Murder is the Name of the Game – Profile of Terror by Alexa Grace – Excerpt & Giveaway

Posted on July 24, 2014 by fundinmental

I am shocked that I have not read anything by Alexa Grace and am so happy to meet a new author (for me). Profile of Terror sounds like an excellent read.

Suspense novels are thrill rides that get my heart pounding and my blood pumping.

Check out the excerpt below, along with the synopsis and cover. Then enter the great giveaway at the end of the post.

EXCERPT

At one in the morning, the dark sky was illuminated by a full moon as they drove on a country road, trees hanging overhead like skeletal arms, nearly touching their vehicle. Driving slowly, they made periodic stops, for only the perfect place would do.

Approaching a bridge over a deep ravine with a wide creek, the van stopped. Both got out and circled to the back of the white utility van, where they pulled out a young woman’s body, already stiffening with rigor mortis. They carried her to the edge of the road, where they set down her corpse, gave it a push, and sent it rolling down the ravine until it landed on the rocky creek bed below. Hands on hips, they waited and watched the body at rest, as if they expected it to magically come to life and run away.

“I wonder how long it will take the cops to find this one.” The driver chuckled as he followed his passenger to the back of the van.

“Good question. The one last winter wasn’t found until the spring thaw.” He flipped through a stack of magnetic business signs he’d collected in the back of the vehicle. Choosing one, he slapped it on the side of the van and climbed inside.

“So how many magnetic signs do we have now?”

“Fifteen or so. We’ve got signs for plumbing, locksmithing, house painting, and general repair businesses. Think we need more?”

“No.” He shook his head. “You did a good job stealing those. Even if we have an eye witness tonight, they’ll describe a business truck, complete with a name and phone number the cops will use to try to track down their suspects. Too bad it will be a dead end. Any time we can toy with the cops is a good time.”

“Agreed,” he said, as a slow, evil smile spread across his handsome face.

Devan Roth glanced at his twin brother, Evan, sitting in the passenger seat, and thought about how much Evan craved his praise. He’d used that need to his advantage their entire lives. It wasn’t that Devan didn’t love his twin. He did, but he loved manipulating him more. Although Evan had a higher intelligence level than Devan ever dreamed of reaching, Evan’s adoration for his twin was his weak spot. And if there was anything that Devan could identify from a mile away, it was someone else’s weakness. That’s what made Devan the leader.

From early childhood, he could get Evan to do absolutely anything he wanted. Devan invented the “Double Dare” game when the twins were twelve; he double-dared Evan to jump off the second-story roof. Evan leaped, and broke both his legs. But he never told their parents that Devan had dared him to do it. His loyalty to his twin outweighed the pain he suffered that summer.

The Double Dare game continued. Early on, they stole and killed their neighbors’ pets, and then moved on to peeping in windows in the neighborhood and videotaping the event so they could relive the thrill later. Now they were abducting and killing prostitutes, then disposing of their bodies in remote areas surrounding Indianapolis.

Profile of Terror

Profile Series

Book Two

by Alexa Grace

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Golden Publishing, L.L.C.

Date of Publication: May 2014

ISBN-10: 0985593962

ISBN-13: 978-0-9855939-6-4

ASIN: B00KAMWA7Y

Number of pages: 263

Word Count: 80,583

Cover Artist: Christy Carlyle of Gilded Heart Design

SYNOPSIS

A missing coed named Abby Reece.

Two clever thrill killers are committing the most brutal, public, and horrifying abductions and murders in the county’s history. The killers, known as the Gamers, have done this before, and are now upping their evil game to a new level. The question is — can they be stopped before they kill again?

Things get complicated.

When an ex-girlfriend goes missing, Private Investigator Gabe Chase is obsessed with finding her. But once her naked and posed body is discovered, the investigator becomes the investigated. His passion for the victim’s beautiful sister is a complication he doesn’t need, as he helps solve the county’s most baffling, terrifying murder cases ever.

Add a sociopathic serial killer who calls himself the Master.

A serial killer so deadly, the FBI’s behavioral analysts want to know when and why he began killing, as well as the identification and location of additional victims. He will speak only to former federal agent, Carly Stone, a woman he blames for his capture. When the profiler finds herself at the mercy of this ruthless killer, his becomes the most terrifying profile of all.

Profile of Terror

Three chilling villains, two passionate love stories, and pulse-racing suspense with startling plot twists keep readers on the edge of their seats from page one of this heart-pounding and unforgettable romantic suspense.

Available at Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AU BN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today Bestselling Author, Alexa Grace began her writing journey in March 2011 when the Sr. Director of Training & Development position she’d held for thirteen years was eliminated. A door closed but another one opened. She finally had the time to pursue her childhood dream of writing books. Her focus is now on writing riveting romantic suspense novels.

Alexa Grace is consistently listed in top twenty of Amazon’s Top 100 Most Popular Authors in the categories Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural. In 2013, she was named one of the top 100 Indie authors by Kindle Review. A chapter is devoted to her in the book Interviews with Indie Authors by C. Ridgway and T. Ridgway.

Her books Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception, and Deadly Relations are listed in e-retailer’s Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural Books. Deadly Offerings has not left the top ten bestselling free mystery romance and police procedural books since 2011.

Deadly Holiday, published in November 2012, is her holiday-themed romantic suspense novella, featuring all her Deadly Trilogy characters.

Alexa Grace’s book Deadly Relations is included in the bestselling book set The Perfect Ten along with Dianna Love, Norah Wilson, Nancy Naigle, Andrienne Giordano, Misty Evans, Sandy Blair, Mary Buckham, Tonya Kappes and Micah Caipa.

Profile of Evil, the first book of the Profile Series was published in May 2013. Profile of Terror was released in May 2014 and Profile of Fear will be released in 2015.

Earning two degrees from Indiana State University, Alexa currently lives in Florida. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

Her writing support team includes five Miniature Schnauzers, three of which are rescues. As a writer, she is fueled by Starbucks lattes, chocolate and emails from readers.

Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Tweet @AlexaGrace2 / YouTube / Goodreads

To get your Amazon copy of Profile of Terror by Alexa Grace, click on the cover below.

GIVEAWAY

1 SIGNED COPY OF PROFILE OF TERROR AND $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Must Read PNR & Character Interview – Purr-Fect Mating by Sheryl Winters

Posted on July 23, 2014 by fundinmental

After reading Purr-fect Mating by Sheryl Winters, a fantastic paranormal novella, I am so excited to have Fhina here today, right after my review.

We have a lot to share, so fix yourself a cuppa, put up your feet and let’s begin.

MY REVIEW

Here Kitty, Kitty

OMG! This was such a fun read! The writing was light and chockfull of humor. Werecat meets wereshifter and they fall in love. But that’s not the end of the story. I read Purr-fect Mating in less than 40 minutes. I loved it and couldn’t stop until the last word was read. A Purr-fect ending that had me smiling…..again.

Fhina could smell the shifter and the human. Will her inner Kitty be necessary to save the wereshifter from the human hunter?

She called herself a loner Kitty and she was a bad Kitty for even thinking such sexy thoughts about the guy she found on her porch.

Of course, they will get together, but they each carry their own curse and the result of their mating was not what they planned.

Wulfar will be a wolf, except for one day a year. Fhina will forget Wulfar is her mate.

She awakes and wonders when she got a dog? I busted out laughing. You HAVE to be there to get the full affect. If you love the paranormal, this is a MUST READ.

Kitty stole my heart and I laughed my way through the book. I have never met a werecat, but I would love to meet Fhina and have her come out to play. I think we could be great friends.

Sheryl Winter’s creation of Kitty’s inner dialogue is mind blowing. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, repeatedly. I know I keep repeating myself, but I am still amazed at how much I enjoyed reading Purr-fect Mating.

A quick, easy and fun read. The short story flows so well, I raced through the pages and reached the end all too soon. I knew it had to have a happy ending, but the journey is one I won’t soon forget.

I received an ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH FHINA

“I’m here with the author of ‘One Hundred and One Way’s to Piss Off a Tiger. The breaking of our mutual curses and the counter charms that refused to work on them.”

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I settle myself into the kitchen chair hastily moved into the living room by Fhina’s extremely good looking husband.

“You stated in your book that you spent nearly three months unable to recognize your husband in his wolf form. Then you go on to describe in bitter detail how each counter charm worked against your curse. Can you tell me a little about it?”

“Well the book itself explains in lengthy detail how I used every counter charm. It took months of researching. Then of course, as you’ll read, the curse ended on it’s own.” Fhina slides a pair of glasses up on top of her hair. She’s nudging a large stroller back and forth with her feet. Her daughter Angel is sound asleep inside it. The tiny blonde baby is a guaranteed heart breaker when she’s older.

In the kitchen, Fhina’s husband Wulfar is learning over the table. A flat edged pencil is behind one ear, his son Blade, strapped to his back. A blue print is lying on the table before him and he’s measuring out two more rooms.

“Can you explain what brought you to the decision to write about your curses.”

“I was writing a novel at the time and naturally as I tried to break our curses I began taking notes. Before I knew it I realized I was writing a book.” Fhina points towards a bookcase, so new that the stain is so bright it attacks the eyes. The case is full of books, curse books to be precise. They practically shout obscenities at you with each new title. Their dark cover jackets are dark and threatening a complete opposite of this charming little home. “Those will all go in the new library, the one Wulf..” She coughs, “My husband Wulfar is building.”

I check out the various titles in the book case, “Fhina, what was the worst curse you researched?”

“Personally, I think forgetting her mate was about as bad as it could get.” Wulfar deep voice booms out from the other room.

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“Just ignore him. Although, just this once I’d say he’s right.” Fhina twists her mouth thoughtfully, “I might need a moment on this one.”

“What’s the matter Babe? Cat got your tongue?” Wulfar laughs from his position at the table.

“Oh you!” Fhina snorts. “Don’t mind him. He’s been impossible since he returned to his human form. Seriously though, you asked which curse I think is the worst.” She pulls out her new book and strokes the front cover lovingly. The spine is so stiff it crackles as she opens it. She flips through the pages past pictures of three rattle snakes and baby guppies until she reaches one entitled ‘The real curse of the Egyptians.

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There is a picture of a rather large lich in all his glory, skin torn and corroded, bandages rolling off him down the corridor into the beyond. Around his neck is a thick leather collar and it’s attached to a heavy chain held tight by a small wizard standing next to him. The diminutive man is dressed in dark blue robes is grinning like a fool.

“I would say one of the worst curses I researched were those of the Ancient Egyptians. The Kings and Queens created them from their most trusted servants. An undead slave, doomed to serve those who pass on,” She shudders, “In the last decade, six Liches have appeared. The last one being only a few years ago. These former living, destroy crops, stir up plagues of mosquito’s, create electrical shortages,” She frowns. “Oh sorry, I think that last one was just a bad transformer.”

“Is there any curse you wish you had?” I tap against my notebook. Curiosity brimming.

“Well there is one.” She darts a glance at Wulfar. “there’s a silence spell I’ve been eying but with my luck I’d be stuck with it.”

“Fhina,” Wulfar frowns. He has his hands to his hips, as Alpha as there ever was one. Instead of cowering as most wives of Alpha’s do, Fhina throws her head and laughs heartily.

Eager to get the interview back on track, I decide to try another tactic, “How about we try some rapid responses. Just a few simple questions, say the first thing that pops into your head? What word comes to mind when I say…biscuit?”

“Gravy.” Fhina pats her stomach, eliciting a snort from her husband.

“Little?”

“Babies.” She picks up Angel who’s now awake and yawning. She grabs her mother’s hair and pulls, eliciting a wince from Fhina.

“Pet.”

“Wulfy.” Fhina peals back her daughter’s fingers with a sly look at her husband.

Within seconds Wulfar hearty laughter is booming around the room and we’re all sharing it with him. Shaking my head, I pack up to leave this happy home, I can’t help but wonder if their curse did them more good than bad.

That was AWESOME Sheryl and I want to thank you so much for bringing Fhina and the gang to visit fundinmental.

And now – CHECK OUT the grogeous cover and be sure to enter the giveaway below.

Title: Purr-fect Mating (A Lil Genie Series Novella)

Author: Sheryl Winters

Publisher: Roane Publishing

Release Date: June 23, 2014

Keywords: Paranormal, Romance, Shifters