Orchid (c) Sherry Fundin
What do you see besides the flower?
Author Archives: fundinmental
It’s a Dog’s Life
My brother’s dog, Neytiri, enjoyed her visit to sunny Florida.
This is her first romp in a pool and she loved every second of it.
Neytiri’s first time in a pool (c) Sherry Fundin
Neytiri is like a grand child. I have all the benefits of spoiling her rotten, then sending her home with her “dad”. 😀
TAXI ~ Take a Ride with Dead Girl Blues by Joyce & Jim Lavene
Welcome to my stop for A Taxi for the Dead series, Dead Girl Blues and Broken Hearted Ghoul, by Joyce and Jim Lavene.
Dead Girl Blues
By Joyce and Jim Lavene
• Genre – Cozy Mystery (PARANORMAL)
MY REVIEW
Dead Girl Blues combines two of my favorite genres, mystery and the paranormal. A ghostly twist here, a sorcerers twist there, zombies everywhere, but you would not recognize them. They look just like you and me.
I did not realize this was Book II and I have not read Book I, The Broken Hearted Ghoul. My enjoyment of the story did not suffer because of it. I loved the thought of a zombie bounty hunter and now I will go back and read Book I.
Skye and her cohort, Debbie, earned money working for Abraham Lincoln Jones by picking up LEPs – Life Extended People, or as she calls them, zombies.
Skye is dead, but she still feels the heat and carries a gun. It would hurt if she was shot, but she would heal. She had feelings, just like a living human being. Her heart still beats. Skye is a zombie bounty hunter. Did you see that coming?
She was a Nashville police officer for ten years before her death. She’d bargained with Abe for twenty more years of life to raise her daughter in exchange for working for him.
Skye and her husband had been killed in a car accident, but theirs were not the only mysterious deaths. Abe wanted her to investigate the death of his sorcerer and she was quietly investigating her own. There is something weird in the woods. Of course there is. LOL
When the LEPs started vanishing, I wondered how much more trouble she could get into.
Life was simpler when she could just take out a gun and shoot someone.
I would like to do that myself sometimes, so I am already relating to her before I even become fully involved. 🙂
Skye’s taxi fares are zombies. When their twenty years are up, she collects them and delivers them to the morgue. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. If you don’t, it is not pleasant at all.
A zombie bounty hunter, sorcerers, ghosts, the undead, werewolves, shapeshifters…
Dead Girl Blues is a zombie novel with a twist that is new to me. I love finding something unique, original and slightly funny. Imagine a zombie doing a murder investigation. It put a smile on my face, how about yours?
Instead of being horrified and creeped out, I looked at it in a “Supernatural” way, with a humorous slant. Magic and shenanigans keep Skye busy, but she needs some answers to “save” herself. I am siding with Lucas, a sorcerer, against the others more powerful than they are. Most sorcerers fight amongst themselves, but not Lucas. Maybe whatever happened that made him lose his memory was for the better. He is stuck to Skye, like glue.
This quote sums up Skye’s thoughts:
Life was so much less complicated when I was alive.”
I have an idea of what is going on and I am curious to see if I am right.
I know what I want to happen, but is it possible?
And the story goes on…
I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS
When Nashville cop Skye Mertz and her husband, Jacob, are killed in a wreck, Skye is given the opportunity to come back for twenty years to raise her five-year-old daughter, Kate. With her ghostly mother-in-law’s help, Skye hopes to be there until Kate is old enough to take care of herself.
But three years into her twenty-year service to Abraham Lincoln Jones, the man who gave her the extra time, Skye is beginning to think life might have been easier before she died.
Abe asks her to investigate the murder of his sorcerer, Harold the Great, a man who was a victim of too many snakes. And the Life Extended People (LEPs – a nice term for zombies) who work for Abe have begun turning into ghosts and disappearing. Only Lucas, the possibly evil, amnesiac sorcerer who lives with Skye and her family, can save her from being the next victim of the deadly curse.
To make matters more complicated, Skye has found a lead in solving the riddle of her husband’s death. She has never believed Jacob died as a result of the crash, but hasn’t been able to prove it. Many other people have lost their lives in the same lonely stretch of highway that he did three years before. Skye goes against Abe’s express wishes to discover the truth with a crazy man bent on vengeance.
About The Authors
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.
Author Links: Website / Facebook / Amazon / Twitter
First Book in Series
Broken Hearted Ghoul (Taxi for the Dead Paranormal Mysteries) (Volume 1)
Tour Participants
April 6 – Back Porchervations – Review
April 7 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post
April 8 – MysteriesEtc – Review*
April 9 – fundinmental – Review*
April 9 – readalot – Review *
April 10 – Babs Book Bistro – Review, Guest Post*
April 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review*
April 12 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review
April 13 – Tea and A Book – Review, Interview
April 14 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post*
April 15 – fuonlyknew – Review*
April 15 – Lilac Reviews – Review, Guest Post
April 16 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post
April 17 – Community Bookstop – Review*
April 18 – A Chick Who Reads – Review*
April 19 – Brooke Blogs – Review*
April 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Interview or Guest Post (Author Choice)*
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Review ~ Skydreamer by Sheryl Winters
Title: Skydreamer
Author: Sheryl Winters
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: March 30, 2015
Keywords: New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Dragons, Twins
MY REVIEW
Skydreamer is a wonderful fantasy with dragons, spirits, conjuring and magic, that kept me on the edge of my seat hoping all will end with a happy ever after.
This is a heartfelt story of three sisters, who are poor and struggling to survive. Ever since their parents died, they have lived in the shed, while their uncle lounges in the home they should be in. He holds their inheritance over their heads, forcing them to work as slaves in the bar they think they will inherit, but Jaden believes he has other plans.
Jaden, her twin, Isla and Adania have all the ups and downs, and trials and tribulations of a normal family, then add dragons and magic and a greedy uncle who cares naught for them. All the girls have talents.
Jaden needs alcohol to fuel her conjuring of fire.
Isla needs water to conjure ice.
Their four year old sister, Adania has an Esprit, Mr Dirty. Imagine a four year old believing dirt is her friend and you will kill her friends if you wash them or her. Adania is easy to visualize. I smile at her all the time. An enchanting imp who loves her dirt, trusting in her sisters.
Two young women and a child struggling to survive. They try to do the right thing by her.
Jaden feels the contest is their only way out. Women from the age of twenty one to thirty compete and the winner gets a one year marriage to Draven Winterbourn, King of the Dragon-Changers and a pot of gold. Someone will die, but she feels the risk is worth the reward.
Jaden denigrates herself, always feeling unworthy. She is not a warrior princess, but she is strong enough to endure all the heartache life throws at her and come out on top.
Of course, we know Jaden wins. She then proceeds to faint in his arms. It is love at first site, but she needs Isla, her twin. Jaden is painfully shy and easily frightened like…a deer caught in the glare of headlights. When her sisters are sent away, she panics and runs.
With no one to trust and nowhere to go, Jaden ends up VERY far from home.
Sheryl’s writing style is full of love and humor.
The questioning banter between Draven and Jaden is touching and hints at what is to come. He is the perfect dragon husband, soft and cuddly, patient and happy, with good looks, smiles and a generous nature, but Jaden has trouble trusting his love for her.
Draven and Ra’von are twins too. I think I know what that means and I hope it does come true.
A lot is predictable but Sheryl throws a curve ball or two in there, making me wonder. I kept saying, please don’t leave me hanging.
When Sheryl sent Jaden into an alternate universe, she kept me on the edge of my seat, so afraid I would not find my answer now. I have to know if this will be a wonderful romance with a happy ever after. Thank you, Sheryl for not leaving me with a cliffhanger. 🙂
A feel good fantasy that had me soaring with the dragons and I will grab any book I see written by Sheryl Winters.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
5 Stars
BLURB
For fire talent, Jaden Zarie, life is far from a fairy tale. Blisters from any contact with water, check. Sleeping in a shed behind your greedy Uncle’s house, check. Ex-boyfriend scouting the bar where you work for one-night stands every night, double check.
When Jaden sets off to secure a new life with her two sisters, winning a contest with a huge pile of gold on the line seems like a quick fix. Getting hitched to Draven Winterbourne, King of the Dragon-changers, and finding true love, was beyond anything she could have hoped for.
But a friend turned enemy threatens to take it all away. Jaden is thrust into an alternate universe and separated from her new husband and her sisters, she must summon up the courage to start over, alone, knowing she may never see any of them again.
Purchase Links
Will be sent in a separate email as soon as they’re available
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I never set out to be an author. Only a story teller. Some days I succeed better than others.
Ms. Winters Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter
GIVEAWAY
Review: Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner
I saw Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner and knew I had to have it.
This is not your romantic version of mermaids, so beware.
Themes and Distinguishing Factors:.
● Portrayal of mermaids based on the true legend of flesh-eating sea demons.
● Predominantly female cast of eighteen-year-old warriors and mermaids.
● Native American setting, near Haida Gwaii and in the Gulf of Alaska.
● LGBT: self-discovery and acceptance of sexuality.
● Themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and trust.
ICE MASSACRE by Tiana Warner
- File Size: 1654 KB
- Print Length: 307 pages
ISBN -0988003937 (ISBN13: 9780988003934)
Publisher: Rogue Cannon Publishing (September 18, 2014)
4.5 out of 5 stars out of 22 reviews on Amazon
SYNOPSIS
A mermaid’s supernatural beauty serves one purpose: to lure a sailor to his death.
The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.
Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.
For the first time, Eriana Kwai’s Massacre warriors are female, and Meela must fight for her people’s freedom on the Pacific Ocean’s deadliest battleground.
MY REVIEW
The cover jumped out at me and I knew Ice Massacre was a novel I had to have.
The blood spewing off the mermaid’s tail told me this would not be a nice story with warm and loving mermaids. Ice Massacre is a grim and dark tale. I am super excited to read a mermaid book in which the Splash version (which I loved) is replaced with vicious sea monsters. An original mermaid “tail”, probably more true to the legends than the romanticized version we seem to prefer. Ice Massacre starts out wicked bad and continues that way. This novel will wipe out any illusions or fantasies you have about the beautiful and sexy mermaids.
Tiana’s writing is detailed and descriptive, riveting and engrossing, from beginning to end. Her ability to weave a story kept me reading long into the night.
Oh, goodie, a mermaid hunter. I can’t believe it. New to me and I love it. I was thinking there will be a lot more to the story and I wasn’t disappointed.
The island people are starving to death, because the mermaids do not allow them to catch their main resource, fish. They have no choice but to continue the massacres. Their very survival depends on it. Would the citizens of the island of Eriana Kwai get their life back, or stay poor, depending on others charity for their very survival?
Since the age of thirteen, Meela had spent her life training for this moment. She is part of the Ice Massacre. The ship sails tomorrow and her life is in her own hands and that of nineteen other girls.
The training masters methods were barbaric and desperate.
Would twenty girls do better than the twenty men they’d sent all the years before?
I walked with Meela through the woods to the dock. I heard the leaves rustling and smelled their musty fragrance, I heard the birds singing, and felt the mist hanging heavy in the air.
Meela had been taught mermaids are sea demons that keep them from fishing, sink their ships and kill everyone on board. It did not stop her from becoming friends with a mermaid named Lysi, after saving Lysi’s life. They knew it was wrong, but it didn’t matter to them. The oceans are vast and Meela doesn’t understand why there isn’t enough for everyone.
“Our friendship is stronger than her instincts.”
I think that statement will be put to the test.
Tiana Warner’s characters come alive on the pages. I loved and hated them. I yelled at them as they began to fight each other, wanting to warn them and help them in any way I could. Their very survival could depend on the girl next to them.
Annith is her best friend. Other than Lysi.
Dani is a bitch and that about covers her personality. She is mean, a bully.
Tanuu is the young man in love with her.
Tiana’s descriptions of the mermaids are so vivid I can see them; their red eyes, razor sharp teeth, webbed fingers, flesh morphing into scales to the end of their tail. They are ferocious and ugly, but can make themselves look almost human with lovely hair and bright alluring eyes with a voice that can hypnotize the human male.
I can visualize the battle; the mermaids super strength, shells and darts used as weapons, against iron bolts and knives. The humans thought they had an edge because they could plan and strategize. Did they really believe that mermaids were only demon fish, with no ability to plan and execute?
I couldn’t help but smile at the end. I LOVE it. That thought had entered my mind and came back to me off and on as I read htrough the novel, but it was still a bit of a surprise. A fantastic ending that is so unique and original, it will stick with me for a long time.
My only complaint is I want more. Trilogy???
I picked this up for free, during a tour I participated in.
5 Stars
DO YOU BELIEVE?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Ice Massacre, or learn more about Tiana Warner
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Amazing Before & After ~ Pets
Hi everyone. I know a lot of you are pet lovers, so I thought I would share these amazing before and after shots of my brothers dog, Neytiri.
The past couple of weeks have been hectic but tons of fun.
My mom, brother and his dog came down from Michigan. My sister and brother came over from Alabama.
The party was ON!
Neytiri is a Standard Poodle and Golden Retriever mix. She was born in Florida.
Neytiri arrived with her winter coat. She was only here a couple of days before she was transformed into the sleek beauty below.
Before & After of Neytiri (c) Sherry Fundin
What a difference.
I love dogs, but have reached a stage in my life where I just don’t want the responsibility.
How about you? Do you have a pet?
Who Wants to be a Billionaire?
Holiday Humor
Wanted to send a quick holiday shout out to all my peeps.
International Space Station Over Pensacola
Check out this awesome pic taken from my backyard on April 3, 2015.
Not only do you see the International Space Station, but you see the full moon too.
International Space Station Over Pensacola (c) Sherry Fundin
Jammin’ at Springfest
Jammin’ at Springfest in Pensacola (c) Sherry Fundin