Author Archives: fundinmental
One Sentence Review – The Point of Death by Roslyn Woods
.
.
Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA
MY ONE SENTENCE REVIEW
I did enjoy The Point of Death by Roslyn Woods that reads like a character study of the good and the bad people do, how they perform in dangerous situations, under pressure, as the gals draw in their small circle of close friends and put the pieces of the mystery together.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Point of Death by Roslyn Woods.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
This is a prequel to the Michelle Hodge Series: Twenty-four year old Shell Hodge is in the final stretch of her quest for a master’s degree in art history when tragedy strikes at her art co-op near the University of Texas at Austin. She finds the body of beautiful and charismatic Dr. Leone, her art teacher from UT, and she is forced to endure a long and aggressive interview by the police. Believing that the approach of the detectives–targeting the students who cared most about their teacher–is unlikely to result in the capture of the real murderer, Shell embarks on her own search for answers. A strange circle of clues leads back to her best friend’s ex, Jeremy. Meanwhile, that same best friend, Margie–an aspiring chef and a successful baker–has some ideas of her own about Jeremy, one of them being that she wants to keep her little dog and herself as far away from him as possible. Enlisting the help of a handsome psychologist seems like a good idea at first, but learning that he also has a secret and that it, too, leads back to the murder victim, puts Margie on an emotional rollercoaster while Shell winds up at the point of death when she finds herself facing a killer.
Friday 56 #144 – Kill and Run by Lauren Carr @TheMysteryLadie
.
The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.
Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or 
so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.
~~~
I have been a huge fan of Lauren Carr for a long time. I love her fun writing style.
You can see my 4 star review Here.
MY 56
Murphy was skeptical. “That’s what they always say when an attractive man gets onn the fast track anywhere.”
“I don’t think General Graham is all the attractive, do you?”
“Buttercup, I don’t think any man is attractive.”
Pressing her long, elegant index finger against his chest, she narrowed her eyes until there were violet slits framed in lush long eyelashes. “You were the one who called him attractive, Honey Buns.”
(Pages 56 in paperback published in 2015)
GOODREADS BLURB
Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.
Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.
Before long, the case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.
In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?
An Island Mystery – The Secrets of Islayne by Kari Lynn West @karilynnwest
.
An island, a mystery, and the beautiful and intriguing cover of The Secrets of Islayne by Kari Lynn West drew me in. I had to know what the story was.
Cover design by Ebook Launch
Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA
MY REVIEW
Ronan is an iluminator. That’s all he desires in his life. He’s no slacker, though his boss at the book store may have another opinion. He’s a diligent student, loves the training, pouring his heart and soul into his studies. He has his apprenticeship, graduating near the top of his class, until…
Luminators are endowed with the power to see and restore memories. The rich used to dominate the luminators, until hard times forced them to sell some of their land. The power comes from the land itself. Now, even families and second class citizens, a common islander, like Ronan, may have the power. The rich think it’s wrong. Sound familiar to present day circumstances? The rich and empowered want it all to themselves.
Cassie is a long time friend, along with Eli. She’s bold, daring, maybe a bit headstrong, (lol, very understated description of her) a daredevil. Eli’s family was wealthy. Somewhat of a surprise that he is friends with Ronan and his snooty parents hates it. They felt only the wealthy should have the power. The same goes for Cassie. She is not a luminator, but her father is.
Eli and Ronan met at the Academy. Cassie met them there, when they befriended her. She needs to think twice about her playful suggestions of entertainment, which can be dangerous and foolhardy.
They believed all they did was good, but everything can be misused and abused. Power can be a seductive thing and abuse of power can be easy to fall victim to for some of our characters. Some danger is hidden and some is in your face.
Some things had a ring of familiarity and I had to see if check I’d read it before. Once I got into the book, it didn’t take long to realize that I hadn’t. I have read thousands of books, so maybe that’s why some things rang familiar.
When everything Ronan has strived for is at risk, when his friends memories are on the line, I wonder if Ronan will do the right thing. What do you think? Well….I’m not telling. Find out for yourself by reading the book.
The Secrets of Islayne by Kari Lynn West is filled with fabulous characters and I loved each and every one of them, even the bad ones. It was great watching the gang grow and rise to the occasion. The world on the Island of Islayne was filled with action, intrigue and danger that I would definitely recommend.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A powerful island. A dangerous mystery. An impossible choice.
For centuries, the island of Islayne has given certain residents the ability to revive other people’s memories. These gifted individuals are known as luminators, and sixteen-year-old Ronan Saunders desperately desires to join their illustrious ranks. As he struggles against the prejudice of the old, powerful families who have an iron grip on the trade, Ronan falls under the tutelage of a reclusive luminator, rumored to be insane.
kari . As they delve deeper into the mystery, what they find forces them to question their loyalties, doubt long-held beliefs, and wrestle with the dire consequences of revealing the truth. Ronan finds himself torn between everything he loves and the only future he’s ever wanted. The entire fate of the lumination trade hangs in the balance of his decision.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kari Lynn West writes contemporary YA fantasy—normally while drinking far too much coffee. She likes to create character-driven stories that are set in the real world with a twist, weaving fantastical elements into everyday life. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two daughters
.
Giveaway – Three Rivers Run Deep by Piper Stone @Piperstone01
Welcome to my stop for Three Rivers Run Deep by Piper Stone.
Beware…may be to hot to handle. 😀
Three Rivers Run Deep – Fire Devil Book One
by Piper Stone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Romantic suspense/action/adventure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB
Danger. It’s all I’ve ever known. All I’ve ever wanted.
Fighting fires soothes the raging beast that war created.
Allowing me to live
The rest? Maybe she can understand my hunger. For her. Dominating her. Owning her.
Maybe…
Danger. Domination. Destruction.
The Jackals
An elite team of smokejumpers nestled in the heart of Missoula, Montana.
By day they indulge in their penchant for danger.
By night they exude passion.
Are you ready for their brand of domination?
Prevent. Protect. Preserve. This is their motto.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
“Absolutely. This city, these mountains have my heart. This place will always be my home. I never want to leave. I’ve seen the ugly part of the world. I just want peace.”
The words were haunting, almost damning. She listened to the lull of the water as her life rolled past in nasty visions. She’d been doing nothing but living a lie. “You know, I thought I was in love with a member from my band. He was everything to me for years. Enough so, I didn’t see what was happening around me. I was so blinded by ambition that I lost myself, falling into the political world of music. Play this. Dress this way. Lose twenty pounds. Die your hair. Christ. I was drowning in a sea of bullshit.”
“But you’re a famous rocker.”
“No. I’m not certain I ever was.”
He gave her a wry smile. “I think so anyway. I finally looked you up.”
“You did?”
Laughing, he nodded. “Not my kind of music, but you’re damn good and pretty sexy too on those covers of yours. You had a couple number one records. Listen to me. I’m dating myself.”
“I still call them records. Gold records on your wall are much more impressive than a small CD,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “I think I’ve finally figured out I’m more of a country girl. And no laughing.”
“Oh yeah?” He winked as he gave her a surprised look. “I won’t say a thing, city slicker.”
“Hey, I’m on a horse, aren’t I? I have you to blame for my new-found love of the outdoors.” Jessica realized her words were true. “I could see living here.”
“Then you couldn’t regain your career.” His words were terse, challenged.
“I’m not certain what I want any longer in my life or my career. That’s why this time has been so important, precious in a way I didn’t understand when I came here.” She exhaled. “Maybe I’m fooling myself.” What could she possibly do here? Sing at Ziggy’s for the rest of her life? Maybe record a country song or two, that is if anyone was willing to take a chance on her ever again? Maybe she could be a housewife. The thoughts shoved fear into her heart.
They remained quiet for several minutes.
“You had a nightmare last night. You were talking in your sleep.”
The moment he spoke, she clenched her fists tightly around the reins. “Had them for years.”
“Who were you running from?” he asked as he turned his head in her direction.
Jessica closed her eyes and remained quiet. No daddy, you’re not going to ruin the rest of my life. “My father. He was a true monster. He beat me and my mother for years. I was so little when the violence started that I couldn’t protect her. When I was older, I had my needed revenge.” When she didn’t hear anything, she glanced in his direction. “I threw him out of the house at knifepoint. He tried to return twice, but I was very clear. My mother deserved to have a life and she did. She had friends and pretty clothes. I made certain of that. She even went on tour with me once. Just once before she got sick, but she said she was proud… of… me.” Choking back tears, she blinked several times as she tried to concentrate on the mountains. She’d never told Cody the entire story, had never believed he’d care.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Best Selling author, Piper Stone writes in several genres including romantic suspense, thrillers, erotic romance, dark erotic, Domestic Discipline, spanking, Domination and submission and traditional romance. She has a love of the non-traditional, preferring to create worlds that defy the imagination. Wine and sous vide cooking are only second to her love of golden retrievers and you might find all three nestled in the pages of a book or two.
She has several releases from Blushing Books including Truth or Dare, His Demands – Dirty Little Secrets, Submissive For Hire, His Hidden Girl – Dirty Little Secrets, Becoming – Power Exchange and upcoming books Rescue Me – Maverick and the series Fire Devil.
She will also have several releases with Bethany’s Woodshed in the upcoming months.
Find her at: Facebook / Blog / Twitter / Bookbub / piperstonecreations@gmail.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.
WITCHES WINNERS!
.
Woo Hoo. I have some winners for the giveaway of Witches I & II by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. I want to thank everyone that stopped by and commented.
Winners – Chrys, E Michael and Yvonne.
I hope you enjoy the stories!
If the book looks good to you, it is available in a special edition for both stories at $7.99 in Kindle.
Happy reading!
- 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’.
- Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
Badass Female Vigilante Serial Killer – Blood Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff @AlexSokoloff
.
Alexandra Sokoloff has reeled me in, hook, line and sinker, with her Huntress/FBI Thriller Series. Huntress Moon (see my review here) blew me away and she has kept it up in Blood Moon, Book II.
The covers scream out to me…and I do not hesitate to answer…I’m coming.
Cover: Brandi Doane
Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA
MY REVIEW
I am so excited to be back with Special Agent Matthew Roarke, kicking down doors and taking down the bad guys, as his hunt for Cara continues. I love action from the opening page, getting me fully invested in the story and Blood Moon has it in spades.
This book picks up where Huntress Moon, Book I, left off. It does fill in some blanks from the first book, but I will tell you now, I am so happy I started at the beginning. I don’t want to miss a thing and I don’t think you will either.
Cara is a female serial killer, but she is so much more than that. She is a vigilante that Roarke has been chasing since Huntress Moon, Book I of the series. Cara was not born this was, she was created…by The Reaper. She touched me deeply. Right or wrong? Who are we to judge? She is exorcising her demons the only way she knows how, saving innocent lives along the way.
Life is not black and white, but many shades of gray. Blood Moon makes many questions come to mind as man’s inhumanity to those unable to protect themselves is shoved in your face. Is evil alive? Does it have a physical presence?
How far should they, the FBI, go to draw her out? Roarke has conflicting feelings, but comes up with the plan. Cara was Roarke’s incentive to become an FBI agent, since he learned about the tragedy surrounding her at when he was nine years old.
Alexandra Sokoloff has written a story that pushes and pulls me in so many directions making me question myself. My morals and ethics. Who is right? Who is wrong?
She skillullly weaves the past and the present, sharing the storyline from Cara and Roarke’s perspective. The investigation takes them to surprising places, the clues and evidence leading them in unexpected ways. This is not your typical police procedural. Reading all the evidence takes a meticulous and detailed mind, thinking outside the box. I think it takes a special kind of person, whether you are deciphering the clues as a reader or creating them as a writer.
Alexandra Sokoloff is able to ramp up the intrigue, my curiosity, the suspense, and my anticipation to a horrifying, frantic level, making me wonder how this can possibly end.
Would you care if the traffickers, rapists, and pimps were offed? Would you go out of your way to find the vigilante who protects children who are unable to protect themselves and others have cast aside?
The characters come to life in a way I never anticipated. I loved them, I hated them, I worried about them, I raged at them, I fretted with fear and terror, and I wished they would go down in flames, and I mean that literally.
I love/hate the ending, BUT don’t think for a minute that the story is done, because Alexandra Sokoloff has so much more coming in Cold Moon, Book III, and I do not want to miss one second of Roarke’s and Cara’s story. I didn’t wait…I immediately began to read it.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Blood Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Book II in the Thriller Award-nominated Huntress/FBI series
Twenty-five years have passed since a savage killer terrorized California, massacring three ordinary families before disappearing without a trace.
The haunted child who was the only surviving victim of his rampage is now wanted by the FBI for brutal crimes of her own, and Special Agent Matthew Roarke is on an interstate manhunt for her, despite his conflicted sympathies for her history and motives.
But when his search for her unearths evidence of new family slayings, the dangerous woman Roarke seeks – and wants – may be his only hope of preventing another bloodbath.
It is highly recommended that you read Book 1 of the series, Huntress Moon, first.
ABOUT ALEXANDRA SOKOLOFF
I’m the Thriller Award-winning and Bram Stoker and Anthony Award-nominated author of the Amazon bestselling crime and supernatural thrillers The Harrowing, The Price, Book of Shadows, The Unseen, The Space Between, and the new Thriller Award- nominated Huntress/FBI thriller series: Huntress Moon, Blood Moon, Cold Moon. Bitter Moon, Hunger Moon. The New York Times Book Review has called me “a daughter of Mary Shelley” and my novels “some of the most original and freshly unnerving work in the genre.”
I’m a California native and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, where I majored in theater and minored in everything that Berkeley has a reputation for. After college I moved to Los Angeles, where I’ve made an interesting living doing novel adaptations and selling original thriller scripts to various Hollywood studios.
In my stories I like to cross the possibility of the supernatural with very real life explanations for any strangeness going on, and base the action squarely in fact. THE UNSEEN is based on real paranormal research conducted at the Duke University parapsychology lab, and BOOK OF SHADOWS teams a Boston homicide detective and a practicing Salem witch in a race to solve what may be a Satanic killing. THE SPACE BETWEEN, is an edgy supernatural YA about a troubled high school girl who is having dreams of a terrible massacre at her school, and becomes convinced that she can prevent the shooting if she can unravel the dream.
I also have written paranormal romance (THE SHIFTERS, KEEPER OF THE SHADOWS) and the non-fiction workbooks SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS and WRITING LOVE, based on my internationally acclaimed workshops and blog (http://screenwritingtricks.com)
I live in Los Angeles and in Scotland, with Scottish crime author Craig Robertson.
When I’m not writing I dance: jazz, ballet, salsa, Lindy, swing – I do it all, every chance I get.
Giveaway – Protecting Her Secret Son by Regan Black @ReganBlack @GoddessFish
Protecting Her Secret Son by Regan Black
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB
Shannon Nolan thought she’d escaped a nightmare world of ruthless crime – until her son is kidnapped! With nowhere else to run and no one else to trust, she puts her life in the hands of her boss, firefighter Daniel Jennings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
In her back pocket, her cell phone buzzed, belting out the old-school ringtone she used for unknown calls and text messages. She set aside the paint cup and pulled out her phone, swiping the screen to view the text.
No words, only a picture of her son. He was strapped into a car seat, his shirt rumpled, his pale blond hair windblown, and his cheeks and eyes were red. His lashes were spiked with tears and his lower lip thrust forward in a pout.
What had happened? Then she realized what she was looking at and her heart thudded in her chest. Staggered, terrified by her worst fears, she dropped the phone as she doubled over, clutching her stomach as if she’d taken a punch.
Daniel caught the phone and steadied her with a hand at her elbow. “Shannon? What’s wrong?”
“I—I’m not sure.”
The ringtone sounded as another text came in and she grabbed the phone from Daniel.
If you want to see your son again, tell his father to cooperate.
Her stomach clenched and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Whoever was behind this had chosen the wrong leverage. She’d never had any influence over Aiden’s father. Naturally, the sender’s number was blocked, but she hit the icon to call back anyway. It rang and rang, and no one answered.
“I have to go,” she said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Regan Black, a USA Today bestselling author, writes award-winning, action-packed romantic suspense and paranormal romance novels featuring daring heroines and sexy heroes. Raised in the Midwest and California, she and her family, along with their adopted greyhound and two arrogant cats, reside in the South Carolina Lowcountry where the rich blend of legend, romance, and history fuels her imagination.
Website / Newsletter / Twitter / Facebook
Pinterest / Amazon / B&N / iBooks
Follow the tour and comment, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.
FREE Suspense Thriller – Natalie’s Revenge by Susan Fleet #SusanFleet
.
Natalie’s Revenge Best Mystery – Thriller, 2014 Feathered Quill Book Awards
NATALIE’S REVENGE 169 reviews 4.4 rating
Book 3 in the stand alone Frank Renzi series, a New Orleans crime thriller
.
FREE November 7 – 11, 2017
Dragon Lady Step Aside For Natalie (my 5 star review)
You can get it on Amazon here.
Two murders, twenty years apart.
Someone murdered Natalie’s mother and Natalie wants revenge!
But NOPD Detective Frank Renzi is hot on her trail.
Feathered Quill Book Awards named Natalie’s Revenge Best Mystery of 2014.
Universal link: myBook.to/NataliesRevenge
You can stalk Susan at the links below:
Susan has some great book trailers. You can see them on her YouTube page.
Website / Goodreads / You Tube / Amazon Author Page
MY REVIEWS FOR SUSAN FLEET
~~~~~~~~~~~~
- To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
- If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
- Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
- Leave your link in the comments, I’ll drop by to see what’s shakin’.
- Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
- Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
Giveaway – Dead Corpse by Nuzo Onoh @Nuzoonoh @GoddessFish
Just in time for Halloween, I am sharing this lovely story, Dead Corpse by Nuzo Onoh.
Such a pretty cover, don’t you think? 😈
The book will be $0.99.
Dead Corpse by Nuzo Onoh
GENRE: Horror
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB
When the only child of a humble medicine woman is murdered for ritual magic, she will call on all the awesome powers of her deity, the Earth goddess, and exact a terrifying vengeance on an entire village. The angry dead shall rise again and a dark cloud of terror will shroud both the guilty and the innocent in a deadly supernatural curse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
There were three doors leading off the living room. He paused again, uncertain which door to try first. The last thing he wanted was for the witch to hear him trying out the wrong door.
That was when the light came on in the room to his right, seeping out from the high gap underneath the shut door. Fucking witch had wakened. Eze cursed and reached for the light switch on the nearest wall, flooding the living room with light from the single dusty bulb overhead. There was no time anymore for caution or delay. He rushed to the door, his movement surprisingly swift, adrenalin fuelled. He turned the knob and pushed the door in with a loud shout, intent on shrieking terror into the heart of his opponent.
His shout caught in his throat. Hot piss gushed out of his bladder, washing his trousers with terror ammonia. A tight band gripped his heart, squeezing the breath out of his lungs. He stumbled back, backwards to the door through which he’d crashed into the room. His eyes, horror-wide, starred at the apparition before him, the albino girl he had last seen inside a secret shrine, drenched in her own blood, her warm heart pulsating inside the witch-doctor’s bowl. Eze moaned, his lips quivering like a child deprived of food. Her cackle hit him like a bullet, sending chills right through his veins to every nerve in his body.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Nuzo is an author of horror fiction from the African continent. She has featured on numerous media platforms, spearheading this new and unexplored horror subgenre.
A British writer of African descent, Nuzo Onoh lived through the Biafran/Nigerian civil war as a child refugee, an experience that has continued to influence some of her works. She attended Queen’s School, Enugu before proceeding to the Quaker boarding school, The Mount School York, England and St Andrew’s Tutorial College, Cambridge, from where she obtained her A’ Levels.
Nuzo holds both a Law degree and a Masters degree in Writing from The University of Warwick, England. Her published works include, The Reluctant Dead (2014), Unhallowed Graves (2015) The Sleepless (2016), as well as featuring in some anthologies. Nuzo enjoys playing the guitar and the piano as well as taking long walks, haunting cemeteries and ancient gravestones. She is a strong believer of The Law of Attraction.
Website: www.nuzoonoh.co.uk
Twitter: @Nuzoonoh
Read the latest review of Dead Corpse by the horror writer, Perry Lake – https://www.perrylakeproductions.com/single-post/2017/09/28/The-Wrath-of-Xikora
In preparation for her latest release, Nuzo has written a blog for Female First Magazine – http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/books/nuzo-onoh-dead-corpse-1095720.html
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE.