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Giveaway – A Patch Of Romance by J C Valentine @xpressotours

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A Patch of Romance
J.C. Valentine
(A Coffee Break Mystery, #4)
Publication date: October 25th 2023
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Romance

Callie’s status as a single mom is about to end when she meets up with local dad, Scott Prince, at the pumpkin patch. Love is definitely in the air…or is that just pumpkin spice? Either way, Callie is about to embark on a seriously satisfying journey. That is, until the mystery knocker comes knocking. Is it just a Halloween prank, or is someone trying to send her a message—the deadly kind?

As Callie and Scott traverse the dating life with one another and ring in the holidays with the hope of uniting them all as one big, patchwork family, the lingering question of who keeps knocking and what they want looms in the shadows, waiting to be answered. Will Callie and Scott reveal the truth behind the eerie knocking before something it’s too late? And will they ever get their happily ever after?

Follow Callie and Scott’s journey from wary strangers to soulmates in this feel-good holiday romance. With a friends-to-lovers romance, family bonding moments, cozy Christmas traditions, and a found family trope, this wholesome love story will get you in the holiday spirit. Curl up with a mug of hot cocoa and let the magic of the season bring this unlikely pair together one knock at a time.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“Okay, you wild banshees, costumes are ready to go!” I called up the stairs. Instantly, I heard the pounding of little feet as Lily and Ethan raced down the stairs, with Lily predictably in the lead, eager to transform into their Halloween alter-egos.

“Beware the Headless Horseman!” Lily cried, tossing her hooded cape dramatically over her grinning face. Next to her, Ethan was assembling his white boxy Minecraft costume, complete with pixelated foam sword.

I knelt down and made the final adjustments, securing Ethan’s headpiece and Lily’s belt, then ushered them toward the door. “Let’s hit those sidewalks before all the good candy is gone!” I declared.

It was still light outside when we stepped out onto the porch. Ghosts, superheroes, princesses, and witches were already parading up and down the street as families got the trick-or-treating underway. The crisp air twinkled with magic and excitement as neighbors called out compliments on costumes, and I inhaled the heavenly, smoky scent of burning wood that several people were using to keep warm as they passed out candy.

We weren’t far into our route when I heard rapid footsteps approaching. Lily and Ethan’s faces lit up as Scott and his son came into view dressed in matching blow-up dinosaur costumes. I couldn’t help laughing as I watched their giant dino heads bobble to and fro as they swished toward us.

“Hey, guys!” Scott greeted, slightly out of breath. Since our pumpkin carving hangout, we’d been planning for the kids to do Halloween night trick-or-treating together too. I was relieved he was making it easy for me to take this second opportunity with no strings attached.

“Dad, can we go show Ms. Molly our costumes?” Lily asked eagerly.

I nodded indulgently, enjoying seeing my kids having a good time. After waiting a few moments for Lily, Ethan, and Stanley to run up the walkway to show off their costumes to their principal, we began a slow, easy walk from house to house, stealing pieces of candy here and there, as the kids ran back and forth down driveways and bonded with each other more.

Author Bio:

J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Trilogy. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry.

Living in the Northwest, she has three amazing children and far too many pets. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.

Sign up for J.C.’s newsletter and never miss a thing! http://bit.ly/1KxXWWB

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter


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Review – With A Blighted Touch by J Todd Kingrea @JToddKingrea

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

WELCOME TO BLACK ROCK – CANCER CENTRAL

The cover lends an eerie touch to With A Blighted Touch by J Todd Kingrea, that definitely fits the evil goingons in the small town of Black Rock. Is the town cursed? Is Kit cursed? And seeing we are in a small town, we gotta have some secrets.

Kit McNeil is back in town because of the death of his mother. He will love and miss her, not so with is still living father. Kit had been abused, demoralized and beaten down by him. Even now, he reverts to the feelings he had as a child. His dad isn’t all wrong. His music career has been a bust, and it’s his own fault. Drinking and drugs do not make for a success.

We have a mix of characters, from Kit, to his best friend, to his new friend, to the Dunley’s and the children (?). Of course, we have to have the characters make some bone headed moves, but how else can we create the suspense and tension that their actions cause to happen.

“We’re going to get you. We’re going to get you.”

I could hear the creepy voice as if the character was speaking to me out loud.

When Kit describes his and Todd’s camp, it brought to mind our camp from my childhood. Hey, J Todd, do we share some childhood exploits. I love when an author hits the spot.

When Kit and Todd start discussing the events that have plagued the town of Black Rock, Todd shares his research, a hobby cataloging the horrific events that have taken place in their small town. Of their graduating class of 129, 54 are dead. Of the six kids that lived on the same block as Kit, he is the only one still living. Hmmm…

J Todd Kingrea’s descriptive writing brought the horror to life. The details brought vivid visions to mind. The children, an evil spirit, mutilated bodies, the dark cave…

Man oh man…Courtney in the cave…shivers ran up and down my spine as I stopped reading, letting J Todd Kingrea’s words create a movie clip running through my mind. And Kit, life does not pass before his eyes and I love how J Todd dealt with the moments that flowed through Kit’s mind. As I read his thoughts, a sense of calm and warmth and ease passed through my mind too. J Todd can paint a picture with his words and I loved that I was there for every brush stroke.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In Scarburn County, Tennessee there is a small mountain community called Black Rock, known for its unusual and prevalent blight that affects all vegetation . . .

When an unexpected death forces Christopher “Kit” McNeil to return to his small hometown in the Tennessee mountains after eighteen years, he must confront his past and a secret he’s kept since he was twelve.

A talented guitarist with a history of bad choices and even worse luck, Kit soon reunites with an old friend and learns about recent disappearances and mysterious deaths in the area. They begin to wonder if it’s connected to what they witnessed in the woods when they were kids and if a creepy local family is involved. Stranger still, almost half of their high school graduating class has died.

When more shredded bodies begin appearing, Kit becomes a suspect. But what he discovers is even more frightening—evil has set its sights on him and his friends and it won’t stop until it gets what it needs.

Can Kit and his friends band together in time to stop this ancient evil? Or will a new reign of terror that the Cherokee once called Uyaga be unleashed to roam the earth once more?

  • Genres: Fiction, Horror
  • Kindle Edition 254 pages
  • Expected publication October 24, 2023 by BHC Press

ABOUT J TODD KINGREA (edited version from is website)

My earliest recollection of writing is from around 1974-1975.  I was a fan of the “Tarzan” comics published by DC and Marvel during those years.  I remember sitting in my tree house in the backyard and writing a story in which I was Tarzan. After that I don’t recall writing–or wanting to write–as a way of expressing myself.  My dream was to be an artist (preferably drawing comics for Marvel and DC).  I created my own “Avengers”-style comic    with my friends and I as the heroes (naturally!)  I knew I wanted to pursue some sort of career in the art field so my attentions were directed there.

Knowing that I could write non-fiction, I wondered if I could also write fiction?  Toward the end of 2015, I began to research for my first novel.  I bought and read books that would help me develop my fictional world, and I started jotting down anything that came to mind that might be factored into the story.  Much of 2016 was taken up with research, character creation, world-building, and plot development.  It took about a year to finally get to a third draft and a place where I was confident in shopping it around.

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Giveaway – Vampire Iniquity by Eileen Sheehan @RoxanneRhoads

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The Werewolf Lure by Eileen Sheehan

In the night when the moon is full, I listen to the howling of the beasts

They speak to each other with a sound all their own as they call to gather for the feast

Both man and beast they are combined from a curse made long ago

They walk as man both day and night until the full moon the beast does show

A strange thing happens deep within when I hear the cursed call in the wild

I let blood and body obey the lure to become the moon’s beast child.


Vampire Iniquity 
Tugurlan Chronicles
Book One
Eileen Sheehan

Genre: Paranormal-thriller-romance
Publisher: Earth Wise Books
Date of Publication: 01/11/2016
ISBN: 978-1726747400
ASIN:  ‎ B01AIJ7NWK
Number of pages:546
Word Count: 90,471

Cover Artist: Eileen Sheehan

Tagline: Join Dan on his journey of discovery as he not only learns that vampires exist, but that he has inherited the gift of being a slayer.

Book Description: 

Enter a dark and dangerous world that is filled with vampires, cannibalism, and human trafficking in the award winning novel, “Vampire Iniquity”, Book One of the “Tugurlan Chronicles”. 

When Dan gets tangled up in a rescue mission to save his friend’s fiancé, he is taken on a journey of self-discovery and family secrets. Battling against egotistical Dracula descendants, he soon learns of his family’s legacy as vampire slayers. 

With the help of his cousin, they must enter the den of iniquity once again to rid the wolf of these evil beings. But, will they be successful? And, at what cost? Find yourself on the edge of your seat in this thrilling and captivating read.

Vampire Iniquity Audio Sample https://bit.ly/3sDwmaR


Amazon      BN     Apple     Kobo     Audible     Smashwords

I lay sleeping in the fetal position on the damp earthen floor of my cell as a hazy light filtered through the small windows. The clanking of heavy metal as a pair of large hairy hands unlocked the cage door brought me quickly to the alert.

My eyes had finally adjusted to the darkness and I was able to see a fair bit of my surroundings. I rose up slowly, staring in disbelief as an enormous man-wolf-like creature reached down and put both of his hairy hands under my arms. He picked me up off my feet as if I was nothing more than a rag doll and held me dangling in the air. Without warning, the creature slammed me down so hard I was sure my feet were going to be repositioned above my head. I was given only a brief moment of reprieve to catch my balance before I was pushed out of the cage.

Puffs of dank dust swirled around my head as I stumbled and landed on the dungeon floor. I was grateful for my martial arts training and my understanding of going with the motion instead of fighting it. Shifting my body, I spun back into a crouched balance. I had no idea what this creature planned on doing with me but I was determined to go down fighting. I wouldn’t make it easy for the ugly beast, you could bet money on that.

“I bet you are wondering how a damp, dusty basement of this nature can exist in the desert,” came a voice through the darkness. “You would be surprised what exists beyond your realms of reality.”

I spun toward the voice as Dumitru’s tall, well-built figure stepped out from the depths of the shadows. The favorite son of Wadim and his first wife -an Italian Countess who Wadim captured and turned vampire centuries ago- there was no guessing at his ancestry. His sharp, vampire features were accentuated by rich, thick, glistening black hair that was tied snuggly at the base of his neck. Taught muscles bulged beneath the flowing material of his linen shirt. The ruffles at the neck and cuffs seemed out of place on his lean, muscular body.

Although at first glance he looked Caucasian, as I looked more closely I could see his Asian ancestry; especially in his eyes.

“My father has many talents,” the newcomer said. A chuckle, that almost resembled a growl, oozed from his evil sneer. “Stand up!”

I rose slowly, rubbing my sore muscles absent mindedly as I did. Purple welts were beginning to form on my forearms from my encounter with the wolf-man.

“Wu’s star pupil is injured?” He said sarcastically. He reached out and grabbed my arm with such force I was hard pressed to keep my balance. “Well, we cannot have that. I want you in perfect form when we fight.”

I couldn’t hold back the gag reaction my body had from the putrid stench of flesh and blood on Dumitru’s breath ….

About the Author:

Sitting at her antique rolltop desk in her home in upstate New York, Internationally Published and Award Winning author, Eileen Sheehan, writes steamy romance thrillers for the mature adult with a sexy male and strong female. The majority of her novels are paranormal, but some are just plain novels about people in love. As the years progressed, so did her writing style. Although she still includes romance and has a happily ever after ending, her stories tend to have more mystery, thrills, and horror in them.

She makes it a point to write a novel length that will allow the busy readers to be able to sit down in an evening (no more than two) and be taken on a journey that was created by her active imagination without having a week go by before they gets to the end of the story.

An incurable romantic, she has a love affair with at least one of her characters… one book at a time. She hopes the same thing happens to you.

Eileen started out as a freelance writer for periodical magazines and newspapers. From there, she tried her hand at writing screenplays. Her screenplay, “When East Meets West” was a finalist in the 2001 Independent International Film and Video Festival at Madison Square Gardens, NYC. Finally finding her niche, she lets her imagination loose with paranormal romance/thrillers. 

If you want to see more quality writings at a reasonable price, please support her efforts by leaving a review and becoming a follower








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SHE Was His Obsession – Fyre and Ash by Logan Fox #LoganFox #FyreandAsh

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I got a copy of the complete series of Fyre and Ash by Logan Fox through Booksprout. Thank you Logan Fox and Booksprout for the opportunity to read and review Fyre and Ash.

MY REVIEW

I am reviewing each book individually and the collection as a whole.

Healing was my obsession… until *she* walked into my classroom.

I must confess, I love a good villain as much or more than a good hero. I find them fascinating. Both characters Fyre and Charlotte Ash have tragic pasts, but once Charlotte is in Fyre’s sights…I love that she fought him, regardless of the attraction. She knew it was wrong as he forced himself upon her. There are many triggers, so…if you don’t like diving into the depths of depravity in an erotic thriller that has no boundaries, step aside. This isn’t for you.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

The action ramps up and the danger rises for Charlotte Ash. Fyre has enemies and will use any means necessary to draw him in. We meet Arrow, Fyre’s faithful companion, who takes an immediate liking to Charlotte. We come to a point where all hell breaks loose and, well, I can’t say much more or I feel I will give too much away. I will tell you, the ending of this novella had me screaming, “No, no, no, no, no,” at my ereader. Logan Fox, what are you doing to me? I am so glad that I have the rest of the story, sitting here, waiting for me to take the next step. First, a breath of fresh air to brace myself for what is to come.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

Boy, did Under Fyre end on a low note, so I am eager to begin Catching Fyre. Definitely an appropriate name, because someone’s going to burn. We learn how and why Fyre becomes a serial killer and there is so much to his story. I begin to look at him like another ‘villain’ I love so much, Mr Mayhem, from Sue Coletta’s Mayhem series. Things are not always as they appear to be and the saying: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover applies to Fyre. I have grown to love him and Charlotte and I am shocked at where we end up. Well done, Logan.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

MY REVIEW FOR FYRE AND ASH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

For those girls who openly root for the hero…while fantasizing about the villain.

Each book starts with a Playlist and I was very curious what music inspired Logan Fox for these novellas.

I love for an author to take me to the dark side and wallow in depravity. I find myself smiling and laughing, all too often, so I am glad this is fiction and not real life. What does this say about me? That I love an author that can take me out of my comfort zone, have me squirming in more ways than one. The perverse and twisted characters reach a climax that made me hate it when I read the last sentence…until I found there was a bonus epilogue.

I’m not sure why I didn’t give this a five star rating. I think because it felt rushed? Like something was missing, but I don’t know what. I don’t think it could have taken me to a deeper, darker place. And, as far as healing her…or himself…I will definitely be checking out more of Logan Fox’s work. Shee hits all my discomfort zones. LOL

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Healing was my obsession…until she walked into my classroom.

For years, my art therapy classes have provided solace to trauma survivors.
I’ve never questioned my motives before. Then her file crosses my desk.
Charlotte Ash.
Battered. Bruised. Broken.
The devil who kidnapped her put this girl through seven days of hell before she could escape.
The torture she suffered shows in her dead eyes. Eyes that brighten with hope when our gazes lock.
She’s drawn to me.
And I’m obsessed with her.
I’m her teacher, but instead of healing her, I’m stalking her.
Instead of distancing myself, I’m watching her sleep at night.
It’s for her protection. To keep her safe from harm.
I will kill for her.
But the only monster hiding under her bed…is me.

From USA Today bestselling dark romance author, Logan Fox, comes a deliciously dark and twisted stalker romance collection. Fyre and Ash contains all three books in the series, along with exclusive bonus content.
* Playing with Fyre
* Under Fyre
* Catching Fyre
* Bonus content from the Fyre & Ash world

Trigger: This book contains graphic sex, violence, assault, abuse, murder, stalking, voyeurism, exhibitionism, knife play, breath play, primal play, age-gap, a possessive/obsessive morally grey antihero, dub-con, torture, drugs, suicide ideation, bondage, captivity, humiliation and degradation, mental illness, somnophilia. Please proceed with caution.

For fans of Haunting Adeline, That Sik Luv, and the Mindf*ck series.

  • Genre: Erotica, Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
  • 314 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication October 26, 2023
  • Series: Fyre and Ash novellas

ABOUT LOGAN FOX

Logan Fox writes deliciously dark and twisted romance with damaged anti-heroes and kick-ass heroines.

Subscribe to her newsletter by heading over to her website at https://authorloganfox.com

  • 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!

Giveaway – An Angel’s Obsession by Celia Breslin @RoxanneRhoads @CeliaBreslin

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Celia’s Halloween Viewing List 2023

Halloween month is the prrrrfect time to binge-watch paranormal movies and TV shows. Add these to your must-watch (or re-watch) list!

* Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – Good vs. evil, angsty teens, wacky witches.

* iZombie – Dark comedy with zombies quarantined in Seattle. Brain cuisine jokes.

* Legion –  People with powers and power struggles. Surreal, sometimes scary, and totally quirky and compelling.

* Lucifer – Six seasons of paranormal goodness with one sinfully sexy devil and an equally sexy and strong female lead.

* Supernatural – 15 seasons of quality fantasy/horror with heroes Sam and Dean. Enough said! 😉

* Underworld Series: Dark fantasy series with vampires and werewolves. Six movies for your viewing pleasure. Win-win!

* The Cabin In The Woods – If you like humor mixed with scares, definitely give this comedy horror movie a go.  Five college students get waaaay more than they bargained for on their trip to the woods…

* The Shining – Classic horror at its finest. Haunted hotel, cray-cray main character, and ghosts galore. Stephen King rules!

Happy viewing and Happy Halloween!

Xo,
Celia


An Angel’s Obsession
The Cupid Dating Agency
Celia Breslin

Genre: Paranormal romance, fantasy romance, angel romance
Publisher: Celia Breslin
Date of Publication: May 2023
ISBN: 9798223559672
ASIN: B0C6V1R1FW
Number of pages: 120
Word Count: 29K
Cover Artist: Brantwijn Serrah

Tagline: An angel on a mission. A Celtic god seeking forgiveness. A passion that can’t be denied…

Book Description: 

Warrior-class angel and God’s messenger Gabrielle has spent an eternity in service, protecting the innocent in all dimensions. When the cupids and the Big Guy send her team to Cute Town, California, USA to run love-adjacent businesses like her beloved gym, she has no problem settling into the new assignment. Then a blast from her passion-filled but heartbreaking past literally rips holes in the fabric of reality separating Hell and Earth, and it’s up to Elle to locate the troublemaker and make him pay. All while protecting her heart.

Lugh, Celtic god of sun, light, and storms and all-around fun guy, has been nursing his broken heart for ages, and no amount of partying with pals in Hell or in the Sonoma wine country can ease the loss of the angel he let slip through his lightning-infused fingers. Luke would do anything to win back his fierce yet vulnerable Firecracker, so he’s elated when she crashes back into his life with a well-earned smackdown for his accidental role in the chaos messing up her new hometown.

Elle wants nothing to do with Luke, but when God and the cupids pair them up to investigate and resolve the real source of the problem, she has no choice but to comply. And maybe, just maybe, they can find a second chance at a forever love…


Amazon US     Amazon CA     Amazon UK       Angus&Robertson

Apple        BN     Kobo     Smashwords     Scribd     Vivlio


Luke was cannon-balled out of slumber by the sudden presence of one hundred-and-fifty pounds of hound landing on his back.

Facedown atop a supremely soft mattress with his arms stretched wide and his head hanging off the foot of the bed, it took him a second to rally his speech center. “What the actual bloody hell,

Bolt?”

Bolt ignored him, bouncing around Luke’s body, pitching him side to side, up, down, up, down.

“For feck’s sake.” What the double bloody hell was Bolt on about with all the yapping and yipping and bashing of Luke’s kidneys with his big paws?

Luke rolled onto his back. “Enough, Bolt. Sit.”

Eyes closed, he batted a hand at his hound, warding off the canine’s attempts to lick his face. “Go chase a squirrel, will you? Crikey.”

Bolt whined and smacked one large paw down upon Luke’s bare chest. Ouch. “Duuude,” he drawled. “Chill.”

Fingers snapped, silencing his dog lickety-split. Bolt plopped down next to him, tail thwacking against Luke’s leg right where his board shorts ended above the knee.

He elbowed his dog in the side. “Cut it out, cur.” Hold on. Snapping fingers… Who possessed the ability to boss his animal around and convince the stubborn bugger to obey?

Only one person in any dimension wielded this kind of puppy power. But no, it can’t be her. She’d made it clear he remained persona non grata in her life with her recent no-show in the Underworld.

With his heartbeat jackhammering in his chest, he sucked in a deep breath, soaking in the unique floral scent of the woman who broke his rarely used heart, hoping this was no mere post-party hallucination.

“Gabrielle,” he whispered. God’s messenger and elite warrior, the angel he’d admired and cherished. “Elle.” The woman he’d let down, and who ultimately walked away.

A grin spread over his face and happy chills frolicked down his body.

“Angel baby. You’re here.” He cranked open his eyelids to gaze up at her in wonder.

Lightning crackled in the depths of her glittering green eyes as she loomed over him, her unhappy expression promising pain. Yep, his angel was clearly not as thrilled as he was about this unexpected reunion.

Years of yearning crashed to the forefront. He ached to caress her smooth, cloud-pale skin, to bury his fingers in the long fire-red hair she always kept swept up in a high ponytail. Memories surged, of her curves pressed against him while they kissed under the stars in Faerie, of her wicked strong legs wrapped around his torso while they made love against his castle wall, on the spiral staircase, in the sky—

A snarl escaped his angel’s throat, and her arm shot downward, her fingers of steel snagging him by the throat and squeezing his windpipe.

“Luke.” She uttered his name as if it were the vilest curse word in any dimension, then lifted him with little effort and slammed him up against the wall…


About the Author:

Celia lives in California with her family. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and has a particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, angels, and the Fae. When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a good book, hanging with her family, or indulging her addiction to fantasy TV shows and movies.








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    • Sherry’s Shelves 10.21 – 10.28.23 #weeklyupdate

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    Hi Everyone. I’m watching the Alabama vs Tennessee game right now. They are not doing so well right now, but they are one of those teams where you never give up. They are in the process of rebuilding their team and I think Milroe is coming along just fine. I watched the Penn State vs Ohio State game because My Michigan Wolverine have to play both of them in the coming weeks. After I saw their piss poor performance, I think Michigan will do just fine. Michigan plays Michigan State tonight and I think we will do just fine there too.

    GO BLUE

    This week the Pensacola State Fair is in town. We go early, the first day and wander…a lot. Of course, an ice cold beer is in order. We don’t ride and rides, but we check out the chickens and cows and feed the goats, llamas and even a camel. The giraffe wasn’t there this year. 🙁 The giant bull is always here. He is a monster. We always play I Got It

    The video is a bit long, so I thought I would include a few photos for your enjoyment.

    Want more pics? Take A Long Strange Trip HERE.

    LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

    COMING UP ON fundinmental

    • Giveaway – The Water Tower by Amy Young
    • Giveaway – Vampire Inequity by Eileen Sheehan
    • Review – With A Blighted Touch by J Todd Kingrea
    • Review – Sanctuary Motel by Alan Orloff
    • Review – Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold
    • Giveaway – In The Wick Of Time by Valone JOnes
    • Giveaway – Cruel And Splendid Mermaids by Julie Catherine
    • Lava Rains Down – Earth VS Lava Spiders by Candace Nola
    • Giveaway – A Nutcracker Nightmare by Christina Romeril
    • I Was In The Moment – Operation S&D by Ashley Fontainne & Janelle Taylor
    • 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!

    Giveaway – The Water Tower by Amy Young @parternersincr1me @authoramyyoung

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    The Water Tower by Amy Young Banner

    The Water Tower

    by Amy Young

    October 9 – November 3, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

    Synopsis:

    The Water Tower by Amy Young

    Josie Ashbury was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career—until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. Taking a job teaching at her old high school, Josie is beginning to put the pieces of her life back together when one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police close the case quickly, without any real answers. Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl’s death.

    At the same time, Josie is battling demons of her own. As she faces debilitating insomnia that leaves her with gaps in her memory, she dives into the tangled secrets surrounding the investigation. When she finally unravels the web, she discovers that the truth lies much closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

    Praise for The Water Tower:

    “Start with a suspicious death of a beloved student, add a devoted former starlet turned drama teacher, and a dash of the police closing the case far too quickly, and you have the makings of a twisting and propulsive mystery. Amy Young’s The Water Tower will keep you flipping the pages to find out who killed the politician’s young daughter, and then have you checking if your teenager is where they should be tonight.”
    ~ Mary Keliikoa, multi-award nominated author of HIDDEN PIECES and the PI Kelly Pruett mystery series

    “The Water Tower is an electrifying work of suspense that depicts a wonderful hometown setting. This slow-burn mystery with sparkling prose has a well-crafted plot that is at once engrossing and fully realized from beginning to end. I highly recommend this engaging mystery.”
    ~ David Putnam, Bestselling author of the Bruno Johnson series and Dave Beckett series

    Book Details:

    Genre: Mystery
    Published by: Level Best Books
    Publication Date: June 20, 2023
    Number of Pages: 290
    ISBN: 9781685122775
    Series: The Lakeview Mysteries, Book 1
    Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

    Read an excerpt:

    Chapter 1

    She stood on the water tower, looking at the skyline she had only observed from the ground. You really could see the whole town from up here. Funny how your whole life can fit into one 360-degree glance. Peering down at the ground, she was no longer able to see individual blades of grass, all of them blurring into a sea of perfect emerald green. To her right was the roof of Lakeview High School, looking small from this vantage point. She felt as though if she leaned over far enough, she could almost touch it. But that was ridiculous; the school had to be several hundred feet away. Her vision came in and out of focus as she swayed, thinking about her life, her past, her future.

    In her three years at the school, she had never been up on the tower. No one she knew had been up here, either. Most students wouldn’t dare to scale it. Too scared of getting caught, too scared of breaking the rules, too scared of living. When she looked down at the ground, she thought she could see movement, like little grass men dancing and hopping around through a crowd of their peers. Kind of like high school. More like, exactly like high school. Everyone looks the same; maybe some are a bit taller, a bit shorter, a bit wider, but everyone dressed in essentially the same uniform, hopping over one another, trying to make their mark.

    How many feet above the ground was she—50, 60 feet? Was that high enough to kill you, or maybe just break a few bones? It would probably depend on how you hit the ground. Here she was, high above the town, pondering the angle at which you might hit the ground and live through the fall, the velocity at which an object might fall from here.

    Her body felt warm all over, despite the crisp air of late fall, and she took off her jacket and threw it aside. She leaned against the rail and spread her arms, allowing the breeze to blow through her, inhabiting every cell for just a moment, before moving off in another direction to go dance with someone else. Her 17 years had all been spent here, in this one place, in this small, boring town where, it seemed, nothing was all that was destined to happen.

    The clock tower chimed; it was 11:00. She felt she had eternity in front of her, the rest of this night, the rest of her life, stuck here in this town. Would she ever get out? Did it even matter if she did? She thought about the college catalogs arriving at home, the hundreds of pages of sales pitches clamoring for her family’s money. The sprawling campuses, the smiling students, the serious, but friendly, professors—what was the point? She would just end up back here, raising the same family as her friends, living the same life that her kids would eventually live.

    Reaching out her slender arm, she twirled her wrist. She could hardly wait for graduation when, everyone said, “real life” would begin. “I can’t wait to get out of here,” her friends exclaimed, dreaming of big cities and even bigger lives in far off places: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, anywhere but here. But she knew they would return, just like their parents, raising 2.5 kids with a Labradoodle and a balding husband in one of the best-little-suburbs in the country. Was it really so bad? She watched all these super-educated women who had given up their careers to stay home and clean up after the kids and drive to soccer practice, instead of changing the world as they’d so hopefully planned when plotting their escape years earlier. Was that her fate? Was that what awaited her now? Dozens of similar thoughts swirled and crashed like waves in front of her, mixing in a fantastic spray of colors, lights, and sounds.

    She was dead before she hit the ground.

    ***

    Excerpt from The Water Tower by Amy Young. Copyright 2023 by Amy Young. Reproduced with permission from Amy Young. All rights reserved.

     

     

    Author Bio:

    Amy Young

    Amy Young is an author, comedian, and actor based in Cleveland. After spending a decade in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry and writing her debut novel, The Water Tower, she returned to Ohio to be closer to family. Amy is working on her second book, a thriller, and in her free time she enjoys going to the theatre, bingeing reality TV, and spending time with her husband and many, many cats. She has a B.A. in English from Kenyon College.

    Catch Up With Amy Young:
    AuthorAmyYoung.com
    Goodreads
    BookBub – @authoramyyoung1
    Instagram – @amypcomedy
    Twitter – @authoramyyoung
    Facebook – @authoramyyoung
    TikTok – @amypyoung1

     

     

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    Not For Me – The Eight Reindeer Of The Apocalypse by Tom Holt #TheEightReindeeroftheApocalypse #NetGalley

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    I want to thank NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read and review The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse by Tom Holt. I mean look at that cover…and the title?

    https://amzn.to/3EJeheh

    Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Everything about The Eight Reindeer Of The Apocalypse by Tom Holt appealed to me. The great cover, the fun title and the intriguing blurb. BUT…

    I had a couple of moments when I smiled but I kept trying too hard to make it work for me.

    It depends what ereader I look at but I got to 1/4 to 1/3 of the way through and gave up.

    Tom Holt is a prolific writer that has a lot of readers who enjoy his work, but I don’t think I am one of them. Was it the writing style? Is satire not for me? Either way, just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    1 Star (DNF)

    AMAZON SYNOPSIS

    Tom Holt’s brilliantly funny new novel set in the world of The Portable Door (now a delightful movie starring Patrick Gibson, Sophie Wilde, and Christoph Waltz).

    The team of commercial sorcerers at Dawson, Ahriman & Dawson can help with any metaphysical engineering project, large or small (though by definition they all tend to be pretty large).
     
    They can also create massive great puddles of chaos that might one day swallow up the entire universe.
     
    Take, for example, the decision to recruit a certain bearded fellow whose previous work experience mainly involves reindeer and jingle bells. It might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but is he really the best person to save the world from Tiamat the Destroyer, who has literally gone ballistic? 

    ABOUT TOM HOLT

    Tom Holt (Thomas Charles Louis Holt) is a British novelist.
    He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
    Holt’s works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of “straight” historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker. You can find him at http://www.tom-holt.com

    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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    Infotriguing – The Story That Made Us Stronger by Iris March #IrisMarch

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    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    It’s funny, not funny ha ha, but that odd kind of funny. I woke up at 4:30 this morning, writing the review for The Story That Made Us Stronger by Iris March, in my head. That happens sometimes, seeing my major activity these days is reading.

    Most times cozy mysteries are fun, for me. A relaxing read to give me a rest from the dark and dangerous, sometimes gruesome stories I love the most. A palate cleanser, if you will. Most of the time, I give them a three rating. Not because anything is really wrong with the story, just that it is ‘sorta’ skimmed over, light, not enough meat on the bones kind of story.

    Then, I read a story like The Story That Made Us Stronger by Iris March, and all the ‘events’ she hit on had me thinking, thinking so much, I found myself surfing, looking for more information, loving the way she wove the elements into the story.

    We have running, cancer, stem cell replacement, a male nurse, ham radios, the Underground railroad, a message in a bottle, and a group of people brought together through unusual circumstances. I found myself unable to put the book down, and, at times, was waiting for that proverbial ‘other show to drop’, which really doesn’t happen for me in cozy mysteries. Iris March has a way of writing that gave me a suspenseful feeling, highly unusual for me in a cozy mystery.

    I quickly became involved with the characters, Connor and Katie, especially, but his nieces who are soooo adorable, and the peripheral characters had such large personalities and added that extra bit, that everyone of them added those extra feels that mean to so much to us readers.

    Well, this was one of those rare reviews, for me. One where I never went to my notes. I got up at 5:00 am and immediately wrote it. The story wouldn’t let me go back to sleep, soooo here we are. Maybe now, I can put the story to rest…until my next visit to an Iris March adventure that I feel sure will be an entertaing one.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    An abandoned building. A motivated runner. A Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer survivor.

    Connor Jackson has been training for a half marathon for the past six weeks. Katie Brandt has been training to beat cancer for the past 50. When Connor discovers an intriguing secret in a tiny, abandoned building on his running route, Katie finds that the mystery is what she needs to help her get through her three-week stem cell replacement procedure. Together, Conner and Katie must find the strength to achieve their personal goals and, in the meantime, expose the many past lives that the tiny building led.

    • Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery
    • 236 pages, Paperback
    • Published September 27, 2002 by Wandering Ginkgo Press
    • ISBN
    • 9798985918236
    • Language: English

    ABOUT IRIS MARCH (from Amazon)

    Iris March has a reputation for killing house plants and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats. Learn more about upcoming books and sign up for her newsletter at irismarchbooks.com.

    Website / Facebook / Instagram

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    Giveaway – Veils and Vampires by Cee Bee @XpressoTours @CB_Bauer

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    Veils and Vampires
    CEE BEE
    (Vampires of the Daemonverse, #2)
    Publication date: October 14th 2023
    Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

    ***By popular demand! New launch date of Fall 2023 across all retailers!***

    Highlander meets Twilight with a dash of Fifty Shades of Grey in this vampire romantasy… Caelin MacGregor is an ancient king with a new love Ages ago, I ruled a clan of vampire raiders. We were allies to the Vikings and enemies of the Rus. That life ended when the bloodkin plague wiped out all our women, including my beloved vampire bride, Elisava. A thousand years have passed. My heart remains empty. Then I see a human woman named Lexa. For the first time in ages, I feel true desire, respect and love. Could Lexa actually be a lost bloodkin lady … or is she a horrible trick from Pyri, the ancient fire goddess of the Rus raiders? Lexa Uznetsov has a plan To save my sister, Sash, I took on my father’s debt to Konstantin the Rus, leader of the New York Bratva. As a result, my life became a never-ending (and incredibly illegal) stakeout for the mob. After years of scheming, I’ve finally come up with a solid escape plan: find all three pieces of the infamous Veil Pendant. Once I reassemble this magical item, I’ll have the power to cure my sister … as well as the ability to say buh-bye to Konstantin. Sure, legends warn that reforming the Veil Pendant may bring about some nastiness called Pyri’s doomsday. Yet if it saves Sash, I’m willing to risk anything. “Veils and Vampires is amazing! It has action and adventure and a little spicy. Enough that it makes you drool and want more. Honestly a totally different take on modern day vampire soulmates. I devoured this book in one sitting.” – Teresa, Goodreads Vampires of the Daemonverse 1. Violins and Vampires 2. Veils and Vampires 3. Vixens and Vampires

    Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo


    EXCERPT

    Caelin

    Dniper River, Russian Lands, 1000 AD

    Dniper River, Russian Federation

    One Thousand Years Ago

    Every summer, I sail for the village of Staraya Ladoga to kill the evil vampire warlord, Fyodor the Rus. Over the centuries, one fact has become clear.

    Fyodor the Rus is verra good at hiding.

    A few months ago, I became king of my clan, the MacGregors. As such, I face a number of painful tasks, such as the pressure to choose a bride and quickly. But leading our yearly mission to try and kill Fyodor? ‘Tis always a pleasure.

    To this end, I now stand on the prow of my longboat, the Diamond. On either side, the great fleet of clan MacGregor stretches out across the Dniper River. Thirty-four ships in all—that’s a record. Fresh gusts of wind churn all around, creating a mosaic of white peaks on dark waters. I inhale, catching the far-off scent of pine needles and campfires.

    ‘Twould be a fine night for battle. Too bad Fyodor never gives us one.

    My second-in-command, Hunter, steps to my side. He’s a tall man with golden hair, green eyes, and all the body strength of the Shelterstone Crag.

    “The wind is strong and steady,” announces Hunter. “Perhaps we should strike up a song. The warriors seem …” He leaves the thought unfinished.

    I scan the crew. Since there’s still some daylight, all those now on deck are born vampires. Bloodkin. Men and women sit on their rowing benches, their bodies taught and voices silent. Like me and Hunter, they all wear ceremonial battle leathers. Their garb is to be expected. What I notice next is not.

    Normally, the crew is glassy-eyed and lax by this point in the journey. After nearly a millennium of trying, our annual attacks on Staraya Ladoga are more ceremony than anything else.

    So why does the crew twitch with every bird’s caw or odd wave?Something is wrong.

    I cut a glance toward Hunter. “Does your departure worry them?”

    Bloodkin magic draws us to a fated mate, meaning someone who matches our heart and enhances our powers. Hunter recently found his fated mate, Fifeur, in the land of the Francs. After months of debating, Hunter has finally resolved to move to Gaul and marry Fifeur. This voyage marks our last journey together.

    Hunter sighs. “Nae. ’Tis something else.”

    A thread of unease winds inside me. “It has been a thousand years, hasn’t it?”

    “That it has.”

    Fyodor originally invaded our realm exactly one thousand years ago. On that raid, Fyodor killed my great-grandfather, King Caethur. Why? Fyodor thought my relation was the so-called bloodkin spark, meaning that Caethur’s death would release a horde of fire demons and destroy life on earth.

    “There was a red moon a few nights ago,” I state. “That’s her sign.”

    There’s no question who I mean here. Pyri, the fire elemental. Fyodor and his people worship her in a death cult where the deceased are burned in longboats. I scan the crew once more. They’ve every right to be concerned.

    “Perhaps a song would help the crew,” I tell Hunter. “Rouse the bard.”

    –END OF SAMPLE–

    Author Bio:

    Author Christina “CEE BEE” Bauer has sold more than 1M copies across her 45+ epic fantasy books for young adults. She’s recorded (and narrated) eight of her books into audiobooks, as well as led the translation of her novels into four different languages. USA Today has called her work “must-read paranormal fantasy.” Bauer is an autism advocate and quirky loudmouth whose writing style really isn’t for everyone. But if you like stories with complex worlds inhabited by chicks who kick ass and take names, then read on!

    Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.
    Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

    Website / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Instagram / TikTok / LinkedIn


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    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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    • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
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