Giveaway & Review – Children of the Fifth Sun by Gareth Worthington @DrGWorthington @partnersincr1me

Posted on September 7, 2017 by fundinmental

Children of the Fifth Sun

by Gareth Worthington

on Tour July 24 – Sept 25, 2017

Book Details

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller | “Science Faction” science fiction, action, adventure with fact-based science, theories and mythology

Published by: Vesuvian Books

Publication Date: July 25th 2017

Number of Pages: 407

ISBN: 9781944109400

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

Goodreads 🔗

MY REVIEW

WOW. Blew me away.

Children of the Fifth Sun was not what I was expecting. It was SO much more.

Evolution. Where do we come from?

A deadly virus.

Intelligent non human life form.

Kelly is a handful, with his flippant comments and sarcasm, but he had become Freya’s handful and someone I would want at my side in times of trouble. At least you know where he stands and that you can always count on him

Amazing. I could not predict the ending, but I loved it.

So….strap yourself in, because this will be an action packed wild ride that takes you round the world in a nail biting, white knuckled, engrossing story.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Children of the Fifth Sun by Gareth Worthington.

5 Stars

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Read this Free Preview: Amazon 🔗 & Barnes & Noble 🔗

Synopsis:

Thousands of years ago, an ancient species from the sea saved humanity; now a cocky, free-diving photographer tortured by his past is the unlikely hero who must save the last of their kind from a global race between nations to control the creature’s power.

IN ALMOST EVERY BELIEF SYSTEM ON EARTH, there exists a single unifying mythos: thousands of years ago a great flood devastated the Earth’s inhabitants. From the ruins of this cataclysm, a race of beings emerged from the sea bestowing knowledge and culture upon humanity, saving us from our selfish drive toward extinction. Some say this race were “ancient aliens” who came to assist our evolution. But what if they weren’t alien at all? What if they evolved right here on Earth, alongside humans . . . and they are still here? And, what if the World’s governments already know?

Kelly Graham is a narcissistic, self-assured, freelance photographer specializing in underwater assignments. While on a project in the Amazon with his best friend, Chris D’Souza, a mysterious and beautiful government official, Freya Nilsson, enters Kelly’s life and turns it upside down. Her simple request to retrieve a strange object from deep underwater puts him in the middle of an international conspiracy. A conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history.

Read an excerpt:

Freya elegantly glided in front of Kelly, breaking his train of thought. Her slender body slid through the water with grace and ease. She must have sensed his stare, because she turned her head to face him and gave a huge, regulator-filled grin. Kelly stifled a laugh.

He turned back to his equipment to check their depth—sixty-five feet. They were at the sea floor. It wasn’t very deep, but this was where it was supposed to be. He motioned his right arm to get Freya’s attention. He then signaled for her to look down and keep her eyes open. She gave the okay sign.

As they swam a little further, the structure came into sight just as Alexandro’s information had indicated. A large horseshoe-shaped wall, three-feet thick and six-feet tall, spanned more than two-hundred-fifty feet in diameter. Other than that, it was unimpressive—just an old stone wall. Surely, if a team had already been down here, they would have found an orb? Kelly pulled himself along the bottom, sifting through the sand, picking up each stone he came across. He shook his head and looked across at Freya. She seemed to be having similar poor luck, pointlessly rummaging through silt and mud. He swam across to her and pointed in front, indicating his intent to look on ahead. She nodded and watched as he flicked his fins, disappearing into a haze of ocean and sand particles.

Freya returned to her treasure hunt. All she found were rocks and the odd tin or soft drink can. Ugh, it was disgusting. Even the ocean wasn’t safe from humanity. She reached the outer edge of the stone wall and swam along, keeping close to it. Her gloved fingers prodded into each crack and crevice, not that she could feel anything through the thick material. Her mask was beginning to fill with water. She thought about Kelly’s instruction and began the mask clearing procedure.

Pressing the palm of her right hand against the top of her mask so the bottom released a few millimeters from her face, she exhaled hard through her nose, forcing the water out. A stream of bubbles crashed about her head in a white-water curtain. As it cleared, a small metallic glint protruding from beneath one of the huge stone bricks caught her eye. She clawed her way to it, then started digging in the sand. The fine silt clouded up around her, obscuring her view. Using only her limited sense of touch, Freya kept tunneling under the wall. The familiar shape of a box began to form under her fingers. She dug beneath until she could grip the box with both hands. Tugging hard, she released the cuboid object from its hold in the silt. The billow of sand cleared.

She stared at her treasure. It was a small chest, copper-colored with a green oxidized coating on its surface. She smiled. Could this be it? Could there be an orb inside? The excitement power through her. She raised her head to see if Kelly was nearby, but he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. She swam in a circle. The inability to hear or feel anything was unnerving. She only had the power of sight and that was restricted to a straight line in front of her for one hundred fifty feet or so.

The light above her dimmed. Freya frowned and raised her head to investigate. Above her, the huge shadow of a shark glided by. She knew her mask would magnify any object, but still, the thing looked huge. Its blunt snout and thick body looked positively primeval—the perfect predator. Panic set in.

Damn, where was Kelly? Clutching her treasure, Freya lowered her head. She searched for the knife strapped to her right calf. Before she could find it, her gaze was met by the cold stare of reptilian eyes. A sea snake was inches from her face, rippling its body to hold its position. Its eyes were fixed on hers. She froze, holding her breath. Freya shifted her focus from the uncomfortably close predator to the shadow lurking behind it. Oh God. The shark?

It was Kelly. A brief feeling of relief washed over her, but it was snatched away by the searing pain of fangs plunging into her left hand. Freya gargled a scream through her regulator and dropped the box, letting it fall to the sea floor. The snake shot off into murk as Kelly tore through the water toward her. Her breathing slowed and her limbs grew heavy. Her eyelids slid closed. She blinked before her eyes closed one last time.

* * *

More about Gareth Worthington:

Gareth Worthington holds a degree in marine biology, a PhD in endocrinology, and currently educates the World’s doctors on new cancer therapies. Gareth has hand tagged sharks in California; won honorable mention at the New York Book Festival 2012 and 2013 for his writing; and trained in various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, and MMA at the EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and Phoenix KampfSport Switzerland. Born in Plymouth UK, Worthington currently resides outside of Zurich, Switzerland.

Visit Gareth Online:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Tour Host Participants:

Stop by the other hosts for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

Giveaway

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Gareth Worthington and GH Literary. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card AND 3 winners of one (1) eBook copy of CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN by Gareth Worthington. The giveaway begins on July 24th and runs through September 27th, 2017.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Giveaway – Seeds of Intention by Andrea Thome @AndreaThome @SDSXXTours

Posted on September 7, 2017 by fundinmental

Seeds of Intention

Hesse Creek Series Book 2

by Andrea Thome

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Is it more important to have roots, or wings?

Garrett Oliver has
just settled into his job as heir apparent to one of the most
renowned master gardeners in the country. After a difficult few
years, he’s found a home and a renewed purpose at a famed resort in
the secluded Smoky Mountains. The stars seem to be aligning for
Garrett as he plans a future with his college sweetheart and
envisions a simple life with her in the mountains of East
Tennessee.

Willow Armstrong, fresh off a painful breakup, is
coming home to Knoxville to care for her ailing father. She finds
herself in the right place at the right time, landing a dream job
alongside Garrett—as his boss. As they are thrown together by their
work, an undeniable magnetism grows between them, despite the fact
that Garrett is ready to start a future with someone
else.

Circumstances persist in drawing them closer, and
an unexpected opportunity in Colorado prompts Willow and Garrett to
wonder if a life together out west might be beyond anything either of
them had dared to imagine.

Goodreads * Amazon

I’m a former broadcast journalist, having covered both sports and news
during my career. (That’s how I met my husband; I interviewed him on
MLB opening day in 1995, and the rest is history.) I temporarily
retired when we had our children, so I could be home with them
full-time while they’re young. We have a fourteen-year-old daughter,
a nine-year-old son, and two cats that we spoil rotten.

This seemed like the perfect time in my life to jump back into doing
something I love; writing and telling stories. No one was more
surprised than me when I ended up with 65,000 words in my lap last
spring! I called it Walland, and it was published in August of 2016.
My second book, Seeds of Intention will be published on September 5,
2017, and as we speak, I’ve started to write a new book, the third in
the Hesse Creek Series.

In my spare time, I love photography and travel, preferably at the same
time. My novels are inspired by favorite places I’ve traveled, each
of which have left vivid footprints on my imagination. I believe a
book can be steamy and sexy, while still keeping it classy. I also
love to infuse my characters with great senses of humor.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram
* Pinterest * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE
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Giveaway & Review – The Dark Mermaid by Christine L Barr @ninjadustpub @XpressoReads

Posted on September 6, 2017 by fundinmental

The Dark Mermaid
Christina L. Barr
Publication date: September 5th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

MY REVIEW

I like mean, vicious mers, but I also like the ones that fall in love with humans. Here, we have both, and because of the title I am curious where Christina L Barr will take me.

The Bermuda Triangle and Atlantis. Splash…in a dark way.

Her father has six girls, but has chosen her to train as a warrior. She has no idea what his real motivation is. Her father had declared war on all humans. When they attacked the ship and she met her first human, her life was changed forever.

Would her father kill her for saving one?

Her fathers order…kill him before she turned seventeen or he would kill them both.

We meet the Sea Witch, where she learns more about her heritage than she ever learned from her father. And Napa. He is an interesting character, a shapeshifter and I wonder what part he will play.

Halfway in and I’m liking it. I am looking forward to what will become of Luna…Ian, her father, her family, and, of course, the Sea Witch. Will she find true love? Will the mers and humans go to war? What side will Luna be on? Who will she have at her side? So many questions.

The action is amping up. It’s getting exciting and I can’t help but smile at the turn the story takes. It is not like other mermaid stories. A pooling of all the other mer tales I have read, with a dash of something extra on the side.

The battle between dark and light, good and evil…I am very suspicious, untrusting, some would say paranoid. I believe nothing is at it seems, and I am waiting for the lies, the betrayal.

Some parts were lacking detail and I would have liked them fleshed out, developed and drawn out, so I could enjoy them more. They felt a little rushed, glossed over. I wanted the story to unfold in full detail, slowly, and this would be a WOW. Or maybe it’s just me and I wanted more. (?)

Still, The Dark Mermaid by Christina L Barr is one that stands out from the crowd.

The end…and it does end…was great.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Dark Mermaid by Christina L Barr.

4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

“True love is not a myth. It’s mystic. It’s a force in the universe that draws two people together, resulting in incredible power, for either good or complete chaos.”

On the day Luna proves that she is powerful enough to be her father’s heir, she is banished for saving the life of an enchanting human boy. Her father, the king, gives her two options: kill Ian and regain her honor by the time she comes of age, or be destroyed.

Luna finds shelter in forbidden waters and comes under the protection of her father’s greatest enemy, the Sea Witch. As her ward, Luna becomes a fearsome warrior, but struggles with the fear of turning her powerful magic dark.

With only days remaining before her seventeenth birthday, Luna finds Ian sailing the seas in search of answers. Luna is determined to escape her father’s wrath, and the Sea Witch’s plot of revenge, but dark forces won’t allow her to live a human life without making an impossible sacrifice.

Goodreads / Amazon

Want to receive a free song inspired by the book that Christina sang herself?
Fill out this form here before Sept 9th!
—

EXCERPT:

True Love
When I returned to the lair, the Sea Witch was much too distracted gutting her catch of shark to care much about my adventures. She had no idea that I had found Ian and kissed him. I wanted to keep it that way. For all she knew, I spent my day with Napa, and I most certainly didn’t fight my sister to the almost death. I made sure to heal my wounds before she saw me.

I hid the pendent, dagger, and lock of hair in a satchel and hoped the Sea Witch wouldn’t be able to sense the magic. I also had to hope that she wouldn’t sense any special magic in me. It was odd that I wasn’t fatigued from my battle. Instead, I felt energized. My magic was leaking out of my body. I tried to keep my movements limited and to remain completely calm.

Unfortunately, somewhere between the chewing of our dinner, the Sea Witch cocked her brow at me in suspicion. “Did Napa bring you a new gift?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I sense new magic.”

I panicked on the inside, but I would not allow that panic to the surface of my thoughts. Of course, she would have been able to sense the pendent. I reached into my satchel and handed it to her without any fuss, and I hoped she didn’t ask any questions about the other item of interest. “Napa didn’t know any better.”

“Interesting.” It only took a moment for the Sea Witch to analyze what it could do. I don’t know why I was so surprised when she disappeared. “This would be more useful on the surface world.” She tossed it back to me and became visible once more. “Quite interesting.”

“Very.” I grinned hard and continued feasting, but I had the sense that she knew I was hiding many details from her. It’s not that I didn’t trust her. I just wanted to make sure she would take the news well, so I didn’t have to worry about her killing everyone outside of our immediate sphere.

It wasn’t easy. I wanted to tell her about Ian’s infatuation with me. It was flattering after my father threw me away. I wanted to tell my mother how his smile enchanted me, and now, I was under his spell. I tried to get him out of my head, so the Sea Witch wouldn’t find out, but while I brushed my hair and stared into the broken mirror Napa gave me, I began to imagine that I was staring at myself from his point of view, and I knew I was truly as beautiful as he made me feel. The thought of never seeing him again was crushing my heart and suffocating my insides. There had to be a way to see him again beyond tricks, smokes, and mirrors.

“Luna, what’s wrong?”

I saw Ian’s face too clearly in my mind. She must have known that I was thinking about him, but that wasn’t so strange. I could still hide the truth for a little while. “Why would something be wrong?”

She floated in front of me with a furrowed and curious brow. “Because you never sing.”

I hadn’t even noticed. I was singing the same song I sang to Ian when I first said goodbye. If he had his hooks in me that deeply, was there truly any escaping him? “You’ll think I’m being a fool.”

The Sea Witch surprised me and held me by my shoulders from behind. “Out of the two of us, I’m the one that made a blood oath with your father. You could be foolish for a thousand lifetimes and not end up as foolish as I once was.”

Perhaps I was being unfair to her. If she were trying to be a real mother, she deserved a chance. As my elder, she might have sound advice to put my mind at ease. “Napa told me that humans believe in true love. I know it sounds childish, but I think I’m experiencing it. I’ve found true love.”

I was so embarrassed that I kept my eyes focused on the teeth of the comb in my hands. I was responsible for ruining Ian’s childhood, and I delayed his life afterward. I didn’t deserve to feel such a consuming joy, especially if Ian were the root cause.

“I’ve heard of true love.” The Sea Witch nicked my chin up with her finger to force her eyes into mine. “The humans teach it like a fairytale, but true love is not a myth; it’s mystic. It’s a force in the universe that draws two people together, resulting in incredible power, for either good or chaos.”

“Chaos?” I laughed. Frankly, it was difficult to believe that there was an actual explanation to how I felt. Napa referred to love as “irrational logic”. I wasn’t sure if having a legitimate reason was worse or better. “How can what I feel ever lead to destruction?”

“I’m not saying that it will, but true love is a dangerous magic.” The Sea Witch got uncomfortably close to my face. I tried to back away, but she swam around to observe me fully. Nothing about me had changed physically, but I’m sure she wasn’t seeing with her natural eye. “I can sense it on you. Your magic is stronger.”

I thought of how quickly I defeated my sister, but then, I quickly pushed that out of my mind. “How is that possible? Is it just because I have feelings for Ian?”

“No. That would be ridiculous, but it is possible that you’re drawn to each other for a reason.” She, once again, became agonizingly uncomfortable. I didn’t back away or cower from her glaring and curious eyes. I tried to be firm while I blanketed my mind with thoughts of training battles, meditation, and the past few lonely years of my life. I would not think of Ian, and I certainly wouldn’t think of the kisses we shared!

Except, I completely did.

I don’t know if my sudden memory of Ian’s kiss was vivid enough to burrow into her brain, but she certainly seemed more suspicious after I indulged in it. “You must have seen him again!” I covered my face. I would have hidden in my clam, but she was already inside of it with me. She grew impatient and pulled my hands away from my flustered face. “I did. Napa found Ian, and I went to see him. He gave me the dagger I had been searching for, and we spoke.”

“That’s not the only thing you did.”

I straightened out my body and tried to look a little taller and mature than I had been acting a moment ago. “We did share a kiss, yes.”

Instead of lecturing me, she twirled around the cavern, shrieking in delight. I hadn’t seen her genuinely happy or excited over anything, so I was a little terrified. “Did he have magic?”

“He didn’t seem to have knowledge of having magic.” “Perhaps he’s an amplifier,” she suggested with much intrigue. “What do you mean?”

“They are extremely rare, but an amplifier can increase your magic, even without being able to use it.” She swam to me and clasped onto both my hands and smiled. “If you were to mate, you could create new magic for your offspring and leave your own power intact. If that’s true, you should definitely mate him.”

“Uh…” My mouth opened in shock. The desire to feel and be more of an adult was ripped away from me. “I’m not ready for this conversation.”

“Why? Do you love him?” “It’s preposterous that I love him!” “But you do!” She chuckled. “I see it in your eyes. I feel it through your magic. He’s made you more powerful. If Fate is pulling you to love this man, don’t push back. There’s no sense in fighting what will be.”

Was it truly possible that Ian made me feel stronger? Was he the reason why I could use my magic to fight my sister so effortlessly? Even if it were true, what did it matter? I only wanted to control my magic so it wouldn’t accidentally go dark. I had no desire to be the greatest sorcerous in the world.

It was silly to think that I could take human form and live with Ian. I hardly knew him. But, for some reason, the thought of leaving to discover the world with him began to fill my chest and gut with a ticklish light that turned into a glorious rumbling. I clutched onto my chest as I felt it vibrating. My entire body was radiating heat. I tried to convince myself that I was merely embarrassed, but my hands were tingling.

“The thought of escaping with that human is causing your magic to burst from you,” the Sea Witch said. “You can’t deny what you want or may very well need.”

Author Bio:

As the daughter of sci-fi enthusiasts and a pastor, Christina L. Barr has been taught to believe that anything is possible. She’s been a serious composer as far back as twelve-years-old, and has had the opportunity to sing her songs around the world.

In 2007, she graduated from Holly High School number nine in her class and attended College for Creative Studies. She started a pop culture website called The Gorgeous Geeks with her two older sisters, and was even featured on Times Magazine.

Her addiction to writing emerged when she was eighteen and started her first novel. To date, she has nine novels published, fourteen completed, and her goal is to finish thirty books by her thirtieth birthday.

She is currently a Creative Director and spends her days making graphics and videos.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Welcome to Sunset in Old Savannah by Mary Ellis #MaryEllis

Posted on September 5, 2017 by fundinmental

Sunset in Old Savannah by Mary Ellis is the fourth book in the Secrets of the South Mystery series.

I have been with the characters from the beginning, and it is good to be back.

All I need to do is look at the cover and I am there.

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A convoluted mystery with lots of suspects that kept me guessing.

It’s so nice to be back with familiar faces and off on another adventure with the team. This series can stand alone but to really get to know the main characters and all the supporting ones best, this light, fun, sorta cozy type of read is well worth reading from the beginning.

I start with a smile on my face at the fun writing about Beth.

She’s quite the character. She is my favorite. I love her brash, snarky, sarcastic wit that puts poor Mike, who’s madly in love with her, through the wringer. She manages to find herself in uncomfortable situations, and she’s looking for a reason to get out of town..

I can’t help but laugh at Beth’s antics…even as she puts her life in danger to get to the bottom the mystery.

Old friends, new friends, a mystery solved and another mystery on the horizon. From Natchez and Pensacola, to Savannah, Beth always gets her man.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sunset in Old Savannah by Mary Ellis.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In Savannah, Everyone Has Something to Hide

When socialite Evelyn Doyle hires investigative partners and best friends Michael Preston and Elizabeth Kirby to do some routine surveillance on her wayward husband, the detective duo find themselves embroiled in a mystery with more suspects than there are shells on Tybee Island.

Evelyn’s husband turns up dead, leaving her as the police chief’s prime target. The investigation reveals a hodgepodge of potential murderers, including a scheming business partner, a resentful mistress, and a ne’er-do-well brother. It’s up to Mike and Beth to follow the trail of secrets that reaches further than the branches of the moss-draped oaks of Savannah.

As word of the case gets around town, business is booming for Price Investigations. When Mike and Beth hire Kaitlyn Webb, Savannah’s newest transplant, their workload eases, but will the ghosts of her past threaten everyone’s safety before a killer can be put behind bars? And can Mike and Beth find love as their friendship and faith are put to the test?

ABOUT MARY ELLIS

Mary Ellis has written twelve award-winning novels set in the Amish community and several historical romances set during the Civil War. Her latest, Midnight on the Mississippi, first of a new mystery series, Secrets of the South, is set in New Orleans. Before “retiring” to write full-time, Mary taught school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate, a job with amazingly sweet fringe benefits. Mary enjoys traveling, gardening, bicycling and swimming, and lives in Ohio with her husband, dog and cat. She can be found on the web at: www.maryellis.net or
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mar…

MY MARY ELLIS REVIEW

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Giveaway – Pink Lock Picks by Carla Rehse @CRehse @YABoundToursPR

Posted on September 4, 2017 by fundinmental

Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats
by Carla Rehse
Genre: YA
Release Date: July 24th 2017

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old homecoming queen, Gracie Mason, is a budding burglar.

While attempting her inaugural break-in, Gracie blacks out and wakes up far away from the scene. It turns out she accidentally intruded on a male witch’s “circle of power,” and now she’s bonded to him for life.

Gracie quickly learns that dissolving the bond with Asher, admittedly a very handsome and charming witch, is more complicated than she initially thought. To break the bond, Gracie must delve deeper into a society of witches that involves a secret club, a shadowy council, and all sorts of magical mischief. And right when it seems things can’t get any worse, witches start turning up dead.

It’s clear that Gracie is out of her depth as her quest to sever the bond magically turns into a murder investigation. But if Gracie and Asher don’t quickly uncover the killer, they might be next on the list.

Buy on Amazon
for only $0.99 until 9/9!

Excerpt:

~One~

New Hobbies

Daddy told me
years ago that to succeed in life I need a strong plan, the right tools, and
the gumption to follow through. His words of wisdom helped me get elected
homecoming queen, become co-captain of the cheerleading squad, and voted on the
student council. Now I plan to use them to help me pull off my first burglary.

My plan is solid. I’ve also never backed
down from a challenge, not even last year when Brittany Thomas became overly
friendly with the entire football team in a sad attempt to deprive me of my
crown. People say I started the rumor about the rash of STD cases spreading
through the boys’ locker room faster than a brush fire. I didn’t, of course.
Why start gossip when the squad of doctors from the local Health Department did
it for me?

I take a deep breath as I enter the
Trinity Building. At almost four o’clock on a Friday before a three-day
weekend, the place is deader than a PTA meeting. It helps that today is the
hottest July first on record for Central Texas and the air conditioning in this
building is dismally subpar. The Trinity Corporation may claim to have the most
upscale rental space in town, but one look at the gold leopard granite floor
paired with peach-painted walls shows that’s a downright fib.

The only guard on duty leans back in his
chair and sucks down a Sonic Route 44 Coke like his life depends on it. I wave
as I pass the security desk, wearing a megawatt smile and fully confident in
the strength of my lavender-scented Lavanila deodorant—vegan, of course. Deputy
Dawg gives me his usual perv stare before returning to the comic book balanced
on his knee.

Centex Therapy, LPC occupies most of the
first floor office space. A small bell tinkles when I open the frosted glass
door. What decorum the overall building lacks, the waiting room has in spades.
Brown leather chairs sit on a bamboo rug and pastel paintings from local artists
brighten the walls. A tall grandfather clock in the corner softly chimes four
times. This late on a Friday means the room is empty of other patients.
Perfect.

Jane, the receptionist, fans herself
with a copy of Country Living.
“Cutting it awfully close, Gracie. Go on in.”

Dr. McDozzle gives me a pained smile as
I enter the room.

“Good afternoon, Miss Mason. Have a
seat.” For a head shrinker, he’s incredibly formal. And a non-Texan, who hates
football and sweet tea. I haven’t learned much more about him in the last month,
but that’s enough to get him tarred and feathered if word got out.

The leather recliner squeaks when I sit
down. “Thanks for seeing me on a Friday, Doc.” I twirl a strand of newly
highlighted platinum hair around my finger. It goes wonderful with my bubblegum
pink manicure. “Mr. Anderson, Daddy’s new lawyer, is now insisting I have two
sessions a month with you. Of course, Mama’s lawyer says once a month is just
fine, seeing how I’m such a well-adjusted high school senior and all. Almost a
senior, I guess, since school’s not started.”

Dr. McDozzle straightens his glasses.
“Yes, well, your parents do seem to have quite the barrage of attorneys
involved in their divorce. Have you worked on the homework I gave you during
our last session?”

This is such a waste of time. My parents
have spent the last five years embroiled in a divorce dirtier than a greased
pig-wrestling contest. Both sides of the family have more money than sense,
much to the delight of every lawyer in the tri-county area. Not that I want my
parents to get back together. Anytime they’re within spitting distance of each
other, the tension between them gives me a migraine. Besides, if they hadn’t
split up, I never would’ve met Ben.

Ben’s the son of Daddy’s ex-girlfriend.
Until four months ago, they all lived together in Daddy’s condo. Ben is a
sophomore at the local college and is truly hot, in a geeky, stud muffin, save-the-world,
kinda way. Crushing on my almost stepbrother might seem a bit sketchy, but it’s
legal—I Googled it twice.

Which means it’s time to start step one
in my Get Ben Plan.

I toss my hair over my shoulder before
pulling out a pink glitter notebook from my Eiffel Tower-shaped mini-purse.

“You wanted me to write down my feelings
about my parents’ shared custody thing. Honestly, I don’t understand why the
lawyers are so panty twisted about me spending a week with Mama and the next
with Daddy. It means I get double the wardrobe. Hello? What girl would say no
to that? It’s way better than Heather’s situation. I told you about her last time,
I think. The girl with the hideous frizzed-out curls but drives a cute BMW Z4
roadster? Anyway, her parents are
insane.” I continue a steady stream of babble until Dr. McDozzle’s eyes glaze
over.

There’s no clocks in the room, but Dr.
McDozzle keeps checking his watch. I’m sure the poor man created a nice therapy
plan for me, but I’ve completely derailed it. Mama always says a girl has many
tools to choose from in her arsenal—perfectly curled hair, well-placed boobs,
and endless chatter are my faves. Besides, Daddy’s been paying therapists a
fortune for years to show the divorce court how concerned he is about me. Dr.
McDozzle’s earning his car payment today.

I snap
my notebook shut and sit up straight. “Thanks, Doc. I feel so much better.
Maybe I should go to the reflection bench for a spell?”

He nearly
trips over himself to hustle me out to the courtyard in the center of the
building. The concrete patio surrounded by four walls radiates enough heat to
grill a steak, not that I eat meat anymore. Ben’s a founding member of the
Texas Animal Army Movement, which preaches a vegan lifestyle and the rescue of
abused animals.

Dr.
McDozzle wipes at the sweat running down his reddening face. “You have fifteen
minutes until the doors are locked for the weekend. We’ll continue our, uh …
conversation next time. Jane will email you with an appointment date.”

I sit
down on the edge of the bench. My hot pink and black-checked miniskirt is mucho cute, but doesn’t offer my thighs
much protection from blistering plastic. “Will do, Doc. Enjoy your holiday.”

He
leaves with a quiet sigh. During our first session, I blathered for a solid
forty minutes while barely taking a breath. Daddy says I’d make a natural
politician. In desperation, Dr. McDozzle hit on the idea of the “reflection
bench” out here. He’s not really a bad therapist, but I only chose him ‘cause
his practice is in the Trinity Building.

My
iPhone beeps a two-minute warning. I head inside. The lights appear off at
Centex Therapy. I hotfoot it to the Ladies’ room across the hall. It’s not the
most sanitary place to wait until the coast is clear, but I brought
santi-wipes.

I scroll
through my photo album to pass the time. Ben has an entire folder dedicated to
him. When he and his mom first moved in with Daddy, I thought he was an
obnoxious douche with his constant sermons about how humans are destroying the
environment and enslaving animals.

After a
few stormy months, I shut my trap and listened to him. Ben knows what he wants
out of his life and is determined to get it. I’ve never met anyone so brave and
determined.

So, I
gave up meat, and threw out my makeup in favor of vegan-only skincare lines.
Now, I can’t live without my fuchsia metallic lip tar from Obsessive Compulsive
Cosmetics. I even got Barksie, my cream-colored, toy Yorkiedoodle, on an
all-natural diet. I haven’t gone all cray cray and converted Barksie to a
vegetarian, but it is my responsibility as a pet parent to ensure he gets the
least processed food available.

Fate is
a true bitch, though. Just as I realized Ben was The One, Daddy decided his mom
wasn’t. Now, Ben and his mom live across the city in a tiny apartment and Daddy
is dating Whitney, who really knows how to put the “w” into witch.

Ben’s
gone through a lot of turmoil lately. Not only did he move to a new zip code,
but also his girlfriend of two years dumped him. Sad for him, but perfect for
me. I now have the chance to catch his attention.

My plan?
Simple. To get information that really means something to Ben. He’s too soulful
to be distracted by short skirts and tight shirts; trust me I’ve tried. No, I
need to prove I’m a true partner in his cause—rescuing abused animals.

The
mission: break into the office on the fifth floor of this building.

Labpartners,
Inc. sounds like an innocent enough company. In truth, their office owns two
huge warehouses that supply care products for lab animals. All I need to do is
break in, riffle through their files until I find their mailing list. And then
I can hand over a list of every animal broker they sell to. Ben will be so
stoked. Not only will we know who’s raising the poor bunnies to be tortured,
we’ll also know where their labs are.

Footsteps
ring in the hall. I duck into the last stall with my heart hammering against my
ribs. As expected, the security officer cracks open the door. “Anyone in here?”
He waits a few seconds before turning off the light and shutting the door.

Too bad
my bestie is on vacation, ‘cause no one’s better at creating a diversion than
Abigail. And my usual wheelwoman, Seraphina, is also out of the country.
Without my girls, I had no choice but to recon the building last Friday in my
cheerleading outfit under the guise of seeking new sponsors for the school’s
booster club. The Lanier Day Spa actually agreed. I need to remember to tell
Coach Sanders. Mr. Smith, the accountant, offered me his cell phone number so
we could discuss my college plans, as long as I don’t call on the weekend when
his wife is home.

Five
video games later and my phone buzzes a warning. It’s six o’clock, time to get
started. Conventional wisdom might say a burglar needs to dress in black and
wait until midnight to do the deed, but screw that. If I get caught, all I need
is a few tears about getting locked in and a weak cell signal. Besides, who’s
gonna believe I’m a thief in Michael Kors wedges and pearls?

Time for
step two.

Most of
the security cameras I’ve seen are focused around the elevators. I head toward
the stairs next to my therapist’s office. None of the doors to the stairs have
alarms, or at least the SWAT team has never jumped me for using them before.
After climbing three flights, with two more to go, I’m seriously rethinking my
choice of footwear. And what the heck is the smell in here? The Trinity
Corporation really needs to change janitorial services.

At the
fifth floor, I’m forced to take a breather for a few minutes. My heart is
pounding and my knees shake. Thanks to my daily kickboxing routine, I know it’s
not due to poor fitness. Once I leave this stairwell, I’m committed. Should I
really do this? Then I think of Ben in his cute glasses and cargo shorts.

Hells yeah, I’m doing this.

I edge
open the door, cringing at the squeak. The hall is dim with security lights
mounted on the walls offering the only illumination. Four quick steps and I
enter a dark breakroom. The Coke machine chooses this moment to kick in,
startling me into swallowing my gum. Too gross.

The room
has a well-used appearance to it. I scanned it last week under the pretense of
a desperate PMS need for a Snickers. The soda and candy machines are crammed
along one wall. Across from them is a small table holding an icky microwave
splattered with the Ghost of TV Dinners Past and a coffee pot missing its
carafe.

Businesses
have come and gone in the building. This wasn’t always a breakroom, since the
microwave table blocks a door leading into Labpartners, Inc. When the nice
receptionist let me in last week, I spied the other side of this door. A potted
palm tree tried to hide it.

I shove
the table to the side. My knees are still shaking, but my hands are steady as I
retrieve the hot pink lock picking kit I bought online for $12.99. It even came
with a brochure, though it warned its customers not to use the product for
criminal deeds. After watching a few online videos, I spent a week roaming
around Mama’s house, practicing my skills. The front door gave me some fits at
first, but I opened the cupboard in the hallway where she hides her erotic
novels and European chocolates without a hitch.

Daddy
gave me a faux diamond encrusted pocket light for Christmas three years ago. I
balance it in my mouth, while I bend down to work on the door lock.

Footsteps
sound in the hall. The flashlight tumbles from my mouth, and I freeze rabbit
still. Ringing in my ears makes it hard to determine if the footsteps are
coming toward me or moving away. Should I replace the table and bluff my way
out or quickly open the door? Is it the security officer or some dimwitted,
no-life office worker?

Damn it. Make a decision.

Opening
the door, it is.

It’s a
simple generic lock. I can do this. The footsteps stop and then start again. I
balance the flashlight on the microwave table and aim it at the lock before
inserting a tension wrench into the keyhole. I turn the wrench, then insert the
pick, hoping I can rake the lock pins up. I try the handle. It doesn’t move.
Freaking fantastic.

Sweat
dots my forehead as I listen for footsteps. Someone’s close by, muttering
something in a singsong fashion. Italian, maybe? I use a wider pick on the lock
to try again, though a voice in my head loudly tells me to stop. The door still
won’t open, and I want to throw the tension wrench across the room.

Why
won’t it work? I can tell the pins in the lock are moving. It should freaking work. The Italian singing in
the hall gets louder, more like chanting. Stomach acid burns a strip up my
throat. I’m failing, and I don’t do failure.

I stare
at my kit, unsure of which pick to use, before acquiescing defeat. My
concentration is blown due to the idiot outside. Ben’s adulation will have to
wait for another day. I edge my way to the door and peek outside. Some guy in a
dark hoodie is kneeling and sprinkling something on the floor. If he’s the
cleaning crew, no wonder this place is a mess.

His back
is to me, giving me the opportunity to sneak across the hall to the stairway. I
step outside and my shoe skids across chalky powder. I flail my arms, eyes
going wide.

A bright
blue flash blinds me and then there’s nothing.

About the Author

Although not a native Texan, Carla prides herself on having mastered the correct usage of “y’all” and “bless your heart.”

Carla is owned by a persnickety kitty, who rules the computer keyboard and only allows Carla to write when demands for cat treats are met.

Author Links:

Carla Rehse Interview

Tell us a little about your main character.

Gracie is rather complicated.
She’s trying to figure out what she wants in life, like a lot of seventeen-year
olds. She also has a strong sense of loyalty and a fuzzy moral compass.

Gracie is the person you’d want in the foxhole with you, as she’d do anything to get everyone out alive.

What actors/actresses do you envision for a Hollywood adaption of your book?

Gracie: Griffin Arnlund

Asher: Dylan Sprayberry

Willow: India Eisley

Uncle Jonah: Matt Bonner

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m very much a plotter. I have a “storyboard” wall in my office with three chalkboards for outlines, plot threads, and characters. It helps me to be visual.

How many books have you written? Published?

I’ve written 5 books, but Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats is the first to be published.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a sequel: Pink Duct Tape and Glittery Broomsticks

And a fun question, what crazy thing do you want to do?

I want to touch a penguin. I have no idea why, but they fascinate me.

Lastly, where can readers find you?

I’m on twitter at @CRehse. You can also find updates on my website: carlarehse.com

From 9-3-17 to 9-9-17, Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats
will be on sale for $.99.

GIVEAWAY:

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’.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Sherry’s Shelves #133 – Football Has Arrived

Posted on September 3, 2017 by fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #113 is my weekly update from August 27 – September 1, 2017.

Sunday Post #201 Countdown to Spring..

Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews
**all images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**

~~~

All right! Football season has begun.

How did your favorite college team do?

If you don’t watch football, what is your favorite sport?

~~~

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

~~~

THIS WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves
Review – Sunset in Old Savannah by Mary Ellis
Teaser Tuesday
Review & Giveaway – The Dark Mermaid by Christina L Barr
Review & Giveaway – Children of the Fifth Sun by Gareth Worthington
Friday 56
One Sentence Review

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

What are you doing for fun this 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’.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

One Sentence Review for Red Sky by Chris Goff @christinegoff

Posted on September 2, 2017 by fundinmental

Red Sky: A Raisa Jordan Thriller by Chris Goff is a novel that deals with conspiracy and terrorism in Russia and China.

I won Red Sky Book II in the Raisa Jordan Thriller series, and Chris Goff’s debut novel, Dark Waters. You can see my review for Dark Waters, Book I, HERE.

Thanks to Peg B and Chris Goff.

Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

MY ONE SENTENCE REVIEW

The Russians and Chinese are willing to take down a plane to stop the delivery of an envelope and Raisa must handle this delicately to avoid a Cold War…but she carries a big stick and knows how to use it in this frightening, intriguing, action packed spy thriller filled with danger and betrayal at every turn.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

When People’s Republic Flight 91 crashes in northeastern Ukraine with a U.S. diplomatic agent onboard, U.S. Diplomatic Security Service Agent Raisa Jordan is sent to investigate. The agent was escorting a prisoner home from Guangzhou, China, along with sensitive documents, and it quickly becomes apparent that the plane was intentionally downed. Was it to silence the two Americans onboard?

To avoid a diplomatic incident, Jordan must discover what the Americans knew that was worth killing hundreds to cover up. With Russia deeply entangled in the Ukraine and the possibility that China could be hiding reasons to bring down its own plane, tensions are high.

As international relations and even more lives hang in the balance, Jordan races to stop a new Cold War. Red Sky, Chris Goff’s pulse-pounding follow-up to Dark Waters, is yet another white-knuckle joyride for fans of Gayle Lynds.

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’.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Let’s Take A Magical Trip – A Dragon’s Tale: The Prophecy by Mark Boyd #MarkBoyd

Posted on September 1, 2017 by fundinmental

I was caught at a glance…The Prophecy, book I of A Dragon’s Tale trilogy, by Mark Boyd.

Book II is out and Book III is in progress.

Cover Designs by Laura Allen Bold

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Adult

A fresh, original, and fabulous story about one of my favorite supernatural creatures, The Dragon.

Go out for a fish dinner – dragonstyle.

How many fish does it take to fill a dragon?

Always time for a little humor.

We begin with action and I am hooked. The couples story captured my full attention as they struggled to understand the prophecy.

Prince Leandro…she saved him, and he is the only human who had developed such feelings of love for Faeries.

They met and fell in love, but don’t get too comfortable.

Mark Boyd a shapeshifting dragon love story to a new level and to write this as a man surprised me most of all. He creates an antagonist who is so filled with greed and the need for power that he will stoop to the lowest levels of humanity to get what he wants. He does add a layer to the story that I didn’t see coming and it smacks of magical science fiction.

The character development and world building took me deep into the fantasy. Once I almost felt like I was flying with the majestic dragons, banking, diving, shooting up the face of the mountain for play and training. Think Avatar.

Vampires, trolls, werehounds, sirens, shapeshifting dragon, healer. An awesome collection of supernaturals. Magic visions, graphic and gruesome deaths.

Bliss and sorrow. Good and evil.

Even though it starts out with a storyline that is predictable, Mark Boyd adds plenty of fresh, original twists that kept me enthralled as I wondered what will come next. Give me more, please.

I voluntarily reviewed a free Arc of The Prophecy by Mark Boyd.

5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The prophecy, a foretelling of a great king born of dragon-human-elven blood that unites all of the races in a millennium of peace is an ancient story told to all dragon hatchlings from the Dragon Book of Lore. A foretelling born of old majic, through the centuries, became just another story to give the young hope. The old believed…the young cannot perceive how it could ever manifest; who would ever want to be other than pure blood dragon? The prophecy existed in story only, until Anaterri Strayarth, a blue dragon living in human form and the daughter of Stragor Strayarth – Head of the High Council of Dragons, saves the life of Prince Leandro Sargovia with a transfusion of her dragon blood. The unification of human-dragon blood sets in motion the beginning of the once dormant tale and a love that transcends time. Grand Magi Aloysius Alamaris, a black dragon hiding in human form, learns of the initiation of the prophecy and plots the ultimate destruction of all who seek to bring the prophecy to fruition. Anaterri and Leandro are now pitted against the ultimate evil, fighting not only for their own lives but also the lives of their children…and they must insure the prophecy is allowed to manifest…at all cost.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I began reading fantasy at an early age. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, being one of my first and favorites. Fantasy was my escape when my own world wasn’t going so well. I never thought I would be blessed to add to the world of fantasy but my dragon friends had other ideas. I only hope you enjoy reading the trilogy, as much as I have in writing it. I am forever grateful to the dragon intelligence that has infused my consciousness, awakening memories and giving me the ability to bring their story to life.