Author Archives: fundinmental

Giveaway – Join Or Die by R Blake Wilson @iReadBookTours @RBlakeWilson1

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Join us for this tour from August 8 to August 26, 2022!

Book Details:

Book Title:  JOIN, or DIE. – An American Patriot’s Book of Quotes by R. Blake Wilson
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  214 pages
Genre: American History, Constitution, Democracy
Publisher:  West View Press 
Release date:  April 12, 2022
Content Rating:  G for this book of quotes
 

Book Description:

An AMERICAN PATRIOT’S history lesson.

A book every American should own and read.

“The PEOPLE are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our LIBERTY.” Thomas Jefferson

“A HOUSE DIVIDED against itself cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln

“FREEDOM of SPEECH is a principal pillar of a free government; When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and TYRANNY is erected on its ruins.” Benjamin Franklin

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Meet the Author:

R. Blake Wilson is a Father, Corporate Employee, Small Business Owner, American Farmer and American Patriot.

Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois in the shadow of United States President Abraham Lincoln and having achieved success and failure chasing the American Dream, Blake has grown to appreciate and admire the American story. He believes in the American Dream and the Pursuit of Happiness and has lived his life chasing both. His story is emblematic of an America where the individual is free to fail. succeed, fail and succeed again and again. His vision of American Unity is based on American Values and the United States Constitution…

In God We Trust, E Pluribus Unum, and Ordered Liberty. (2022)
DON’T TREAD ON ME – An American Patriot’s Book of Quotes (2011)
JOIN, or DIE. – An American Patriot’s Book of Quotes (2022)
LINCOLN – An American President’s Book of Quotes (coming soon)
REAGAN – An American President’s Book of Quotes (coming soon)
TRUMP – An American President’s Book of Quotes (coming soon)

connect with the author: website ~  instagram ~  facebook ~ twitter
Tour Schedule:

Aug 8 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / author interview / giveaway
Aug 9 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 10 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 11 – Bless Their Hearts Mom – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 12 – Connie’s History Classroom – book review / giveaway
Aug 15 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 16 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
Aug 17 – The Adventure of a Traveler’s Wife – book review / author interview / giveaway
Aug 18 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 19 – Books and Zebras – book review / giveaway
Aug 22 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 23 – The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Aug 24 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Aug 25 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Aug 26 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review / giveaway
 

Enter the Giveaway: 

 
JOIN OR DIE: – An American Patriot’s Book of Quotes Book Tour Giveaway


 

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One Sentence Review – Shadow Hunter by Andrea Pearson @andreapearson2

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Shadow Hunter is my first book by Andrea Pearson and I feel like I read it out of order, even thought it is the first book. Is it a spinoff?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

This action packed, demons running amok, kill or be killed paranormal and supernatural thriller had me intrigued from the first sentence of the blurb: Bound to destroy the woman he loves…but I kept tripping up over the tense and I felt like I was missing something…is this a spinoff from a previous series…was it Abel’s turn to tell his story?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Bound to destroy the woman he loves…

Abel hasn’t seen Lizzie in at least seven years, and his experiences since then have changed him significantly. He’s sure he’s moved past his earlier crush, that he’s immune to her carefree and bubbly personality, but the moment his eyes land on her, he knows he’s still in love.

Instead of a joyful reunion, though, he only suffers agony at being in her presence again.

Because he’s being blackmailed into murdering her.

And there’s no way out. The Shadow Prophet has vowed to kill everyone Abel holds dear if he doesn’t complete the job. Abel has tried everything he can think of to break the contract, but nothing has worked, and he has nowhere else to turn.

Complicating things further, he gets recruited by a second client to help Lizzie achieve an impossible mission. One where they must work closely together while hunting immortal demons. One that will either destroy him or force him to kill her before he’s found a way out—before he’s ready to do it.

But how can a man ever be ready to murder the woman he loves?

If you enjoy high-stakes fantasy action, romance with a hint of angst, and fast-moving paranormal stories, you’ll love Shadow Prophet, book one in an addictive fantasy series

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Tackling The TBR 8.13 – 8.19.22 #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 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: 2076

Currently Reading

Books Read

Books Added: 0

Books DNF-ed: 0

Books Deleted: 0

Duplicates Removed: 0

New TBR Total: 2075

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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Book Blitz – Loving Artemis by Janet Mason @amusejanetmason @XpressoTours

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Loving Artemis
Janet Mason
Publication date: August 16th 2022
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Artemis found the love of her life when she met Linda, but their passionate relationship fizzles when Artemis lands herself on the other side of the law. Pulling the pieces of her life together, Artemis rekindles her relationship with Linda, and together they raise a daughter.

Meanwhile, Grace, running from her past, starts a life with Thalia. At a pride parade, Grace spots someone who reminds her of Artemis, who she was briefly involved with in her youth. Old feelings are rekindled. A lifetime of rejection, abandonment, and fleeing rears its head. Now she must come to terms with her past, put her relationship with Artemis to rest–or risk losing everything.

Artemis and Grace embark on a journey of revolution, love, and marriage and discover that love finds us when we least expect it.

——————-

Janet Mason is an award-winning creative writer, teacher, marketing professional, and occasional blogger for such places as The Huffington Post. Their book, Tea Leaves, a memoir of mothers and daughters, published by Bella Books in 2012, was chosen by the American Library Association for its 2013 Over the Rainbow List. Tea Leaves also received a Goldie Award. Their work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and their novel THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders (Adelaide Books – New York and Lisbon) was featured at the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair. Adelaide Books also published their novel The Unicorn, The Mystery late in 2020.

Loving Artemis appeals to a wide readership, with particular interest to the LGBTQA+ audience. As a love story and a coming-of-age narrative, it holds universal appeal. It is also an important slice of American history — enticing to those who have lived through it. It also attracts a younger audience who want to learn about the events that led to marriage equality.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Art felt the bike purring under her as she gunned along the highway. She looked down and saw the blur of asphalt. She looked straight ahead. It was mid-morning on Friday and the road was empty. The sun cast a long shadow in front of her.

The shadow looked like a black cartoon of a larger-than-life person on an even larger motorcycle. It looked like something she might have seen on Saturday morning television when she was a kid. She grinned and accelerated more until the pointer on the odometer reached forty-five. Billboards blurred into trees. The highway passed over a wide stream that she could see on her right as the highway turned into a flat bridge.

It was warm for early November. Wind tousled her hair; the sunglasses fit perfectly. Everything was darker and more vibrant. The trees on the side of the highway shed their leaves in a blur of red, orange, yellow. Golden light was everywhere. Art knew the chlorophyll in the leaves captured the sun’s rays in the summer, keeping the leaves green. She had learned that in the autumn when the days are bright, but the sun’s rays are further away, the leaves take their bright colors from another group of pigments called anthocyanins. This was a process of photosynthesis; science. But as the leaves passed her in a bright autumn blur, it felt like magic.

She was so close to the road that she felt like she was a part of it. Her bike was more powerful than Tommy’s. The engine roared. It felt like flying. As long as she kept her wits about her and didn’t wipe out, she could go anywhere.

Author Bio:

Janet Mason (born 1959) is an American writer and poet. Her poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and essays have appeared in literary journals including the Brooklyn Review and the Exquisite Corpse.

Her work includes the poetry collections When I Was Straight (Insight to Riot Press, 1995),
A Fucking Brief History of Fucking (Insight to Riot Press, 1992), and A Woman Alone (Cycladic Press, 2001), and the nonfiction work Tea Leaves: A Memoir of Mothers and Daughters (Bella Books, 2012).

Her novel THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders was published by Adelaide Books in 2018 and
The Unicorn, The Mystery was published by Adelaide Books in 2020.

She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter


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Giveaway – Ruby Red by D L Croisette @GoddessFish @DLCroisette

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Welcome D. I am so happy to have you here today. I loved your ‘Dream Come True’ guest post. You are an inspiration to writer want to bes out there. Congratulations.

Turning A Dare into a Dream Come True

In early 2021, I lost my corporate job. I could have wallowed in defeat, eaten a few tubs of ice cream and sunk into my couch to binge Netflix. Or dusted off my resume and jumped back into the corporate world, working to make someone else’s dream come true.

Instead, I took a chance and chose me. My dream. My happiness.

Writing has always been a passion of mine. I tried to wrangle writing into my day-to-day job, but it was never enough, nor the right fit for me. I often referring to boardrooms to boredrooms because besides a lot of talking, not much seemed to get done. Unlike my evening, which were usually spend jotting down the adventures of the characters in my head. Things got serious after a dare from a friend. At lunch, my friends and I listened to one of our group complain about a recent romance story she’d finished reading. She was disappointed that yet another alpha male lead character won over the heart of a ray of sunshine female character.

My friend turned to me and suggested I could write a better hero and a more romantic story. I laughed—I wasn’t a romance writer. She dared me to prove her wrong. That afternoon, the concept of a role reversal distracted me; an alpha female lead character who wins the heart of a ray of sunshine male character. Ali popped into my head and said, “Write about me. I’m perfect for this role.”

I went home that night and wrote the first three chapters of Ruby Red – A Romance. Two months later, I had a complete first draft of Ali and Sam’s love story. I’m proud to say Ali remained bold and feisty throughout the book and her paramour, Sam is kind, supportive and a dreamy beta hero who lets Ali take the lead. Happily.

Thanks to the dare, I was now officially a romance writer. I’ve never looked back, loving writing romance. (Pardon the pun.)

Thanks to that round of layoffs, I’m a published romance author as well. The day after I lost my job, I submitted my romance story to Champagne Book Group. A month later, we were negotiating a publishing contract. I chose Champagne Books, because as a smaller publisher, they afford the freedom to retain the essence of my writing style. In May of 2022, Ruby Red – A Romance hit the virtual bookshelves to rave reviews. And not only from my mom.

Ruby Red is a riches-to-rags, hidden identity, slow burn contemporary romance high on emotion and drama. This steamy love story promises dollops of drama, a few laughs and plenty of passion.

24 yr. old Ali Stinson is living the high life now she is no longer under the thumb of her cheating ex-husband. But behind her red lipstick, designer clothes and gala-lifestyle hides a damaged, lonely heart. Influenced by her married rich friend and pressured to keep up with the “in” crowd, Ali attempts to fill a void with frivolous distractions and emotionless one-night stands.

Sam Freemont has recently arrived in town seeking a fresh start and trying to eek out a living in his new circumstances. A chance encounter with a red-lipped, raven-haired beauty at his place of work turns Sam’s world upside down and threatens to expose the secret he is desperately trying to hide.

When Ali discovers her money embezzled by her financial manager, she has two choices: admit defeat or accept the help of the one man she might just lose her heart to. Defeat is not in Ali’s DNA. Will Sam’s secret destroy the delicate trust she has placed in him or will love conquer all?

What a fabulous story D. I wish you many more books in your future. Congratulations!

Ruby Red by D. L. Croisette

GENRE:   Contemporary Romance

BLURB

One night stands only need apply.

Ali Stinson is having a bad day. Her afternoon tryst was interrupted (before they got to the good part) to discover her investment manager ran away with all her money. Now she has to keep up appearances with her high society friends, find a dress for an upcoming charity event, and not fall in love with Sam, the cute bartender, who insists on helping her. Thing is, she’s 90% sure she doesn’t want help. Adulting is hard.

Looking for work, not love.

Sam Freemont is having a strange day. He was in the middle of the best kiss of his life when his boss walked in and halted the fun, which is not helping with the low profile he’s trying to maintain. Now he can’t get Ali off his mind or out of his dreams. Good thing she’s a regular at the swanky resort he just started working at. Gives him time to find a way back to her lips. Or better yet, into her heart.

EXCERPT

Did Sam really just say she was the most beautiful woman in the world?

Despite her deplorable situation, Ali couldn’t help but smile. This man did have a way with words. His texts over the past few days always found a way to make things a little better.

Also, talking to him helped. A lightness she’d missed for a long time expanded in her chest. It hadn’t been an easy decision to tell someone and lay her problems before him, yet the confession came naturally. When she’d bumped into him at the café, relief at seeing him there had rushed in.

Kate walking in had frozen her, like a deer in headlights. As her senses returned, Ali’s first instinct was to run. Even though she didn’t stop to acknowledge the gesture, Ali assumed Sam wouldn’t refuse her plea for help.

His kindness, his open heartedness made it easy for her to tell him the details of her circumstances. He hadn’t judged her or laughed at her. Rather, he accepted her for what she was. Plus, there was his offer to help.

This guy was too good to be true.

There had to be some catch she wasn’t seeing. Or maybe she should stop holding Sam to the low standards of the other men in her life and try accepting him for who he was. She decided to trust him.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

D.L. Croisette is a storyteller. She had characters in her head before she had words in her mouth. Now she spins them into romantic stories full of drama and heart. Collector of international friends, avid traveller and always up for a new adventure, she snaps photos to remember each escapade, and peppers the best experiences into her stories. Ruby Red is her debut romance novel, and she’s probably at an outdoor café right now, dreaming up a bold new heroine to stir up trouble.

Drop by www.dlcroisette.com for a romantic quote, behind-the-scene goodies or to say hi.

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The Spotlight Is On Earning It by E.F. Dodd @SmithPublicity

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Amazon / Goodreads

This second chance romance is full of twists and turns, emotional reunions, and drama perfect for anyone addicted to romance. Regan “Rae” Murphy has zero interest in romance and even less in love. One heartbreak in her life was quite enough, and she has no desire to get wrapped up in the sticky tendrils of love again. She thought she’d left all those messy feelings and entanglements in her past when she moved to Charlotte from Charleston, especially the devastatingly handsome portion of that past, who was wearing nothing but a towel when she walked out on him. His betrayal was the reason she left and is the reason she keeps her heart safely tucked away. But when her best friend, Kez, asks Rae to be her maid of honor, Rae reluctantly puts aside her own feelings about forever.

Love is in the air on Kez’s wedding day, and it smacks Rae right in the face when her ex, Van, appears-and he looks just as good in a tux as he did in a towel. For Kez’s sake, Rae agrees to bury the hatchet somewhere other than between Van’s shoulder blades. He makes it his mission to get Rae to hear him out-something she refused to do before she left him. The pull to listen is strong as the hope she’d buried deep within her starts to rattle its way free. Maybe everything between them hadn’t been one giant, intricate lie. But to get the chance to show Rae what they had was real, Van’s going to have to earn it. This second chance romance is full of twists and turns, emotional reunions, and drama perfect for anyone addicted to romance.

ABOUT E F DODD

A fan of all things Halloween, but terrified of scary movies. Lover of fresh flowers, with the notable exception of carnations. Don’t expect a woman to be flattered by the same flowers you paid $1.00 for back in junior high on Valentine’s Day. I’m a true romantic, which is to say I find flaws unexpectedly beautiful and think life is at its best during the in between moments you don’t find on FaceBook or Instagram. I’m lucky enough to share my life with someone who agrees reclaimed is better than new, antiques always trump contemporary and it’s a close call who should be saved first from a burning building – us, or our English Bulldog. I’m new to the writing game, but I love it and the respite it provides not just me, but also, I hope, my readers.

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Review – The Price Of Children by Chris Lewando @westcorkwriter

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I was lucky enough to find Chris Lewando on Book Sirens, when I grabbed her first book in the Suffer The Little Children series, The Silence Of Children. I immediately grabbed The Price Of Children after I finished it.

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

WARNING: Abduction. Sex trafficking of children.

First…though I feel you The Price Of Children by Chris Lewando can stand alone, I do recommend reading The Silence Of Children first. If you can handle the difficult subject of trafficked children and the evil men that prey on them.

The Price Of Children by Chris Lewando does open with events from the first book to catch you up in case you haven’t read it.

Now, Deidre and her dad are on the run from, not just the FBI, but the “Vampire Dude” and Deidre knows if her finds her, he will kill her.

I do love that it takes a vigilante to bring their dastardly deeds to light and keep it shining on them., but I also understand why people can’t be allowed to take the law into their own hands. I sure don’t want to go back to the world being like the Wild West.

Parents selling their children…sickening. I don’t even know what to say about that, other than turn about is fair play. Maybe their punishment should be the crime, ya know?

And the pedophiles…one thing caught my attention. Chris Lewando had the character talking about pedophilia being a disease, which in itself is no different than any other disease. It is the person that acts on those desires, knowing they are wrong, that is the problem. I guess, if you are born that way, there is nothing you can do about it, but you can control your actions. Like a sociopath, or psychopath, that keeps themselves in check. Something to think about.

Deidre has had to learn in a different world. She learns as she runs. It takes her some time to find her place, but with everything that has been thrown her way, I can see the maze would be hard to navigate. She keeps on keeping on, though.

I love Greg, the motorcycle dude. He flits in and out of her life and she wonders what part he is meant to play in her new life. Will he stick around? Who is he really? She needs someone to watch her back. But, what life can they have, always on the run. Constantly hunted. Danger all around.

Chris Lewando’s writing reads like a psychological breakdown of life and all it’s depravities. Her fiction can make us face our imperfections, our humanity, our compassion. What’s important in life…and where do YOU draw the line? What are you willing to do, when you see wrong being done.

Wonderful, brave characters: Dad, Deidre, Greg, Amy, Kev, Richie, the peripherals shine as bright as the main characters and I hope to get more of some their stories in future books.

The Price Of Children by Chris Lewando stops at a good place, setting me up for the next book…and I hope you are writing fast, Chris. The steady pace the suspense at a high level and I want more!

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

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

Book one in the series achieved a B.R.A.G.G. honor award for high standards in a self-published work.

Deirdre escaped from the pedophile ring, but is now determined to bring them to justice. In this second novel, she sets out to discover the identity of the man who kidnapped her, but while raiding the house of a possible pedophile, she discovers a girl who has no intention of waiting for the law…

This book can be read standalone, but it is recommended to read book 1 in the series first.

“The Silence of Children was an amazing book. Difficult subject matter but incredibly thoughtful and precise writing.” [Loretta, US]

“I am blown away. A fantastic book that moved me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your amazing work.” [Lori, Oregon]

“I’m on chapter 12 already, and have to stop or I won’t get to work tomorrow. It’s brilliant!” Followed by: “Clever ending. I was cursing you for stopping! It feels like a TV Netflix series the whole way through. There MUST be a sequel planned.” [Liz, London]

“The Silence of Children is a great read, and once it drew me in, I couldn’t put it down until the end. The story became riveting and I read it almost in one sitting. Like all good books it also left me wanting more, and I hope the author will continue the storyline. Overall, a great read that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone interested in a story that could so easily, though hopefully never, be based on fact.” [Terry, US]

“This is one super good book. The characters are great and it’s an intensely moving plot. I enjoyed reading it, though it made me quite sad at times. This is a must-read book, and the big twist at the end, which took me by surprise, was excellent.” [Viet, US]

“I enjoyed this book. The story was fast-paced which I like. I would have liked to know more about Greg. His story. Are you planning to add more stories to this? A series, maybe? Stop doing emails and write the sequel!” [Susan, US]

So, here is the sequel, as requested, but the story doesn’t stop here…
To be informed when the third book is available, please ‘follow’ Chris Lewando.

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.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / Pinterest

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Giveaway – The Reckless Union by Monica Murphy @XpressoTours @MsMonicaMurphy

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The Reckless Union
Monica Murphy
(Arranged Marriage, #3)
Publication date: August 16th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Our marriage may look like a fairytale, but outside forces threaten to tear us apart. Don’t they realize that nothing will keep me apart from Charlotte? Not my family. Not hers either.

What started out as a relationship in name only has evolved into something much more. Something deeper. And when Charlotte is taken from me, I launch into action, determined to rescue her.

She’s mine. Nothing is going to stop me from being with her.

Not a damn thing.

Welcome to the Midnight Dynasty… The warring Morelli and Constantine families have enough bad blood to fill an ocean, and their brand new stories will be told by your favorite dangerous romance authors.

WARNING: This book is intended for readers eighteen years old and over. It contains material that some readers could find disturbing. Enter at your own risk…

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

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EXCERPT:

Perry

All I want to do is take care of Charlotte, but I don’t know how.

Instead, I wait for her cues, watching her carefully as we walk through the lobby, her gaze zipping everywhere, as if she fully expects that jackass to jump out of a dark corner and snatch her from me. Thanks to the late hour, the lobby is quiet and empty. Only a single security guard is on shift and he nods at the both of us as we walk past the desk he sits behind, completely oblivious to the chaos from earlier.

Lucky guy.

The ride in the elevator is quiet. Charlotte’s face is tear streaked, her eyes red and her cheeks blotchy and I’m tempted to yank her into my arms. Hold her close and whisper words of comfort to her, but I don’t because what exactly would I say?

I’m at a complete loss, which is unlike me. I have something to say for every situation, but apparently, not this one.

We exit the elevator in silence and I unlock the apartment door. Doja comes running, a streak of furry black headed straight for her owner and Charlotte bends down to scoop the cat into her arms and hold her close.

“I missed you so much, Doja. I did,” Charlotte coos, Doja’s purring so loud she reminds me of the Chevelle’s engine.

“Oh, Miss Charlotte. You’re home.”

We both glance up to find Jasper standing in the middle of the living room, his hand resting on his chest, over his heart. Looking ready to keel over in utter relief. They lock eyes and Charlotte bursts into tears, scurrying over to him so he can hug both her and Doja close, offering comfort in murmured words and fatherly squeezes.

I watch them, still at a loss, envious of the easy relationship they share, which is ridiculous on my part. He’s her butler and familiar to her, but he’s also more than that. He’s the parental figure she never really got from her actual father growing up. Jasper is the one man she could count on. The one who took care of her from a young age. Who watched over her and made sure she was always safe.

I bet he hates that she ran off to Paris and had such a disastrous experience with that McFucker. He might even hate that dude as much as I do. Jasper and I, we have a lot in common.

We always want the best for Charlotte.

“Shall I draw a bath for you?” Jasper asks her at one point, minutes after they’ve finally withdrawn from each other and she’s still cuddling with Doja. I shake my head at him.

“I’ll take care of her tonight. You go get some rest,” I tell him.

Jasper sends me an appreciative look. “Thank you, sir, for finding her. I was worried. And guilt ridden.”

“Oh Jasper.” Charlotte wraps him up in another hug, holding him close with Doja wedged between them before she releases him. “Don’t feel guilty. I was the dumb one who went down to meet Seamus without my phone.”

I visibly flinch at her saying his name out loud and it’s as if she realizes it a second too late, her guilty glance flitting to mine before she looks away.

“And without me,” Jasper reminds her.

That old softy would’ve tipped right over the moment McFartlick grabbed Charlotte but I just smile and humor him. I don’t want him feeling guilty. It’s not his fault Charlotte was abducted, even though he blames himself.

I take a lot of that blame too. I should’ve come early. Why did I think Jasper could protect her? He’s done a pretty solid job so far, but she’s never dealt with a serious threat before.

And that asshole who used and abused her and fucking abducted her is a serious damn threat.

Author Bio:

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere, along with their four cats and one crazy dog. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to sometimes putting her characters through tough, angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Monica is also known as USA Today bestselling romance author Karen Erickson (http://karenerickson.com).

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok


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Giveaway – Home To Clare Harbor Series by Jacie MIddlemann @GoddessFish

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Home to Clare Harbor by Jacie Middlemann

GENRE: Clean Contemporary Women’s Fiction – Christian

BLURB

They started out as strangers…but didn’t stay that way for long…

A devoted granddaughter willing to do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe.  Strangers who meet during the worst of conditions and become friends in the midst of chaos.  Unexpected romance under the most unlikely circumstances.  A puzzling mystery with its roots in historical events that took place centuries ago. And a storm that hides an ominous purpose that could change all their lives forever.

Sara knows before she walks into her grandparent’s home that her grandmother’s greatest fear will never be the storm or the threat it poses but instead the unknown that lays just beyond her front door. She knows too its cause and grieves that there is nothing she can do to change it.

Throughout the years of his career John has covered numerous battlefields including those that are a result of nature’s unyielding tempest.  He fears this might be the worst one yet.

Mel didn’t expect to spend more than a few days in the large house where they’d taken refuge.  She figured the storm would pass by and then they’d be off to their next assignment.  The last thing she expected was David Payne.

Despite the fact that Lance was the bane of her teenage years, Tish knows that without the help of her father’s assistant, that the trip to North Carolina likely would have been a lot more challenging than it was. She’d been unequivocally terrified but his presence gave her strength she didn’t realize she had.  She wasn’t certain how she felt about that…or him…or that he no longer irritated her the way he used to.

When Gary arrived at his family’s home in the mountains of North Carolina, he’s relieved that Sara and her grandparents along with their elderly friends are already there. But he is unable to take an easy breath until Tish finally arrives with Lance…and is not at all surprised at what he hears from Lance about their trip and the potential dangers they’d just barely been able to avoid.

He’s determined to do everything he can to keep their location safe…and unknown. Their knowledge, skills, and ingenuity are their greatest defense. For a time they would have to depend on themselves…it hadn’t take long to discover that the storm was never their greatest threat…but what is could change all their lives for the immediate future…or longer.

“If you enjoy uplifting and heartfelt women’s fiction, young and older heroes and heroines filled with courage and compassion as they share joys and triumphs, and united they face and overcome tremendous challenges and tragedy, this book is for you.”

NOTE: The book is on sale for $0.99.

EXCERPT

“You didn’t know?”

John wasn’t about to pretend that he had no idea what she was talking about. 

“It was pretty obvious that Ben spent a lot of his spare time with his nose in the books, but I figured it was towards a journalism degree.”

He stared out into the darkness.  He could hear the trees moving with the wind in the distance but beyond that he couldn’t see a damn thing.  “I had no clue about the rest of it.” 

And that he knew was on him.  He’d never made the effort to learn more about the young man in all the months that he’d been working with him.

“Grandma has a way about her.  In the right situation, people talk to her about things they usually don’t with anyone else,” Sara said quietly. 

“Sounds like it,” John said as he thought about what he’d heard.  People lost loved ones over the course of their lives.  There was no getting around that one. 

But from what they’d just heard Ben had lost everyone.  That wasn’t normal and he knew no matter how well-adjusted Ben appeared, it couldn’t be easy no matter how long ago it had been.  He was only…John sighed deeply.  He didn’t even know how old the kid was.

“It explains how good he is with Grandma and the rest of them,” Sara said into the quiet that had again fallen between them. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Jacie Middlemann lives in Texas with her husband and a couple of cats who believe they rule…and sometimes they do.

When she’s not watching classic sitcoms or working on a needlework project for one of her kids, she loves to read women’s fiction and sometimes a good mystery suspense.

Amazon Author Page / Goodreads / Amazon Buy Link

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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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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 & Review – The Wrong Side of Murder by Lauren Carr #iReadBookTours

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Join us for this tour from August 1 to August 26, 2022!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Wrong Side of Murder (A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  274 pages
Genre:  Mystery/Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:   July 21, 2022
Content Rating: This cozy mystery is rated G for everyone!

MY REVIEW

Nikki had returned to her small town home in Pine Grove, PA, to run her family’s TV station, WKPG TV. She is an investigative journalist and loves the freedom she has to choose what the station runs.

Ryan is the head of the state crime lab, her high school boyfriend.

It has been twenty years since Jodi had been tried in the court of public opinion for her mother’s murder. She claimed she was innocent, but people couldn’t understand how she did not hear anything, seeing it was a very small house.

Nikki is determined to solve the mystery and find the killer. She can relate to Jodi, because her dad had been murdered and it wasn’t until decades later that the mystery was solved.

In cozies, it seems there is always a critter who has a large personality and The Wrong Side Of Murder is no exception, with Elmo having the privilege of filling that slot.

Smiles, romance, laughs and mystery. Bodies pile up and there are plenty of suspects to go around.

Lauren Carr is adept at creating mysteries with characters that can seem like your net door neighbors, critters and dialogue that keep me smiling through the crime solving.

For me, cozies are hard to rate and I find it the same for The Wrong Side Of Murder. A wonderful summer read, light on the suspense but fun to read.

You may want this in your beach bag.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Wrong Side Of Murder by Lauren Carr.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars
The Wrong Side of Murder is another wonderful cozy mystery by author Lauren Carr. It has all the elements that draw me in – an intelligent female lead, an equally smart boyfriend who partners to help her, a complicated plot where clues are slowly revealed, people who aren’t what they seem to be, comedic moments to balance the darker ones, and several quirky pets full of personality.  

It’s a wonderful book to escape into at the end of the day. And get ready to read into the wee hours as, if you’re like me, you won’t be able to stop reading until the mystery is revealed.  – Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Nikki’s an intense individual who makes the perfect investigative journalist. She wants answers yesterday and she is willing to dig in to get them. She might get it wrong at the beginning but with the help of her family and close friends, she’ll get the answers she wants and needs. – review by Blooming with Books

Book Description:

Nikki Bryant’s Next Case Takes Her to the Wrong Side of Murder

One spring morning, Jodi Gibbons got up and went to school as she did every day. Her young life went sideways though when the police found that her mother had been brutally killed during the night.

Twenty years later, many in Pine Grove believe Jodi got away with murder. After all, how could she have possibly slept through her mother’s violent death in the very next room?
After decades of silence, Jodi accepts investigative journalist Nikki Bryant’s invitation to tell her side of the story. However, before the interview can take place, someone silences Jodi permanently.

Now it is up to Nikki Bryant and her friends to uncover the secret that Jodi Gibbons has been protecting—a secret someone believes it is worth killing to keep from being revealed.

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Be Sure to Check Out the First Installment in the Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries: 


Book Details:

Book Title:  Killer Deadline (A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  232 pages
Genre:  Mystery/Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:   April 23, 2020
Content Rating: This cozy mystery is rated G for Everyone!
I love this cozy mystery! It is full of suspense, action packed, fast pace with that small town feeling. I love the characters, I have to admit, I fell in love with Elmo on the spot! I loved Nikki’s spunk and determination. She keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire book! I highly recommend this book to those who loves a good cozy mystery!! – 5-Star Review at Splashes of Joy 

Book Description:

Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.

When an online friend nudges her to join him in a pact to reconnect with their first loves, Nikki and her boxer dog Elmo leave the bright lights of Las Vegas for the charming town of Pine Grove. There, she must face the biggest challenges in her career and life—the first love she had left behind and her father’s unsolved murder.

But before she has time to unpack her car, Nikki stumbles upon the dead body of local news anchor, Ashleigh Addison, her childhood rival. Could Ashleigh’s death be connected to an explosive news story that she had teased about airing live? Did that explosive story have anything to do with the murder of Nikki’s father?

With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer—no matter what it takes.

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