FREE – Survival and Beginnings by A M Hargrove

Posted on August 31, 2013 by fundinmental

If you haven’t read The Guardians of Vesturon series by A.M. Hargrove yet, I have exciting news! You can get Survival: Book One and Beginnings: The Prequel Novella, FREE today on AMAZON!

Take a look at these gorgeous covers. They only begin to hint at the goodies inside.

I won some of A M Hargrove’s books a while back, so be on the lookout for my upcoming reviews.

To grab your copy scroll to the end of the post.

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To get your copy, scroll to the end of the post.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.

Boss: Hello

A.M.: Boss, is that you?

Boss: Why yes, A. M., who else would be answering my phone?

A.M.: Er… right. Well, I’m calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate.

Boss: Why ever would I want to do that?

A.M.: Because I quit!

A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.

A.M.: Hi hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?

Hubs: Sure… Having some car trouble?

A.M.: Not at all. I don’t have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job.

Hubs: WHAT?!

A.M.: It’s time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist.

So began A. M. Hargrove’s career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance writer! Her books include Kissing Fire, Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge, the series the Guardians of Vesturon (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, Beginnings and the upcoming reEmergent) and Dark Waltz.

Author Social Media Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest l Blog

To get your copy of A M Hargrove’s books from Amazon, simply click on the cover below.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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Football Season has begun and all I can say is GO BLUE!

Posted on August 31, 2013 by fundinmental

File:Michigan Wolverines Block M.png

The Michigan Wolverines have the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history. It has, in my opinion, the most awesome helmet and it’s fight song has their competitors shaking in their shoes before they ever arrive at the gate. Michigan Stadium has record-breaking attendance and many rivalries. The annual season-ending game against Ohio State was once voted as ESPN’s best sports rivalry.

That being said – ARE YOU READY FOR SOME WOLVERINE FOOTBALL?

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The greatest college football march ever composed! So said the legendary John Philip Sousa. “The Victors” is called the “1812 Overture” and “Stars & Stripes” of all college football marches or fight songs.

In case you don’t know the words and I KNOW you want to sing along, I have included a second version just for YOU. Most of the time, only the chorus is sung. Look below for the full lyrics.

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Another season of football and I am so excited. I love my Michigan, but I watch and enjoy a good game no matter who it is. I want to spend my Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays in front of the TV. I do not want a knock on the door or a ring on the phone. Please honor my wishes and DON’T BOTHER ME. Not only will I bite, I may……………

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The Michigan Fight Song

It was composed by UM student Louis Elbel in 1898.

Now for a cheer they are here, trimphant!

Here they come with banners flying,

In stalwart step they’re nighing,

With shouts of Vict’ry crying,

We hurrah, hurrah, we greet you now, Hail!

Far we their praises sing

For the glory and fame they’ve bro’t us

Loud let the bells them ring

For here they come with banners flying

Far we their praises tell

For the glory and the fame they’ve bro’t us

Loud let the bell them ring

For here they come with banners flying

Here they come, Hurrah!

(chorus)

Hail! to the victors valiant

Hail to the conqu’ring heroes

Hail! Hail! to Michigan

The leaders and best!

Hail! to the victors valiant

Hail! to the conu’ring heroes

Hail! Hail! to Michigan,

The Champions of the West!

(break strain)

We cheer them

We cheer and cheer again

For Michigan, we cheer for Michigan

We cheer with might and main

WE cheer, cheer, cheer

With might and main we cheer!

(chorus)

An alternate set of lyrics were found in University athletic files circa the 1920s. Did Elbel write them – no one knows.

Hail! to our Alma Mater!

Hail! to dear old Ann Arbor

Hail! Hail! to Michigan

The Athens of the West!

If you like to read through the commercials feel free to browse:

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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GREAT Grand Finale – The Recipe Tour for Emergence by Rachel E Fisher

Posted on August 31, 2013 by fundinmental

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I have loved participating in this tour. If I had not done so, I never would have met Rachel E Fisher and Fi. That would have been my loss. Thanks so much for having me!

Emergence

Eden’s Root Trilogy #3

by Rachel E Fisher

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 30, 2013

“I promise you, Sean. We’re going to stop them.”

The pieces on the board are in motion and with both sides gathering strength, each move will be critical. When the Truthers make a play for checkmate, the Seeders are forced to respond. Fi and her companions will face greater challenges and higher stakes than ever before, because this time if they fail, it’s for keeps.

Amazon * Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Seeds of War

The mission of Eden must be fulfilled and Eden’s best Seekers are needed. Forming a new group they dub the Seeders, Fi, Asher, and Sean are joined by a new addition as they set out to bring hope and support to the Topsiders in the form of radios and heirloom seeds. Their experiences Topside prepare them for the threat from marauding gangs they call Lobos, but it is a different, less obvious sort of threat that takes them by surprise. As radio broadcasts begin to reconnect Eden and the Topsiders, the Seeders stumble upon mysterious broadcasts from unknown stations. When two of their own new radio stations go silent within days of each other, Fi and her companions realize that something is terribly wrong. Eden finds itself pitted against a growing and unknown force as their very mission lights the flames of war.

Eden’s Root

It is 2033, and the world hovers on the edge of explosion as unexplained crop deaths lead to severe global food shortages. In the United States, the Sickness is taking lives slowly, creeping its way into every family. Fi Kelly has already faced the Sickness in her own family, toughening her beyond her years. But a shocking confession from her dying father will push her toughness to its absolute limits. Saddled with an impossible secret and the mission of saving her little sister, Fi sets out to transform herself into the warrior that she must become to survive the coming collapse. Along the way, she will discover that evil can be accidental and that love can be intentional.

Rachel E Fisher

I am a wife and entrepreneur living and working in Florida. I am also a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, where I majored in Biology. It was always my assumption that I would end up making research my life. Though it did not work out that way in the end, my passion for Biology remains intact.

I have always loved biology-based science-fiction and the young adult genre. It is in this vein that I offer my work.

Blog * @edensroot * Facebook * Tumblr * Pinterest * Goodreads * Sign up for FanMail!

In Rachel Fisher’s dystopian world, natural grown food has turned to poison or died before it can produce fruit. This idea was partly inspired by her own life and the necessity of creating vegan and gluten-free meals.

Find your apron and roll up your sleeves… it’s time to celebrate Emergence with…

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The Emergence Recipe Tour

12 – Launch

13 – Howling Books and Design – Review

I’ve never thought I would be looking forward to the ending to a series as much as this one. This dystopian novel drew me in from the start with it’s believable story of how a world changed by just having a few changes done to food we grow.

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tHe crooKed WorD – Review & Recipe

No one is safe in this book. Everyone suffers something, and since I love these characters as my own friends, it’s hard.

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Vegan, Gluten-Free Alfredo Sauce Navy Bean “Alfredo Sauce”14 – Livinga Goddess Life – Recipe

Here’s a fantastically healthy and tasty recipe using Farro…

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Mel’s Shelves – Recipe for Quinoa & Black Beans

I enjoy eating healthy and have immersed myself into it slowly.

15 – Buried Under Books – Review

Ah, it’s so nice to re-connect in real life with the people we learn to love and appreciate and the same is true with the book series we read. Fi and Asher, Sara and Sean, and many of their friends have stuck in my mind and it was a real pleasure to see them again…

For my earlier reviews of the first two books, Eden’s Root and Seeds of War, go here.

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Cinnamon Sticks - Healthy, Sweet Savory Crossover

Recipe for Cinnamon & Chesnuts16 –
Indiscriminate Writes

For those of you who are not familiar with Rachel E. Fisher’s ‘Eden’s Root’ trilogy, well, what have you been doing? 😉

Review:

Fisher doesn’t hold back. She never has. That’s what makes the ‘Eden’s Root’ series great. But I will admit… I did have a rewarding smile on my lips as I read the final pages.

17 –
Mythical Books

18 –
Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – RecipesSummer Chili * Sesame Nut Cookies

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Mortal Moments

19 – MySeryniti Emergence Review & RecipePeanut Butter Chocolate No Bake Cookies!

What a fabulous end to an Apocalyptic trilogy. This story is just so intense, it drags the emotion from you whether you like it or not!

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Rose & Beps Blog

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20 – Fundinmental

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– Eden’s Root Review tomato photo: Green Tomato DSCF0036_zpscad65374.jpg

The storyline seems so real to me… I always wonder what is happening to us right now. How many times have we been told something is good, only to be told ten years later it causes cancer, or something else.

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21 – Moosubi Reviews!

22 –
Christy’s Cozy Corner – Recipe

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Fancy Ants on a Log

24 – Markedby Books – Review of Eden’s Root

I also really enjoyed how Rachel Fisher looked at the way people can change when they really aren’t given another choice if they want to survive, no matter who they started out as.

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25 – LeeannaMe – Review of Eden’s Root

The thought that messing too much with our food, trying to feed more people with less, and that we’re using too much technology without thinking about it is kind of scary. The author develops this idea pretty well, giving easily understandable scientific explanations

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Marked by Books – Review of Seeds of War

Man, this book was deep. It explored a lot of very prominent philosophical issues, like the nature of humanity, in a way that made it applicable not only to the events in Seeds of War, but also to our own world.

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Diary of a Book Addict – Review of Emergence

First off I have to give a huge I mean HUGE Thank You to Rachel Fisher for giving us a great series. I have been reading this series since day one and this is a bitter sweet goodbye…

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26 – LeeannaMe – Review of Seeds of War

In SEEDS OF WAR, we learn a bit more about how the Famine was engineered. Yeah, I said engineered. I won’t spoil the details for you, but I could see something like it happening in real life someday, which is also scary.

– Fundinmental Review of Seeds of War

I read this slower than usual, devouring every word. It reads more like a history book than fiction, and my mind keeps reaching, trying to figure out what I would do in a situation like that or like that. These books will stick with me for a very long time.

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Marked by Books – thoughts on cooking

My personal favorite recipe is actually not one of her copycat recipes, but something she came up with on her own. It’s a deep-dish cookie pie. So what’s the catch? IT’S MADE OUT OF CHICKPEAS!

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27 – LeeannaMe Review of Emergence

The other thing I really liked about EMERGENCE was Fi’s character development. Fi has come a very long way from the girl she was in EDEN’S ROOT. Though she’s been kick ass throughout the trilogy, I did have trouble believing adults would listen to a fourteen-year-old. InEMERGENCE, Fi questions that herself, something I appreciated it. But even better was watching her crack, the strain of losing Eden and her family too much to bear after all the other hardships she’s suffered. Fi emerged from the “nothingness” (her term for depression) an even stronger character, and I liked seeing her vulnerable, because that made her even more kick ass and realistic to me.

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edensroot-recipe Chocolate Protein Mousse28 – TheBookish Daydreamer – Review of Eden’s Root

The whole time while reading this novel, I worried. This extreme realism was terrifying and made me question everything.

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29 – GreenMountain Couple

I also believe that this book hits home with me and our lifestyle because my husband and I are preppers. We prepare for the worst case senario, we have stored canned goods and even a bucket of food. We are working on saving heirloom seeds to plant again in garden next year.

I found this recipe on Pinterest.

Ingredients

2 Large Bananas

1 Cup of Quick Oats

Then add in things like Chocolate Chips, Shredded Coconut, Nuts, Dried Fruit… Anything you Heart Desires really.

Bake @ 350 for 15 min! And your DONE!

Grand Finale

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

August 12 – September 6

2 Winners each (international):

– eBook of Eden’s Root

– eBook of Seeds of War

– eBook of Emergence

2 Winners (international):

– eBook of the trilogy – Eden’s Root, Seeds of War & Emergence

1 Winner (US, Canada, UK)

– signed print copy of Emergence

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To grab an Amazon copy of Rachel E Fisher’s books, simply click on the cover belowl

To see my 5 STAR Review of Eden’s Root and the Emergence Giveaway, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Seeds of War and Giveaway, go HERE.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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Tag Team Event – Giveaway and Review of The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on August 30, 2013 by fundinmental

This Tag Team Event is to enable Laura, at fuonlyknew, and I to share our love of Bette Lee Crosby’s books with all our readers and followers. Go HERE to find out what Laura has to say and another chance to win.

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The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby is only one of her amazing, award-winning books.

My Collection of Bette Lee Crosby’s books by Sherry Fundin

It took me two hours to get this shot. I went from room to room looking for a place that wouldn’t leave a glare on the photo.Then I waited until the sun moved away from the back of the house. I finally chose this shot, taken on the pew in the kitchen. Enjoy these beauties, then choose one for yourself.

“Magic happens inside our heads, people can’t see magic.”

1900’s

Abigail Anne was more than capable of helping her papa but he only had eyes for William, his son. She was the twelfth born child in a family where girls were expected to do “girl things” and get married by the time they were sixteen. But Abigail’s dreams far surpassed what her father expected from her.

After her mother, died she would remember her saying, “Someday Abigail Anne, someday, every girl with an adventurous heart will be able to follow her dreams”.

Seventy years later

Destiny entered her life. She was a giving, happy, optimistic, hard working girl, who had raised herself. Abigail thought it was wonderful to have a neighbor like Destiny and everything was better when she was around. She was always there, whenever Abigail needed a helping hand, and neither expected nor asked for anything in return.

Abigail’s nephew, Elliot, had only one thing on his mind, her money, and he would do whatever it took to get it. Abigail would never forget what he said, when she first met him. “So, ‘this’ is Abigail Anne….the twelfth child of William Lannigan….my grandmother was the ‘first’.”

When a million dollars comes up missing, Elliot is quick to blame it on Destiny. With no one to help, what would become of her?

Image courtesy of dream designs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The book cover conveys the feeling of the 1900’s. I love the old time look of it. I find her covers are full of emotion and portray the stories that will be told between the pages.

I should know by now, whenever I read one of Bette Lee Crosby’s books, I need to have a box of tissues handy. The range of emotions her writing evokes in me go to every extreme. I feel tears in my eyes as I am writing this. The anger and disgust over the disrespect for girls and women is far outweighed by the sadness I feel. To think it is not going on today, is to deny reality. There are still plenty of male chauvinists around, in every walk of life.

Bette Lee Crosby’s characters are richly developed and read as if they are the people next door. Destiny was such a good person, it was so wrong that she was subjected to all the things she went through.But, no one every said life was fair. I felt her pain and wondered how The Twelfth Child could end up with a happy ending.

The things people do for money knows no bounds. Greed is alive and well. I can only hope the cliches are true “what goes around comes around.”

I always find myself engrossed in her books from beginning to end, unable to put them down. I read The Twelfth Child until the wee hours of the morning. The writing is excellent and swept me along. I had to know what Destiny’s destiny would be.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

It doesn’t really matter to me whether Bette Lee Crosby expects a review from me or not. Her books speak so loudly to me, that I feel I will always have to share them. She kindly gave me a signed paperback that holds a prominent place in my bookshelf, next to her other books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bette Lee Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006, when she won the National League of American Pen Women Award for unpublished fiction with What Matters Most. Her novel, Cracks in the Sidewalk, received the 2009 Royal Palm Literary Award and then went on to win the 2011 FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal. In 2011 Spare Change received the Reviewer’s Choice Awards and it garnered a second Royal Palm Literary Award. Her books have earned numerous five-star ratings with readers acclaiming them as heartwarming and captivating.

Most recently, Bette completed a memoir written for Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as The World’s Longest Living Quadriplegic.

To see what Bette Lee Crosby is up to, follow the links below.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

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GIVEAWAY

Bette Lee Crosby is offering for the Giveaway:

1 Signed Paperback of The Twelfth Child – US ONLY.

1 ebook of The Twelfth Child – International.

Easy entry as always, just leave your email address with your choice, PB or ebook and answer the question:

Do you believe in Destiny?

Giveaway ends FRIDAY, September 13, 2013.

Friday the 13th is not always a bad thing.

Go HERE to find out what Laura has to say and another chance to win.

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Bette Lee Crosby has a new release that I would love to share with you. Bette’s covers seem to convey strong emotions in me. They are so sweet and true to life. They speak to me. Do you feel the same?

SYNOPSIS

When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?

Jubilee’s Journey is Book Two in the Wyattsville Series. This story of discovering lost family and finding love reconnects readers with Ethan Allen and the other heart-warming characters of the bestselling novel SPARE CHANGE

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If you would like to purchase a copy of Bette Lee’s books, click on the cover below.

To see my Review of What Matters Most, go HERE.

To see my Review of Spare Change, go HERE.

To see my Review of Cupid’s Christmas, go HERE.

To see my Review of Cracks In The Sidewalk, go HERE.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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A Surprise in my Mailbox – Free book for you – Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Posted on August 30, 2013 by fundinmental

I went to my mailbox the other day and what did I find. A surprise from Susan Kiernan Lewis. These are two of her new releases. The Cairo Effect is the second book in the Heidelberg Effect Series. I have read and reviewed some of her many books and will happily review more. To see my review, scroll down to the bottom of the post.

Look at these pretties. And they are mine….. all MINE.

On one of the bookmarks Susan Kiernan-Lewis has a free ebook and I wanted to share it with you. Isn’t that a beautiful cover? Not only do I want to read the book, it makes me want to jump on a plane and go there. Maybe I will even run into Maggie Newberry!

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AMAZON

SYNOPSIS

Maggie Newberry is sheltered, privileged but also a whip-smart advertising copywriter who’s fast on her feet and a little stunned to realize that she’s 34 years old and still hasn’t found “the one.” When her long-missing sister ends up dead in Maggie’s trendy Atlanta condo, Maggie finds herself flying to the south of France to find the little niece that up until then no one in the family even knew existed. Along the way, she finds handsome Laurent Dernier, a sexy if nefarious Frenchman who it’s not clear is there to help or hinder Maggie’s search for the girl. Meanwhile, her sister’s murderer sets his sights on the little girl — and Maggie.

The first book of the Maggie Newberry Mystery Series, Murder on the Côte d’Azure won 3rd prize in the National Writer’s Competition in 2001 in manuscript.

Susan Kiernan-Lewis has many books available. You can click on the cover below to get your free copy of Murder on the Côte d’Azure and find out more about Susan.

To see my Review of The Heidelberg Effect by Susan Kiernan-Lewis, go HERE.

To see my Review of Finding Infinity by Susan Kiernan-Lewis, go HERE.

To see my Review of Murder in Provence by Susan Kiernan-Lewis, go HERE.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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Free – August 29 and 30 – Fair Play by Janna Shay

Posted on August 29, 2013 by fundinmental

FREE FAIR PLAY is FREE August 29th & August 30th

by jannashay

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FAIR PLAY, the first book in the Diamond Series, will be *FREE* at Amazon for 2 days, Thursday, August 29th and Friday, August 30th. If you haven’t read it, please grab a copy.

Amazon

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SYNOPSIS

Forced to live a clandestine life, Danielle “Dani” Jordon believes she has found a safe haven in Las Vegas until she meets devastatingly handsome casino owner Jace Diamond. With his compelling sexual magnetism and mind-numbing kisses, Dani finds her world turned upside-down. Resisting the most compelling man she has ever met proves to be a task she doesn’t have the strength to fight.

Inexplicably drawn to her, Jace embarks on a relentless pursuit to make Dani his. It isn’t long before he finds himself irrevocably in love, but can he convince Dani that she belongs with him?

Trapped in her life of deceit, Dani is afraid to admit her love for Jace or believe in a life without fear. Can she take the chance and trust him to provide the sanctuary she so desperately needs, or will that trust lead to exposure of her secrets and destroy her life?

AMAZON

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EXCERPT

Dani stopped halfway in the room. She felt like she’d just been undressed with his eyes, but instead of making her feel disgusted as she had with Martin Pace, he’d caused her body to warm with pleasure. She hated that he could control her reactions to him, so she said indignantly, “One look wasn’t enough the last time, so you needed a repeat performance?”

He rose to his feet and smirked. “If I recall, we were supposed to exchange notes. I was just refreshing my memory.”

“Tonight I escaped the mauling of one pervert. Do I need to defend myself from another?”

His eyes flared with anger at her words, but he replied calmly, “Don’t put me in the same category as that excuse for a man.”

“Sorry. That was totally uncalled for.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “It’s been a tough night.”

He circled the front of his desk to face her.

She raised her head and followed him with her eyes and couldn’t help scrutinizing his body as he moved. He was tall. She figured him to be at least 6’3”, with broad shoulders, a lean body, and long legs. He had a really great body and so much male sexuality pouring from him, she figured women threw themselves at him all the time. No wonder he was so self-assured and arrogant. Her reaction to him was no different than other woman. No matter how much she denied it, she was very attracted to him.

She had to make sure Jace never learned of her attraction. It would be a very dangerous weapon to put in his hands. When her eyes returned to his, she realized he was watching her.

He crossed his arms and grinned. “Refreshing your memory, too, I see? Do you like what you see?”

Dani’s face instantly heated as she realized what she’d been doing. A few minutes ago she’d berated him for leering at her, and she was doing the same thing. Damn! She was treading on dangerous ground. Jace didn’t seem to be a man to be played with.

“Forgive my rudeness. You wanted to talk to me about something?”

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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Grand Finale for Shudder, Book II of the Stitch Trilogy by Samantha Durante with Review

Posted on August 29, 2013 by fundinmental

Samantha Durante has written a unique tale of science fiction. I am honored to be a part of this fantastic tour. Congratulations Samantha and I can hardly wait for Book III.

The Highlight Tour with Prism Book Tours& Samantha’s Summer Tour

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

Shudder

348 pages

Published June 15, 2013

— Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy —

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

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MY REVIEW OF SHUDDDER

Alessa is finally learning what the Stitch is all about.

Now, she has a mission. She wants to get it done so she can go home. She has no idea if Janie is dead or alive. It had broken her heart to leave her behind.

The Mission:

1. Find the rebels base.

2. Figure out who is the enemy.

3. Avoid the creatures.

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The cover for Shudder is very pretty. I like that the covers of the trilogy are similar.

Samantha Durante’s second book of the trilogy, Shudder, is another resounding hit. It has so many things going on that, at times, I was torn about where I wanted the story to go. There is much to decipher, while she weaves her way through the hidden pitfalls.

Alessa left Pargon and her sister behind her to be with Isaac. But she could not forget about Joe, even though it was jeopardizing her relationship with Isaac. I’m thinking there must be a reason that Joe is on her mind so much. Will we see him again?

The nuclear winter caused when the bombs fell created famines. As the viral epidemic decimated the population and people became more and more desperate to survive, there was a group of men who figured out a solution. But, it is not a solution that anyone in their right mind could believe would work. I wonder if the same would happen in the real world.

The saying: “History repeats itself” is so pertinent to the events happening to Alessa.

It makes me think of the Holocaust and and the evil that spawned from the minds of some evil men who thought they had all the answers. It, also, makes me think of American politics at this time, how a few can disregard the many, for their own gains.

It is amazing to me that the egos of some people allow them to think they have all answers and, therefore, have the right to play God.

The thought of a virus wiping out the majority of the Earth’s population is something real. Just think – due to rapid means of travel, a virus could be spread world-wide before it is even recognized. I have talked to a doctor who believes that is what will be our downfall.

Would our governments step in and decide who would live and who would die? What do you think?

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbaised review. I was eagerly waiting for Book II of the Stich Trilogy and would have written the review regardless. Now I am waiting for Book III so I can see how Alessa’s story ends.

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GUEST POST

Painstakingly Plotted World

Review at Frodo’s Blog of Randomness (good comments here on POVs)

The plot! People, the twists and turns in this book?! Seriously, it’s amazing how Durante keeps you on your toes throughout. I kept thinking I had everything figured out and then BAM, another wrench thrown into what I thought I knew. There are conflicts of interest between characters, on opposite sides and even on their own. Dangers lurk around every corner. New abilities are just waiting to be discovered! How do you get better than that? Awesome.

Review at Wintry Words

Starting Shudder, I had little idea where the story was going to go. I had little predictions that might go somewhere, but in the end…nothing went as planned. Shudder has so ferociously shown me how quickly good things can turn bad. When things should’ve been heart-lifting, but ended up heartbreaking. There wasn’t a moment where I was privy to the whole plot. Samantha keeps you guessing throughout every page, ever chapter. Roads she could’ve led the plot down are erased and then rewritten. She puppeteers the story into a direction you wouldn’t think possible. Yet again Samantha breaks all boundaries before set.

Review at Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews & Editing

The complexity of the plot and the dynamics have you wondering what exactly Samantha has in her mind to be able to imagine this complex world. I never one time imagined that what happens in the book could actually happen but now the idea is planted firmly in my mind. It is a little freaky. While reading the book, you will do nothing but search your mind, wondering what in the world could happen next, and you would be wrong every time.

Review at Dark Obsession Chronicles

I’m having trouble wrapping my head around all the revelations, and questions Shudder contained. Yet another noodle warp. … Stitch really did set it up, but like Neo found out in the Matrix, that rabbit hole is one freaky mother. … I was surprised, confused, hopeful, frustrated, elated, and flabbergasted at times while reading Shudder. That is a sign right there. Any book that can give you some sort of emotional roller coaster (but not a traumatizing one,) is definite re-read material.

Review at Nette’s Bookshelf

I find the juxtaposition of Paragon and our society fascinatingly similar. Similar in that we are so enamored or distracted by “reality t.v” and the lives of others that we forget about what’s going on “out there” in the real world. I also find similarities with the ruling class and our government but I’m going to stop at this sentence, lest I get away from myself and begin discussing politics and world issues and other topics that have nothing to do with my review of a book. And that whole issue with the food? One word. Monsanto. Anyway, I’m getting away from myself here…What I’m trying to say is, Samantha Durante creatively and cleverly devised a story that’s based on real-life ideas and turned it into a thought provoking novel.

Interview at Passionate Book Divas

Something about the dystopian genre has always drawn me to it even since I was a little kid. I vividly remember reading The Giver back in sixth grade and I just loved how much it made me think. I guess that’s true of science fiction in general – I love trying to picture how we could get from where we are today to one of these crazy future societies.

Guest Post at Book Briefs

To me, there’s nothing creepier than a place that’s *supposed* to be filled with people, but isn’t Being alone in a big, quiet place just sets my primal instinct sirens wailing. My heart starts fluttering in anticipation of the need to run or fight, and every tiny noise rings in my ears like a cannon blast. It was this eerie feeling – of being utterly alone, but at the same time, not feeling in any way secure – that I sought to recreate in Shudder.

Review at Fuonlyknew

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Durante, Author of the Stitch Trilogy

As an avid lifelong reader of fiction of all sorts, there’s nothing I find more engrossing than an epic sci-fi/fantasy/romance series. I’ve whiled away countless weekends of my life immersed in richly-woven worlds that someone else was kind enough to put on paper… about the author

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Stitch

314 pages

Published August 1st, 2012

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence… Goodreads

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Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 Winners. August 24 – September 16, 2013. See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

* Signed print copy of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (USA only)

* Signed (via Authorgraph) e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (Int’l)

* Signed Stitch & Shudder bookmarks + e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder (Int’l)

* $10 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

* $5 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Highlight Tour

Sharing Top Highlights from the Summer-Long Tour!

August dates:

24 – The Reading Diaries – Review

– The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl

– Rose & Beps Blog

25 – Chapter Break – Review

– Wonderings of One Person – Review

– Mortal Moments

26 – A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – Review

– Kindred Dreamhart

27 – YA Book Addict – Review

– The Bookish Daydreamer

– Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

28 – Library of a Book Witch

– Mommasez… – Review

29 – Mel’s Shelves – Review

– Fundinmental

30 – Green Mountain Couple

– Literary Meanderings

31 – Donnie Darko Girl – Review

– My Devotional Thoughts

Sept. 1 – The Book Rogue

GRAND FINALE

You can pick your Amazon copy by clicking on the cover below.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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Free – Shooting Stars by H D Gordon

Posted on August 28, 2013 by fundinmental

H.D. Gordon’s Shooting Stars is FREE!! Get started on her series now!

Straight from H. D. Gordon to you!

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Hey there, my beautiful Blood Warriors!
Today you can download Shooting Stars (Book one of The Surah Stormsong Novels) for FREE on amazon!

Once upon a time, a common boy fell in love with a princess. It was a hopeless, forbidden love, grown in a world where sorcery and magic rule over all. Now, dark times are brewing, and destiny will bring them together, while fate works to keep them apart. Extraordinary battles will be fought, and extraordinary choices made. Join the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga for the beginning of a tale of star-crossed lovers and magic, of hope and love and loss, of desperate wishes made on stars.

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Since book two, Falling Stars, will be released SEPTEMBER 15th, now is your chance to catch up!

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Surah Stormsong’s life has fallen down around her in the past week. Her father is in a coma induced by demon poison, two Highborn Sorceresses have been murdered, and a crazed Sorcerer by the name of Black Heart has made it his mission to take the kingdom for his own. As princess, and next in line to the throne, Surah is his primary target. But he’s not the only one she has to look out for.

Now, Surah is on the run, having just helped Charlie Redmine escape from the castle dungeons. This makes her a traitor in the eyes of many, as Charlie is not only a common man suspected of murder and treason, but also Black Heart’s younger brother.
The stars are crossed against the two lovers, the universe trying to keep them apart. In the end, will the stars align for Surah and Charlie, or will they fall from the heavens, dead and lifeless, like the tears of angels?

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If you’re interested, make sure you mark you calendars for Sept. 15th, because for a very limited time Falling Stars will be available for only $.99! I think you guys are gonna like this one.

Also, if you visit my author page on Facebook, you’ll see a contest pinned to the top where you can enter to win a Tiger Adoption Kit from WWF!

As always, much love brothers and sisters, and happy reading!
Heather (HD) Gordon

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To pick up any of H D Gordon’s books from Amazon, simply click on the cover.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??? Tailgating Yumminess!

Posted on August 28, 2013 by fundinmental

FOOTBALL FOOD…THE KICKOFF!

MMMMMMMM!! Deliciousness.

Football season is here again and on Mid-Week Mixers that means fun food for tailgating – whether you do it from the back of your SUV or sitting in front of a sofa. And this year Naomi Blackburn has got a great lineup of favorites starting with the always popular Little Smokies. So from now through the end of September stop back every Wednesday and get your game food on so you’ll be ready for Thursday night in front of the TV or Sunday at the stadium. Have fun!

And remember for more fun food recipes visit Naomi at http://thepubandgrubforum.blogspot.com/

MID-WEEK MIXERS by Naomi Blackburn

Brown Sugar Smokies with Brown Sugar Sauce

Adapted: Allrecipes.com

These are must haves in the Blackburn home. These bad boys are so simple to make they are unbelievable. Partner with the sauce and you have a great entertainment appetizer.

Basically, the Brown Sugar Smokies are bacon wrapped mini sausages that are wrapped in a quarter slice of bacon and coated with brown sugar. The sauce also has 3 simple ingredients of mayo, brown sugar and bottled bbq sauce. Yep, it really is that simple!

So, here we go!:

Sausages:

Ingredients:

1 pound bacon
1 (16 ounce) package little smokie sausages
1 cup brown sugar, or to taste

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2) Cut bacon into thirds and wrap each strip around a little sausage.
3) Place the wrapped sausages on wooden skewers, several to a skewer.
4) Arrange the skewers on a baking sheet and sprinkle them liberally with brown sugar.
5) Bake about 30 minutes or until bacon is crisp and the brown sugar melted.

Sauce:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup barbeque sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

1) Stir together mayonnaise, barbeque sauce, and brown sugar in a small bowl until the brown sugar has dissolved. Chill while smokies bake!

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

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Cover Reveal for The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros – NYTBS Author

Posted on August 28, 2013 by fundinmental

Title: The Darkest Joy

Author: Marata Eros

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Expected release: February 18, 2014

Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense

Age Group: New Adult

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SYNOPSIS

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor’s guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there’s only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain.

Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving… into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.

As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She’s determined to be the master of her own destiny… until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan so dark, so final… it threatens their love and their very lives.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.