Author Archives: fundinmental

Tackling The TBR 7.9 – 7.15.22

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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 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.

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Previous Total: 2094

Currently Reading

Books Read

Books Added

Goodreads Giveaway for What She Found by Robert Dugoni

Books DNF-ed: 0

Books Deleted: 0

Duplicates Removed: 0

New TBR Total: 2093

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The Silence Of Children by Chris Lewando @westcorkwriter

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partial image heroine on street at night
partial image heroine on street at night
partial image heroine on street at night
The Silence of Children

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love stories about vigilante justice and psychological thrillers. This is my first Chris Lewando book and I am looking forward to reading it.

Deidre is a solitary creature. She cracks me up and I can totally relate to her. She studied psychology, but switched to law. She had stepped into her job not even knowing she would be good at it.

She’d had all she could want as a child, a privileged life, until her dad, a pediatrician, was pushed out because of a baby snatching scandal. There had been children, boys and girls, disappearing. Now, someone is asking questions. Why now?

Her sister has a busy life, a husband and children, so an impromptu visit is not a simple thing. But there is more to the visit than just catching up. These questions and Deidre’s need for answers has her worried.

This is one of those books I find hard to share, because I don’t want to spoil anything for you I will say, we have our share of bad ‘guys’ and good ‘guys’. How it will al unravel I cannot say, but I am definitely eager to find out. We have subterfuge, danger, some trying to do the right thing and some trying to stop them.

Children’s lives are on the line. Kidnapping, sex trafficking, unfit parents that hate their children they brought into the world…and who is going to stand up for them, save them from evil?

It’s not easy to tell who to trust. I have a good feeling about one man, because she needs someone to love, someone to show her the good things in life. Someone to show her there is more to life than work and a glass of wine while reading vampire romances. Love that touch. Now, maybe you can see why Deidre speaks to me. 🙂

Chris Lewando has kept the pacing moving right along with mystery, suspense and, yes, some disgusting villains who I wished the worst. The one surprise I figured out pretty early, but I still loved the twist. I will definitely keep my eye on Chris Lewando.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Silence of Children by Chris Lewando.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Twenty year ago, Deirdre’s father, a paediatrician was implicated in a child-abduction scandal that cost him his job, forcing him to change his identity. As an adult, in discovering her father is involved in something decidedly shady, she confronts the horrific possibility that he is linked to a paedophile ring. When two men enter Deirdre’s life, she’s sure they’re seeking her father. But are they paedophiles or FEDs? Loyalties torn, she feels compelled to learn the truth and stumbles into a conspiracy that threatens her own life. Is she prepared to save a child’s life at the risk of her own? Even Deirdre doesn’t know the answer to that, until confronted with its reality. (

ABOUT CHRIS LEWANDO

Chris Lewando

I trained as an English teacher, but the planned storyline drifted off-track. I landed in an office, producing management statistics – a different kind of fiction. I have been writing for many years, with quite a few mainstream genre novels and short stories published while I was still working full time. I gained a Creative Writing Masters (hons), and have been a novel-writing tutor since lessons were sent by snail mail and the nearest thing to a mobile phone beamed Captain Kirk onto the Enterprise. I live in rural South West Ireland, play Irish music in pubs for tourists, drive a camper the same age as me, and self-publish standalone novels with multiple viewpoints and complex characters.

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Giveaway – To Kingdom Come by Claudia Riess @GoddessFish

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To Kingdom Come by Claudia Riess

GENRE: Mystery

BLURB

Amateur sleuths, Erika Shawn-Wheatley, art magazine editor, and Harrison Wheatley, art history professor, attend a Zoom meeting of individuals from around the globe whose common goal is to expedite the return of African art looted during the colonial era.  Olivia Chatham, a math instructor at London University, has just begun speaking about her recent find, a journal penned by her great-granduncle, Andrew Barrett, active member of the Royal Army Medical Service during England’s 1897 “punitive expedition” launched against the Kingdom of Benin. 

Olivia is about to disclose what she hopes the sleuthing duo will bring to light, when the proceedings are disrupted by an unusual movement in one of the squares on the grid.  Frozen disbelief erupts into a frenzy of calls for help as the group, including the victim, watch in horror the enactment of a murder videotaped in real time.

It will not be the only murder or act of brutality Erika and Harrison encounter in their two-pronged effort to hunt down the source of violence and unearth a cache of African treasures alluded to in Barrett’s journal.

Much of the action takes place in London, scene of the crimes and quest for redemption.

EXCERPT

He wondered now why had it taken such an effort to decide which of his plans to set in motion. Walking off with an artifact or two from Franks House, the British Museum’s storage facility in East London, may have given him his political statement, but at what cost? The place was crawling with workers in lab coats and masks—conservators, project managers, photographers, interns, auditors, volunteers—the lot of them engaged in the end goal of moving 200,000 objects from the museum’s collection of Africa, Oceania, and the Americans to its nearly spanking new World Conservation and Exhibition Centre. True, it would not have been an insurmountable task, entering the quiet road where the quaint redbrick warehouse lay and unobtrusively blending into the workforce, but then what? Would he have been forced to shoot his way out of the place at the risk of being gunned down himself? How sordid and at the same time mundane to mow down an uncalculated number of individuals, only to find himself a mere casualty sprawled among them. Hell no, he was neither a loony terrorist nor a crack- head martyr. The plan in place was the more sensible course, no question about it.

It was restful, hearing below his thoughts the rhythmic phrase of train wheels clacking against the tracks in lulling repetition. His calmness surprised him a little, given what lay ahead. His scenario had been well choreographed, but only on an imagined stage with players moving about under his ironclad direction. In real life, even the most meticulous plan is apt to be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. He knew that it was exactly 1.6 miles from Effingham Junction Station to the mansion on Ockham Lane in Cobham, Surrey, but was he certain that he would not be accosted by a madman or struck by lightning on his walk to the place?

If he allowed his thoughts to ramble on in this manner, his nerves would start acting up. He must lean into the physical moment and move with it into his destiny. He looked out the window past his reflection and focused on the indifferent stars.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

An award-winning author of seven novels, Claudia Riess graduated from Vassar and resides in Manhattan and Westhampton Beach. Her most recent novel is the fourth book in her art history mystery series. “To Kingdom Come” will be released in Spring 2022 by Level Best Books.
Last year, Riess signed a second three-book contract with Level Best Books to continue the series that began with “Stolen Light.” The plot involved murder, the Italian Renaissance, and the Cuban Revolution—as well as a love story. The book was chosen by the Vassar travel program coordinator and the Vassar Latin American professor for distribution to the participants in their 2017 “people-to-people” trips to Cuba.
The latest suspense novel set in the art world, sleuths Erika Shawn, art magazine editor, and Harrison Wheatley, art history professor. Now married, the couple is caught up in a multiple-murder case involving the repatriation of African art and artifacts seized by the British in the late nineteenth century during the colonial era. Much of the action takes place in London, scene of the crimes and quest for redemption.
“Riess uses words as an artist uses a paint brush; the pages come to life.” –Joseph Epstein, Ph.D

“Mystery. Passion. Crime. What more could a book-lover want!”
–Elizabeth Cooke, author of the Hotel Marcel Series

An engaging speaker, Riess has recently given several author talks via Zoom for libraries* and is scheduled for future Zoom and podcast events at more venues. Subjects include “Anatomy of a Murder Mystery,” “Dangerous Liaison: Fiction and History,” and “The Joys and Perils of Creating a Mystery Series.” Her talks are of interest to both authors and readers.
*“Thank you for a fun evening. It was very interesting to hear about the process of writing.”

–Jocelyn Ozolins, Head of Reference, Shelter Island Library

Claudia Riess has worked in the editorial departments of The New Yorker magazine and Holt Rinehart and Winston. She has also edited several art history monographs. For more about Riess and her work, visit www.claudiariessbooks.com.
All four books in the art history mystery series are available through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com,IndieBound.org and at independent book stores. For bulk discount purchases, contact https://levelbestbooks.wordpress.com.

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Giveaway – Unchain My Heart by Nadia Blair @XpressoTours @NadiaBlair16

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UNCHAIN MY HEART—DELETED SCENE

This is a deleted scene from early in the novel. I hope readers enjoy!

The journalist followed Natasha’s bodyguard across the empty restaurant. As he approached, she smiled up at him from her cushion at the low, Asian-style table.

“Miss Bernard.” He leaned down to shake her hand. At least he didn’t try to kiss it; Americans could hardly ever carry off such an affectation.

“Andrew, right?”

“You can call me Andy.” As he dropped onto a cushion opposite her, Natasha studied him. Dark, shoulder-length hair. Blazer and jeans. Intense dark eyes. Pretty hands, with long, tapered fingers.

The server came with their appetizers. They spent a few minutes sipping tea and nibbling spring rolls.

Finally, Andy leaned forward. “So, Ms. Bernard, what made you decide to reinvent yourself?”

“I think it’s time to move past the slinking villainess thing. I have much more range than some of my recent roles have showcased.” And whose fault was that? Listening to her agent’s bad advice? Or was she just getting lazy?

“It has nothing to do with a certain looming milestone?”

She chuckled. “You mean my birthday?” In just over two weeks, she’d be thirty. “I suppose that’s part of it. At some point, I outgrew the wide-eyed ingénue, and I could never be the girl-next-door. So I ended up falling into the classic femme fatale role.”

“For good reason, if you don’t mind me saying so.” His admiring glance took in her perfectly made-up face, her long, auburn hair, and the silk blouse that displayed her figure to good advantage.

“You know that tired old saying?” she said. “Don’t judge a book by its cover? I’ve always found it ironic how untrue it is. We’re all judged by just how good our packaging is.”

“So, you want to rebrand?”

“Exactly.”

Andy glanced at his notebook. “It seems you’ve been staying busy.”

“Indeed.”

“Your recent bruising pace seems to have come about at just about the time of your break-up from Sloan … and Richard Mac.”

Natasha took a sip of tepid tea and wished a black hole would swallow Andy. “I never dated the Bastard—I mean Richard.” She waited for Andy to correct himself. I mean, your affair with Richard Mac, which resulted in the breakup of your marriage to Sloan. As if Richard the Bastard ever would have touched her. He’d always loathed her.

“Excuse me,” Andy said smoothly. “Maybe it’d be safer to say you’ve had a, um, complex association with the members of Mephisto.”

          Not bloody fair. A two-year-old scandal, and they still hounded her about it. She swallowed against the shriek rising in her throat. No one had believed her when she’d tried to set the story straight. Rather hard to deny it when Sloan wrote a song that pinned the scarlet “A” squarely on her chest. And Richard said nothing. Not a word to set the story straight. As if he didn’t care if the entire world thought him the sort of man who’d betray his best friend. Ha. Not that it mattered; if anything, the scandal had only enhanced his bad boy image.

          Focus. Andy was still waiting for a response. “As thrilled as I am to speak about my personal life, I’m afraid any response I might make would be unprintable.” She softened her words with a smile. “In any case, it’s old news, hmm?” In other words, change the bloody subject.

          “Well, it might be, only …” Andy’s dark brows lifted. “I’ve heard rumors that a tell-all exposé of the band is in the works. Word has it there’s an entire chapter about the rock-and-roll love triangle.”

          Natasha gulped her tea. All that time and effort spent reinventing herself, only to have it all come unraveled thanks to some trashy book.

          Not. Fucking. Happening.

As she changed the subject, she promised herself that tell-all would never see the light of day. Even if she had to confront Satan—AKA Richard Mac—himself.

Unchain My Heart
Nadia Blair
(Mephisto, #2)
Publication date: May 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

What’s a bad girl to do when the world won’t let her be good …

With her thirtieth birthday looming, actress Natasha Bernard wants to reinvent herself as something other than Hollywood’s favorite villainess. When she hears rumors that a tell-all exposé reveals details of her love life with her rockstar ex, she decides to put a stop to it. Even if that means confronting his bandmate, Richard Mac—the man who let the world brand her with a scarlet ‘A.’

She’s his nemesis … his secret obsession … and the only woman who can incinerate his life …

Guitarist Richard Mac is a control freak, whether he’s working on a new album or using his custom leather toys in the bedroom. When “Hurricane” Natasha storms back into his life, he risks everything to claim her. But he can’t risk losing control and letting her guess his darkest secret … that she’s the one woman he’s always wanted and could never have …

Goodreads / Amazon


Author Bio:

Nadia Blair writes steamy contemporary romance featuring outrageous bad boys and gutsy girls who give as good as they get. She has a thing for snappy dialog, humorous situations, and swoon-worthy happily-ever-afters.

When she’s not having conversations with fictional people, she enjoys summer thunderstorms, top-shelf whiskey, and rockin’ out to a classic guitar solo.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Amazon


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Givweaway – Strut by Jay Hogan @XpressoTours

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Strut
Jay Hogan
(The Style Series, #2)
Publication date: July 14th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

New Zealand farm boy turns New York fashion model.
Fairy tale? Maybe. But it hasn’t been easy. A year in this crazy city, working my tail off just to survive in a ruthless industry where sex sells and boundaries are too readily crossed.

A year and a reassuring ocean away from Hunter Donovan—a sexy, humiliating mistake that I’m not about to repeat. Distance is good. Distance is safe.

But now Hunter is back. In New York. In my life. In all those treacherous feelings that haven’t gone anywhere. But when my world suddenly crashes and I have to piece myself back together and fight for my career, will Hunter be there when I need him? Will we have what it takes to make it through this, together?

Note: This book contains themes of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Halfway down the block I came upon a small queue outside a tidy brick establishment which proved to be Color. The distant thrum of Ariana Grande leaking through the double wooden doors onto the sidewalk reminded me I was close to a generation older than most of the guys ahead of me waiting to get in.

I joined the line, ignoring a low whistle of interest from one of the guys as I passed. I took his appreciation as reassurance that my skinny black jeans paired with one of Rhys’s new season tight black-and-white-checked T-shirts passed muster. I checked my phone as I waited and fired off a text to my younger sister knowing it was afternoon in New Zealand. A few seconds later the phone rang in my hand, and I smiled and swiped it open.

“Hey, sis.”

“Hey, you. I’m heading to the supermarket. What’s up?”

The line shrank by a couple of guys, and everyone shuffled forward. “Not much. I’m waiting to get into a bar and thought I might catch you.”

Silence. “Hunter Donovan is in a queue?” She chuckled. “You don’t do queues, bro. I thought you rarefied fashionista types skipped those pesky things.”

“It’s not that level of club,” I explained. “Think popular, off-the-beaten-track gay bar. I doubt I’ll see anyone I know and certainly no one who knows me.”

“A gay bar? Ohhhhh, are you on a date?”

“No, I am not on a date. You know me. Besides, I’ve only been here two days.”

“You’re right. I do know you. Which means you’re cruising for some pretty arse. You after a bit of downtown rough, big brother?”

“Jesus, Patty, you sound like a low-budget movie, and we are not having that conversation. Ever. If you must know, I met a guy I worked with in Auckland and he happens to tend bar here. I said I’d drop by.” Kind of, almost.

“Riiiight.” She sounded sceptical. “Do I know them? You’ve always said the best thing about your trips to New York was all the great clubs. I’ve never known you to waste your time on suburban bars.” My sister was way too perceptive.

“True, but this is that model from fashion week last year? The guy Rhys discovered—”

“Oh my god,” she blurted. “That gorgeous hunk of drool you shot for Flare. Alec someone, right?”

“Alec Williamson. He got signed by Cage Talent after the show and has been in New York since. I ran into him quite by chance.”

Patty was quiet for a few seconds as the cogs in her brain ticked over. “But you liked him, right?”

What the fuck? I said nothing

.

“You can’t lie to me, Hunter. I know you. He’s the one hanging in your office on your wall of fame, aka my personal wall of hotness. He’s wearing Rhys’s design. Holy shit, Hunter. Do you have a thing? Are you—”

I needed to shut this down fast. “He’s hanging there because it was my best friend’s signature shoot for his new label,” I argued. “Not because it’s Alec.”

“Mm-hmm.” There was an irritating smile in her voice. “Pull the other one. I called into Flare that day, remember? You couldn’t take your eyes off him. Neither could I, to be honest, but you were a little smitten kitten.”

I so was. “I so wasn’t. You’re dreaming. Alec is a great model, that’s all. If I was smitten, it was on a purely professional level.”

“And yet you’re queuing to have a drink at the place he works?”

Well, when you put it like that. “Maybe.” It was all she was getting. “It’s the friendly thing to do, right?”

“Aha. Yep. Very neighbourly of you. Oh, here’s a thought. If you like him, how about you keep it in your pants for once, at least for more than a day? Get to know him.”

Too fucking late. “Oh, look at that, the bouncer’s waving me in. Gotta go, sis. Nice talking to you.” I stabbed the End Call button, stared at the double doors for a second, took a deep breath, and then pushed through.

The immediate assault to my eardrums almost rattled my brain from my skull. Add that to the heaving crowd and multicoloured light display circling the room and dripping down the walls, and I needed a minute to orient myself. I passed the coat check desk and slid against the closest wall to take a look around.

The place was humming, the music pulsing loudly above the thrum of a hundred different conversations, while the surprisingly spacious dancefloor writhed with every possible combination of couples, throuples, and dogpiles of slick bodies. Like the queue outside, it was a younger crowd, mostly early twenties, but with enough around my age to drop the creep factor to acceptable. I watched the dancers for a bit, appreciating all the hot skin and tight muscle on display before scouting the bar.

“You wanna dance?” A warm body leaned close, and I turned to find an attractive dark-haired man just inches from my face. He had the greenest eyes I’d ever seen and a pouty mouth made for sucking cock. He licked his lips and ran his hand up my arm. “You’re fucking gorgeous.”

On any other night I would’ve had him down the back and on his knees with my dick down his throat in about five minutes flat, but I wasn’t even tempted—a disturbing fact that was worth an alarm bell or two. Instead, I simply smiled and covered his hand with mine.

“Thanks. You’re pretty hot yourself, but I’m meeting someone.”

Author Bio:

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year.

She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She’s travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel

Author Links


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Mystery Road by Kevin Lucia @KevinBLucia

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.

I love this fantastic cover. How about you?

Mystery Road

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the awesome cover. Both shorts mention dementia.

MYSTERY ROAD: WOW. Mystery Road may be a short story, but it sure is powerful. Memories. Dreams. He prepares himself for his father’s death. A chance encounter leaves more questions than answers. Brought tears to my eyes. 4 Stars

A NIGHT AT OLD WEBB: Who’s to say ghosts don’t walk among us? Sometimes a nudge can take us to places we never would have reached on our own. Places where we were meant to be. We just needed that passing moment in time that lingers in our dreams, hopes, and desires. Well written, flowing smoothly to a thoughtprovoking conclusion. 3 Stars

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Mystery Road by Kevin Lucia.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Two Kevin Ellison Stories in One!

Mystery Road

Choices are like roads, taking us to destinations both planned and unexpected, but lofty thoughts like that are of no concern to young Kevin Ellison, who only cares about his dreams of basketball glory.

One day, however, while riding his bicycle to shoot baskets with his best friend, he comes across a side-road he doesn’t recognize, curving away into the woods. Intrigued, he rides down this unmarked road and encounters something both wonderful and quietly terrible, something that forever changes his understanding of the world…

A Night at Old Webb

Old Webb, an abandoned grammar school just outside Clifton Heights, is the place to be late summer nights in Webb County. A gathering place for friends to be themselves, away from grownups who have forgotten what it means to be young and free.

The summer of 1992, Kevin Ellison spent his Saturday nights there like everyone else. Everything was running according to plan: a college basketball scholarship, school, all the things everyone expected of him.

Then he met a girl named Michelle Titchner, and everything changed…

ABOUT KEVIN LUCIA

Kevin Lucia

Kevin Lucia’s short fiction has appeared in several anthologies, most recently with Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Bentley Little, Peter Straub and Robert McCammon.

His first short story collection, Things Slip Through was published November 2013, followed by Devourer of Souls in June 2014, Through A Mirror, Darkly, June 2015, and and his second short story collection, Things You Need, September 2018. His novella Mystery Road is forthcoming from Cemetery Dance Publications.

For three free ebooks, sign up for his monthly newsletter at www.kevinlucia.blogspot.com.

MY KEVIN LUCIA REVIEWS

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Giveaway – A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman @dollycas @Difreeman001

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A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder
(A Countess of Harleigh Mystery)
by Dianne Freeman

About A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder


A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Victorian England
Kensington (June 28, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496731611
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496731616
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09HRC11G9

Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, returns in Dianne Freeman’s charming, lighthearted mystery series set in Victorian England, and finds her wedding day overshadowed by murder . . .

On the eve of her marriage to George Hazelton, Frances has a great deal more on her mind than flowers and seating arrangements. The Connors and the Bainbridges, two families of American robber barons, have taken up residence in London, and their bitter rivalry is spilling over into the highest social circles. At the request of her brother, Alonzo, who is quite taken with Miss Madeline Connor, Frances has invited the Connor family to her wedding. Meanwhile, Frances’s mother has invited Mr. Bainbridge, and Frances fears the wedding may end up being newspaper-worthy for all the wrong reasons.

On the day itself, Frances is relieved to note that Madeline’s father is not among the guests assembled at the church. The reason for his absence, however, turns out to be most unfortunate: Mr. Connor is found murdered in his home. More shocking still, Alonzo is caught at the scene, holding the murder weapon.

Powerful and ruthless, Connor appears to have amassed a wealth of enemies alongside his fortune. Frances and George agree to put their wedding trip on hold to try and clear Alonzo’s name. But there are secrets to sift through, not just in the Bainbridge and Connor families, but also in their own. And with a killer determined to evade discovery at any cost—even if it means taking another life—Frances’s first days as a newlywed will be perilous indeed . . .

About Dianne Freeman

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. She is an Agatha Award and Lefty Award winner, as well as a finalist for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. After thirty years of working in corporate accounting and finance, she now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona. Visit her at www.DiFreeman.com.

Author Links

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Giveaway – Mermaid of St Moritz by Jincey Lumpkin @XpressoTours

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Mermaid of St. Moritz
Jincey Lumpkin
(Mermaid of Venice, #5)
Publication date: July 11th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Billionaire mermaid Gia Acquaviva is back for the riveting fifth installment of the Mermaid of Venice series. Gia struggles with intense feelings for a man from her past, while her passionate love affair with a Hollywood actress threatens to ruin it all.

The Mermaid Civil War unleashes Ancient Magic, putting both mermaids and mankind in danger. Caught in the middle of warring factions is Gia’s daughter, Serena. Will the child master her magical powers, or will she become a casualty of war?

Everything’s on the line for Gia. Will her risky behavior cause her to lose everything she’s worked so hard to regain?

Tropes:

• Love triangle
• Enemies to lovers
• Secret affair
• Billionaire romance
• Paranormal romantic suspense

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

They call it the “Top of the World.” The glitterati come to St. Moritz for its famous ski slopes, but they stayed for the champagne climate. Home to mineral springs and abundant forests, the chic village also draws a summer crowd. Late spring brings heavy rain and wildflowers as far as the eye can see. Today, though, the sun awoke and claimed the day.

Gia rose from her slumber to find Florent making her an espresso. They had their coffee on the deck, soaking in all that Alpine glory.

She finally felt relaxed again, knowing that she had taken care of Yiannis for good.

“The scenery reminds me of the Sound of Music,” Florent mused.

“Oh?” Gia asked. “Will you run to the top of the mountain and serenade me like Julie Andrews?”

Florent chuckled. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? Seeing me turn round and round in circles?”

“I am sure we can find you an apron somewhere. I would like the full experience, please.”

He slid out of his chair and approached her, nuzzling her face with his prickly, unshaven skin.

She put both hands on his cheeks and kissed him.

“Mmm!” Florent smiled with a devilish grin. “I almost forgot, Gia! I have a surprise for you.”

She grunted. “You know I hate surprises.”

“Oh, but you will love this. I have organized a private yoga session… with baby goats!”

“Florent, stop. Do not tease me.”

“I am quite serious, Gia! I thought you could bring the au pair… and Serena could pet those smelly little goats. My daughter loves all animals. Serena is probably the same.”

Gia realized for the first time that Serena had never been around any animal. The baby didn’t exactly have a normal start to her life.

“All right,” Gia accepted, feeling amused by this new development on the itinerary. “I will shower and then… baby goats.”


Author Bio:

Jincey Lumpkin is a writer who splits her time between NYC and Lisbon. She has been profiled by Dateline NBC, Vice, and GQ, among others. Out Magazine listed her in its “OUT 100,” naming her as one of the world’s most influential LGBTQ+ people, alongside celebrities like Laverne Cox and Ricky Martin. Sign up for free stories at JinceyLumpkin.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newletter


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New Release – Helltown by Casey Sherman @caseysherman123

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Helltown: The Untold Story of Serial Murder on Cape Cod

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Well, this wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. I love reading about serial killers, suspense and thriller fiction and nonfiction. Helltown seems to be a cross between them. It reminds me of the way recreations are done on TV, and I did do some web searching to check on some of the facts. It covers more than the murders. It’s about the 1960s, Cape Cod, Provincetown, the drug culture, hippies…

I have been traveling to the Cape for more than twenty years and I love it. You know exactly where you are by your surroundings, a unique and beautiful place. So many familiar places, I couldn’t help but smile as we drove the roads, ate in the restaurants and…

Can definitely see how far we have advanced when it comes to investigating a murder and how many more tools we have at our disposal.

The police, Kudos to them. Once they established a murder had taken place, they worked together tying the knot around Costa’s neck.

Even though there were fictional elements thrown in, I loved the way it was written. Easy to read, flowing smoothly.

I think a lot of people may have trouble with the recreations and suppositions, and that is why I didn’t rate this higher. It is supposed to be true crime, but it was written like a fictional novel. It was more about the times and the Cape than only a serial killer.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Helltown by Casey Sherman.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

1969: The hippie scene is vibrant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Long-haired teenagers roam the streets, strumming guitars and preaching about peace and love… and Tony Costa is at the center of it all. To a certain group of smitten young women, he is known as Sire―the leader of their counter-culture movement, the charming man who speaks eloquently and hands out hallucinogenic drugs like candy. But beneath his benign persona lies a twisted and uncontrollable rage that threatens to break loose at any moment. Tony Costa is the most dangerous man on Cape Cod, and no one who crosses his path is safe.

When young women begin to disappear, Costa’s natural charisma and good looks initially protect him from suspicion. But as the bodies are discovered, the police close in on him as the key suspect. Meanwhile, local writers Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer are locked in a desperate race to secure their legacies as great literary icons―and they both set their sights on Tony Costa and the drug-soaked hippie culture that he embodies as their next promising subject, launching independent investigations that stoke the competitive fires between two of the greatest American writers.

Immersive, unflinching, and shocking, Helltown is a landmark true crime narrative that transports us back to the turbulent late 1960s, reveals the secrets of a notorious serial killer, and unspools the threads connecting Costa, Vonnegut, and Mailer in the seaside city that played host to horrors unlike any ever seen before. New York Times bestselling author Casey Sherman has crafted a stunner.

ABOUT CASEY SHERMAN

Casey Sherman

Casey Sherman is a New York Times Bestselling Author of 13 books including The Finest Hours (now a major motion picture starring Casey Affleck & Chris Pine), Boston Strong (the basis for the film Patriots Day starring Mark Wahlberg), Animal & Hunting Whitey.
Sherman is also the author of 12, Search for the Strangler, Animal, Bad Blood, Black Irish, Black Dragon, Above & Beyond and The Ice Bucket Challenge.
Sherman is a contributing writer for TIME, Esquire, Washington Post, Boston Herald and Boston Magazine and has appeared as a guest an analyst on more than 100 television news programs.
Sherman is a graduate of Barnstable High School (Cape Cod), Fryeburg Academy (Fryeburg, Me.) and Boston University.

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Giveaway – The Wielder Diaries by Ashely Scheller @GoddessFish

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The Wielder Diaries: My Crystal by Ashley Scheller

GENRE:   Fantasy Adventure

BLURB

Please…Please come back… Those words ring in her ears as she awakens. A strange band of characters call her Kayla, a name she’s forgotten along her life filled with transforming animals, magic, and dragons. Anybody would want to remember such an exciting life, yet there seems to be a truth no one wants to share, WHY it’s important Kayla remembers. With a mystical book in hand, she races against time to recall her adventures she shared with her family and friends in this first installment of ‘The Wielder Diaries’ series, ‘My Crystal.’

EXCERPT

Left alone, before I could ask any more questions, I studied the item carefully. It was certainly odd for a diary, let alone a book. There was no title. The covers were made of this blue-tinted, crystal-like material. The covers themselves were a mystery as some inky black liquid that stained them oddly swirled around on its own just beneath the surface. The entire outside was rather warm to the touch and surprisingly growing hotter the longer I held it.

Come on…I need you. These people need you to help me out here!

Bearing through the pain, I pried it open.

It hurts! Knock it off! Work with me here!

A chill ran down my spine when I heard a whiny screech, but it wasn’t about to deter me from my task. Slapping both hands on the tan pages to prevent the covers from snapping shut, I next heard a ghostly sigh.

“Whew!” I leaned back. “All right, that was weird.”

I studied the reddish font while I sat back up, ignoring the slight burning sensation in my hands. Before I could start, the pages’ aged, tan color dissolved away while a gold font replaced the icky red. Although the pages I was looking at became pure white, the rest of them remained tan like they were waiting for me to turn to their spot.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Ashley Scheller has many hats. An educator by day and artist by night –  if she isn’t sketching new creations in her notebook, she loves to create stories. Residing with her family in Iowa, Scheller enjoys connecting with her community about art, books, and games. In 2021, Scheller published book two of The Wielder Diaries series, Shattered. She invites you to an exciting adventure and looks forward to publishing book three soon.

Click here to check out her books, social media, and more: https://aschellerbooks.carrd.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aschellerbooks/

TikTok / Amazon buy link

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