defense. Her specialties were in white collar computer crimes and computer intelligence, themes that have carried forward to her contemporary suspense.

She has been a full-time author since 2002. Vicki’s Key was a top five finalist in the 2012 International Book Awards and 2012 USA Book Awards nominee, and The Pendulum Files was a national finalist for the Best Cover of the Year in 2014. The Tempest Murders was one of four finalists in the 2013 International Book Awards, cross-genre category.

Her historical suspense, River Passage, was a 2010 Best Fiction and Drama Winner. It was determined to be so historically accurate that a copy of the book resides at the Nashville Government Metropolitan Archives in Nashville, Tennessee.

She is also the co-founder of The Book ‘Em Foundation, an organization committed to raising public awareness of the correlation between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. She is the organizer and chairperson of Book ‘Em North Carolina, an annual event held in Lumberton, North Carolina, to raise funds to increase literacy and reduce crime. For more information on this event and the literacy campaigns funded by it, visit www.bookemnc.org. She is also the founder of The Novel Business, mentoring authors in the business end and selling of books.

She sits on the board of the Friends of the Robeson County Public Library. She has also served on the boards of Robeson County Arts Council, Crime Stoppers and Crime Solvers and became the first female president of the Chesterfield County-Colonial Heights Crime Solvers in Virginia.

MY REVIEWS FOR P M TERRELL

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Cover Reveal – Arrogant Bastards by Jennifer Dawson @JenDawsonAuthor @CaffeinatedPR

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Today we are sharing the cover reveal for Arrogant Bastard by Jennifer Dawson. Arrogant Bastard is the second standalone novel in the Bastard series and will be available May 5, 2020. You won’t want to miss the sizzling chemistry and banter between Cat and Caden. Check out the cover, excerpt and giveaway then pre-order your copy!

Arrogant Bastard

I’m Cat McKay, and I’m in desperate need of a man. My farm manager deserted me six weeks before our grand opening that will help put my family’s business on the map. Now I need to find a replacement, because I’m not about to be the reason we fail. Unfortunately, Caden Landry— whose arrogance, evasions and good looks rub me the wrong way—is my only option on a list of zero candidates. So, as much as it pains me to admit it, I need him to step in and save the day. Yeah, I hate it too. I’m Caden Landry, and I have a self-destructive streak a mile wide. One thing is clear, I need to stay the hell away from my new boss, Cat McKay. Not an easy task, considering she’s the kind of woman I find irresistible. But I’m tired of running, tired of living paycheck to paycheck with nothing but a flatbed to my name. I’m determined this time I’m going to get my life together. So, I’m not about to screw a golden opportunity because I can’t keep my hands off the woman in charge. This time, self-preservation will prevail. *second book in the Bastards series, each book is a standalone and has its own HEA.

Excerpt

I point to the empty seat at the end of the counter. “Did you not hear me say I want to be alone.” “I did.” He points to the shot glass. “You gonna let me do a shot all by myself?” “You would have been doing it all by yourself if I wasn’t here.” “But you are here,” he points out, oh so helpfully. I contemplate irrationally throwing the tequila in his face but that seems a bit too dramatic and wouldn’t really work in my favor. Not only does it show my cards, but it wastes perfectly good alcohol. Doesn’t mean I can’t work out a deal. I tilt my head. “If I do a shot with you will you leave me alone?” “Probably not.” He grins. I think he intends it to be all good-natured and disarming, but it doesn’t come across like that at all. Heat kicks up low in my belly. I shake my head. “You know, I kinda hate you.” “Oh, I know you do.” He laughs, and it hardens my nipples under the thin cotton of my tank top. “I find you annoying.” I straighten my spine, feeling all justified. Which is probably the liquor. But isn’t that the point in drinking? To justify your actions while you’re in the headspace to not give a shit about the consequences. “You don’t say.” He drinks his beer before placing it on the bar and shifting toward me. “What else?” “You’re infuriating.” “Not the first time I’ve heard that.” I wrinkle my nose. “You think you know everything.” “Not everything, but most things.” I’m on a roll now and it feels good to let loose of the reins a little, I’ve been strung too tight for too long. I need to snap a little to find some balance. “I hate how everyone likes you.” He flashes that smile at me. “That is frustrating.” I roll my eyes at him. “Oh my god, stop it.” “I’m just listening to your list of grievances.” “Well, stop it.” He picks up his glass and tilts it in my direction. “About that shot.” © Arrogant Bastard, Jennifer Dawson 

Bastard Series

About the Author

Jennifer Dawson grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with a degree in psychology. She met her husband at the public library while they were studying. To this day she still maintains she was NOT checking him out. Now, over twenty years later they’re married living in a suburb right outside of Chicago with two awesome kids and a crazy dog. Despite going through a light FM, poem writing phase in high school, Jennifer never grew up wanting to be a writer (she had more practical aspirations of being an international super spy). Then one day, suffering from boredom and disgruntled with a book she’d been reading, she decided to put pen to paper. The rest, as they say, is history. These days Jennifer can be found sitting behind her computer writing her next novel, chasing after her kids, keeping an ever watchful eye on her ever growing to-do list, and NOT checking out her husband.

Giveaway

Open Internationally. The author is giving one lucky winner an eBook copy of Cold Hearted Bastard and a $25.00 Amazon gift card. Giveaway ends February 12, 11:59 pm (EDT). Winner will be notified via email within 24 hours. a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Child Trafficking – Little Girl Lost by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Well, the subject for Little Girl Lost by Jane Blythe is sure to get emotions in an uproar. I mean, how degraded must someone be to kidnap, torture, rape and sell a child? I love walking the dark side with my characters and Jane Blythe makes that so easy to do.

Little Girl Lost (Detective Parker Bell #4)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have just finished reading Jane Blythe’s novel, Dead or Alive and she left me with a tease that I had to follow up…immediately, so I began reading Little Girl Lost. I’m happy I didn’t wait, because everything I wanted to know about Tessa is now reveals…at least I think so. She is such a private person, holding tightly to her secrets, it is hard to know for sure.

Just ask Detective Parker Bell. Her loves her and made her his wife, yet he knows there are many secrets she has buried from her tragic past. After all, she has walked in these children’s footsteps and, even though she managed to escape with her life, survivor’s guilt hounds her every breath.

“You know you don’t have to do everything yourself all the time, Tessa.”

“It’s okay to let people help you sometimes.”

It is almost impossible to put down a Jane Blythe thriller because she fills her novels with emotion provoking content, tremendous amounts of tension making me feel the urgency of her characters and biting suspense as I wonder who will survive. The recurring characters have had more than their share of misfortune and hardship, but does that stop Jane Blythe from piling on more? OH NO. BUT, I love it. Does that make me as twisted as some of her characters? I hope not. After all, you have to go into their minds to be able to do what’s necessary, whether it’s taking them down or just trying to get into their head.

I have been with Tessa since the beginning and I understand her difficulty in believing and trusting, letting others into her world. She has been betrayed, used, tortured and abused, and I understand her need to keep her secrets. Tessa has her sweet, tender, vulnerable moments, but if I am ever in need of a kickass savior, I would love to have her at my side. She will sacrifice everything to save others.

There are plenty of villains to go around, but John Doe…I see him and I see why he does what he does, but I have no forgiveness for the loss of an innocent child. I do love a villain that creates ambivalent emotions and Jane Blythe does that with John Doe. The rest…do unto others…

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Little Girl Lost by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

If she can’t give up her secrets she’ll lose everything.

After crashing their car in the woods Detective Parker Bell and his wife Tessa stumble upon a blood covered child and find themselves thrown headfirst into a nightmare eerily familiar to the one Tessa found herself in sixteen years ago.

Forced to confront a past she would rather forget, every decision Tessa makes could cost her everything she has grown to love. Faced with several missing children cases he knows are related to Tessa’s childhood nightmare, Parker must decide how hard to push his wife to get the answers he wants, and if he is even ready to face the truth of what happened to Tessa when she was kidnapped as a child.

↝ Trigger warning – themes of sexual assault ↜

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

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

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

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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Music Monday – Ed Sheeran #teddysphotos #MusicMonday

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Happy Monday everyone and welcome back to Music Monday! Let’s share some songs we’ve been enjoying lately!  If you would like to play, and I really hope you do, please see the rules and link up below.

Rules:

Every Monday share a few songs you’ve been enjoying lately.  It doesn’t have to be a specific genre, new, or one of your favorites – just something you’d like to share with others.  If possible, share a music or lyric video of the song and your thoughts on the song(s), artist(s), and/or music video(s).

If you would like to participate in Music Monday, please join the link up by sharing your post’s url HERE

Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in? Diversity makes the world an interesting place.

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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

My Adventures -The Citrus Bowl #CitrusBowl #Gatorland #Orlando

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Hope the new year has started out with a bang for you too. We could see the fireworks show happening at the parks from our hotel, the Rosen Inn in Orlando, Florida.

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The Rosen Inn was a great place to stay. Close to all kinds of good things, including the parks.
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The view from our room
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If there is a Hooters around, you will find us there. LOL
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MMMMM…chicken tenders. My favorite Hooters treat.
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Mr Wonderful lots his wings smokin’ hot.
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We started out December with a couple quickie road trips and a family visit to Birmingham, Alabama. BUT the highlight was Orlando and the Citrus Bowl. It’s not very often Michigan plays Alabama and it has been since 1997, the Outback Bowl in Tampa, that we have battled. Alabama edged us out, 17 -14. We never made it to the Orange Bowl in 2000, where Michigan beat Alabama, 35 – 34, in an overtime showdown or their first meeting was in 1987, where we won 28 – 24. So, 2 out of 4 games ain’t bad. 🙂

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BUT…before the game, we had some things to do.

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This is a fabulous shot by Mr Wonderful, in the mini golf parking lot.
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What color is your ball?
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Blue for me and Michigan, Red for Mr Wonderful and Alabama
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Enter…if you dare.
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Mr Wonderful is always such a happy guy and lives life 110%.
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THEN, it’s off to see some birds and gators…at Gatorland.

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I was looking for photo ops and never saw it.
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There were lots of other birds, but we only saw one of theses, a Roseate Spoonbill.
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This is the bit guy…and because he doesn’t play well with others he has his own place.
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Tourists….not my favorite part of Gatorland, but was fun.
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MMMMMMMM…yummy
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A jump and a miss
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The nursery
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Dinner time and if it’s good enough for Elvish, it’s good enough for us. LOL
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A Bloody Mary for him…
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A margarita for me….

Mr Wonderful hunted down the pic from the Outback Bowl in Tampa in 1997. Nice comparisons. We haven’t aged a bit, have we? LOL

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Partying in Tampa in 199!!!!!!!!!!!
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And here we are at the Citrus Bowl in 2020.

We stayed at the Rosen Inn and were in walking distance to the pep rally’s and all kinds of eateries and entertainment. Jim Harbaugh was supposed to show….but we all know how that goes. 🙁

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Mr Wonderful is a babe magnet. LOL

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Even the dogs came out for Michigan.

We did a little tailgating before the game. A guy was going through the parking lot selling these baby yoda T shirts and I had to have one.

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You can see the flyover HERE.

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It has become hard to carry my SLR cameras around, so we shot with our phones. Not too shabby. We left for home right after the game. We had a great time and I’LL BE BACK WITH MORE ADVENTURES, SO STAY TUNED. Until then, happy journeys to you.

Across The Floors of Silent Seas by C S Johnson @C_S_Johnson13

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Across The Floors of Silent Seas by C S Jonson is another story I read while traveling. It looks like I was on a water reading binge. LOL How could I resist the cover and I have read some of her other work and loved it, so I felt this would be a good one too….and it was.

Across the Floors of Silent Seas (Till Human Voices Wake Us, #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY ONE SENTENCE REVIEW

It’s hard to give a short story prequel four thumbs up, but C S Johnson has hooked me with this wonderful look into Paga, Jay’s world, and I want to see where they go next…and the crew?, oh yeah, I wantta know more.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Do mermaids believe in humans?

While working on a deep-sea diving assignment at the University of California, oceanography student Jay Bishop is dragged into a volcanic tube towards the earth’s core and certain death. 

But much to his surprise, Jay not only survives the fall, he finds himself taken prisoner by a community of mermaids and kept alive as a science experiment. Confused and disoriented, Jay’s only hope to escape back to the surface is found in Paga, an elder of the community who believes Jay’s unexpected arrival marks the fulfillment of a terrifying prophecy.

With the community rising against them, Jay and Paga face dangerous choices — and their consequences — if Jay is ever to see home again. Will Jay make it back to the world on the surface? And even if he does, how can his life be the same ever again?

MY C S JOHNSON REVIEWS

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