Monthly Archives: January 2022

Giveaway – The Shoe Diaries by Darby Baham @darbybaham @GoddessFish

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The Shoe Diaries by Darby Baham

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

BLURB:

It’s never too late to put your best foot forward

From the outside, Reagan “Rae” Doucet has it all: a coveted career in Washington, DC, a tight circle of friends and a shoe closet to die for. When one of her crew falls ill, however, Rae is done playing it safe. The talented but unfulfilled writer makes a “risk list” to revamp her life. But forgiving her ex, Jake Saunders, might be one risk too many…

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Friendship Chronicles/Book 1: The Shoe Diaries

“Reminiscent of Sex and the City and the Shopaholic series in the best possible way. Her stories are a lot of fun and yet she still tugs at your heartstrings.”–Gail Chasan, Special Edition Editor

EXCERPTS

Romance

February 13, 2016

“With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee the treasures of my mind, heart and hands…”

Staring at my friends from my seat, I noticed more than just their words as they recited their vows. I saw their hands clasped together throughout the ceremony, and the smiles they wore even through their tears; the way they focused on each other like no one else was present even while a hundred and fifty of us stared at them with glee. But most important, I saw the love that was undeniable between the two of them. Strange, but I was all at once happy and sad, amazed and hurt. In them I saw hope for a future. Here were two people who’d found love and decided that nothing else was more important than their union. Yet, standing less than two feet away from them, I also saw the man I’d hoped would be my future—and it hurt me to my core to know that we would never have this same moment.

Every few minutes I caught myself peeking over at him during the ceremony, hoping he would turn to me, and we would have some kind of knowing thought between us. That we would have a brief second where no words were necessary, and through our eyes, we’d say, “I know it didn’t work for us, but I still love you.” I craved that moment more than anything I’d ever wanted before, wishing with all my might he would just look over. Just glance at me…and smile.

That look never happened.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Darby Baham (she/her) is a debut author with Harlequin Special Edition and a New Yorker of five years who sometimes desperately misses the sprawling shoe closet she had while living in Maryland. She’s had personal blog posts appear in The Washington Post’s relationship vertical and has worked in the communications industry for more than two decades. The New Orleans, LA native is also a lover of big laughs and books that swallow you into their world. Her first book, The Shoe Diaries, debuts in 2022.

  • Author Website  www.DarbyBaham.com
  • Linktree https://linktr.ee/darbybaham
  • Facebook  /https://www.facebook.com/darby.baham/
  • Twitter https://twitter.com/darbybaham
  • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/darbybaham/
  • Darby Baham’s Washington Post bylines
  • I had the perfect date dress. Why did it hang in my closet unworn for more than a year? — March 2016
  • When it comes to relationship advice, sometimes it’s best to ignore your friends — February 2016
  • I’m the oldest sister in my family and I’m single. And that’s okay. — March 2016
  • I was afraid to say ‘I love you.’ Here’s how I found the courage. –
  • NOTE:  Here is the link to subscribe to receive books specifically from Harlequin Special Edition — https://www.readerservice.com/content/series/harlequin-special-edition/
  • Darby’s book will be included in the January edition.

Amazon / B&N / BooksAMillion / Harlequin / Indiebound / GoogleBooks / Target

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Awesome Cover for Save Her by Chris Patchell @chris_patchell

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The amazing cover for Save Her by Chris Patchell has all the elements to foreshadow the story inside…and it was chilling.

Save Her (Lacey James #2)

Amazon / Kobo / Nook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Save Her by Chris Patchell could have started out: It was a cold, wintry day and she found herself alone, stranded in a snowstorm…

Pacing, pacing, pacing…Chris Patchell is a master at keeping a high level of suspense going throughout the book. I know from her past books she will not fail to get my emotions roiling.

We’re back in Sweet Home, Oregon, with Lacey, who is struggling to adjust having Caleb home from Fort Hood on a permanent basis, though the kids are loving it. It sounds to me like she now has three kids to take care of and I’m uncertain if she hasn’t outgrown Caleb.

Being a cop in her home town isn’t easy for her either…A small town where she knows everyone. She’s quick with her words, witty and sharp, and I find myself laughing out loud, at times.

There is more than one person in the small town of Sweet Home, Oregon, that needs to grow up.

OMG…the rat bastard! I want to reach into my Kindle and beat him to a pulp! I am shocked, outraged and very pissed off!

Save Her may be a bit on the predictable side, but Chris Patchell has a way of creating tension, suspense, and a sense of urgency that has me racing through the pages to find out if or who will SAVE HER! I know Lacey is going to run into danger, but that’s okay. The pacing keeps me going. Gotta know…What’s…Next.

Lacey is too juicy a character for her story to end her. Next up: Tell Her, Book III in this stand alone series, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Save Her by Chris Patchell.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Abandoned on a remote mountain road, the storm closing in isn’t the only deadly threat she will face.

A New Year’s Eve party is the perfect time to reconnect with old friends and make resolutions none of you will keep. Still, Audrey Drummond sees it as a good way to pass the time now that she’s back in Sweet Home, Oregon. She hitches a ride with her high school ex, but their ride down memory lane takes a perilous turn, and Audrey finds herself abandoned, cold and alone on a mountain road—miles away from the party.

From that moment on, her situation only gets worse.

When Audrey vanishes in a winter storm, Officer Lacey James knows that left to the elements, she won’t survive long. But when the initial search yields no viable clues, the missing persons case takes a darker turn.

Time is running out, and the killer storm isn’t the only immediate threat Lacey will face in the desperate quest to save her.

ABOUT CHRIS PATCHELL

Chris Patchell

Chris Patchell is the bestselling author of In the Dark and the Indie Reader Discovery Award winning novel Deadly Lies. Having recently left her long-time career in tech to pursue her passion for writing full-time, Chris pens gritty suspense novels set in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her family and two neurotic dogs.

Website  /  Twitter  / Facebook

 MY CHRIS PATCHELL REVIEWS

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Giveaway – Pelagia by Steve Holloway @GoddessFish

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Welcome to my tour stop for Pelagia, Between The Stars and The Abyss by Steve Holloway. I love this amazing cover and if I wasn’t so behind due to the holidays, I would have snatched this up for review.

Now, let’s have a few words from Steve Holloway about the cover.

What does the cover of Pelagia tell you about the story inside?

This novel takes place fifty years from now, within the drama of a group of families who are establishing a community on the open seas. The community live and travel within vessels similar to the one pictured on the cover.

What the cover hints at, by the lights streaming out the underwater windows, is that this boat is home for a family. However, the picture does not tell you any fascinating details about this Yemeni household, the Battutas. Suliman the father, who leads this seafaring clan and is a man of strong faith. Gideon, his eldest son, is a budding engineer and pilot. Sophia, his young daughter, is autistic and designs marine robotics.

The Battuta family are part of a nomadic community who travel the South Pacific herding schools of tuna. You can spot some sealife in the waters surrounding their boat. You can also see hints of the seamount deep in the water, above which members of the community develop sea farms.

This picture cannot tell you more about the Battutas — that they are Yemeni, descendants of Bedouin tribes who herded camels and goats across the expanse of the Arabian deserts. In this novel, the Battutas have traded their beloved deserts for the vast seas, and their livestock for schools of tuna.

As Captain Sul puts in, “There is a deep joy sleeping beneath the stars and above the abyss. We find peace, held in our suspension between two vast and measureless realms.”

This vessel, home of the Battuta family, has an innovative design. Most of the craft sits underwater, like a submarine, with only a small part above water containing a deck and the control bridge. This design allows it to be stable and comfortable as the craft travels through rough seas and storms. The cover design is a peaceful image, hinting that, despite much turmoil and danger within this techno-thriller, this roving community provide a safe sanctuary for many. A place of love and healing.

After commissioning my book, my publisher, Lion Fiction, sent me possible cover designs. However, I felt they did not quite fit the story. As I was sharing these designs with my family, my son asked if he could suggest his own. He came up with several stunning covers. Another, depicting a seamount settlement is to the left.

The publisher was enthusiastic about the designs and chose the seacraft for the final cover.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I am always interested in who makes the final decision and how much input the author has in the final project. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Pelagia – Between the Stars and the Abyss by Steve Holloway

GENRE: Science Fiction

BLURB

Former special forces agent turned particle physicist Ben Holden is on the run.

The New Caliphate will stop at nothing to get their hands on his wife’s scientific research, which is believed to hold the key to unleashing chaos in the West and advancing their cause.

But in reality it’s Ben’s biometrics that have the potential to unlock the information they so desperately need. Within the oceanic world of Pelagia, in the year 2066, Ben finds sanctuary among the sea settlers of the South Pacific Pelagic Territory, but his respite is short-lived.

EXCERPT

Sophia’s Egg

9-year-old Sophia stepped across a short bridge onto her Egg. The walkway retracted as she moved to the centre of the vessel. A small brass sign on the floor was engraved: “To Sophia on her 9th birthday. With all our love, Gideon and Baba.” A clear dome now rose from one side of the vessel and encircled her small figure, sealing as it closed on the other side. The Egg began to glow softly.

“Go,” she said quietly. Mooring cables released. The Egg dropped below and behind the Ossë into the heart of the sea. A wave of phosphorescence sparkled against the windows.

Sophia said quietly, “Squid, Nemo.”

“Yes, Ameera, a shoal of giant squid is feeding eighty metres below us.”

The Egg now descended, deeper into the blackness. The glittering phosphorescent became less frequent. It was now almost absolute darkness outside, but at the edge of vision Sophia could discern darting shadows.

“Red light,” Sophia said. The orb’s faint glow clicked on again, giving shape to the giant shadows. Giant squid, Architeuthis sp. Sophia watched, entranced at the rushing activity around the vessel.

Putting her hands on the sapphire glass, Sophia peered closely at a passing four-metre long squid. It slowed, caught by, then returning her gaze.

In an instant the squid turned to reach for her. Its tentacles struck against the dome.

Sophia didn’t flinch. The large squid, a modern-day kraken that weighed much more than the child, hovered for a moment. It sent exploratory tentacles to touch the shield gently, then withdrew. The squid floated next to the glass contemplating this mystery. Sophia and the creature stared eye to eye – one alien to another. Amberjack-like guardian bots emerged from the darkness. The squid flicked a tentacle at one of the robots, hoping for dinner, and was rewarded by an electric jolt. It flashed away, leaving a cloud of ink in its wake.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Steve Holloway grew up on the beach cities of Los Angeles and has always loved the sea. This passion led him to gain a degree in Aquatic Biology from the University of California Santa Barbara; a background which opened many opportunities for him in researching, developing, and engaging with mariculture activities around the world.

Steve and his wife have lived and travelled in many countries over their forty years of marriage, successfully raising three kids in exotic locations in the process. They have always engaged with the people and cultures they live among.

Currently Steve lives in England and consults for a Christian charity in areas of research, leadership development, adapting to new cultures, social enterprises, and mariculture projects. Currently he is consulting for a Indo-Pacific mariculture project – a social enterprise – growing sea cucumbers, a delicacy for the Chinese market.

Steve has always loved books and writing. The story of Pelagia reflects three of his passions: science, the sea and the narratives of faith. The background, in his words:

“I have for many years believed that settling the open sea was within our grasp, and even more accessible than space as our ‘next frontier’. So through the last ten years or so I have been thinking just how this might happen, what would be needed, where people would settle, what kind of livelihoods they might have on the open sea, beyond the EEZs of terrestrial countries. My son Adam told me about what would become a key component of Pelagia, Biorock or seacrete, because of his experiments with it. Many discussions with other scientists, engineers and others helped to begin to fill in the gaps and the concept of the Pelagic Territories, similar to the unincorporated territories of the early US, and what geopolitical contexts they would find themselves in.”

Steve finds any excuse to get into the ocean: sailing, diving, swimming, or just poking around tide pools.

Website / Facebook

Buy link

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Giveaway – In Plain Sight by Alison Packard @GoddessFish @Alleyfics

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In Plain Sight by Alison Packard

GENRE:   Contemporary Romance

BLURB

Romance writer Maya Lange is stuck in the small town of Two Forks, Wyoming. It’s not the happily ever after she wanted for herself, but neither was dating a man who runs a criminal enterprise or witnessing a murder. Now she’s in witness protection, with a new name she hates and a permanent mistrust of men. That doesn’t keep the sparks from flying with her neighbor, Josh Madsen, though she suspects he’s hiding secrets of his own. She’s right to be wary. Josh is actually Jace Reed, a former undercover NYPD officer hiding from the mob. Jace knows his beautiful and mysterious new neighbor isn’t who she seems. Is she there to spy on him or to kill him? All he knows for sure is that she’s tempting him to do things he hasn’t thought about in years. How can either of them learn to trust when surrounded by so many secrets?
 
Former bull rider Ryan McCallister has returned to Two Forks with one goal in mind: to win back his childhood sweetheart, local bakery owner Katie Crawford. Ryan left eight years earlier for all the right reasons, but Katie doesn’t know that. All she knows is that he broke her heart. Can she trust him enough to take a second chance on love?  

As Katie befriends Maya, and Jace works with Ryan on his ranch, their lives become entwined in ways none of them ever expected. Will their shattered pasts destroy the hopes any of them might have for a happy future? The truth is hiding in plain sight.

EXCERPT

Still staring at the lake, Jace shoved his phone into his back pocket. Behind him, a familiar click filled the silence. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and goosebumps rose on his arms. Turning slowly, he found himself staring into the barrel of a gun. A gun held by the woman he now knew was involved with the organization out to kill him. Tension filled the air as their eyes clashed across the expanse of the deck. Gone were her smile and welcoming eyes. Instead, her mouth was pressed into a tight grim line, and her dark eyes burned like coal.

“You won’t need to make that call, Josh.” She held the gun using both hands, her stance indicating she’d used a gun before. If she was part of Alastair’s organization, she knew how to use it. His heart began to hammer so loudly it seemed to echo off of the lake. He hadn’t thought to bring his gun—a stupid mistake and one that could very well cost him his life.

“If you want to know about Maya Lange.” She paused, tilted her head, and regarded him with disdain. “You can ask me. And maybe, just before I blow your head off, I’ll tell you all about her.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now lives in the Southwest with her adorable rescue dog, Bailey. She writes heartwarming contemporary romance with a dash of spice and loves chocolate, reading, and taking Bailey for walks at their favorite park.

For more information on Alison’s upcoming releases, you can sign up for her newsletter at alisonpackard.com; follow her on Twitter: @alleyfics, and Facebook: http://bit.ly/2uERElk

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Apple

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Blast – The Cape May Cozy Mystery Series by Jane Gorman @Thejanegorman @dollycas

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The Cape May Cozy Mysteries by Jane Gorman

Check out this fun series from Jane Gorman!

Scones and Scofflaws: Cape May Cozy Mysteries with a Twist Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – Cape May, New Jersey Blue Eagle Press (December 19, 2020) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0999110047 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999110041 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08PW7M9JC

When a gorgeous man dressed as Bridgette Bardot buys her a Scofflaw and asks her out on a date, Anna McGregor begins to suspect her murder investigation has taken a wrong turn. Her previous work as a medical anthropologist exposed her to a variety of unexpected situations, but none quite like this.

 

“The story does a great job of setting up the mystery and then anthropologist turned B&B hostess, Anna McGregor leads us through a merry chase and I thought I had it partially figured out but then realized…red herring. I would suggest you skip to the back of the book to find the scofflaw recipe and make one to enjoy while you armchair sleuth your way through this charming and cozy mystery.” — Tracy’s Tidbits

 

It all seemed so simple: fix up the Cape May Victorian mansion she’d inherited from Great Aunt Louise and re-open it as the exceptional B&B it used to be. Everything’s going great, until her very first guest turns up dead at the breakfast table, crumbs from Anna’s blueberry scones scattered on the lace tablecloth.

 

As the town’s gossip mill goes into overdrive, Anna leaps into the fray to save her reputation, her business and Great Aunt Louise’s legacy.

 

With help from a handsome handyman eager to solve all of Anna’s problems and a young police officer new to murder investigations, Anna does her best to convince the town — and her future guests — that while her scones may be killer, someone else was responsible for this murder.

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Alibris – IndieBound – Kobo – Books2Read

Boats, Bodies and the Bee’s Knees: Cape May Cozy Mysteries with a Twist Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Blue Eagle Press (April 9, 2021) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 270 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0999110063 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999110065 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08TV5Y2Y9

When her friend’s uncle is accused of murder, Anna McGregor dives into the boating life to prove his innocence. She soon learns that while lounging on a luxury yacht might be fun, matching wits with a killer can be deadly.

Life has finally settled down for Anna. The Cape May B & B she inherited from her Great Aunt Louise is fully booked and Anna is looking forward to a successful summer. Her peace is shattered when a body washes up in Spicer Creek and the police focus their investigation on her friend’s uncle. Determined to find the truth, Anna turns to skills she developed in her previous career in medical anthropology. Once again, Anna teams up with her best friend Sammy, her young cousin Eoin and the local librarian to use their knowledge of the town and its people to solve this crime. But the disappearance of two local teenagers reminds Anna this is the wrong time for free fishing trips or relaxing on a yacht enjoying a Bee’s Knees cocktail. She needs to find the missing teenagers and identify the killer before anyone else gets hurt. Purchase Link – Amazon – B&N – Alibris – IndieBound – Kobo – Books2Read –

Killers and Kir Royale: Cape May Cozy Mysteries with a Twist Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series Blue Eagle Press (December 17, 2021) Print Length 241 Pages ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09MV26RSS

When a love of wine becomes lethal, local B&B owner Anna McGregor discovers she’s the town’s connoisseur at defending the innocent and unmasking murderers. But if she goes after the killer, will the people she cares about most get crushed in the process?

Anna loves the new life she’s built for herself in Cape May, a town known for its historic beauty, picturesque beaches, developing wine culture and … murder? Thanks to some previous successes – and a close relationship with a local patrolman – Anna finds herself pressured into accepting the task of proving a new friend’s innocence in a tragic death at a local winery. Her investigation reveals an embarrassment of suspects, not to mention one too many potential victims. As always, Anna relies on help from her friends to find the truth. This time, though, offering help means breaking the rules. Now she must not only catch a killer but also save the reputation of one of her closest friends, all while getting ready to send her young cousin, Eoin, back to Ireland, trying to solve the riddle of her love life, and figuring out her future as a medical anthropologist. Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Alibris – Kobo – Books2Read –

About Jane Gorman

Formerly an anthropologist, then a diplomat, then a park ranger, Jane Gorman now writes murder mysteries. Building on her knowledge of Philadelphia (her home for many years) and her varied experiences, her Adam Kaminski mystery series features a Philly cop who manages to solve complicated murders in far-flung locales, both in the U.S. and overseas. Her Cape May cozy mysteries paint a light-hearted, fun picture of the Cape May life of a former anthropologist who just happens to be good at solving murders – and trying out new cocktails!

Author Links Website Facebook Twitter BookBub GoodReads Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
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Sherry’s Shelves – 1.9 – 1.15.22 #stackingtheshelves #thesundaypost #thesundaysalon

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Sunday Post

Hi Everyone.

Stay safe and wear a mask..

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

COMING UP ON fundinmental

  • Sherry’s Shelves
  • Music Monday
  • Book Blast – The Cape May Mystery Series by Jane Gorman
  • Giveaway – In Plain Sight by Alison Packard
  • Giveaway – Pelagia by Steve Holloway
  • Giveaway – The Shoe Diaries by Darby Baham
  • Books From The Backlog
  • Giveaway – The Strange and Surprising by M G Adele
  • Tackling The TBR
  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Tackling The TBR – 1.8 – 1.14.22 #tacklingthetbr

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I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Book Blog Names Are Taken. It has helped me to keep track of my reading shelf as far as current events and I also started doing a post for Books From The Backlog, from Carole’s Random Life in Books, to tidy up my shelves. I feel better about my out of control TBR and have even knocked off a couple of those old ones that had been hanging around for years.

COME ON….JOIN IN.

Previous Total: 2172

Currently Reading

Books Read

Lulu and the Missing Tooth Fairy by S E Riochey and Jhon Ortiz (Illustrator) is not on retailers..yet, so to see more click on the cover to go to Goodreads.

Lulu and the Missing Tooth Fairy

Books Added

Books DNF-ed: 0

Books Deleted: 0

Duplicates Removed: 1

New TBR Total: 2173

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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Giveaway – Wine Country King by Claire Marti @clairepmarti @XpressoTours

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Wine Country King
Claire Marti
(California Suits, #2)
Publication date: January 13th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A cocky, charming real estate attorney.

A brilliant, gorgeous sommelier.

Neither has time for romance.

One mind-blowing kiss changes everything.

Jack Cassidy heads the team opening the next in an exclusive line of boutique hotels, this one in wine country. Working with his best friend’s sister should make it easier, tapping into her expertise about the area and its wines. The pair have been friends for years, so sharing an apartment shouldn’t pose any issues… except for the simmering heat building between them.

Campbell Taylor’s one of only a handful of women to battle the all-boys club and go for the title of master sommelier. She didn’t rise to her position by being a pushover, but living and working with her brother’s best friend – the man she’s secretly crushed on for years – might prove to be her greatest challenge. How can she get him to see her as more than Cameron’s little sister? And will their undeniable attraction derail her dreams?

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

Sequel to:

—

EXCERPT:

An awkward silence hung over the room, the clicking of the silverware on ceramic the only relief from the unspoken tension. Her pulse hammered in her throat––she couldn’t handle it. “So how did everything go this afternoon?”

Jack set down his fork and finally looked at her, his jaw tight, his eyes unreadable. “You’re right. There is nowhere to stay within twenty-five miles, and I can’t commute that far. So…” He shrugged and sipped his wine.

Time to return them to stable footing. Humor was her go-to. “So, you’re admitting that I was right and you were wrong?” She flashed a toothy grin.

His severe expression relaxed, and he chuckled. “I admit nothing. I still wish I’d been able to negotiate with the landlord and help him find a different option, but it is what it is.”

“Exactly. I was right.” She saluted him with her glass. “How delicious is this halibut?” The flaky white fish was perfectly prepared, with the appropriate amount of seasoning. Jack loved excellent food as much as she did.

He clinked his glass against hers, the muscles in his powerful forearm flexing. “You were definitely right about the fish. And I appreciate not having to think about groceries or anything tonight. It’s been a long day.”

“Well, I know our schedules are both super hectic and we probably won’t see each other every night, so I figured I’d treat to welcome you to town.” And squelch the sliver of guilt she couldn’t shake off. But how could she have turned Kyle’s sick father away?

“About that. How’s that going to work with me sleeping out here and the dresser in the bedroom? I can’t exactly barge into the room if I get back later than you.” A crease appeared between his dark eyebrows.

She sighed. It was awkward. Even if she had looked at him like a brother–and that ship had sailed in high school––sharing the space with another person wasn’t going to be easy. Add in the attraction factor and the damn gray sweatpants and she was in trouble.

“Why don’t you leave most of your clothes in the bedroom and keep your pajamas––”

“Pajamas?” The dimple in his right cheek deepened before he burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

He shook his head. “I left my Star Wars footie pajamas in storage, so I guess I’ll have to improvise.”

She waved a hand. “Surely you have something to sleep in?” She’d buy him a head-to-toe flannel onesie to cover all that smooth skin.

“Well, I’ve lived alone for over a decade, so no, I don’t have pajamas. Will boxers work?” His leaf-green eyes lit with mischief.

“And a t-shirt. Boxers and a t-shirt.” No way would she survive seeing that carved torso on the regular. And please god let them be baggy boxers, not those snug boxer briefs.

He smirked. “Maybe. It’s basically summer up here, Campbell. I’m not going to sweat to death. You’ll be in the other room anyway. So, does this mean you wear pajamas?”

She sniffed. “We do have air-conditioning, as you may have noticed. And of course I have pajamas. What if there was a fire in the middle of the night and I had to run outside? I like to be prepared.”


Author Bio:

Claire Marti is an award winning and USA Today Bestselling author of swoonworthy Contemporary Romance novels set in Southern California, including the Pacific Vista Ranch series and the spin-off California Suits series. She lives in San Diego with her husband, silly dog, and two clever cats.

Claire started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.

When Claire’s not writing, she’s teaching yoga. You can find her sixty+ online classes on the international website www.yogadownload.com. A breast cancer survivor, Claire is a sought-after speaker on the power of yoga and meditation. She’s been published in numerous magazines with articles on wellness and is the author of a memoir, Come Ride with Me Along the Big C, on her experience beating breast cancer.

Claire loves to hear from readers!

Reach out via email or sign up for her newsletter at www.clairemarti.com

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This Morbid Life by Loren Rhoads Review @MorbidLoren

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After looking at the cover, I had to have This Morbid Life by Loren Rhoads. I didn’t care what it was about. How about you? Have you ever grabbed a book because of its cover, without checking out anything else about it?

I am sooo excited to have Loren Rhoads visiting today. She is going to share some of her thoughts and an excerpt….are you tempted yet?

1. What’s the most inspiring part of where you live?

I feel blessed to live in the most diverse neighborhood in San Francisco. It’s really great to get my coffee at the Filipino-Hawaiian cafe, pick up a pork bun across the street, and stop off for a Salvadoran pastry on the way home.

2. Where did the idea for This Morbid Life come from?

The incredible artist Lynne Hansen was doing a challenge last October where she created a new book cover every day. One day she made this beautiful collage of an autopsied body with wildflowers and butterflies inside its rib cage. I immediately fell in love with the artwork. I knew I had to put together a book that would do the cover art justice.

3. How long did it take you to write the book?

Almost everything was already written, but it took a while to gather up all the essays, polish them up, and put everything together. I started in January and the book came out in August.

4. Which “character” has etched its way into your heart and why?

A lot of the essays are about my friend Jeff, so I dedicated the book to him. We met the summer after I graduated, when I sublet a room in the house where he lived. We eventually lived together again when my husband and I moved into a lovely old Victorian in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood and couldn’t afford the rent without a roommate. Jeff and I have known each other for more than 30 years now. I remember when he came out, when he tested positive for HIV, when his first husband died at home of AIDS. I was highly entertained when his second husband got to This Morbid Life before Jeff had a chance to read it. Jeff called to ask if there was anything too scandalous in the book that he should worry about. I had to laugh at that.

5. What are you working on now?

This Morbid Life is the first in a series called No Rest for the Morbid. The second book, Jet Lag & Other Blessings, will be a collection of my morbid travel essays: drinking all the absinthe I could find in Prague, encountering a rattlesnake in the Mojave, chasing alligators in the Louisiana bayou, flying over an active volcano in a helicopter, trying out Japanese love hotels, and basically stalking my morbid curiosity around the globe. That book will have a Lynne Hansen collage for its cover, too.

So many interesting essays. You kept me entertained, at times smiling and maybe even eliciting chuckle or two. I love the cover and find it as fascinating as the stories inside. No Rest For The Mordid sounds just as fascinating. Thanks so much for visiting and sharing your thoughts.

This Morbid Life

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MY REVIEW

#1, Loren Rhoads was born in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. Gotta support another Michigander. #2, I couldn’t resist that cover.

Right out of the gate, I felt a kinship to Loren Rhoads. I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, and this was like going home. I went to Mott Community College. I know Dort Highway very well, because I worked at the AC Plant, after being laid off from the Chevrolet Plant downtown Flint. I do love a walk down memory lane.

Loren Rhoads found inspiration from her personal experiences…you never know where it will come from. We need to be open to all our experiences.

HOLD ON TIGHT!f These essays are dark and gritty, filled with truth. Loren lays herself bare. This Morbid Life is an apt title for the book and is not for the feint of heart. She lets it all hang out and I loved every minute of it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of This Morbid Life by Loren Rhoads.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

What others have called an obsession with death is really a desperate romance with life. Guided by curiosity, compassion, and a truly strange sense of humor, this particular morbid life is detailed through a death-positive collection of 45 confessional essays. Along the way, author Loren Rhoads takes prom pictures in a cemetery, spends a couple of days in a cadaver lab, eats bugs, survives the AIDS epidemic, chases ghosts, and publishes a little magazine called Morbid Curiosity.

Originally written for zines from Cyber-Psychos AOD to Zine World and online magazines from Gothic.Net to Scoutie Girl, these emotionally charged essays showcase the morbid curiosity and dark humor that transformed Rhoads into a leading voice of the curious and creepy.

EXCERPT

Burning Desire (an excerpt from the cremation essay)

At the back of the warehouse stood the cremator itself. The Neptune Society used British equipment, which was acclaimed as top of the line. A computer controlled the temperature and length of burning time. The cremator had four doors, two above and two below, so that bodies could be cremated simultaneously and their ashes commingled. Before anyone could ask, Steve assured us that California state law prohibited cremation of more than one body at a time, so that ashes couldn’t get mixed by accident.

The “ovens” themselves were built of fire-resistant brick. A metal rack slid out, onto which the body was placed. Before the operator inserted a body, the cremator would be preheated to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. As we toured the building, the ambient temperature rapidly became torrid. The ovens were warming. Apparently, at 1800 degrees, the inside of the oven glows red-hot.

Natural gas was used for the heating process. A human body provides its own fuel and will burn on its own at a high-enough temperature, so the cremator was preheated, the body placed inside, and the gas switched off to prevent overheating. Toward the end of the cremation, the gas was turned on again until the bones became calcined and brittle.

Someone asked Steve how they knew when a body was done. He recommended sticking it with a fork. Sobering up, he added that, on average, it took between one and two hours for a cremation at the Neptune Society, with an additional half hour for the oven to cool down enough to remove the cremains. All bodies burned differently, due to their levels of fat or moisture. Both cancer and AIDS deplete the body’s fat reserves, so victims of those diseases had less fuel value. Those bodies required more gas and a higher heat and might take longer to reduce to ash.

The different compositions of people also produced a variety of colors as the body burned. Sometimes the flames turned green or blue, but generally they were orange or red.

When the cremation was complete, human remains were white and very brittle. Any other discoloration implied that the cremation was unfinished. The bones might have shrunk or twisted, but they were still quite recognizable. The cremains were scooped out of the retort with a tool like a hoe. They were placed in a machine with a drum like a clothes dryer that used heavy iron balls to pulverize the remaining bones. The process was complete when the remains fit through a sieve.

I asked if I could see real human ashes. With a shrug, Steve found a beige cardboard box that was maybe five inches on a side. Inside a plastic wrapper, the cremains looked like Quaker Oats and weighed as much as an old-fashioned solid-body telephone. No one else in the tour group was interested in holding the box. In fact, they all took a step back when I held the box out to them.

Continued in This Morbid Life

ABOUT LOREN RHOADS

Loren Rhoads

Loren Rhoads is author of This Morbid Life, a morbid memoir, and Unsafe Words, the first full-length collection of her edgy, award-winning stories.

Loren is also author of 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die and Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel.

She’s the co-author of Lost Angels and its sequel Angelus Rose. She’s also author of the space opera In the Wake of the Templars trilogy: The Dangerous Type, Kill By Numbers, and No More Heroes.

Finally, she’s editor of Tales for the Camp Fire, which raised money for survivors of 2018’s devastating wildfire in Butte County, California.

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Book Promo – Her First Mistake by Eve Parrish @WildfireMarket1

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Release Date: January 11


Her First Mistake is a serial killer thriller with a female lead and mysterious love interests.

Detective Nina Viken is no stranger to the ominous clues serial killers leave with their discarded victims.
It’s a typical method used to taunt and torture the authorities who are ruthlessly hunting them down.
This time though, everything seems a little too close to home.

When Nina gets a call that a dead body is being pulled from the Hollow Pointe Ravine, intuition tells her she’s going to have her work cut out for her. Upon arriving at the crime scene, she sees various photographs scattered along the ground. The photos feature completely nude women–bound, shackled, bloody and bruised.
At first it looks like it’s just another sick and twisted murderer on the loose…

But upon examining the body, Nina sees the signature of one of the East Coast’s most notorious serial killers–The Saxon County Slayer.

As if the pressure of finding him before he kills again wasn’t enough, Nina gets a call from her father–a convicted murder himself–saying he knows the identity of the infamous serial killer.
With little evidence to point her in any other direction, Nina begins to look into her father’s claims.

Regardless of whether her father is telling the truth or not…
The Saxon County Slayer is back.

And this time, he has a vendetta against Nina.
A vendetta that he will stop at nothing to satisfy.

 Grab Your Copy Here!

Meet Eve Parrish


Victoria Ellis writing as Eve Parrish.


Victoria Ellis started out writing primarily thrillers but slowly transitioned into both poetry and contemporary romance. 

Now, she is a multi-genre author that publishes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, and Romance novels. She is also the author of two poetry collections.

 

Victoria has a penname, Gemma Stone, for her upcoming romance novels that she plans on releasing. It was important to her to separate romance from thrillers. Be on the lookout for more Gemma Stone news in 2021 and 2022!

 

Victoria is the founder of Cruel Ink Publishing, LLC.

 

She resides near Chicago, Illinois with her husband, newborn daughter, and an abundance of animals.

 

Connect with Eve Parrish

Website | Newsletter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | Reader Group | BookBub   Facebook 



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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!