Giveaway – The Benevolence of New Ideas by Carmela Cattuti @ccattuti @GoddessFish

Posted on April 14, 2022 by fundinmental

The Benevolence of New Ideas by Carmela Cattuti

GENRE: Historical Fiction

BLURB

The satisfying conclusion to Angela Lanza’s story which began in Between the Cracks when she loses her entire family in the earthquake on Sicily following the 1908 eruption of Mt. Etna and continues in The Ascent as she adjusts to life in the United States as a new bride and Italian American immigrant. Now, in the final installment in the trilogy, The Benevolence of New Ideas, thrusts Angela and her family into the heart of the Vietnam War and the turbulent times of the 1970s. As the family matriarch, Angela guides her niece, Marie, through these challenges and the era’s limiting structures of education and organized religion, helping Marie to embrace new ideas and expand her intuition and relationship with the unseen world. Angela’s compassion and wisdom has an exceptional impact on Marie’s life and those around her. A fulfilling ending that celebrates Angela’s wisdom in all things along with her well lived life from tragedy to triumph and from heartbreak to the enduring love of family.

EXCERPT

Angela had cared for Franco during his long illness, and now she was free. The relief she felt made her cringe. How could she so easily feel relief when Franco had suffered? She grieved but was thankful there would be no more concerns about leaving him home alone, or trips to the doctor, or Franco insisting he could perform a task when he couldn’t. He had emigrated from Sicily at age twelve 12 in the early 20th century full of energy and promise. Now, in 1968, Angela looked back and felt he had been successful in fulfilling that promise. Franco had brought Angela, at age eighteen, from the convent orphanage in Palermo, where she had lived since the 1908 earthquake, to a new life in Nelsonville, New York, about forty-five minutes north of Manhattan. It was not the life she thought she would have in America, but what she had created in America she never would have had the opportunity to experience had she stayed in Sicily.

Angela kissed Franco several times on both cheeks and on the lips. The doctors had said it was a matter of time until he would pass away. She could see death hovering and begin to slowly drape his body from his head to his feet as if giving Angela time to say good-bye.

“Adio mio caro,” whispered Angela. “Grazie di tutto.” Tears rolled down her face onto Franco’s cheek and mouth. His eyes were open and fixed, as if peering into the world beyond. She put her hands on the sides of his face and with her thumbs closed his eyes.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Carmela Cattuti started her writing career as a journalist for the Somerville News in Boston, MA. After she finished her graduate work in English Literature from Boston College she began to write creatively and taught a journal writing course at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. As fate would have it, she felt compelled to write this homage to her great-aunt, who survived the earthquake and eruption of Mt. Etna and bravely left Sicily to start a new life in America.

Between the Cracks and The Ascent began the story, which now concludes with the final book in the trilogy.

Learn more at: CCattutiCreative.com

email: cattutic@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmelacattuticreative/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@ccattuti
Instagram: https://instagram.com/carmelacattuticreative

Purchase Links: The book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour.

Buy Link: Amazon / Henschelhausbook

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Babe Ruth – The Great Bambino by Jonathan Weeks @GoddessFish

Posted on April 13, 2022 by fundinmental

I want to welcome Jonathan Weeks to fundinmental. I found his guest post fascinating and this is so appropriate for Women’s month. What perfect timing. 🙂

THE GIRL WHO STRUCK OUT RUTH AND GEHRIG

During the heart of the Great Depression, most major league teams reduced the number of spring training games to cut down on travel costs. The Yankees broke with this trend in 1931, scheduling more than 30 stops on their annual spring tour. A visit to Chattanooga in early-April produced one of the most memorable moments in baseball history as a teenage girl named Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in succession.

A Chattanooga native, Mitchell learned the basics of the game from her father. As the story goes, she was taught by Hall of Fame pitcher Dazzy Vance (who was a neighbor) to throw a sinking fastball. Mitchell mastered the pitch and began playing for local teams. She caught the eye of Chattanooga Lookouts owner Joe Engel at an Atlanta training camp.

A savvy promoter, Engel was known to stage unusual publicity stunts to draw fans to the ballpark. He once traded a player for a turkey that he cooked and fed to sportswriters. Recognizing a golden opportunity, he signed Mitchell to a minor league contract and booked a pair of games against the Yankees.

In the wake of a rainout, the Lookouts faced the Yankees at Engel Stadium in front of 4,000 fans. After Earle Combs and Lyn Lary led off the game with a pair of hits, Chattanooga manager Bert Niehoff summoned Mitchell from the bullpen. Fans were cheering wildly as Ruth stepped up to the plate to face her. Mitchell’s windup consisted of a dramatic windmill motion and sidearm delivery. The Babe swung through two of her first three offerings. After failing to connect a second time, he asked the umpire to inspect the ball. Finding nothing amiss, the arbiter called for play to continue. Mitchell’s next pitch caught the outside corner for a called third strike. Ruth flung his bat in disgust and barked at the umpire. Gehrig’s at-bat was far less dramatic in comparison. He swung through three straight pitches and returned to the dugout without complaint.

After disposing of the Yankees’ primary offensive threats, Mitchell walked Tony Lazzeri and was promptly removed from the game. An ongoing debate as to whether or not her strikeouts were legitimate has never been definitively settled. Outfielder Ben Chapman, who was in the lineup that day, believed that Ruth and Gehrig were willing victims. Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Gomez was of a different mindset, insisting that Yankee manager Joe McCarthy would never have allowed such a stunt—even in a meaningless exhibition game. Years later, Engel said that Mitchell’s appearance was an elaborate hoax, but Mitchell denied that this was true until the time of her death in 1987.

Ruth and Gehrig never publicly admitted to intentionally striking out. In fact, Ruth seemed a bit peeved by the incident. After the game was over, he remarked to reporters, “I don’t know what’s going to happen if they let women in baseball. Of course they will never make good. Why? Because they are too delicate. It would kill them to play ball every day.” Commissioner Landis was inclined to agree, voiding Mitchell’s contract on the grounds that baseball was “too strenuous” for her. She continued to play for various barnstorming teams into the late-‘30s.

Thank you Jonathan for sharing such an interesting story.

Amazon / Goodreads

Lore of the Bambino by Jonathan Weeks

GENRE: Sports-History-Biography

BLURB

More than seventy years after his death, Babe Ruth continues to fascinate generations of fans. His exciting adventures on and off the field have become essential reading for students of baseball and pop culture. While most Ruth biographies are filled with mundane facts, Lore of the Bambino is the equivalent of a greatest hits compilation. Ruth’s extraordinary (and at times incredulous) tales carry readers on an enthralling journey through the life of the most celebrated sports figure of the twentieth century. All of the most popular anecdotes (such as the Babe’s alleged “called shot” in the 1932 World Series) are thoroughly covered along with many lesser known narratives.

EXCERPT

In the annals of baseball history, there has never been anyone quite like Babe Ruth. He transformed the game from a slow-moving battle of wits to an explosive exhibition of raw power. He could alter the final score with a single swing. When he retired in 1935, he owned dozens of statistical records. And his 714 homers were more than double the output of the next closest competitor.

Beyond the ballfield, Ruth was approachable, engaging, and jovial. He mingled with fans, autographed a myriad of baseballs, and befriended sportswriters. In an era when heroes were desperately needed, he fit the bill. He understood what he meant to people (especially children) and went out of his way to bring them joy.

As a role model, he was imperfect. He broke rules, got suspended, and struck out more than any other player of the era. But when the game was on the line, he almost always rose to the occasion, doing it in dramatic fashion. Over time, he became part god and part mortal—a mythical man-child who called his own shots and propelled baseballs farther than any player before or after him. He got more attention than U.S. Presidents and was just as newsworthy as a world war or economic depression. Everyone wanted a small piece of him. And everyone who met him had an interesting story to tell.

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Giveaway – When The Moon Shines by Lucia Ashta @XpressoTours

Posted on April 12, 2022 by fundinmental

When the Moon Shines
Lucia Ashta
(Six Shooter and a Shifter, #1)
Publication date: April 1st 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Western

Welcome to Traitor’s Den. I hope you like it here, because there’s no leaving the small western town that’s more theme park than authentic. Once you walk through the portal, you’re stuck as a boot heel in a half foot of mud.

I’ve never seen the outside world and I don’t care. The cannon-toting, trigger-happy residents here are like family, even if most of them are a few spoons short of a full set. Eventually, everyone grows on you, kinda like nail fungus. But the booze flows freely, and Tiger keeps me company. He’s as much a prisoner as I am.

I don’t figure there’s much point in wanting what you can never have. I’ll eventually accept one of my boyfriend’s marriage proposals and then keep policing the one-way town while I pop out the babies he wants. I was born knowing how to make chicken salad out of chicken shit.

At least I won’t be bored. Denners aren’t fans of following the rules, and the longer they’re in town, the worse they behave, thanks to the spell that keeps us all trapped here.

Just when I think I’ve made my peace with my lot, the portal pops open and two men shoot through, throwing punches before their feet even finish landing in my town. When they finally look at me, all I see is problems. Big, ginormous, entirely-too-handsome problems. And that’s before I even take into account the little “surprise” they brought through with them.

No one’s ever looked at me the way they do.

They aren’t the kind of men who back down after claiming something.

Or someone…

Did I say I had my life in Traitor’s Den all figured out? Hell, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

* A sexy fantasy western with growly shifters, sketchy vamps, peculiar mages and creatures, and one badass cowgirl sheriff. Within this small town, magic and gossip flow as freely as whiskey, and work and pleasure are nearly the same thing. Weird things happen on the regular in Traitor’s Den. Come and join the quirky family, where everyone’s packing. Oh, and don’t mind the tiger.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT

Rhett snorted. “Got a little cheering section, don’t you? Do you make them say that stuff? Part of your little welcome speech?”

At that, the crowd went eerily still and silent. All but Tiger and Jolene. Jolene whinnied her protest outside, but Tiger was my immediate concern. As he rose to his large, heavy paws, I placed a calming hand on his head and kept it there.

“It’s okay, Tiger. I got this.”

A low rumble rolled deep in his chest.

Rhett had the good sense to appear intimidated, though he hid it well. The tension in his jaw and the mild tic in one eye gave him away.

Zeke didn’t bother to hide his apprehension, sliding his chair back from the table to more clearly distance himself from the jackass with a stupid retort on the tip of his tongue for just about everything.

Keeping one hand on Tiger, I slid my drink to the side with the other, and leaned on the table, closing the distance between Rhett and me.

Up close, it was easier to make out that his eyes weren’t a flat forest green; flecks of yellow, blue, and brown made them so much more interesting. His face was beautiful and yet still masculine, his square jaw reinforcing the manly aspect of his features.

Too bad he was one of the biggest jerkwads to ever come through the portal.

Dropping my voice so it vibrated with all the danger I was purposefully injecting into it, with a cold smile, I said, “Here in Traitor’s Den, we’re all judged on our actions. Not where we came from, not what we did before, not who we used to know. Connections from the outside world won’t help you here. In here, you earn your reputation, fair and square. If I have a cheering squad, it’s because I put the needs of others first as much as I should. I give respect when it’s earned and treat everyone fairly. You treat others like shit, you’ll have me to deal with, and trust me, so far you’ve only seen my nice side. Mess with me or my Denners and I’ll come after you and make sure you never make that same mistake again.”

Author Bio:

Lucía Ashta is the Amazon top 20 bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal women’s fiction filled with wild magic, spicy romance, and quirky characters that make you snort-laugh.

A former attorney and architect, she’s an Argentinian-American who lives in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains with her husband and daughters.

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Giveaway – Even Better Than The Real Thing by Melanie Summers @XpressoTours @MJSummersBooks

Posted on April 9, 2022 by fundinmental

Even Better Than the Real Thing
Melanie Summers
Publication date: April 7th 2022
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

A swoon-worthy, buttery, uber-fun romance about a fake marriage between two people who couldn’t be more wrong for each other…

You know what’s great about applying for an art history PhD program at one of the world’s most prestigious universities? I get to study what I love and land my dream job at the end of it. You know what’s not so great? Being told I’ll only get accepted to the program if I gain access to my aloof, uppity, super grumpy boss’s private art collection.

As it turns out, said boss—a one Lord Hayden Stuart—needs to get married to inherit his late father’s estate and earldom. And if there’s one thing Hayden Stuart is never going to want for real—it’s a wife.

So, we strike up a deal: I marry him and go live at his castle, where I’ll have unlimited access to his collection, he gets his earldom, and when the estate is settled, we part ways forever.

Win-win, right?

Wrong.

I may have fooled myself into believing I wasn’t risking my heart, but there’s one huge problem: I’m definitely falling for him. He’s not just another man. He’s THE man—an irresistibly good-looking, in-control, expensive-suit-wearing man who makes all the other men look like little boys. And the more time I spend with him pretending to be his wife, the more desperate I become to believe the lie.

But he’s never going to fall for some lowly PhD student. So what if at the wedding he looked at me as if I’m the only woman in the world, and kissed me like he’s shipping off to war in the morning? It doesn’t mean anything.

Or does it?

Because the more we’re together, the more I realize that, even though we’re from totally different worlds, we have a lot more in common than I ever could have imagined.

Now all I have to do is convince him he really does want a wife…

*** Even Better Than the Real Thing is a standalone romance with a little extra spice than a regular Melanie Summers book. ***

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Finally, Hayden opens his mouth. “I’m not sad he’s dead, you know.”

“I know,” I tell him, squeezing his hand.

“I hated him. He was a complete bastard.”

“I know.”

He looks down at me with tears in his eyes. “Then can you please tell me why the hell I’m so sad right now?”

A lump forms in my throat. “I think you’re grieving the father you should have had.”

Nodding, he sniffs, clears his throat, and says, “How stupid is that? I’m a grown man, for God’s sake.”

“But you used to be a little kid and he needed a dad.”

His shoulders crumple and he lets out a couple of sobs. Letting go of his hand, I wrap my arm around him and pull him close, resting his head on my shoulder and dropping a kiss on his head. I have no idea how long we stay like this, but by the time he’s done, my shoulder aches from the weight of him, and I’m absolutely terrified that I’ve fallen completely in love with him.

Author Bio:

Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.

Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.

In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally – then she’ll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for ‘K’ Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn’t require makeup and/or nylons).

Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she’s not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken ‘from above’. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something–more like just staying until they turn the lights off.

She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Giveaway – Mirrors and Mysteries by Christine Bauer @CB_Bauer @XpressoTours

Posted on April 8, 2022 by fundinmental

Mirrors and Mysteries
Christina Bauer
(Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, #9)
Publication date: March 24th 2022
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Rapunzel meets Jane Eyre in the epic conclusion of this fairy tale romance!

Grayson Eyre has left her old life behind. She’s no longer stuck serving Lady R, a sadistic Rapunzel from the Lowood clan of elves. Instead, Grayson now teaches at the Thornfield home for shifter orphans. Even better, her boss is none other than the sexy alpha, Dex. It’s all good until a mysterious witch, Jocasta, appears in a nearby tower, demanding that Dex and Grayson discover the true nature of all Rapunzels. If not, Lady R will return to claim Grayson… and Thornfield will be wiped out by the evil Prism Master. Can Dex and Grayson discover the truth in time? And what will it mean for their growing attraction?

Secrets are revealed and feelings explored in this epic conclusion to the story of Dex and Grayson!

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum
Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves and Roses
2. Moonlight and Midtown
3. Shifters and Glyphs
4. Slippers and Thieves
5. Bandits and Ball Gowns
6. Fire and Cinder
7. Fairies and Frosting
8. Towers and Tithes
9. Mirrors and Mysteries
10. Love and Ether

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

MIRRORS AND MYSTERIES Excerpt #3

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #9

DEX

The best part about being a wolf shifter? Kicking ass.

Clink, clink…

I know that sound.Two mirror guards are on their way.

My home territory sits beside the Prism Master’s land. Talk about unlucky. The Prism Master’s a sadistic freak who wants more room at any cost. Wulfhelm is his prime target. The Prism Master’s guards regularly patrol our joint boundary, looking for weaknesses.

Although I’m blinded by a spell, I can still picture the scene perfectly. The mirror guards are both slender and pale with high cheekbones and long blonde hair. They’ll wear thin leather armor that’s painted to look like silver. Compared to the elves, I’m muscular and broad-shouldered with rough features. My long black hair is tied back with a scrap of leather. I wear human-style clothes, namely jeans and a dark Henley.

The two guards move closer. I’m ready for the worst, but I hope for the best. Out of all the Prism Master’s forces, there’s one mirror guard I trust: Captain Zoya. If I’m lucky, she’ll be on this patrol.

“Looketh over there!” calls the first guard. It’s a male voice. Not Zoya.

“An intruder doth enter our midst!” announces the second guard. This one’s a she-elf, but not the Captain.

Guess my luck isn’t changing yet. These two are typical mirror guards, which is to say, pompous idiots.

“Who disturbs my fellow guard and I?” asks the male warrior.

I stile the urge to groan. “It’s my fellow guard and me,” I clarify. “Not my fellow guard and I.”

If my correction affects the guards, they don’t show it. “Do mine eyes regardereth the Wulfhelm Alpha?” asks the female slowly.

I can’t help it. “Regardereth isn’t a word.”

There’s the clinking of armor followed by a whoosh. Something’s being thrown at me. Even without eyesight, I know the toss is too wide to make an impact. No need to dodge.

“Perhaps yon dog is blind,” says the male guard. “He didst not twitch when I tossed a stone.”

“Only because thy throw sucketh,” I explain.

The clink of armor grows louder as the pair steps closer. “Eureka!” That’s the female guard. “I doth detect some blinderyness in yon mongrel’s irises.”

This time, there’s no stifling. I all-out groan. “Blinderyness is not a word.”

“We’re elves,” calls the male guard. “When we say it, it becometh part of the jargon.”

“I think you mean lexicon.” I shake my head. “Look, I was raised by wolves and I know this stuff.”

“Silence!” calls the male guard. When he next speaks, it’s in a tone that he thinks I cannot hear. “Shall we attacketh him? What dost thou thinketh?”

I raise my hand. “I’d walk awayeth. Blind or not, I can defend myself quite well.”

“How did he hear you?” whispers the female.

I point to my face. “Wolf shifter.”

–End of Excerpt–

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Author Bio:

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates

Blog / Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon / Instagram / LinkedIn

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Giveaway – My Forever by Tiffany Patterson @TiffanyPWrites @XpressoTours

Posted on April 8, 2022 by fundinmental

My Forever
Tiffany Patterson
(Townsends of Texas, #3)
Publication date: January 7th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Savannah

I was only eighteen years old when I thought I had found my happily ever after.

After the tragic death of my mother, I married the love of my life, Ace Townsend.

Yes, we were young and idealistic, but we had it all figured out. He was going to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force. I would go to medical school to become a doctor for people who couldn’t afford healthcare. People like my mother.

But, like everything else in my life, that dream fell apart when I realized Ace was better off without me.
So I left.

Sixteen years later, I’m forced to return to Harlington, Texas. Not for my sake, but to save the one person in my life who matters to me the most.

Even if it means confronting my estranged husband and abiding by his stipulation to move in with him temporarily. If that’s what it takes for him to sign the divorce papers so that I can receive my inheritance and save an innocent life, I’ll do it.

I just have to keep my heart locked away for the next six months.

That’s proving to be easier said than done.

My Forever is an interracial romance (BWWM) and is book three in the Townsends of Texas series. This book contains mature, steamy love scenes. Happily Ever After is guaranteed.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT

It suddenly felt as if the entire room stopped to turn and look in my direction.

Slowly, I let my gaze travel over the rest of the room. That was when I realized this wasn’t any ordinary night out at the bar. The streamers and signs congratulating Lena Clarkson on her album’s success hung in the distance.

I blinked, and Lena Clarkson herself stood before me. I knew her music well and was a big fan. Under any ordinary circumstance, I would’ve been elated to meet her.

This wasn’t an ordinary situation.

I could feel Gabriel’s eyes on me, but even his glare wasn’t what had my heart pounding and my blood pressure rising.

I could feel his brother nearby. Ace was somewhere in the room. The way the hairs on my arms and neck stood up and the zap of electricity in my stomach were my indications.

It astounded me that, even after all of these years, I could still feel him whenever we were in the same room.

I wouldn’t allow myself to look around to search for him. No matter how much I wanted to see his face.

I kept my gaze on Lena.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was a party.” I paused, forcing myself to remember why I was standing there in the first place.

Aiden. My subconscious whispered to me, reminding me. I blinked. “I-I just need some help.” I didn’t know why I phrased it that way. I meant to ask for a phone.

But before I could correct myself, Lena moved closer, her face taking on a concerned expression. “Hi, it’s not a problem. Are you from around here?” she asked. “What’s your name?”

I opened my mouth to answer but got interrupted.

“Savannah.” Ace’s voice pierced through the crowd and music. He pushed past his younger brother and Lena, barreling down on me. “She’s my wife.”

My breathing halted altogether. The edge in his tone was so cold it could’ve iced over a Texas summer.

Author Bio:

I have always been fascinated by storytelling, books, and reading. After years of diving in between the pages of one romance book after another, I decided to try my hand at writing. I haven’t looked back since. I enjoy bringing my readers stories of hope, perseverance, and most importantly, love. When I’m not writing you can find me enjoying time with friends, hiking, or daydreaming about my next novel.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

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Giveaway – Shelter From Our Secrets, Silence & Shame by Rebecca L Brown @GoddessFish

Posted on April 7, 2022 by fundinmental

I love book covers and I love the cover for Shelter From Our Secrets, Silence & Shame. I am delighted to have Rebecca Brown visiting fundinmental to share her own thoughts on the cover.

Topic: Discuss your cover — how it came to be, what it represents, what you love or don’t love about it, etc. Anything you’d like to share about it.

I’m excited to be part of this Fundinmental blog tour, and I love that I can take this opportunity to talk about my book’s cover. I know that we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but I wanted my book’s cover to catch people’s attention and hopefully draw them to it and start reading.

I took the photograph myself in May 2021 when I was out in my kayak on Lake Huron, where I am lucky to live and work as a mental health clinician. I need to find ways to burn off and let go of the difficult stories that I collect in my day. One of my favourite ways to release the stress is to paddle into the sunset and feel the tension release from my body. I begin my book with this prologue:

I am floating.

On the water

calm

clear

soft

quiet.

Dusk,

the sun is setting.

The sky will hold light

for another half an hour

or so.

The beauty is often just after the sun sinks into the water,
then the colours are spectacular.

Or just softer.

It’s been a long day;

hard

heavy

yet healing.

I have no words left in me.

I cannot talk

or listen anymore.

I need quiet

peace

calm

presence.

I have found the shelter that I seek today

on the open water.

My kayak is my shelter this day.

I will paddle until I physically feel the release in my body.

I will watch the sun set until I find the peace in my soul.

I hope to sleep tonight. 

Rebuild my resilience.

I will wake and do it all again.

I may need to seek shelter differently tomorrow

Or not.

Knowing that I must still seek shelter sometimes,

makes it safe for me to continue in this work that I love.

Later in the book, I share a chapter which digs further into why this particular photograph means so much to me.

Chapter Fourteen: Spring 2021

I couldn’t wait to get my little yellow kayak in the water. It had been three years since I moved to the shores of the Great Lake Huron. We live in a home that has a story of its own (more on this to come), and it was built to look out at the beautiful water, which is a gift we cherish every day. The sunsets have been called among the most beautiful in the world, and the water itself changes from day to day: from calm, like glass, to rough and choppy. We’ve referred to it as both Lake Atlantic and the Pond Lake, all within twenty-four hours. The soft sand and miles of beach are what draw people from afar, but what makes it the most magnificent sight always is its colour. The water looks almost tropical. It can resemble a Caribbean turquoise blue, so soft that it takes your breath away. Looking at the colour of this beautiful water is a moment of awe that I treasure every day.

We’ve had a warm, mild spring, and this year feeling confined to the house, working from home, unable to see people in person, I have been trying to spend even more time outdoors in nature and, as often as possible, down at the water.

On May 17, our temperature rose to twenty degrees Celsius (68 F), and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. After dinner, I pulled my little yellow kayak out from under the deck where it had been stored all winter. I hosed it off to get rid of any spiders and dirt that had been hiding there all winter, and within half an hour had it in the water.

Due to the State of Emergency and lockdown in our area, there was virtually no one in the cottages that dot the shoreline of our secluded little bay. I was able to paddle in silence for an hour. The sun was high in the blue sky when I started, and once I went as far as I needed to, I let my paddles rest, pulled out my phone, and took a couple of photos to celebrate the moment. I floated and rested and let the warmth of the sun sink deep into my skin, and I meditated silently for a few minutes, noticing the slightest movement of the calm water swaying my boat.

It was both a moment of happiness and awe that I was so grateful for.

Then I turned my little yellow Pelican kayak in the direction I had come and started to paddle slowly and rhythmically back home. My cup of happiness was full.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my dog beside my bed telling me the sun was up. I went downstairs with her, my other dog, and two cats, and while I let all the animals out into the back yard, I poured myself a cup of coffee and cued up a guided mindfulness meditation. I let the small herd back inside and then made my way to my comfy chair in my office to practice ten minutes of mindfulness. The meditation I listened to this day was on Headspace.com, one of my favourite mindfulness apps. I easily slipped away with the narrator’s voice as she guided me through a visualization about balance, using the visual of a blue sky as a focal point.

This image of a blue sky is often one used in guided mindfulness meditations, and it’s a lovely image to think about. We can visualize the blue sky as something we always have access to; it’s the clear, calm, uncluttered mind, but it can be buried beneath our busy, racing thoughts, or the clouds. If we visualize clearing away the thoughts/clouds by intentionally focussing on our breath for a few minutes, the clouds gently float away to reveal the beautiful, calm, blue sky that is always somewhere in the background of our minds. The meditation suggested visualizing a photograph of a beautiful blue sky to help enhance this visualization, so I instantly visualized the beautiful blue sky I had experienced just the evening before when I was out in my kayak.

I opened my phone and turned to the photo I had taken just twelve hours earlier, out on the water on my kayak, with the beautiful blue sky in the background.

I knew instantly that I this photograph held so much meaning, which is why I chose it for my book cover.

Shelter from Our Secrets, Silence, and Shame: How Our Stories Can Keep Us Stuck or Set Us Free by Rebecca L. Brown, MSW, RSW

GENRE: SELF-HELP / Personal Growth / Self-Esteem

BLURB

As a mental health clinician, Rebecca Brown has been a safe place for many to seek shelter from their secrets, silence and shame. Inspired to finally slow down, stop running from herself and share her own story, she found ways to seek and savour her own shelter.

Rebecca’s personal journey takes us through sadness, tragedy, self-sabotage, the impossible pursuit of perfection, distorted thinking and eating, engaging with her shadow self, divorce, and numbing with alcohol, all in an attempt to avoid the story needing to be shared.

Dispelling the limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves can unlock our limitless potential to reach goals we never dared to dream. From the Boston Marathon to working with horses, Rebecca sets out to prove to herself that anything is possible when you don’t listen to the negative stories you tell yourself.

Everyone has a story. We become who we are because of what has happened to us, and because of the stories we tell ourselves. But do our stories continue to serve us well, or keep us stuck? Are our stories fact or fiction? Is it time to rewrite the versions we have been telling ourselves?

Shelter provides strategies to help reframe the thinking patterns we have developed, and offers tools to recognize when we are suffering from our own thoughts, feelings and actions. Resilience-building techniques are woven through the pages, and encouragement for the lifelong journey of collecting moments of awe and happiness.

Seeking and reading Shelter is a gift of self-compassion and self-discovery. Rebecca’s hope is that it will be read with a highlighter in hand, pages folded down, re-read, recommended to a friend, and used as a guide to start sharing our own stories with those we love.

We may not have written our beginnings, but we have the ability to write every word from this point forward and just imagine where our stories can take us when we are free of secrets, silence and shame.

EXCERPT

I give my talk.

The room erupts in applause.

A dozen people line up to thank me or say a few words at the end of my session.

One man in particular stands out.

He is well over six feet tall and wearing a full Texas sheriff uniform.

He has greying hair and is likely close to the end of his career.

He pumps my hand as he shakes it, almost leaving it numb.

He thanks me for my talk. “Great stuff,” he says.

And then he hands me his business card.

But it’s not quite a business card.

It’s a photo card, like a baseball card, or a kid’s hockey card, with the player’s name, position, and smiling face as they stand posed to take a shot in their team uniform.

Only this is of a man on a black horse.

More precisely, it’s this man, a Texas sheriff on his beautiful black police horse.

“I thought you’d like to have this,” he says. “My horse is Canadian, like you.” And then he says something that has stayed with me, because he couldn’t be more right: “Everyone in this business should have a good horse!”

He meant the business of trauma.

I couldn’t have agreed more.

I still have his “business card.”

Two years later, I went back to Texas to teach a three-day workshop on resilience to youth detention workers. I tried to look up my Texas sheriff, but he had retired. I hope he’s finding more time to enjoy his good horse. I’ve shared the story of our brief encounter and his photo card with many police officers over the years. And every one of them agrees: horses can heal humans. I’ve found shelter with horses. Sometimes in the saddle, but mostly not. My story will get there. Eventually.

I finished my keynote address and spent the rest of the day at the conference on Youth in the Justice System. People stopped me in the halls of the hotel, telling me how much they enjoyed my talk. Later that evening, I went for a run.

And then I drank a bottle of wine and went to bed.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

REBECCA BROWN is a clinical social worker with over 35 years in practice ranging from medical social work, childhood trauma, vicarious trauma for first responders, international psychological first aid, and Equine Assisted Therapy. She is honoured to hold a faculty appointment with the Department of Family Medicine at Western University in London, Ontario. She teaches extensively on the topics of trauma and resilience and has delivered keynote presentations throughout North America. She shares her life and career with her husband, a family physician and trailblazer in the field of Lifestyle Medicine. Together they live and work on the shores of the Great Lake Huron, where they seek and share shelter with their six adult children, four grandchildren, extended family and friends, two dogs, two cats and one horse.

Connect with Rebecca L. Brown

WEBSITE https://rebeccabrown.ca/
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/rebeccabrown.ca/
GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22150115.Rebecca_L_Brown

Get your copy of Shelter

AMAZON.COM https://amzn.to/3JTnKAj
AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228859417
INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/shelter-from-our-secrets-silence/9780228859420-item.html
BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shelter-from-our-secrets-silence-and-shame-msw-rsw-brown/1140865116
SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1125515

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Giveaway – Savage City by L Penelope @leslyepenelope @XpressoTours

Posted on April 6, 2022 by fundinmental

Savage City
L. Penelope
(The Bliss Wars, #1)
Publication date: March 31st 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

For Talia, death is only the beginning of survival…

When a tragic accident cuts my lonely life short, instead of heaven or hell, I’m stolen away to a terrifying city of warring shifter clans—the Nimali and the Fai. The Nimali mistake me for their missing princess. Her father, the dragon king, is identical to my own. But in this world, he dotes on me with the love and affection I always craved. And in a land with no tolerance for outsiders, feigning amnesia and impersonating shifter royalty may be the only way to survive.

For Ryin, falling in love is the worst kind of betrayal…

As a Fai warrior in captivity, I’m forced to serve my enemy even as I plot their destruction. The lost princess returned much changed, now the heat between us crackles irresistibly. While helping her heal using my magical talents, I begin to question what I thought I knew about the Nimali. She remains as forbidden as ever, but she also might be the key to freedom for me and my people.

Caught between two enemy factions balancing on the knife-blade of annihilation, our lies are the only thing keeping us alive, but they just might be our undoing.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

On top of the wall, silence reigns as the soldiers wait for word. We all stare toward the ground, anticipation a dark cloud suspended over us as sharp eyes scan the gloom for either a member of the scouting team that went out an hour ago or a Revoker, red eyes flashing and fangs covered in gristle and blood.

The first person who runs into view is tall and familiar and very much Nimali. His armor is blood spattered, but he appears uninjured. Others sigh audibly in relief, but my jaw tightens. Prince Shad. I wouldn’t have minded if he’d been grievously injured. My daimon silently chastises me for the unkindness, but I can’t help it. There are only two Nimali men who could have killed Dove, and he’s one of them. Until I’m certain it wasn’t him, I have to act like it was.

A bear and a lion are close behind him—part of the prince’s honor guard. The bear’s gait is hampered by a pronounced limp, though she still eats up the ground with long strides. Then my focus returns to the prince. He’s carrying something—someone—over his shoulder like a sack of beans. His bounding steps cross the distance easily, and then he’s at the rope ladder a soldier threw down. He climbs it with one arm while holding what I can see now is an injured woman.

Blood pours down her back from gashes that I’m sure were made by a Revoker’s claws. Her clothing is odd. A short, loose dress, oddly patterned and flimsy—I’ve never seen anything like it before, not on a Nimali or a Fai. Why anyone would go into No Man’s Land without battle armor is a mystery, but the woman is also barefoot. Begrudging respect bubbles up from my chest for the way the prince is able to negotiate the climb with that much dead weight, carried awkwardly. He could have shifted into his other form and flown up, but his own claws might have further injured her. And he is definitely treating her like something special.

The reason becomes clear when he finally gets to the top and one of the soldiers reaches out to help him with his burden. Prince Shad shakes his head and gently lays the woman down on her side, revealing her face.

I’m too far away to see at first, but when the soldiers in front of me gasp and immediately kneel, I get a glimpse. Princess Celena lies there, bloodied and battered. Her rich, chestnut skin is ashen, taking on an almost gray pallor. I’m frozen in place for a moment viewing her small form, her strange, tattered clothing, the odd way she’s braided her hair.

Then I’m shoved hard from behind, stumbling forward through the kneeling men and women.

“Where is the healer?” Prince Shad roars, but I’m already there, crouching down beside the princess. My daimon joins me seconds later, eager to fill me with its essence and lend me its healing power.

Celena’s back is ravaged, the wounds already bubbling with the poison from the Revoker’s talons. They look fresh, so it’s not too late to heal them if I’m quick about it. I hold out my hands and close my eyes, letting my daimon fully take over. Its energy flows through me, using my physical body as a conduit for its power.

Through my daimon, I sense the damage, the torn flesh and the toxins that have already entered her bloodstream. The healing energy pulls the poison out, a sticky black substance that leaks onto the stone of the wall. The flesh, layers of muscle and skin, is knit back together until there isn’t so much as a scar left. I silently thank my daimon and it retreats. Then I open my eyes.

Prince Shad is staring down at his sister. When the blue light of my power retreats, his dark eyes flick up to mine.

“I removed the poison,” I tell him.

“All of it?” I nod. His lips flatten into a grim line. “We’re taking her back to the Citadel. Come with me; the king will want to be sure.”

Author Bio:

L. Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal romance. Equally left and right-brained, she studied filmmaking and computer science in college and sometimes dreams in HTML. After living on both coasts, she settled in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents. Sign up for new release information and giveaways on her website: http://www.lpenelope.com.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub

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Giveaway – The Best Friend’s Guide To Taking Risks by Kadie Scott & Nicole Flockton @AOwenBooks @XpressoTours

Posted on April 6, 2022 by fundinmental

The Best Friend’s Guide to Taking Risks
Kadie Scott & Nicole Flockton
Publication date: April 4th 2022
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

All it takes is one weekend…

Everyone knows that the biggest risk you can take with your best friend is to cross a certain line.

When it comes to relationships, Hunter Lancing is not a risk taker. Between his parents’ terrible divorce and his own bad decisions, he’s been burned. Computers make more sense to him. Everything has a rule. Everything is defined. Like his computers, his best friend is defined, constant, and comes with rules he won’t break.

Part-time children’s party princess Natalie Morgan dances to the beat of a drum no one else can hear. The only person who truly gets her and is never scared off by her sometimes zany ideas is Hunter. But she has a big problem. Natalie keeps having all these…feelings…for her bestie.

But on a weekend getaway, a game of risky dares and one-upmanship that was supposed to just be for laughs may end up with both of them crossing the friend zone line.

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

—

EXCERPT:

“Please be home,” she half-pleaded, half-muttered.

She glanced behind her. Checking the shadows. Not that she needed to. Her best friend since forever lived in the posh part of Sacramento thanks to his innovative tech company and savvy business mind. The man always had been a geek to his core, and it had paid off. In millions.

She brushed at a stray tear rolling down her cheek with an impatient hand. Holding them in during the party had been an act of sheer valor, not wanting the kids to get a water-logged princess. Besides crying generally wasn’t her thing. But her business was everything to her. She loved what she did, and that woman…

“Come on Hunter.” She knocked again, a little more frantically.

Slipping her phone from her purse, she scrolled to the contact labeled “Lancelot”—a play on his last name—and the phone started ringing as she knocked again. If he didn’t answer, she’d leave.

“’Lo?” A sleepy voice came over the line with a grumble.

She blew out a breath in sharp relief. “Let me in.”

“Nat? Call me at a human hour.”

“I’m at your door.”

Pause. No doubt his mind taking a second to catch up to her words. “Of course you are.”

“It’s only eight o’clock,” she pointed out dryly. “On a Saturday night.”

And he should be surprised dammit. Natalie wasn’t a party girl by any stretch of the imagination—or at least not the adult kind. Her sister Lexie, on the other hand, could give Studio 54 in the seventies lessons on how to party. All in the name of research for her podcast on dating, she claimed. But 8pm was hardly party time anyway.

“I pulled an all nighter working on code a friend asked me to review. I only just fell asleep. Hunter grumbled as the sound of echoing footsteps on his wooden stairs filtered through the phone. Then a series of beeps—no doubt the alarm—followed by several clicks of locks. She hung up as he cracked the massive metal door open, paused, then swung it wider, his dark brown gaze taking in every inch of her.

“Let me in. Don’t you recognize a damsel in distress when you see one?”

“Sorry.” He hurriedly stepped back, closing and locking the door behind her. After an owlish blink, he tipped his head. “Your tiara’s crooked.”

She started to lift a hand to right it only to stop herself with a scowl. “Yours would be too, if you went through what I did tonight.”

Tonight definitely deserved a title. Party-gate? Abandoned-princess-gate? Never-trust-a-knight-to-show-up-when-he’s-needed-gate?

Thick eyebrows winged high, and was that a twitch to his lips? It disappeared as his gaze slid down her body again, then back up to land on her probably tear-and-mascara-streaked face, and a frown formed between his brows.

Natalie crossed her arms, trying to hold in body warmth, but that only served to plump her breasts over the top of her corset. They were practically to her chin, so she dropped her arms again.

“You didn’t bring a jacket?” he asked.

“I accidentally left the matching fur stole at the party I just finished,” she tossed over her shoulder. She might just never get it back. Facing that mom again was not high on her To Do list about now.

“You seriously have a matching fur stole?”

Hunter flipped on the hall light and Natalie blinked rapidly, but not at the harsher lighting. No, what was setting her retinas on fire was the sight of Hunter in a pair of low-slung black pajama pants and no shirt.

Holy hell, her BFF had muscles.

Her gaze was glued to the eight pack – yes eight – of muscles ridging his stomach. When the hell did he get those?

How long as it been since I’ve seen him without a shirt?

Author Bio:

Award-winning contemporary romance author Kadie Scott grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) and an MBA. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it. Kadie also writes sweet contemporary romance as Kristen McKanagh, and award-winning paranormal and YA/NA fantasy romance as Abigail Owen. No matter the genre, she loves to write happily-ever-afters that shine with home, heart, and humor. Kadie currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero husband and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.

Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

—

USA Today Bestselling author Nicole Flockton writes sexy contemporary romances, seducing you one kiss at a time as you turn the pages. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight to find their true love.

On her first school report her teacher noted “Nicole likes to tell her own stories”. It wasn’t until after the birth of her first child and after having fun on a romance community forum that she finally decided to take the plunge and write a book.

Apart from writing Nicole is busy looking after her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, and two fabulous kids. She also enjoys watching sports and, of course, reading.

Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Giveaway – Spider Green Series by Norm Harris @GoddessFish

Posted on April 4, 2022 by fundinmental

Spider Green Series by Norm Harris

GENRE: Mystery/Thriller Legal Military

I love the cover for Fruit of the Poisonous Tree by Norm Harris. And, sometimes the characters are to die for, so let’s check out what Norm has in store for us.

* Fierce Female Lead Characters: How to Create Strong Role Models in fiction.

I will begin with a recent review from the second book in the Spider Green Mystery Thriller Series. Arid Sea. The review validates in my mind that I am on the right track with regards to the craft of creating strong, if not fierce, women.

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong female Protagonist.

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2022

This was my first Spider Green mystery thriller. She has many names. I enjoy reading a tale about a strong woman. This one has an equally powerful sister. Yes, there are charming and evil men in their lives. An intriguing and interesting story that kept me turning the pages. I am eager to read more of her adventures. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Fierce females can be found easily in the movies. The Marvel series alone has many of the badass ladies. And not to forget Wonder Woman. Over the top ladies, the characters in our stories do not have to be extraordinary to be authoritative, credible, or notable.

It may be easier for me, a man, to write fierce women because I add male traits to their fiber. I cannot see the world as a woman does, so I rely on editors to put my ladies in the proper light. I will list each character from my four books Spider Green Mystery Thriller Series, with a bio. It may help to understand how this was done. Keep in mind that all of these characters are military females. A male-dominated career choice.

Faydra Green is a Navy lawyer, a JAG, of Judge Advocate General. Her central conflict is that her dad was President of the United States. Fay wonders if any of her achievements were of her own making or if those doors opened to her because of her celbrity status? She proves to be not only intelligent but fearless as well. The female version of James Bond or Clancy’s Jack Ryan. Not superhuman like a superhero, but the no surrender desire is there.

JP is Faydra’s half-sister. Her half ethnicity is native American. J.P. is smart, she is witty, but she has low self-esteem. It is up to her sister to hold up J.P.’s sense of self-worth. Faydra knows it, and the reader can see it as well. J.P. is tall, a kickboxer, and would like to be a fighter pilot.

Irishka is fierce simply because she is a Russian espionage agent.

Yet, when I asked the editor which her favorite series character was, she said Irishka is the most interesting in her opinion. Irishka is a no-nonsense woman who will do what she has to do, including assassination, if it serves to realize her goal.

Katrinka is Irishka’s twenty-three-year-old softer protege. She is a spy who began her career out of necessity at age thirteen. This in itself served to shape Katrinka’s mental and physical fortitude.

Azrael is a twenty-three-year-old Latino from East LA. And she is a Marine. By nature, Marines are exemplary of mental and physical strength. Where Azrael grew up sets the stage for her strong female bearing.

When I place these fierce women into their respective scenes they have what is required to accomplish goals that the average man, or woman, would have difficult if not impossible to complete.

All fierce women have to be qualified in the storyline you have set up for them to be believable. For example, Faydra is put in a scene where she must scuba dive on a dangerous op with a SEAL team. As a set up earlier in the story, the reader is told of her passion for scuba diving, so when it comes time for her to dive with the SEALs, we know she has the skill. Still, she must find the courage to complete the mission.

As I write these scenes, I recall what may well be the single greatest and fierce strength in any female animal. The mother protecting her young. Find that fierceness and then place it into the heart of your powerful female character. If you have read your female-centered scene and if she brings a tear to your eye or if you feel proud of her accomplishment, you have created the character you set out to create.

As a guide, I recommend studying Faydra, who you will find in all four books. J.P. in books one and two. Irishka and Katrinka in books three and four. Or Azrael, the Marine, in book four. I assure you these are fierce women who all have a feminine side.

This is an example of two strong women having a fierce exchange from Fruit of a Poisonous Tree. Senator de la Croix has ordered “Spider” Green to meet with her. To set this up de la Croix wishes to cover up the death Green is investigating. Under normal circumstances, one would expect a military officer to be submissive to a powerful U.S. Senator. Yet Fadra is a fierce warrior, so she deals with the Senator in her own way.

“Seaman Rodman’s death, while unfortunate,” de la Croix said, “was accidental and nothin’ more.”

So, the old bat knew all about this and had decided that an accident was what it was.

“You’re a bright woman,” de la Croix continued. “In fact, I’ve heard that you’re on a fast track to becomin’ one of the youngest lady admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy. I would hate for your illustrious career path to take an unfortunate wrong turn somewhere along the way.”

Threaten me!? A basic white girl who has not had her Starbucks fix today!? She nodded and remained silent. She had not liked de la Croix from the first time she met her. She enjoyed her even less now. Ah, what the hell, may as well fire one across the old scow’s bow. “Senator de la Croix, career path or no, I must investigate this incident, regardless of whose toes I may step on.” Something her dad would have said at a time like this.

Her impertinent response quickly drew the ire of de la Croix. Her nostrils flared; her eyebrows arched. “You listen to me, little lady, and you listen well.” Her open palm smacked the surface of the conference table as she demonstratively drove her point home.

This woman comes to anger quickly. Maybe this is where she bellows, “Off with her head.” Something the Queen of Hearts would have said at a time like this.

“I don’t need to hear of your platitudes on duty to God and country. I know duty. I began servin’ your country while you were still in diapers, Missy.”

One more time with this little lady/Missy bull crap and de la Croix will be missin’ her own damn head, Fay thought. At times, it is hard to remain respectful with one whom you have so much disrespect for.

Thanks so much for diving into the guest post and sharing your thoughts, Norm.

BLURBS

FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE (Book One):

A female lawyer must prove a war hero’s innocence. Navy SEALs hijack a Russian warship to stop a North Korean missile crisis.

“A great read with a stunning finish.” – Advocate, Narayan. “Picturing Justice,” published by the Faculty of Law, University of San Francisco.

Every now and again, a unique story comes our way, a story unlike any we may have read before. Such is “Fruit of the Poisonous Tree,” author Norm Harris’s first critically acclaimed mystery/thriller. The story’s focal point is Faydra “Spider” Green, a dedicated Navy lawyer who has lived her life in the shadows of a great and powerful man: her father, former President of the United States William Green. Green cannot heal the wound in his relationship with his daughter. His former power and influence curse Faydra and cause her to wonder if her accomplishments were her own doing.

Faydra is anxious and excited as she undertakes her first homicide investigation: the murder of a Navy SEAL. She reasons a successful investigation will provide her the opportunity to validate her sense of self-worth. Thanks to her remarkable deductive abilities, Faydra soon realizes the accused man, a Special Ops Marine war hero, may be innocent and the Navy is using her as a pawn in a complex cover-up.

“A sharp, crackling military thriller…, Norm Harris’s ‘Fruit of the Poisonous Tree’ offers a labyrinth of military cover-ups, surprise twists, and insider techno knowledge. Good, exciting, inventive read.” – Wendell Wellman, actor, producer, and screenwriter for Clint Eastwood’s “Firefox” and Producer of “Top Hat,” “Sail Away”, and “House in the Canyon.”

Meanwhile, a seasoned Navy Sea Captain, Egan Fletcher, a single parent, struggles to balance his Navy career with raising a son. When the Navy purposefully pairs him with Faydra in a meeting, the two Navy officers embark on an adrenaline-pumping adventure. It is a top-secret mission-impossible taking them around the world in an attempt to avert a catastrophic act of terrorism in the form of a biological war.

“Norm Harris’s book grabs the reader with its first sentence and holds the reader throughout with its fast-paced action. Dialogue is always the hardest to write, but Harris has captured the art and, with his writing, keeps the reader turning pages. His ability to heighten the intrigue keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat throughout the story. Strongly recommend the book…” – CAPT David E. Meadows, US Navy, author of numerous (15) military thrillers, such as “Sixth Fleet,” “Seawolf,” and “Tomcat.”

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Washington State’s Puget Sound and the mystique of East Asia, Fadra’s story revolves around a woman who appears to be as pure as the driven snow—yet, she is driven by an insatiable need to complete any assignment, no matter how dangerous. Along the way, she transforms into a symbol of hope, perseverance, and a woman’s ability to overcome life-threatening events.

“This story is complex and well crafted, and you’ll immediately invest your emotions in these vivid characters. The dialogue is some of the freshest I’ve encountered in some time…. As a reader, and as a novelist myself, and now as a fan, my hat goes off to this guy. A wonderful debut.” – Larry Brooks, critically acclaimed author of psychological thrillers (including “Darkness Bound,” “Pressure Points,” “Serpents Dance,” and others), in addition to his work as a freelance writer and writing instructor.

The first novel, “Fruit of the Poisonous Tree,” begins the riveting Spider Green Mystery Thriller series. If you enjoy the razor-sharp dialogue, strong-willed people, twists, and high-octane action, then “Spider” Green, the intrepid female sleuth and unpretentious hero in this taut, fast-paced adventure, will appeal to you.

EXCERPT

Spider Green Series by Norm Harris

Mystery/Thriller Legal Military

Fay turned and descended the ladder to the waiting boat. She dug deep into her soul to gather what courage she now carried with her to the dark and foreboding place known to all seafarers as “Davy Jones’ Locker.”

The frigid night air slapped her face as the small boat raced across the flat surface of the night water; sea spray soaked her face and hands. She squinted and fixed her gaze on the wall of black now standing before her. I’m going to need severe beauty salon time when I get back to civilization, she thought.

Shortly after, the boat arrived at the prescribed dive location. The dive team donned their facemasks and tested their gear—then, one by one, the divers rolled backward from the boat and into the water. Fay was last to leave the safety of the small boat.

The cold salt water stung her skin momentarily, until the thin layer of water between her skin and her wetsuit warmed to a tolerable temperature. She bobbed on the surface for a moment, then flicked on her underwater torch. Fay then slipped beneath the water’s surface and began her descent toward the bottom.

The wreck was ninety feet below. The Carr came to rest upright on the edge of a reef. The ship had not completely settled and was subject to shifting with each tide change. All good reasons for her to exercise extreme caution.

Nothing could have prepared Fay for the frightening feeling she experienced as she struggled to see and gain some sense of direction. She could tell she was sinking, but only because the luminous dial of her depth gauge so indicated. Following the eerie flickering lights of the three torches preceding her, she suppressed her fear and the feeling of claustrophobia by thinking of those people nearest to her heart.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Norm Harris’ first novel debuted on an Amazon bestseller list in 2002. It was a one-and-done, but now he’s back with a plan to publish a couple of sequels to that first mystery/thriller of days gone by. Except for time spent in military service, he is a second-generation Seattleite (that’s what they call those who dwell in the shadow of Mt. Rainier), with his legal beagle son, K-K, and five giant tropical fish. His upcoming release, Arid Sea, is the third book in what he hopes to be an award-winning Spider Green Mystery Story series.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/780557.Norm_Harris