Blacktip Island & The Secret of Rosalita Flats by Tim W Jackson @TimWJax

Posted on December 9, 2020 by fundinmental

The Secret of Rosalita Flats is Book II of the Blacktip Island series by Tim W Jackson. Just looking at the fun cove rmakes me want to read it. I get the Rockford Files, Magnum P I vibe from it. What do you think?

The Secret of Rosalita Flats (Blacktip Island #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Secret of Rosalita Flats by Tim W Jackson is a fun romp in the Caribbean, looking for lost treasure.

Cal makes me think of Rockford, from the Rockford Files, and Thomas, from Magnum P I, though he is no private investigator, just a watchmaker. When he inherits a football-shaped house on Blacktip Island, the mystery begins, on a tropical island filled with quirky characters.

Cal had no intention of staying on the island and there is more than one person interested in buying the house. But, as the mystery surrounding the house and the supposed treasure grows, it only creates a bigger mystery and he was drawn in. Whoever was driving him out, only made him more determined to stay…that and a long lost romantic interest.

Tim W Jackson writes some fun filled adventures with wonderfully odd characters and mysteries not easily solved. So, dive in, but be sure and watch out for the sharks.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Secret of Rosalita Flats by Tim W Jackson.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Cal’s a hapless watchmaker. Marina’s a beautiful scuba instructor. They were friends as kids. Now, not so much. Together they’ll solve the secret of Rosalita Flats. If the sharks don’t get them first.

The Secret of Rosalita Flats is about a man trying to unload the football-shaped house he inherited, while dodging the backwater Blacktip Island’s quirky collection of con artists, smugglers and other ne’er-do-wells: an ornery housekeeper who refuses to be fired, a rum-soaked attorney with his own agenda, a chair-wielding resort manager who thinks he’s an avenging angel, and a self-styled psychic who may be able to see the future. There’s also a mysterious someone—or something—trying to scare Cal off the island. Cal has to figure out what his old man was mixed up in, fast, if he’s to sell the house and get off the crazy little rock alive.

Written with Hiaasen-esque humor, The Secret of Rosalita Flats is a beguiling mystery for anyone who’s ever dreamed of chucking it all and running off to the Caribbean. From the author of the award-finalist Blacktip Island.

ABOUT TIME W JACKSON

Armed with a newly-minted master’s degree in creative writing, former journalist Tim W. Jackson knew he was qualified to be a bartender, a waiter, or to apply to a PhD program. Instead he chose Secret Option D: run off to the Caribbean to work as a scuba instructor by day and write fiction at night. More than a decade later, he still wishes that was half as interesting as it sounds. Or even a quarter . . .

Jackson is the award-winning author of the literary novel Mangrove Underground and The Blacktip Times humor blog. His second novel, Blacktip Island, is a comic misadventure set in the Caribbean. His “Tales From Blacktip Island” short stories have been published in literary journals worldwide. He is currently concocting his next Blacktip Island novel, The Secret of Rosalita Flats.

For more insider info, visit his website, www.timwjackson.com, the Blacktip Times (www.blacktipisland.com) or follow him on Facebook (Tim W. Jackson) and Twitter (@timwjax).

A portion of the proceeds from his stories goes to the Nature Conservancy’s Coral Reef Preservation Fund.

MY TIM W JACKSON REVIEWS

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Giveaway & Review – Sleuth on Safari by A R Kennedy @ARK_author @GoddessFish

Posted on March 13, 2020 by fundinmental

I didn’t sign up to share a review, but seeing I had the book on my Kindle, here is a quickie.

I love the cover and traveling, so going on a safari with Naomi seemed like fun. Until….

Naomi found the prickly Dr Higgins with his throat ripped out by hyenas. It seemed like she was the only one that thought something was rotten in Denmark, so she decided to investigate.

I do enjoy a cozy. We have plenty of suspects, and some danger and mystery. It was fun being along for the ride, seeing the sights, spending a night alone with Naomi in the treehouse, and meeting all the quirky characters. A R Kennedy’s writing made it easy to visualize as we enjoyed seeing the animals and the wonderful scenery that is Africa.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sleuth on Safari by A R Kennedy.

Goddess Fish Promotions. A. R. Kennedy will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Naomi and her estranged sister are off on a trip of a lifetime—an African safari, a bucket list trip for Naomi on which she got a last-minute deal. Naomi thinks traveling with her sister will be the worst part of her African safari until she finds one of their fellow travelers, the unlikable Dr. Higgins, dead. She gets more adventure than she bargained for when she starts investigating what she thinks is murder but the luxury lodge says was a tragic accident. She only has a few vacation days, and a few game drives, to find the killer.

Read an Excerpt

Something red on the walkway, about fifteen feet away from me, toward his room, caught my eye.

I slowly walked toward it. From a few feet away, it looked like a blob, something spilled. As I stood over it, it looked like a paw print. Like the ones my childhood dog, Molly, would leave in the kitchen after playing in the mud. But it was red.

I looked to my left, down the walkway, toward the fifth cabin, Dr. Higgins’ cabin. “Dr. Higgins, you there?” I shouted. There was no answer. I hesitated but then stepped off the walkway. Slowly, I walked toward his suite, listening intently for any sound. I stood at his door, which was ajar. “Dr. Higgins? It’s Naomi from next door. Everything okay?”

With each step, I saw more red. Maybe he had spilled some wine. He liked the red wine. Not as much as Jack liked his beer but it was his drink of choice for the trip so far. He was still at dinner when Charlotte and I left last night. Maybe he came back to his room and had a few more glasses. And somehow spilled it everywhere outside his room.

Standing at the door, I yelled in, “Dr. Higgins? It’s Naomi. I’m going to come in, okay?”

No response. No refusal but no permission either. I went in anyway.

Seated in the sitting area’s plush chair, facing the window and the beautiful landscape, was Dr. Higgins. His head was hanging back. His hand was hanging down by his side, a broken wineglass on the floor next to it. There was even more red everywhere inside the room too. Maybe he’d had a late night after all.

I poked him on his shoulder and prepared for him to yell at me for entering his room unauthorized.

Still no response.

“Dr. Higgins, it’s time for our morning drive.” I tapped him again. “You’re late,” I added, just to annoy him.

Still nothing.

I walked around him to face him head on.

And I screamed.

About the Author:

A R Kennedy lives in Long Beach, New York, with her two pups. She works hard to put food on the floor for them. As her favorite T-shirt says, ‘I work so my dog can have a better life’. She’s an avid traveler. But don’t worry. While she’s away, her parents dote on their grand-puppies even more than she does. Her writing is a combination of her love of travel, animals, and the journey we all take to find ourselves.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ark_author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARKennedyauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ark_author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7382548.A_R_Kennedy
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/a-r-kennedy

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Review – Sleuth on Safari by R K Kennedy @ARK_author @dollycas

Posted on March 5, 2020 by fundinmental

Sleuth on Safari: A Traveler Cozy Mystery
by A R Kennedy

About Sleuth on Safari

Sleuth on Safari: A Traveler Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Independently Published (March 24, 2020)
Print Length 267 Pages
Digital ASIN: B082XKK3TD

A bargain deal on a safari + one dead body = An adventure no one could plan for.
Naomi and her estranged sister are off on a trip of a lifetime—an African safari, a bucket list trip for Naomi on which she got a last-minute deal. Naomi thinks traveling with her sister will be the worst part of her African safari until she finds one of their fellow travelers, the unlikable Dr. Higgins, dead. She gets more adventure than she bargained for when she starts investigating what she thinks is murder but the luxury lodge says was a tragic accident. She only has a few vacation days, and a few game drives, to find the killer.

MY REVIEW

I didn’t sign up to share a review, but seeing I had the book on my Kindle, here is a quickie.

I love the cover and traveling, so going on a safari with Naomi seemed like fun. Until….

Naomi found the prickly Dr Higgins with his throat ripped out by hyenas. It seemed like she was the only one that thought something was rotten in Denmark, so she decided to investigate.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sleuth on Safari by A R Kennedy.

About A. R. Kennedy

A. R. Kennedy lives in Long Beach, New York, with her two pups. She works hard to put food on the floor for them. As her favorite T-shirt says, ‘I work so my dog can have a better life’. She’s an avid traveler. But don’t worry. While she’s away, her parents dote on their grand-puppies even more than she does. Her writing is a combination of her love of travel, animals, and the journey we all take to find ourselves.

Author Links

Website – http://arkennedyauthor.com

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/A-R-Kennedy/e/B00GOKCWHE

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ARKennedyauthor

Twitter – https://twitter.com/ark_author

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7382548.A_R_Kennedy

Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-r-kennedy

Purchase Link – Amazon

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Giveaway – Musing The Mediterranean by Beth Daigie @3olivesnatwist @GoddessFish

Posted on August 27, 2018 by fundinmental

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Photography Book – Walk With Me by Debra Schoenberger @RedheadWithBook @iReadBookTours

Posted on March 20, 2018 by fundinmental

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Dashing Through The Traffic on I10

Posted on December 23, 2017 by fundinmental

A fundinmental Holiday Adventure

Dashing through the…traffic on I10…

Giveaway – Shadows, Shells and Spain by John Meyer @johnmeyerbooks @GoddessFish

Posted on November 27, 2017 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop for Shadows, Shells, and Spain by John Meyer. I would like to thank John for visiting today. I am a cover girl and always curious about an author’s contribution to the final product. Let’s see what John has to say.

GUEST POST

Tell us about the cover and its creation.

Shadows, Shells, and Spain is definitely not the first book to take place on the exhausting and exhilarating Camino de Santiago. Even if you do a cursory search on Google, you will be presented with dozens of books about the Camino. However, my book is presented as a fictional travel memoir i.e. a travel book packed with accurate local descriptions and historical anecdotes—inside a completely fictional story following a desperate husband in search of his estranged and mysterious wife.

Now look again at your Google search of Camino books. They’re all so brown! Most of those covers represent the dreaded Meseta section of the Camino path, “the two-hundred-kilometer stretch of barren plateau that lies in the center of the country. Pilgrims complain of its dry heat, lack of shade, limited food resources, non-existent landmarks, and drab scenery.” Why would you want to showcase that kind of scenery for your book cover? Will that kind of cover inspire a reader to temporarily leave his or her family and friends to walk 800 kilometers across northern Spain? Probably not…

So just like the interior of my book represents a different kind of Camino book, I wanted the exterior of my book to represent a different kind of Camino as well. When I walked the path in June of 2014, most of the landscape was green and lush and absolutely lovely. Therefore, I was determined to create a cover that reflected that majestic beauty.

So the main front photo was taken by me on a stretch of road outside Los Arcos. My designer only manipulated it a little by enlarging the two pilgrims. They looked fine in the original photo but when it was presented inside a smaller cover photo on some of those ebook websites, they were a little difficult to see.

The back cover photo of the pilgrim statue in León was also taken by me because it had it all: the shell and yellow arrow (which are prominent symbols on the Camino) painted on the cement in front of a tired, reflective pilgrim. It had perfect symmetry. It just didn’t work for the front cover. The front cover is supposed to inspire you to temporarily leave your family and friends to walk 800 kilometers across northern Spain. Probably…

Thanks John. I am a photographer and love that you took the photos yourself and that you chose to show a path that I would love to travel too. Wonderful job.

And now, let’s put our walking shoes on travel.

Shadows, Shells, and Spain

by John Meyer

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

GENRE: travel fiction

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

BLURB

John Meyer’s “Shadows, Shells, and Spain” is a thrilling new adventure where a husband desperately searches for his missing wife along the ancient Camino trail across northern Spain. It’s also a bold, new take on a modern-day pilgrimage that feeds the mind and soul of every character while testing the limits of their bodies… and their comfort zones.

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

EXCERPT

It became a miserable daily existence, made worse by a George Bernard Shaw quote that singly gnawed at me: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”

George was right. I had to do . . . something. Anything! Teaching teenagers wasn’t fulfilling me; I needed to find a more creative outlet—and I thought I had found it when I started writing novels.

I tried several genres. My young adult novels only reminded me of my apathetic students, and my science fiction books always morphed into Star Wars. My dystopian novels were too depressing. My horror novels gave me nightmares. My political thrillers gave me headaches. I settled on detective novels starring rugged private eyes and leggy dames.

I wasn’t very good at it.

In fact, I never came close to completing any of them. I wasn’t clever enough to conceal the credible clues. My attempts at misdirection were too misleading. I was heavy-handed when I needed to be charming, and I was lightweight when I needed to be conclusive. And anyone who read any of my early chapters always deduced the killer right away.

I even gave my early chapters to my brightest students as an extra-credit homework assignment.

“So, what did you think?”

“Sir, I didn’t finish it . . .”

“Never mind that. What did you think?”

“What is this, a murder mystery? Am I supposed to guess who the killer is? What does this have to do with my history project?”

“Never mind that. What did you think?”

“I don’t know . . . Was it the chambermaid with the stutter?”

“Damn it!”

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

AUTHOR Bio and Links

John Meyer writes fictional travel memoirs—unique adventure stories that combine fun facts of history with present-day drama and humor—always revolving around a fictitious love story and always based on his own thrilling journeys. His previous publication, Bullets, Butterflies, and Italy, was selected as a November Best Book by Chatelaine magazine. Meyer is also the studio writer for Entertainment Tonight Canada and has been ever since the popular daily show launched back in 2005.

http://www.johnmeyerbooks.com

https://twitter.com/johnmeyerbooks

https://www.facebook.com/john.meyer.142

Buy links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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Traveling in Mystery – Pea Body by Ellen Behrens #EllenBehrens

Posted on March 27, 2017 by fundinmental

Ellen lives a life many of us envy and I am so happy to be traveling with her to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

My hubby, Mr Wonderful and I have been looking into an RV so we, too, can travel the USA, stopping wherever the mood strikes.

Do you have the wanderlust gene?

Hop on board and let’s go to the Outerbanks of North Carolina and see what’s shakin’.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The author, Ellen Behrens, interests me as much as this cozy mystery, so I had to get my hands on Pea Body. The cover represents the calm before the storm that is contained within the pages.

I have so much in common with Ellen and her characters, Betty and Walt. They are wanderers, dreamers and list makers. It felt like I was walking in their shoes…Bird watching, taking photographs of everything in sight, hiking, biking, and being a bit antisocial. We even like a lot of the same TV shows…NCIS, CSI, The Closer…but I have never found a dead body, let alone a murder victim.

Happy birthday. Your present…a dead body.

As the story rolls along, the suspect list mounts and the danger closes in around Betty and Walt.

The characters they run into as they investigate come across as authentic people you could meet anywhere, some are friendly and some…not so much. Some are a bit abrasive and annoying, but, when looking closer, you may find you have more in common than you would have thought.

It was easy to relate to the locations…I have visited many small coastal towns and each is unique in its own way. I, too, have hiked many trails through state and national parks, enjoying all the wonderful things they have to offer. I am constantly amazed and inspired by their beauty and the birds and animals that call them home.

If you are looking for an adventure, Pea Body by Ellen Behrens, is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery that shares the wonders of nature, the characters of a small, seasonal coastal town on the outerbanks of North Carolina, the danger of greed in the hands of those that will do anything to get what they want and the freedom and drawbacks of a home on wheels.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Pea Body by Ellen Behrens.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Who knew birdwatching could lead to such trouble? Betty and Walt Rollin find out when visiting Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. All they want to do is relax and spend a little time away from Talkative Ted and Clingy Caroline, their overbearing neighbors at the RV “resort” where they’ve been staying. But when Betty spots a very non-avian body at the edge of a far pond, she and Walt are drawn into the investigation. What they discover threatens to uncover long-held secrets that could ruin local reputations, and plunges these retired, full-time RVers up to their necks in the deep sand of local politics and passions.

ABOUT ELLEN BEHRENS

Ellen Behrens’ short stories, articles, essays, and reviews have been widely published. Her published books include the novels “Pea Body,” “None But the Dead and Dying” and the short story collection “Road Tales: Short Stories About Full-Time RVing.” She is former fiction editor of Mid-American Review and the recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship. She and her husband have been living the “full-timer” RV lifestyle since 2009.

Website

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My Adventures – I saw the Odyssey, a Wahoo, and a Kazoo

Posted on July 6, 2013 by fundinmental

I would like to take a moment to say “Thank You” to all our service men and women.

My Adventures – I saw the Odyssey, a Wahoo, and a Kazoo.

Let tell you about our weather. It has been raining buckets for days here in the panhandle of Florida, but like my hubby says, it never rains on the Funman. So, we began our adventure in the morning by going to the marina in downtown Pensacola.

The Funman and I started Fourth of July by shooting the Odyssey, a member of the Sea Shepherd fleet and Ocean Alliance, which was in town saving the whales! Yes there are whales in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ocean Alliance collects a broad spectrum of data on whales and ocean life relating particularly to toxicology, behavior, bio-acoustics, and genetics. From that data we work with our scientific partners to advise educators and policy makers on wise stewardship of the oceans to: reduce pollution, prevent the collapse of marine mammal populations, maintain human access to fish and other sea life, and promote ocean and human health.

Ocean Alliance is concerned with the conservation of whales and all sea life, as well as human impacts on the marine environment. Through the Ocean Alliance program the Voyage of the Odyssey, we were able to focus on measuring the concentrations of synthetic contaminants that adversely affect the world’s oceans and its marine species.

Then, on to the Blue Wahoo’s baseball game. The Blue Wahoos are the farm team for the Cincinnati Reds. They are new to the circuit, just being born in 2012. They were Organization of the Year, Ballpark of the Year and Executive of the Year for 2012.

They have a brand new stadium built on the shores of Pensacola Bay. They are currently ranked third in the Southern League Standings.

A lot of the workers were dressed and showing their patriotism for all the baseball fans.

I was the first one to get a ball, but Funman manged to get one too. We happily add them to our bucket of balls that we collect. What do we do with them? We look at them and say, “Oh, look at our pretty bucket of balls.”