New Release – Exercise Is Murder by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold @HibbertStiles

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I love the fun cover for Exercise Is Murder by Carolyn Arnold

Exercise is Murder (McKinley Mysteries: Short & Sweet Cozies Book 12) by [Arnold, Carolyn]

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Cagney and Lacey meet Moonlighting. That’s what I thought when I read Exercise Is Murder by Carolyn Arnold.

Sara and Sean created their PI firm, Pay It Forward, when they quit the Albany police force and came into a LOT of money. They loved the control they had over the cases they mutually agreed upon and surrounded themselves with those they trusted to help.

I can definitely relate to Sara when it comes to her car. She loves her stilettos, while I love my flip flops, though. She is a fashionista and I am a shorts and T shirt kind of gal. We both lack cooking skills, so it’s a good thing our men like to cook.

He grounded her and she gave him wings.

And that is something that leads to a great partnership.

Carolyn Arnold is a master at showing the characters and events through her ability to describe them in detail. She makes it easy to form a picture in my mind.

Exercise In Murder by Carolyn Arnold is a quick, fun, easy reading police procedural that includes enough suspects to keep my mind working trying to figure it out before she tells me. I love that Carolyn writes with a light touch, including humor with her murder.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Exercise Is Murder by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Getting in shape isn’t an easy walk in the park…

Running junkie Katie Carpenter takes a tumble down a ravine and ends up facedown in the Hudson River. The police conclude her death was an accident, but those who were close to Katie aren’t buying that she just tripped and fell—including her pro-athlete boyfriend. But it’s Katie’s fitness trainer and friend who hires the McKinleys to investigate.

Anything but an easy case to solve, Sean and Sara will break a sweat trying to figure out who had the most to gain from the young woman’s death. Sadly for Sean most of the evidence seems stacked against Katie’s boyfriend—a man Sean idolizes. Can he put aside being starstruck long enough to view things objectively? If Katie’s killer is going to be caught, he and Sara will need to remain flexible and it might require bending the rules a bit.

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:  Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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#BooksFromTheBacklog – The Folks At Fifty-Eight by Michael Patrick Clark #MichaelPatrickClark

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

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

The Folks at Fifty-Eight

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Gerald Hammond is the exception to the rule; an honorable spy, whose lofty principles have brought him nothing but loneliness and isolation.
With the war in Europe at an end, Hammond returns to Washington only to find his unit disbanded and his wife moved out of the marital home.
Ostracized by the Washington elite, publicly humiliated by an unfaithful wife, and scorned by former friends and colleagues, he is forced to take a mundane job with an insurance company. . . But then comes the call.
The State Department wants him to rescue a young woman, trapped in Soviet East Germany. Should he succeed a plum job at The State Department awaits.
Desperate for deliverance from his humdrum existence, Hammond accepts the assignment.
He heads into enemy territory, unaware of the sinister force that sponsored his mission or of the unseen dangers that lie in wait. He only knows that he must somehow save the girl to save himself, but as his enemies close in, and ever-more disturbing revelations come to light, Gerald Hammond begins to wonder which poses the greatest threat. . . The enemy he runs from, the friend he runs to, or the girl he was sent to save?

“Fast paced thriller with lots of action – I couldn’t put it down!!” – Amazon Reviewer

“Delicious spy novel, bold and graphic.” – Amazon Reviewer

“A tremendous book – a definite page turner”- Amazon Reviewer

“This is the best spy novel I have read in quite some time” – Amazon Reviewer

“I purchased this based on the reviews, and it exceeded expectations” – Amazon Reviewer

“And be warned, there’s bad language, sex, sadistic murders, regular murders, etc. in this book. It’s a spy novel…stay out of the kitchen if you don’t like this kind of heat.” – Amazon Reviewer

I love a good conspiracy now and then and The Folks at Fifty Eight sounded like it might foot the bill. Pretty good cover too. I added this to my TBR on 5.13.12. It averages 3.45 on Goodreads.

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  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Kingdom Cold by Brittni Chenelle @InvolutedRRT @GoddessFish

Kingdom Cold: The Complete Series by Brittni Chenelle

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GENRE:   Fantasy

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BLURB

Kingdom Cold 
The Complete Collection 
——-
Book I: Kingdom Cold
Book II: Kingdom Soul

Book III: Kingdom Untold
——-
Beware: a binge awaits. 
Deliciously dark, romantic and gripping, the Kingdom Cold trilogy now can be yours in a dazzling collection.  
Kingdom Cold follows the impulsive, teenage princess, Charlotte, as she attempts to murder her betrothed. But an arranged marriage is only the beginning of her problems, for the world as she knows it is falling apart. Her kingdom faces total destruction at the hands of Merlin and Lancelot, leaders of power-crazed Camelot. 
Will wicked King Arthur prove, once and for all, that ruthless deeds create the legend? Can Princess Charlotte sacrifice love to save her home?  
Only one can reign.

EXCERPT

Come on, Charlotte,” I said, kneeling. I tilted her head up to look her in the eyes. “We’re almost th—” I froze. A heavy stream of tears flowed down her cheeks, dripping from the bottom of her chin.

She sobbed. “I don’t want to marry you.”

It wasn’t news, but I’d never seen a woman cry before. She seemed so fragile it made something ache at the bottom of my stomach. This was not the girl who shot the arrow or the girl who showed her disappointment upon our first meeting. This was someone new. 

I sighed. “I know.” I felt fear seep into my skin before my next question manifested. “Do you want to marry my brother?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to marry anyone.”

I nodded as her breakdown worsened. It was a terrible reality, but somehow it made me feel better. I hadn’t exactly been a disappointment, she just didn’t want any of this. I had a lingering urge to reach out to her, to wipe her tears, or hold her in my arms, but I didn’t. I let her cry.

“I don’t want to be a princess,” she sobbed. “I just want to be free.”

Afraid to touch her, I inched back and settled into a more comfortable position on the floor.

“I’m sorry this happened to you,” I said. 

“Stop the wedding then!” she cried. 

My body stiffened. “I too am bound to honor my father’s agreement.”

She wiped her face and looked me straight in the eyes, her swollen cheeks red and brimming with emotion. “What do you want?” she asked. 

I shook my head.

“My kingdom? You can have it,” she breathed.  “Let me go.”

Frozen, I begged my body to tear my gaze from hers. 

Her lips parted and she breathed in like it hurt, before she spoke. “Aren’t you afraid of what you’ll be giving up?”

My brow furrowed as I contemplated what she meant. I bit the inside of my bottom lip. 

“Do you honestly think you could ever love me?”

The word “love” struck me, like an arrow masked by dusk.

She studied my face, my silence burning away her last seeds of hope. Her tears began to fall again, this time slow and sorrowful. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links

BRITTNI CHENELLE currently lives in Seoul, Korea which inspires her multicultural fantasy books. Her favorite genres to read and write are Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Fairytale Retellings, and Young Adult Dystopian novels. She’s very passionate about equal representation and makes a point to include characters from different backgrounds and cultures in her Fantasy stories.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brittnichenelle

Instagram: www.instagram.com/brittnichenelle

Twitter: www.twitter.com/InvolutedRRT

Website: www.brittnichenelle.com

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