Like the Rockford Files, you’ll love Big Shoes by Jack Getze #JackGetze

Posted on October 16, 2016 by fundinmental

Series: Austin Carr Mysteries
Paperback: 198 pages
Publisher: Down & Out Books (September 7, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1943402051
ISBN-13: 978-1943402052

MY REVIEW

I have been with Jack Getze’s Austin Carr since the beginning and if you are a fan of The Rockford Files, this stand alone series is a must read. Big Shoes is the latest edition to this rollicking good fun reading and I am very excited to share it with you.

In Big Shoes, Austin Carr is back from a ‘suggested’ vacation and I can’t help but wonder what is in store for him. I know there will never be a dull moment.

Austin Carr always seems to be dodging bullets and being drawn into dangerous situations through his relationships with the quirky, off the wall characters that come into and out of his life.

His biggest downfall is the dame and when she walks into the room, his common sense goes out the window. There is always one involved and he cannot say no to her. He is quick with words and it seems like every time he opens his mouth, he’s getting himself in deeper, pissing off those who would rather punch him than talk to him.

I love the pistol packing, Mama Bones. If organized crime were a comedy, Austin Carr and Mama Bones would be the stars. She carries a ‘bag of tricks’ and ya never know what she will pull from it.

Jack Getze’s marvelous characters and writing keep me cracking up as I weave through the mysteries. His pin-up girl would be Lucille Ball, so that gives you a hint of Jack Getze’s writing style.

If you are looking for a dark comedy mystery noir, Big Shoes and the Austin Carr series fits the bill to a T! The who, what, when, where, and why aren’t as important to me as the hilarious journey to the answers. Ya never know when the bullets will start flying, so be alert and DUCK!

I received a free copy of Big Shoes from Jack Getze.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jersey Shore broker Austin Carr wants out of the stock and bond business but un-hooking from his mobbed-up partner won’t be painless. Angelina “Mama Bones” Bonacelli is best known for professional consultations that deteriorate into criminal violence, breakfast appointments raided by the FBI and one particular Power Point presentation to a Jersey state racing commission that ended in automatic weapons fire.

Good thing she likes Austin.

She just won’t let Austin out of the business. Plus Johnny “The Turk” Korsay is on a rampage and had his crooked cops arrest Luis, the bartender Austin’s best friend. Why? Because Austin saw The Turk kill Heriberto. And now he’s gunning for the stock broker.

It’s another brush with violent death and a sexy redhead for Austin Carr when Mama Bones and her rival Jersey associate of a fading New York crime family battle for the future of imported sex slaves, boardwalk tourist business and surprising horse racing secrets, past and present.

“Big Shoes is a five-star romp.”
—Rick Bylina, best-selling author of One Promise Too Many

You can purchase BIG SHOES at the following Retailers:

TEN RANDOM THINGS BY JACK GETZE

(Spare time)

First off, I don’t allow myself a ton of spare time, not since I turned a certain age. Time isn’t catching up, it has intercepted me. The last few years, I like to write as much as I can.

I used to start every day by reading two newspapers with my coffee, a habit one learns as a news reporter. (How else could you know what’s news?) I still look at headlines, online, but I can’t take newspapers anymore. Either I’m an old fogey or the news is no longer written by impartial journalists. Maybe both are half-true. J

I watch some television at night, preferably a baseball game or a good movie, but there are a couple of regular drama shows I like. The Vikings. Ray Donovan. Homeland.

My wife and I enjoy gardening together, although lately I think she gets to pick the plants and I get to clean up. But I must admit she’s made a beautiful sanctuary out of the backyard, where she demanded “everything must bloom.” It’s a place we often survey quietly together in the morning and evening.

I like to cook a little, especially one-pot dinners and Mexican food because I can’t find any good local tacos and burritos.

I used to play a lot of golf. Back in ’84, I was a public-course club champion, a two USGA handicap. Now it takes up way too much of the day. I golfed one or two rounds last week with my number-two son — it’s great dad-son time — but I haven’t played since last year when he was in town.

I worry a lot, and though I’ve improved since I recognized how much time was involved, concern for my family, friends and the future occupy time every day. Sorry to make you part of my therapy, but this is good for me to talk about.

If you like rock and roll, give me a guitar, I can make you dance.

My wife and I enjoy dining out when we can, especially near the ocean. Last month I gobbled up a small dish of spaghetti with aged parmesan cheese and cracked black peppercorns, then a chunk of halibut over lobster risotto. My first newspaper job, I would have had to work three weeks to pay the bill. This tab I gave to my successful wife.

I spoil my pets, offering dinner scraps afterward. My wife doesn’t like it, scolds me. But I can’t help it. Those animals know how to stare at me.

Great post, Jack. Like you, I am an old fogey and proud of it. I thought I would develop more patience, but I have even less. Worries, I’m not going there. News…what’s that? The media chooses what it wants to share and I don’t think the truth matters much to them. I love eating by the water, who wouldn’t? And Mexican food…my favorite. The margaritas are on me! Cheers.

Book Nerd Spotlight

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can follow the tour HERE.

Former L.A. Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet’s oldest websites for noir, crime and horror short stories. His award-winning Austin Carr mystery series is published by Down & Out Books. The latest, BIG SHOES, won Deadly Ink’s David Award for Best Mystery of 2015. His short fiction has appeared in A Twist of Noir, Beat to a Pulp, The Big Adios and several anthologies.

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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Other reviews for Jack Getze:

Save

Sherry’s Shelves #98 – What do Kid Rock and Elephants Have in Common

Posted on October 16, 2016 by fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #98 is my weekly update from October 9 – October 15, 2016.

Sunday Post #201 Countdown to Spring..

Stacking The Shelves {200}

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)**

~~~

BORN FREE

I subscribe to the BBC on YouTube because of videos like this one.

And…for your listening enjoyment while you peruse the rest of my post…Kid Rock and his powerful song, Born Free. His music speaks to my soul and I have tears in my eyes as I listen to this. It’s kind a funny, because when I first became aware of it is when they used it for a baseball playoff promo. Plus, he’s a fellow Michigander.

You can knock me down and watch me bleed, but you can’t keep no chains on me!

Hello fellow bloggers. Our weather is still great here in the Florida Panhandle. In the 80s during the day and a crisp 60s at night. The cooler nights have taken all the humidity out of the air and the sky is a sharp and brilliant blue…beautiful. Because of the shorter days, I have been watching the moon grow fuller and it will be in all its glory tonight. I’m going to take some more photos. I have recently purchased a cord release because touching the camera caused the lens to move ever so slightly, creating camera shake. I had one before, but since I updated my camera, I had to get another one. Here’s hoping it works. “fingers crossed” How about you? Are you a stargazer?

We are still getting in the pool. It is 78 and much warmer than the northern waters where I grew up…in Michigan…and where I spent many a summer weekend…Cape Cod.

Here is an update on my blogging ahead status:

I don’t really count October, but I have overdone it a bit and spent so much time because there are so many good books out there, that I thought I would throw it out there.

Oct: 21 posts for the 17th through the 31st
Now, for the real thing:
Nov: 6
Dec: 9

See what I mean about spending too much time on October? I will be trying to limit myself for the rest of the year and catch up on owed reviews and books that I wanted to share just because I liked them!

How do YOU say no to a good book?

~~~

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

~~~

THIS WEEK ON fundinmental

I may have more posts, I’m just not sure what, so be sure and keep checking back.

Sherry’s Shelves
Review – Big Shoes by Jack Getze
Giveaway – Pale Riders: Zombies vs Dinosaurs by James Livingood
Giveaway & Review – Strong Cold Dead by Jon Land
Giveaway – Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween
Teaser Tuesday – Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
Giveaway – The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak
Spotlight – A Vampire’s Honor by Carla Susan Smith
Giveaway & Review – Roma Underground by Gabriel Valjan
Friday 56 – Night Whispers by Judith McNaught
Giveaway & Review – Dead Man’s Curve by Alex Van Tol
If I Were A Mobster Blogfest
Spooktacular Giveaway Hop (This is my first time participating, To thank all of you for sticking with me, I will be giving away a $10 Amazon GC)

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

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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

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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Save

One Sentence Review for Mutation Z by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

Posted on October 15, 2016 by fundinmental

I have been reading Mutation Z by Marilyn Peake, a novella series, that, even with the zombies, smacks of realism.

You can find out more and check out my reviews at the links below, but for now, I will share #5 and #6, the final chapters of a truly frightening glance at the apocalypse that could make the human race extinct. Do you believe something like this could happen in real life?

If you want to find out if this zombie horror is for you, the first story is FREE.

Amazon / Goodreads

~~~

Mutation Z: Dragon in the Bunker Novella #5 by Marilyn Peake

Amazon / Goodreads

Mutation Z: Dragon in the Bunker Novella #5 by Marilyn Peake

MY REVIEW

Journalist Hunter Morgan is a seriously messed up guy who has lost so much because of the Z virus, but he never gives up and I love that, because in this apocalyptic horror novella, all my conspiracy theories developed into full blown betrayal and treason showcasing an evil so potent that it makes me so angry I want to jump into my Kindle and beat the hell out of someone…or so much worse and with writing like that I say, “Well done, Marilyn,” as we move on to a new beginning in Hunter’s life.

GOODREADS BLURB: Journalist Hunter Morgan gains an unlikely ally in his search for the truth about the origins of the zombie virus. Mark Chen, youngest son of a co-owner of Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals, shows him information more frightening than his greatest nightmares. Together, they travel all the way from an abandoned meth shack in the Mexican desert to China, evading the authorities by communicating with Mark’s contacts through a video game on the Dark Web. NOVELLA. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

4 Stars

~~~

Mutation Z: Desperate Measures, Novella #6 by Marilyn Peake

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Marilyn Peake wraps up this novella series, exposing all the conspiracies and corruption, the perverted reasons for setting the zombies loose, and my juices were flowing as they pissed me off and sickened me beyond words, but left me with the faith that a ‘few good men/women can make all the difference in the world.

GOODREADS BLURB: Sixth and final book in the series.

As things heat up in the United States with both the U.S. military and radical militias targeting those trying to develop a vaccine and cure for the Zombie Plague, more researchers flee to Mark Chen’s bunker in China. There, they will be free to carry on their research. Bringing patients afflicted with the Zombie Virus to China on a cargo ship, they’re attacked by pirates. It becomes very clear that they’re in a race against time to try and save the human race. NOVELLA. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos

5 Stars

~~~

Marilyn Peake has now created a complete set of all 6 novellas for the Mutation Z series at an amazing price of $.99.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Each novella is an important part of the whole in the Mutation Z series by Marilyn Peake. Her writing amazes me, bringing the characters and the world they created to life. The Zombie Virus was developed by some of the most evil men ever to walk this earth, all for their own gain and self interest. The brutality they dealt out as the blood and guts flew, the lives that were lost as the good people struggled to expose the conspiracy, is shocking. I felt this story rang of possibilities, that something like this could really happen. Maybe not exactly as written, but when push comes to shove, the elite will sacrifice anything and anyone to get what they want. If you want to be shocked, pissed off, saddened, frightened, left with food for thought, then Mutation Z is for you.

5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB: Omnibus Edition of All Six Books in the Mutation Z Series

Ebola, one of the most feared of the hemorrhagic diseases, begins spreading across the borders of countries in West Africa. Soon after, the disease mutates into the “Z” or Zombie Virus. Journalist Hunter Morgan uncovers a disturbing connection between Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals and this mutation. Further investigation reveals a web of sinister intrigue connecting the pharmaceutical company to a treatment and research camp in West Africa, U.S. government officials, the CDC and the World Health Organization. Racing against time to find a cure, Hunter and several scientists go underground in order to hide from powerful forces trying to silence them forever.

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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

MY REVIEWS FOR MUTATION Z BY MARILYN PEAKE

Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombie

Mutation Z: Closing Our Borders

Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own

Mutation Z: Drones Overhead

With the fantastic price for the entire series at a shocking $.99, I did not feel it necessary to list them individually, but if you would like to see if this is for you, you can grab the first novella for FREE HERE. Grab your Amazon copy today!

Save

Poor Baby Dragon – Giveaway – The Emerald Key by Mark Frederickson @mfredwriter

Posted on October 14, 2016 by fundinmental

The Emerald Key by Mark Frederickson is a fun filled adventure for all ages.

If you like dragons, I LOVE dragons, this baby will steal your heart.

MY REVIEW

The Emerald Key by Mark Frederickson is a fun filled adventure for kids of all ages. When I read about magic and dragons, I knew I wanted to go with them and I love that the action began early.

Laci lives mostly through books. Her best friend, Penny, stands up for her when she won’t do it for herself. They are opposites, Penny is an athlete and a chic dresser. Laci is a bookworm and dresses for comfort. She’s a bit of a klutz too.

In the attic, the girls find a hidden box and the adventure is set in motion.

Four teens, a book of magic and a baby dragon…

“Poisonous snakes, dragons, cliffs and traps? Guessing this isn’t a big tourist destination.”

A fun story of traveling through portals with a fire breathing baby dragon, dodging styggs, Chuvashia, Hellblaze Wyvers, Vardo Witches, Glem fog, pirates and deadly vines, all to return him to his home.

I can’t figure out who they can trust or who will betray them.

I do wonder if one mystery will be solved and they will return home with more than they started out with…or less.

What would you think if the fantasy world you read about became a reality and you were in it?

The Emerald Key made me think of Neverending Story. A book is an adventure, but what happens when magic brings it to life?

I love action and adventure and we also have a mystery to solve. All the characters have an important part to play and I hope if I ever fall down the rabbit hole I have friends like Laci’s to accompany me.

The ending was fabulous and if you like a smile on your face when you close a book, then this will be good one.

I received a copy of The Emerald Key from Mark Frederickson.

4 Stars

The Emerald Key by Mark Frederickson & Melora Pineda

Penny and Laci are headed for a mundane summer vacation until a mysterious journal unlocks a portal to another world and they find themselves face to face with a baby dragon. In an attempt to send their new acquisition back to its home, the girls, along with two neighborhood friends, get sucked through to a mythical world. In this land, they must battle foes seen and unseen, pushing them to both their physical and mental limits. If they fail to stop the powers they’ve unleashed, it could not only destroy this strange world, but also annihilate their own.

WOODSHED EXCERPT

They could hear the deep breaths of the dragon as it passed by the shed. They crouched motionless under the window with their backs pressed against the wall. Not only did they hear it sniffing the ground and the walls, but that familiar methane smell was overwhelming. It rounded the side and approached the woodshed doors.

Buzz mouthed a jumbled Hail Mary while attempting, but failing to make the sign of the cross.

A loud screech in the distance startled them out of their silent formation and Buzz’s haphazard prayer. The dragon pushed off the ground with its massive legs and flew away, back in the direction of the enormous mountain they had seen from the top of the knoll. It turned back once to circle the shed; then as quickly as it arrived, it vanished into the horizon behind the trees.

Praise for The Emerald Key

“In The Emerald Key, authors Mark Frederickson and Melora Pineda take readers on a fast-paced journey sure to enthrall not only middle-grade readers but their parents, as well. Laci and Penny will appeal to anyone looking for strong, resourceful female characters and the side characters are well-developed and hilarious, too (my favorite might be Buzz!).”
– Author Julie Gardner

“If you like fantasy and want adventure, this book is for you! It is entertaining for adults as well as middle-grade students…Just when you think there’s nothing new anyone could offer in a fantasy, these two authors prove you wrong. They have created a very believable new world fraught with danger and excitement at every turn. I couldn’t put it down.”
– Dani B

“I love the vivid characters and the way you can picture all the action…I would recommend this book for any age and it is a book that grandparents can buy for their grand kids and know that it is an exciting story and a safe read.”
– Amazon Customer

“A real page turner, loved it. This book is funny and an adventure story for both young and old readers. I’m looking forward to the next book!”
– MJP

Blog Tour Schedule

Mark Frederickson

Mark was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated UC Santa Barbara with a degree in film and has worked in the film industry for years. He has written several screenplays and had a show optioned by MTV. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Rebecca and his daughter Sara. This is his first novel, and hopefully not his last.

Facebook * Twitter

Melora Pineda

After Melora graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, she worked in the television industry for several years before becoming a library volunteer at her daughters’ school. Her passion for both reading and entertainment inspired her to write. This is her first novel. She currently lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a pet bunny and a fish. Oh…never mind, the fish died.

Facebook * Twitter

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/30/16

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

.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Save

Giveaway – Shifted in Seattle by Lisa Medley @l isamedley @GoddessFish

Posted on October 14, 2016 by fundinmental

Shifted in Seattle by Lisa Medley

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

GENRE: paranormal romance

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

BLURB

No one’s ever captured a Sasquatch.

Until now.

Sasquatches have roamed the Pacific Northwest for centuries, hiding in the wilds of the northern territories and protected by the Lummi nation.

When Seattle author Ethan Lane’s secret is exposed after a first date with Ruby Parsons goes wonderfully right, then horribly wrong, he’s faced with betraying his clan or losing his only chance at true love and a normal life.

Sometimes love gets hairy.

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

EXCERPT

With friends like this… excerpt:

“Ruby! It’s him!”

Ruby Parsons peered around her iPad at her roommate Claire, who bounced excitedly on the opposite end of the couch. “And who would he be?”

“Listen to this Daveslist “Near Misses” ad:

H.P. Lovecraft: Stand-Up Comedian – m4w (Annex Theater) – Seattle

Tuesday night, after the show, you and I flirted while in line for the bathroom. We agreed that even if the staff had to clean up a blood sacrifice, the place was still nicer than the streets below.

You smiled at me as you took off, but there was no chance for me to get your name.

Buy you a drink sometime? We might as well enjoy ourselves before Cthulhu rises…”

Ruby scrambled across the couch and stuffed herself into the crack between Claire and the cushioned back for a look at the ad.

“It’s Cthulhu! Your Lovecraftian lobster,” Claire said, handing over the iPad for her to see.

“You have got to quit watching Friends reruns.” Ruby read the ad. Her heart hammered in her chest, and a blush of heat covered her face and neck. It was him. Too many exact details not to be. Still. A classified ad? In “Near Misses”? It was so…seedy. Wasn’t it? What kind of people posted ads like that, or worse…responded to them? “Listen, I met the guy for like thirty seconds in line for the bathroom.”

“And then reread The Call of Cthulhu even though you practically have the thing memorized and went on and on and on about him and his hipster beardedness for weeks. Weeks!” Claire snatched her iPad out of Ruby’s hands then launched off the couch and into the swinging papasan chair. She began typing furiously on the tablet.

“What are you doing?” Ruby asked, concerned.

“Answering him, of course.”

ABOUT LISA MEDLEY

Lisa has always enjoyed reading about monsters in love and now she writes about them, because monsters need love too.  She adores beasties of all sorts, fictional as well as real, and has a farm full of them in her Southwest Missouri home, including: one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees, and a guinea pig.   She may or may not keep a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times, including a machete. Just. In. Case.

Facebook / Twitter / Website / Newsletter / Goodreads / G+ / Amazon Author Page

Book Buy Links: Amazon / Smashwords / KOBO / ibooks / Nook

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

GIVEAWAY

Lisa Medley will be awarding a Sasquatch Swag Pack: a Bigfoot of chocolate, Jack Link’s Squatch sticks and Shifted in Seattle bookmarks to a randomly drawn (U.S. only) winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE.

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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Save

Friday 56 #103 – Everyone Dies by Michael McGarrity #MichaelMcGarrity

Posted on October 14, 2016 by fundinmental

.
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.

~~~

Everyone Dies by Michael McGarrity is a mystery, thriller, suspense novel.

My 1st edition hardcover publilshed in 2003.

The jacket design was done by Anthony Ramondo.

Amazon / Goodreads

My 56

Larranga stood up. “Then make damn sure all the facts are available to present to the grand jury. The only defense you’ve got is to provide conclusive proof above and beyond the officers’ statements that they were forced to stop the action when they came under fire. You’d better hope and pray the evidence is there. I want the reports on my desk by morning.”

(Page 56 in hardcover, published in 2005)

Book Beginnings

Jack Potter, perhaps the most successful and best known attorney in Santa Fe, had recently attended a gay rights costume ball dressed as Lady Justice. The following morning a photograph of a smiling Potter, wearing a shimmering frock, a curly wig, and holding the scales justice and a sword, appeared on the front page of the local paper.

My question to you: Do you have a favorite genre or are you open to that next hidden gem no matter what the subject?

GOODREADS BLURB: The Anthony Award-nominated author with “a cunning mind for crime fiction” (The New York Times Book Review) ratchets up the stakes in a novel of electrifying action and unstoppable suspense, where a vengeful killer with an unspeakable agenda won’t stop until . . . everyone dies.

Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kerney and his wife, Lieutenant Colonel Sara Brannon, are on leave and eagerly awaiting the birth of their son when a prominent gay attorney is gunned down outside his office by an unknown assailant. Called to the crime scene and faced with scanty evidence and no apparent motive, Kerney directs his chief of detectives to delve into the victim’s personal and professional life, a decision that ultimately leads to a SWAT team screw-up and the death of two innocent people.

But the killer has just begun. Kerney’s horse, a mustang he’d gentled and trained, is viciously and senselessly destroyed; a dead rat is left on his doorstep; and a second victim with ties to the criminal justice system is found in bed with her throat cut along with a warning: EVERYONE DIES.

As a time of joy turns into a nightmare, Kerney and Sara search desperately for a seemingly unstoppable chameleonlike killer who promises to murder them and their unborn son.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
To see all my reviews, go 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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Cozy Mystery Giveaway – Crepe Factor by Laura Childs with Terry Farley Moran @dollycas

Posted on October 13, 2016 by fundinmental

Crepe Factor

by Laura Childs
with Terry Farley Moran

Crepe Factor
(A Scrapbooking Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
14th in Series
Berkley (October 4, 2016)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425266700
E-Book ASIN: B01AHKY37I

Synopsis

The Winter Market in the French Quarter is in full swing, but murder isn’t taking a holiday in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Parchment and Old Lace…

The holidays are a busy time for scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand—but not so hectic that she doesn’t have time to enjoy browsing the booths at the Winter Market with her best friend Ava. The last thing the ladies expect to see is a lurching man stabbed by a serving fork, dying in front of them.

The victim is loathed restaurant critic Martin Lash, who posted his scathing reviews on the Glutton for Punishment website. And the prime suspect is New Orleans restauranteur Quigg Brevard—who was seen giving the critic a tongue-lashing minutes before someone stuck a fork in him. An old flame of Carmela, Quigg asks for her help, which does not please her current beau, Detective Edgar Babcock, to say the least.

Before her relationship is the next victim, Carmela needs to find a murderer who had no reservations about punishing the culinary curmudgeon…

Scrapbooking tips and recipes included!

About The Authors

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links: Webpage – http://www.laurachilds.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31

terrie farley moran

Short-listed twice for The Best American Mystery Stories, Terrie Farley Moran is delighted to introduce mystery fans to the Read ’Em and Eat café and bookstore, which debuted with Well Read, Then Dead. followed by Caught Read-Handed and Read to Death released in July of this year. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her grandchildren.

Terrie’s Links: Facebook / Blog / Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Goggle Books IndieBound

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

October 3 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

October 3 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW

October 3 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

October 4 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW

October 4 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

October 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – REVIEW

October 5 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

October 6 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – REVIEW

October 6 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT

October 7 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

October 7 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT

October 8 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

October 8 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

October 9 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

October 10 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

October 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 11 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW

October 11 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

October 12 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW

October 12 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST

October 13 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 13 – fundinmental – REVIEW

October 14 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

October 14 – deal sharing aunt – SPOTLIGHT

October 15 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

October 15 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

October 16 – Booklady’s. Booknotes – REVIEW

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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Suspense at its finest – The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter #KarinSlaughter @pumpupyourbook

Posted on October 12, 2016 by fundinmental

Karin Slaughter is a must read author, for me, so when I had the chance to read and review The Kept Woman, I had to have it!

So, without further ado, let’s get to it.

Title: The Kept Woman
Author: Karin Slaughter

Release Date: September 20, 2016

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Format: Ebook/Paperback/Hardcover/Audio

MY REVIEW

Karin Slaughter is an amazing storyteller and she continues to surprise and entertain me in The Kept Woman, a psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I have met Will and Sara before, and am happy to be with them again. Not only do they get along, even though they come from opposite sides of the track, but so do their dogs. I love it. Can’t help myself. It is the bits and pieces like this that make Karin Slaughter’s stories so wonderful.

Will’s past will comes back to haunt him, putting Sara’s trust in him to the test. He is damaged goods and carries a lot of baggage. I like my heroes to be a bit flawed. After all, we humans are far from perfect. I am so glad the difficulties in their relationship seem real…not dragged out over many chapters before both of them come to the realization that they love each other, though outside influences keep causing conflict.

The first part of the book is told from Will and Sara’s point of view. The second part of the book is told by his haunting past, Angie. It makes it easy to relate to all the characters and understand their motivations.

The peripheral characters played an important part, some more so than others. I know the writing resonates with me when I even love the villains, no matter how flawed and evil they are. I love to hate them and the things they do. I am always trying to figure out the WHY!

If you want to know how the police investigate a murder, The Kept Woman is definitely for you.

The Kept Woman may be Karin Slaughter’s best work yet. The writing kept me on pins and needles. When I didn’t think it could get any worse, the people couldn’t get any worse, Karin took me to another place, showing the ugliest side of humanity…worse than I anticipated and it went on…and on…and on…

I received a free copy of The Kept Woman from Karin Slaughter.

5 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

Husbands and wives. Mothers and daughters. The past and the future.

Secrets bind them. And secrets can destroy them.

The author of Pretty Girls returns with an electrifying, emotionally complex thriller that plunges its fascinating protagonist into the darkest depths of a mystery that just might destroy him.

With the discovery of a murder at an abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is identified as an ex-cop.

Studying the body, Sara Linton—the GBI’s newest medical examiner and Will’s lover—realizes that the extensive blood loss didn’t belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from the scene indicate there is another victim—a woman—who has vanished . . . and who will die soon if she isn’t found.

Will is already compromised, because the site belongs to the city’s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful, and politically connected athlete protected by the world’s most expensive lawyers—a man who’s already gotten away with rape, despite Will’s exhaustive efforts to put him away.

But the worst is yet to come. Evidence soon links Will’s troubled past to the case . . . and the consequences will tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone around him, including his colleagues, family, friends—and even the suspects he pursues.

Relentlessly suspenseful and furiously paced, peopled with conflicted, fallible characters who leap from the page, The Kept Woman is a seamless blend of twisty police procedural and ingenious psychological thriller — a searing, unforgettable novel of love, loss, and redemption.

Meet the Author:

Karin Slaughter is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including the Will Trent and Grant County series and the instant New York Times bestselling standalones, Cop Town and Pretty Girls. There are more than 35 million copies of her books in print around the world.

Visit her at http://www.karinslaughter.com

———————

Tour Schedule

Monday, September 19 – Book featured at A Title Wave

Tuesday, September 20 – Book featured at The Writer’s Life

Wednesday, September 21 – Book reviewed at The Bookworm Lodge

Thursday, September 22 – Book featured at The Dark Phantom

Friday, September 23 – Book featured at Voodoo Princess

________

Monday, September 26 – Book reviewed at Cover2Cover

Tuesday, September 27 – Book featured at As the Page Turns

Wednesday, September 28 – Book featured at The Literary Nook

Thursday, September 29 – Book featured at From Paperback to Leatherbound

Friday, September 30 – Book reviewed at Doing Some Reading

________

Monday, October 3 – Book reviewed at fuonlyknew

Tuesday, October 4 – Book featured at The Review From Here

Wednesday, October 5 – Book reviewed at The World As I See It

Thursday, October 6 – Book reviewed at Polished Bookworm

Friday, October 7 – Book reviewed at Chick with Books

________

Monday, October 10 – Book reviewed at Shelley’s Book Case

Tuesday, October 11 – Book reviewed at I’m Shelf-ish

Wednesday, October 12 – Book reviewed at Fundinmental

Thursday, October 13 – Book reviewed at Cheekypee Reads and Reviews

Book reviewed at Deal Sharing Aunt

Friday, October 14 – Book reviewed at A Word at a Time

________

Monday, October 17 – Book reviewed at Svetlana’s Reads and Reviews

Tuesday, October 18 – Book reviewed at Art, Books and Coffee

Wednesday, October 19 – Book reviewed at Authors and Readers Book Corner

Thursday, October 20 – Book reviewed at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews

Book reviewed at Freda’s Voice

Friday, October 21 – Book reviewed at Why Girls are Weird

Book reviewed at Pretty Little Book Reviews

Book reviewed at The Book Tree

Book reviewed at Nay’s Pink Bookshelf

Book reviewed at True Book Addict

________

You may 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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Save

Giveaway & Review – Bewitched by Nancy Fraser @nfraserauthor @GoddessFish

Posted on October 11, 2016 by fundinmental

The fun cover of Bewitched by Nancy Fraser was impossible for me to resist.

I love all the colorful elements.

Bewitched by Nancy Fraser

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

GENRE: Vintage (1960s) Historical

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

MY REVIEW

The cover for Bewitched by Nancy Fraser immediately caught my eye. I am a sucker for a pretty cover, so how can I resist such a fun, colorful one. Bewitched is a quick and entertaining romance.

A new man moves into the neighborhood and love is in the air.

He peeks out the window at her. She peeks out the window at him. Have you ever snuck a glance at some cutie, only to see he/she is sneaking a glance at you?

This light, yet sexual tension filled romance is predictable, but the bumps along the road leading to the happy ever after are filled with fingerpaints and upchucking, childhood hijinks, courting and falling in love.

I loved the characters from the beginning. She’s sweet, he’s hot and the peripheral characters play their part in fleshing out this fun filled novella that I would highly recommend.

I received a copy of Bewitched from Nancy Fraser.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars

BLURB

Chicago, Fall 1964
Allison Stiles is the epitome of responsibility. Guardian to her two rambunctious younger brothers, she also runs a home daycare. While she doesn’t have time for a vacation, she really needs a diversion.

Enter Eric Thomas, her new neighbor. Tall, dark and handsome and just what she needs to get her mind off her responsibilities, even if only for a short time.

Moving into the house he inherited from his uncle was not part of Eric Thomas’ plan. Yet, starting a new business ties up a good portion of his capital, so he forgoes the fancy downtown apartment for the quaint Rogers Park neighborhood.

Now if he could just get his mind off his sexy neighbor and back on the business at hand.

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

EXCERPT

Allison Stiles gathered up a book by her favorite romance author in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, then crossed the padded alphabet flooring and stepped out onto the enclosed front porch of her Rogers Park home. The neighborhood was old but well kept, the people warm and inviting. The shouts of children playing in the street drew her attention for a brief moment.

She wrapped a thin shawl around her shoulders and settled comfortably into the double-wide porch swing, set her teacup on the nearby window ledge, and opened her book to the first page. Given the week she’d had, she welcomed this chance to unwind, to do nothing but kick back and relax.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do with these two. They’re headed for juvenile hall, I tell you that.”

Principal Garner’s harsh rebuke swirled around inside her head like the colors from a child’s kaleidoscope, forcing her to set aside the book in favor of a sip of calming, herbal tea. As much as she hated to admit it, the man was right. Benny and Phillip were a handful and quickly getting on the edge of her very last nerve.

“We’re sorry, Sis.” Benny’s apology filled her thoughts.

“We didn’t mean to do anything bad. Honest.” Phillip’s younger, softer voice tugged on her heartstrings.

Her brothers’ penchant for trouble and the subsequent call to the principal’s office was just the icing on the cake. She’d spent the entire week wiping runny noses and disinfecting child after child in an effort to keep this first round of seasonal flu from infecting her and everyone around her. She needed more than a cup of tea and a great read. She desperately needed a vacation. Unfortunately, her obligations didn’t allow much down time.

At the very least she needed a distraction of some sort.

The loud slam of a car door and a man’s muttered curse pulled her from this latest bout of self-pity and to the closest window. With the tips of her fingers, she slid the hand-made paper skeleton aside and stared out across her toy-strewn yard.

There in front of her, his arms filled with boxes, minus the one he’d dropped on the ground, stood the most handsome man she’d ever seen. A real-life Adonis, complete with dark, wavy hair and broad shoulders. When he turned toward the porch, she was gifted with an unencumbered view of his narrow hips and taut backside, both of which were encased in a pair of impossibly tight jeans.

She swallowed back the lump in her throat and licked her suddenly-dry lips. As distractions go…this one was darned-near perfect.

ABOUT NANCY FRASER

Like most authors, Nancy Fraser began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published twenty-two books in both full-length and novella format. Nancy will release her 25th book in early 2017. She is currently working on a Valentine’s Day novella, her next Rock and Roll novella, and a story about a racy Scot titled “Kilty Pleasures”.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Nobles

GIVEAWAY

Nancy Fraser will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC, a second prize of a $5 gift card and a third prize of a digital copy of a novella titled Only Yours to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE.

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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Save

Teaser Tuesday #77 – Water Under The Bridge by Britney King @britneyking_

Posted on October 11, 2016 by fundinmental

Teaser

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

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~~~~~~

Water Under The Bridge by Britney King

This gorgeous cover looks so nice…doesn’t it? Britney King designed it herself.

Wait til you read the not so nice story inside!!!!!

Goodreads / Amazon

MY TEASE

I have to find you.

You need to know the only friend you need is me.

(7% on Kindle)

I will be reviewing Water Under The Bridge by Britney King on 10.25.16, so be sure and stop by to check out this fantastic suspense thriller!

GOODREADS BLURB

My whole life I’ve wanted nothing more than to fit in.
Only, my whole life I’ve done anything but.
That’s probably because I’m anything but average. After all—female serial killers seem to be a minority in today’s society.
And that’s ok—because I’ve longed for a change for quite some time now.
Which brings me back around to fitting in.
You know what one has to do to fit in?
I do.
One has to blend.
Which is great news!
Because I realize my clock is ticking, so to speak, and now I want a family. Luckily, I’ve always been good at getting what I want.
So I figure what better place to blend than suburbia?
All that stuff I did before—it’s water under the bridge now. I just hope it’s not too late to change my ways. Here’s to hoping for suburbia’s sake, too.
I mean, what are the odds I could be the girl next door?
Apparently, they’re better than you might think.

==============================

Your whole life you’ve wanted to fit in.
Only your whole life you’ve done anything but.
That’s probably because you’re anything but average— you’re a killer— but, then so am I.
You say you’ve longed for a change for quite some time now.
This is good because, well, me too.
Your clock is ticking, you want a family, but you waste so much time.
I know because I’m watching, waiting, blending.
What you don’t realize is if you want me, and I think you do, then you’ll have to change your ways because sometimes hunters become hunted.
But what are the odds of that happening in suburbia?
Apparently, they’re better than you might think.