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Ain’t no hurricane gonna bother me, because …………………………………………………………….
Author Archives: fundinmental
Hurricane Isaac Is Not Going To Blow Me Away.
. Ain’t no hurricane gonna blow me away. I can hang in there with the best of them.
I’ve driven around Hurricane Danny taking photos and video out on the barrier islands and down on the beaches. I wasn’t here for Katrina or Ivan, thank goodness, but my husband and I are just crazy enough to jump in our car and go to the beach. The power of these storms are something that cannot be explained unless you have experienced one. As long as it’s a Category Two, my husband and I will be doing our best to get some photos and video footage to post.
Sorry if I missed anything today. I will be checking my email shortly, but have spent all day battening down the hatches. Doing the normal things we do when for these storms, bringing in the plants and anything else that can be blown away or in the pool. Stocking up on gas, food, and most importantly, water.
My biggest worry is my pool, because I seem to spend half my time in it. Maybe I was a mermaid in a former life, or maybe I’m one now and just don’t know it.
Because I live in Florida, this is not an unusual occurrence. Hopefully, we will be able to keep power and I can continue to do my “normal” , but if you don’t hear anything from me it will only be because I cannot reach out to you.
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- Deja Vu In New Orleans? (blogs.the-american-interest.com)
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- Miss. Gulf Coast communities keep watchful eye on Isaac (wwltv.com)
- Isaac May Become Major Hurricane in Gulf (newswatch.nationalgeographic.com)
Murder in Provence by Susan Kiernan-Lewis – Review
Maggie has decided to write a cookbook because she is bored and her husband, Laurent, is a chef. She doesn’t know anything about cooking, but she figures she can get all she needs from him. It is driving him crazy. He seems to spend more time in the vineyard and with his friends at the bar than her.
Everyone had heard of the murder of the nurse who worked at the same hospital as Yves. It had been two weeks and there was no arrest or suspect in sight.
Maggie was losing her best friend, Grace, who was returning to the United States, but she had met Brigitte and they seemed to hit it off right away. Maggie’s life took an immediate turn for the worse when Brigitte, Marie’s daughter was murdered. Grace came for Maggie so they could go to Marie and help in any way possible.
Maggie hadn’t been told that Brigitte had been raped and beaten as she was killed. Rene, Marie’s husband hated Yves, Brigitte’s husband and told the police he knew it was him.
Maggie looked at Marie and she could feel her anguish. How do you handle losing your child? We’re supposed to go first. Maggie went to the kitchen thinking of coffee, just something she could do to help Marie. Detective Inspector Roger Bedard intercepted her, suggesting she come back at another time. That so wasn’t happening. She was not leaving her friend.
Maggie was surprised by her sudden feelings of attraction to the detective. She couldn’t help thinking, what’s this. She loved her husband, Laurent. Did the detective feel it too?
Maggie and Laurent were having dinner, when Maggie blurted out that she wanted to help find the killer. She had helped solve a murder a year earlier and cleared her friend of suspicion at the same time.
La Canard was the meeting place of the village. Maggie made an appointment to meet Detective Bedard at the cafe. He wouldn’t give her any information, but that wouldn’t stop Maggie.
When she returned home, Pijou, Brigitte’s, sister was there, drunk and flirting with Laurent. She told Maggie, not only was Brigitte’s best friend sleeping with Yves, so was she.
Maggie realized she was on her own, and she was surprised to find that it wasn’t so bad in Provence. It had finally started to feel like home.
She was sitting in a cafe when she noticed Madeline entering a house across the street. She decided to visit her to see what she could find out and was glad she did. They hit it off right away and Madeline proceeded to tell her who killed Brigitte. And made a point of telling her that the police hadn’t even questioned him yet.
I was offered this book in return for a fair, honest and unbiased review.
3 STARS – Would Recommend to Others
A nice cover with eye-catching colors. Title tells the story.
A light murder mystery for great summer reading on the beach or around the pool.
The descriptions of the area were so detailed that you could visualize the countryside.
Characters were real. It was interesting to watch Maggie as she grew and changed through the story. Friendship. Amazing how someone can influence you without you realizing it until long after.
There were some editing errors, but I find this a common occurrence in almost every book I read, even from the best sellers of the large publishing houses.
About the Author
Susan Kiernan-Lewis is an Air Force Brat who has traveled the world and racked up over 40 addresses in her life (and she’s not finished yet.) Presently living in Atlanta, Georgia she writes in several genres including mystery, romance and women’s lit. Professionally, Susan is a freelance advertising copywriter and video editor. Connect with her at suekier27@me.com and follow her at her website: susankiernanlewis.wordpress.com.
Susan Kiernan-Lewis has many other books available, these are just a few of them. If you wish to order one, simply click on the cover to take you to Amazon.com.
http://www.goodreads.com/SusanK-L
http://susankiernanlewis.wordpress.com
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There’s a Monster in the Delta – FREE – August 22 and 23 Only
A Message from Kelan O’Connell
Delta Legend will be free for two days on Amazon.com. – that’s August 22nd and 23rd!
Since you’re all busy book bloggers, I wanted to give those of you who’ve graciously reviewed, featured, or placed Delta Legend on your TBR list, advance notice so you can let your friends, family, and followers in on this promotion.
As summer winds down and cooler weather, back-to-school, and back to wearing more clothes, looms just around the corner, I thought this would be the perfect time to hold my first ever Free Promo Days. Here’s the link to Delta Legend on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Legend-ebook/dp/B0064VK8E2
What better way to celebrate and savor the Dog Days of Summer than with a book that takes place in summer and is chock full of the things we love about this time of year: fishing, boating, water sports, outdoor parties, summer romance, s’mores, and of course, carnage.
There’s just something about summer carnage that tastes sweeter.
Ebook of Delta Legend will be available for FREE on Amazon.com Wednesday, August 22nd and Thursday, August 23rd!
Tiger Paw First Round Winners!
During our giveaway of Tiger Paw, Charles came up with another giveaway idea. All you had to do was find the answer to the riddle. From Charles:
My Tiger Riddle: What is one thing tigers CAN’T do that other big cats can do?
1) Tigers can do this when they are little, but as they get older they get too heavy!
2) They can do this in one direction but have trouble in the other!
3) In cases of danger, like flooding, they will do this to save themselves but normally they are reluctant to do it.
The answer is CLIMB TREES!
Tigers will climb trees up to the age of sixteen months but after this age they’re too heavy for the branches! In the monsoon season in India and Bangladesh, they will climb a tree to escape flooding, but as the video shows, they can get up the tree but have difficulty getting down. They can’t figure ou that they need to descend backwards!
Congratulations to the First Round Winners: Jill – D.H.Nevins – Janna You’ve won a copy of Tiger Paw.
There’s still time to enter to enter my contest for 3 ebooks at: http://wp.me/p2uiv4-28
Go to Laura’s blog for a chance at an additional 3 ebooks at: http://wp.me/p27ipo-k0
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- World tiger population approaching possible extinction (greatcatsoftheworld.wordpress.com)
- Tigers and Tourists: To Restrict, or Not to Restrict (suzanneyork.wordpress.com)
- Dog herds tigers (news.yahoo.com)
Have you been “Chosen” ? Review and Giveaway
Dark Passage: Chosen by M. L. Woolley
Bill had come to Olalla about a year ago, after seeing a TV program about a paranormal investigation. He thought he might find an idea for his new book. He had noticed the large Victorian house and saw there was an estate sale being held, so he went in to look around. He found an old Bible that he wanted to buy and approached the sales lady. As she gave him a receipt, she also handed him a real estate brochure. He arranged for a full tour of the house and bought it.
.
Jen was remembering when her and her dad used to visit Olalla. She had great memories of the times they had spent there. Her attorney, Peter, told her about the need for his client to have someone to house-sit and Ivy thought it would be the perfect opportunity for her to get away from John. She would be able to live in the house for free, so she could get out of debt and finish nursing school. The cat liked Jen and Ivy told her that was a good sign. She felt the house was welcoming her.
John was angry she had been out with Ivy. When he punched her, he was afraid he killed her. He knew Jen was moving on and leaving him behind, but he just couldn’t let her go. Like any abusive husband, he told her it was her own fault. She made him hit her. He had threatened to kill her. Jen was going to file a restraining and divorce papers against John.
With John’s increased violence and her mother’s death, she was so miserable she created an alternate world for herself in her dreams. She had an imaginary friend and the dreams she had of him seemed so very real to her.
Dr. Winter was Jen’s boss. She told him she needed a week off to move away from John. What could he say, except yes. He really didn’t want to hear about her personal problems. While Jen was going through procedures for filing the restraining order, she saw Lisa and Dr. Winter at the courthouse. The thought went through her mind, what are they doing here, together?
Dr. Winter and Lisa are plotting, trying to pull the plug on Bill, who is in a coma. Lisa would do anything to get her hands on Bill’s house. Her life is on the line. As they stand over Bill’s bed talking, they never stop to think that Bill can hear everything they say. He knows his fate is out of his hands, and their plans for him are not good.
Ivy helped Jen pack up her belongings from the house she shared with John and took them to the house she would be looking after. Ivy stayed for dinner and as she got ready to leave Jen to her first night at the house, John called ranting and raving. She asked if Jen wanted her to stay, but she told her John didn’t know where she was, so it would be OK.
For Bill, Jen’s dreams were his reality. When he kissed her, he felt the passion. On the beach with her, he could hear the waves crashing on the shore and smell the salt in the air. How long would he be allowed to meet with her like this?
In Jen’s dream she had found a watch with the initials J P on the beach and in the morning found it wrapped and lying outside the front door. Had he delivered it to her and if he did, how? He was only in her dreams.
The house had been left as if the owner just walked away. She knew something had to have happened quickly, with no time to prepare, and felt the house wanted her to find out why. As she went through the photo albums she had found, she was stunned to realize – it was the man in her dreams, Bill Nichols. She found a key and knew it was meant for her to find it. Since her mother had died she felt a supernatural connection to things. Jen doesn’t realize that all the spirits around her are not good. Some have an agenda of their own.
John found Jen, but something had found him – a woman, the Angel of Death. When he tried to approach the house, he saw an apparition in the window that terrified him. As he ran he found the woman, who told him – “It’s begun”.
Jen: She was outgoing and fun to be with, until John started having problems and taking it out on her. After her mother died, she felt lost. She was unsure of herself. She created an alternate world with an invisible lover.
Lisa – The cat didn’t like Lisa, why? She was so beautiful, that people would stop and stare when they saw her. She was a very good liar and could usually get people to give her whatever she wanted from them. She thought she was the center of the world.
Ivy: Ivy was Jen’s best friend since childhood. They were like sisters. She was always there for Jen. She always looked impeccable, her hair and makeup perfect. Since her family died, she had felt such survivor’s guilt that it was hard to carry on in the land of the living. She took risks that could have ended very badly, maybe ending her life. Did she care? She always had a special affinity with horses, they made her feel free.
Bill: As he lies in a coma, he appears in Jen’s dreams, not sure how it is happening or why. He knows his love for her is forbidden and doesn’t know what will happen because of it. He hears and knows what is going on around him, but is unable to do anything about it.
Peter: He is Bill’s childhood friend. Since Bill has been in his coma, he has become his guardian. When he receives emails from Bill, he wonders how that could possibly happen.
4 Stars – Would highly recommend to Others
Won on Laura,s (fuonlyknew) blog giveaway back in June. I love the misty cover. Created an aura of mystery and intrigue as I delved further into the picture trying to see all there was to see hidden in the mist. The book blurb made the cover and title seem an appropriate fit. Now, lets see if it all comes together as I read the book.
Prologue hooked me. It fit everything that the cover and title inveighed. It made me think that the story to come would take me through an adventure of reality and magic, good and evil, revenge and redemption. The title fits the story as the characters pass through the door from reality to the supernatural. I expected a good read and got one. The characters were well-developed and made me feel a wide range of emotions as I read through the book. I finished it in one sitting. Even though it is not a quick read, I found myself unable to put it down.
A few editing errors but did not affect or change the flow of the story or alter my rating. While there is a Book II, this book ties up the story nicely and gives you a quick peek into the future.
Giveaway: M. L. Woolley has been gracious enough to offer as a giveaway 5ebooks and one Paperback. As always the entry is easy. Contest ends September 3, 2012 so be sure and enter soon. Simply comment below.
It is always appreciated if you follow me on my blog and twitter, but it is never required.
Please feel free to tweet this out and share it with your friends.
To order the book, simply click on the cover below.
Blog: http://mlwoolley.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5767871.M_L_Woolley
twitter: mlwoolley1
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Children’s Coming of Age Story
Flickering Hope by Naomi Kinsman
Sadie sets off to check on Patch. She knows Frankie’s dad, Jim, wants to get rid of Patch, so she has to be careful and cover her tracks. Jim thinks Patch is a problem to be taken care of, but Sadie thinks of her as a pet.
While she is out there, she runs into a young girl. Her family is living in a shack in the woods. The girl swears her to secrecy or she will expose Patch. Secrets have a way of coming out.
She loves visiting Helen and Andrew. Helen studies the bears. Sadie likes Andrew, she has a crush on him.
Secrets. Andrew’s secret. Frankie’s secret. Frankie is her enemy or is she? Does she want to be friends?
The girl in the woods says everything will be great if they find the bear. My bear?
3 Stars – Would Recommend to Others
Won in a Goodreads First Read Giveaway. A children’s book. Picked it up to read because the cover and title made it look like a fun, easy read. A short book to just relax with and enjoy a fun romp through Sadie’s mind. I could just imagine what the gravy looked like with all the different food colors added – olives on their fingertips, playing as if they were finger puppets. A nice story about a girl questioning life’s reasons, God, friendship, faith. Fighting for what she believes in and never giving up.
I could feel empathy with the characters and thought the story covered the problems and confusion that all kids go through. It was well written and the story is something that kids can relate to.
All the wonderful things that involve the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Does it bring back memories? The gift of giving, friendship and loyalty.
About the author
Naomi Kinsman is the author of Spilled Ink (winner of the 2009 Moonbeam Gold Medal for Educational/Activity book) as well as the From Sadie’s Sketchbook series (Zondervan). She has written and directed over 50 plays for young audiences, and has written for Highlights, Spider and Devozine magazines.
As founder of the Society of Young Inklings, Naomi shares her passion for writing and creativity with young people across the country. Society of Young Inklings offers game-based classes, unique resources, national club membership and publishing opportunities for young writers. Naomi has a BA in Theatre Arts from Seattle Pacific University, has studied theatre with the Piven Theatre Workshop and ACT, and has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.
She is the Assistant Regional Advisor for the San Francisco South chapter of SCBWI. Naomi lives in Northern California with her husband, and identically colored pets: a tuxedo cat and a Portuguese Water Dog.
To get a copy of the book, just click on the link below.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Naomikinsman
website: http://www.naomikinsman.com
twitter username: naomikinsman
Review – Life Descending
by John Hennessey
After killing his boss, Tom Navo found himself on the roof. One voice told him to jump, the other said no, don’t do it. Before he knew it, he stepped off, all the while listening to the voices in his head argue. He grabbed for a railing, but couldn’t hold on. When he felt all was lost, just waiting for the splat on the pavement, he found himself on a lounge chair, bruised and broken, but alive. He left the building and to avoid a passing cop, slid into a market.
As he sat at a table, eating and drinking, a robber came in. In all the confusion, Tom and the robber made a break for it at the same time. The voices spoke to him and he saw a vision of a man with a crown wearing a robe covered in gold and jewels telling him he will rescue him as he runs for the door, gets shot and then run down by an SUV.
A girl came by and said, “Welcome to the Waiting Room, take a number please”. A man sitting next to him told him the waiting time was so he had time to decide what room he would enter and what he wanted to become. When he realized he felt no pain, he knew he was dead and the doors would lead to his afterlife. When he asked how Ferrick knew all this, he said it was in the book. But Tom didn’t have a book. Everyone else there did, so Ferrick handed his book to Tom. Tom glanced at it and handed it back, only to have a book magically appear in his hands.
When he rifled through the pages, he read, “I have saved you from the fool”. He dropped the book and puked all over it. He felt better after he dropped it, but it was gone when he looked back for it. Something wasn’t right.
When his number was called, Tom opened the door and began going down, down, down, down …. and fell asleep. When he awoke, he was in the Stained Lands of Hell – the land of the dead. Is he dead? Is he dreaming? Magic? Insanity?
Disclaimer: I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
3 Stars – Would Recommend to Others
I also read, At The End, by John Hennessy. I like his books and find them entertaining. The cover was OK and the title was appropriate. I always like when they pertain to the story. It took me about a quarter of the way through to really get into the book. So don’t give up too early. It is worth getting to the end. I like this author and will be on the lookout for more of his books to read.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5306669.John_Hennessy
To order any of the books below, simply click on the cover.
Review of Bigger Than Jesus
by Robert Chazz Chute
Jesus, a hit man for the Machine, found himself on the roof, remembering what started it all – 911, the World Trade Center attack. Because he felt the need to make them pay, he had joined the military to earn his citizenship, kill Osama bin Laden, collect the 10 million dollar reward and live happily ever after with Lily. Until he was given a dishonorable discharge for clocking the sergeant.
Now he’s waiting to take out Panama Bob for ripping off his own brother. Panama Bob showed him a key to a storage locker and said it held enough money to take care of Jesus forever. He would give it to him, if he would just let him go. When Panama Bob made a move towards him, they struggled and Jesus threw him off the roof. He went back to Panama Bob’s office and began searching for the name of the storage business.
Jimmy, Panama Bob’s brother, was the one to put out the hit. He was a hothead and had told Jesus to hit him at his office, that he would be alone, but he wasn’t. What if Jimmy was setting him up to be the fall guy? Jimmy’s father, Vince, could take an exception to the hit. The trick for Jesus, would be keeping the key to the storage locker for himself.
He created a ruse for Denny, his friend and partner in the hit. He had told him Barbara, Jimmy’s wife, was cheating on him, not knowing it was actually Denny that was having the affair with her. He told Denny that the storage locker held the proof of the affair, now Denny needed that proof. It had backfired on Jesus and Denny ended up beating the crap out of him.
When Lily, his lovely Lily, sees him, he concocts another lie telling her the Irish mob, who were really cops, were after him. Now he’s being questioned by her, because Jimmy had went to Pete, her father who is a bookie working for Jimmy, and asked her what was going on. He couldn’t tell her the truth. Without her, there’s not much point to the money.
Jesus knew he loved Lily more than she loved him. He would follow her anywhere and he just so happens to follow her into a world of hurt.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
3 Stars – Would Recommend to Others
Right off the bat, I loved the cover. Simple and hot. The title fits the story. For a murder book, the way it was written had me smiling through it, the scene on the roof had me laughing. It was a light and enjoyable mob mystery. I thought the writing flowed well and the characters were ?, I’m not sure if I liked any of them. To me that means “Chazz” did his job well. I look forward to reading more about Jesus.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5300106.Robert_Chazz_Chute
twitter username expartepress
To order any of the books below, simply click on the cover.
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Review – Shadow of Doubt
by Melissa Gaye Perez
After the race, NASCAR driver, Jordan went home to his Daytona beach house. He took a shower and hit the sack, only to be woken by Myron, his pooch, crying because he was afraid of the crashing of thunder. Jordan checked the house and returned to bed.
In the morning, he was checking out the beach and noticed something out-of-place. He went to check it out. As the wind blew the woman’s hair from her face, Jordan realized it wasn’t seaweed and ran to her side. She was alive, but wouldn’t wake up. He looked around and saw he was alone on the beach, there was no one around to help him. He picked her up and took her back to his house.
As she slowly came to, she thought of how handsome he was. When he asked her who she was and why she was on the beach, she couldn’t remember. He called his friend, Martin, maybe he would know what to do. She didn’t want to call the police, said she was afraid of them.
As Jordan and Martin argued about what to do, she got up to leave and promptly fainted. They loaded her in the truck and headed to the hospital. As the police officer and the women’s shelter worker began to plan what to do with “Jane Doe”, Jordan saw how afraid she was and decided to take her home with him.
As he thought of a name to call her, he said she looked like a Barbie doll, so he was going to call her Dolly. Martin busted out laughing. Here was the free-wheeling, no commitment guy he knew, protecting and defending, even shopping for Dolly. Jordan thought it was funny too.
Only once before had he felt like this about a woman. Dolly was waking up all the feelings he thought he had buried.
Jordan had made her think she was imposing, in the way, so when he went to town for supplies, she packed up and left. She went to the police station and they called the women’s shelter.
When Jordan came home, he found a note. He was relieved and then surprised to find how much he missed her. He was going to get her and bring her back, then he found he was missing some money and a valuable ring. He knew it had to be her, because no one else had been in the house. He went to confront her. The police told him they had found the ring and it wasn’t her that had taken it. He knew he had to have her back.
When she tried to seduce him, he said, “if only I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, I’d take you now”. He didn’t want to mess her up by having sex with her, only to find she was married with children.
3 Stars – Would Recommend to Others
As soon as I saw the cover, I stopped to read the title. Sounded good to me. I love the beach and the water. I am not a huge romance fan, but between the cover, title and a “fun romance”, I thought it was worth giving it a shot. Looked like a quick, beachy read. Love NASCAR and number 24, Jeff Gordon is my favorite – go Jeff. Made it easy to root for Jordan. A few editing errors, but it didn’t matter.
It was fast paced and I found myself hurriedly turning the pages, kindle pages that is. Even though I knew they would end up together, I had to hurry and find out. LO
http://www.melissagayeperez.com
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5818196.Melissa_Gaye_Perez
twitter username MelissaMPerez
To order either book, just click on the cover.
