Caroline & Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus @jeffgunhus

Posted on March 21, 2022 by fundinmental

Selected as a 2021 Kirkus Top 100 Indie Books of the Year

MY REVIEW

Jeff Gunhus writes some fabulous horror novels and when I saw this one in his newsletter I realized it was different than what I was used to from him. It is personal, written from the heart, and I LOVED IT. Caroline & Mordecai The Gand sends a subtle message through a fabulous adventure with a girl that wants things to be like they were before her father died.

Thirteen year old Caroline lost her father, her friend, and her grief is overwhelming. She does have her mother, who has her own struggles with her own loss, Abby and her Aunt Betty, but nothing fills the void.

When she fell from the tree, she entered a world that would open her eyes as she finds her way through her sorrow. Her adventure will take her back to herself.

I feel this is a book everyone who has suffered a loss would benefit from. Even in sadness there is happiness, smiles with the tears…

May you feast on your dreams

If you check out Jeff Gunhus, you will see why this book came to be. It may be a middle grade read, but I feel it holds a wonderful message for us all.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Caroline & Mordecai The Gand by Jeff Gunhus.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Caroline loses her spark. It takes a great adventure for her to find it again.

When Caroline loses her father in a car accident, she can’t shake the feeling that it was her fault. Consumed by grief, she has a difficult time readjusting to a world that has changed so dramatically for her. Not long after her father’s death, a strange window opens in the middle of the small lake behind her house. She climbs up an old oak to peer inside, but falls out of the tree and discovers that the window also serves as a door into a different world.

Enter Mordecai the Gand, a mysterious traveler who befriends Caroline and promises to help her find a way back home since the window she fell through has disappeared. The two set out on a series of adventures that include visiting a tree village populated by a tribe known for eating travelers, running into a witch under a spell of her own making, hiding in a cave with a dragon encased in a wall of ice (prone to melting by campfire), all the while being pursued by a mysterious entity call the Creach which promises to devour Caroline and trap her in an eternity of despair.

As they navigate these adventures and this new world, Caroline slowly discovers that she is meant to help each of the characters she meets. As she battles internally whether to stay or return home to the sadness and grief waiting for her there, she must regain perspective and open her heart to the act of caring and to the joy of love itself. In the end, she must demonstrate great courage, loyalty, and caring as the plot unfolds, becoming the active hero of her own story

ABOUT JEFF GUNHUS

Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list.

After his experience with his son, he is passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and is active in child literacy issues. As a father of five, he leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel or on JeffGunhus.com.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

MY JEFF GUNHUS REVIEWS

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Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti @DonnaGalanti

Posted on March 15, 2022 by fundinmental

I am loving the covers for the Unicorn Island series by Donna Galanti.

From Donna Galanti: It’s been a wonderful journey writing the Unicorn Island series and it all started with my publisher who said, “I’d like for you to write a book about a girl who has to take care of a unicorn.” And of course, I said YES to that because … unicorns! They are magical, wondrous, and mysterious. 🦄

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Unicorn Island is a magical story that has everything a young mind could want in an adventure, with plenty of fantasy and fact to inspire…the young and the old alike.

Foggy Harbor has begun to feel like home since Sam made a friend and discovered a magical island full of unicorns and other magical creatures. Now…their immortality is threatened and she searches for a cure, finding a secret from her past that links her to the future of the herd.

Sam had learned her Uncle Mitch’s legacy was to protect the herd and keep the secret of the island that was hidden by a fog bank. He was training Sam and her friend, Tuck, to be unicorn protectors.

When Donna Galanti mentioned elephants evolution and tusks (yes, I am talking real elephants), I had to check it out and see if it was real. I urge you to do the same.

Love. Selflessness. Devotion. Courage.

“…Science and magic together can create wondrous things…”

I loved this wonderful adventure into the magical world of Unicorn Island, with fabulous characters and magical creatures that work together to save the unicorns and the island. Not only does it have a gorgeous cover, but it holds factual tidbits at the end of the story to inspire young minds.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath The Sand by Donna Galanti.

GOODREADS BLURB

In Book 2 of the series, Sam and Tuck are on their way to becoming unicorn protectors when they discover new secrets about the island that threaten unicorns’ existence! From Epic! Originals, Unicorn Island is a middle-grade illustrated novel series about a young girl who discovers a mysterious island full of mythical beasts.

Sam can’t believe how much her life and luck have changed since she came to Foggy Harbor: First, she discovered that unicorns are real, and now she’s on her way to becoming an actual unicorn protector! With her new friend, Tuck, by her side during Uncle Mitch’s lessons, Sam finally feels like she’s home.

But as the long-buried dangers of Unicorn Island begin to surface and a mysterious scourge spreads throughout the herd, Sam learns the truth behind Aunt Sylvie’s disappearance and her own connection to the island. With determination, courage, and fierce loyalty to one another—and to their code as unicorn protectors—the kids set out to protect the island’s secrecy and the unicorns’ very existence.

Download these fun Secret Beneath the Sand activities!

ABOUT DONNA GALANTI

Donna Galanti is the author of the bestselling paranormal suspense Element Trilogy and the children’s fantasy adventure Joshua and The Lightning Road series. Donna is a contributing editor for International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine, a writing contest judge at nycmidnight.com, and regularly presents as a guest author at schools and teaches at writing conferences. She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna also loves teaching writers about building author brand and platform through her free training series at yourawesomeauthorlife.com. Visit her at donnagalanti.com.

CONNECT WITH DONNA:

Website: http://www.donnagalanti.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaGalanti
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58439998-unicorn-island

MY DONNA GALANTI REVIEWS

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Frozen In Time – Girl In Ice by Erica Ferencik @EricaFerencik #GirlInIce #NetGalley

Posted on March 10, 2022 by fundinmental

LOVE LOVE LOVE that cover and the title is a perfect fit, or is it the other way around?

I wonder which came first, the title or the cover?

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

First off, I would like to thank Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Girl In Ice by Erica Ferencik. It blew me away. I loved everything about it, from the title, to the cover, to the story inside.

The Girl In Ice was thawed out by the research team studying climate change on an island off the coast of Greenland. The Arctic Circle…I can’t imagine being there at any time, let alone when danger lurks. Where will it come from? I figured it out pretty quick, but I could not be certain. Didn’t matter anyway. The writing kept me glued to the pages.

Valerie ‘Val’ Chesterfield was already somewhat acquainted with the research being carried out. Her brother, Andy, had been a part of it…until he was found outside, frozen. Well, that makes me very suspicious. When the Girl In Ice was found and no one could understand her, Val, being a linguist who specialized in Nordic languages, was called in to help. She didn’t believe the story about her brother, so now she can find out for herself what really happened.

The Girl In Ice is desperately trying to communicate with them.

I love when an author can include things that interest me, like climate change. It makes the story more believable, except for the girl in the ice coming to life. I don’t think I can believe that could happen, but hey, there are those that believe in cryogenics, so…….

I watched Val grow, change, develop into an strong, independent, loyal person that has yet to find her place in the world, but happy to be in it.

The world building was so realistically created that I almost believed I could feel the cold, hear the snow squeaking under my feet, and it made me wonder…about what research Erica Ferencik did. Her detailed descriptions allowed her to paint so vividly with words an environment so harsh, otherworldly…and I was lost in it.

A sense of danger arose early and hung on every page. I had a feeling about some things that come to pass, but Erica Ferencik supplied plenty of book surprises to keep me on my toes. I ignored everything around me, except coffee and restroom breaks. I read hundreds of books a year, so that is not any easy thing to do.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Girl In Ice by Erica Ferencik.

GOODREADS BLURB

From the author of The River at Night and Into the Jungle comes a harrowing new thriller set in the unforgiving landscape of the Arctic Circle, as a brilliant linguist struggling to understand the apparent suicide of her twin brother ventures hundreds of miles north to try to communicate with a young girl who has thawed from the ice alive.

Valerie “Val” Chesterfield is a linguist trained in the most esoteric of disciplines: dead Nordic languages. Despite her successful career, she leads a sheltered life and languishes in the shadow of her twin brother Andy, an accomplished climate scientist stationed on a remote island off Greenland’s barren coast. But Andy is gone: a victim of suicide, having willfully ventured unprotected into 50 degree below zero weather. Val is inconsolable—and disbelieving. She suspects foul play.

When Wyatt, Andy’s fellow researcher in the Arctic, discovers a scientific impossibility—a young girl frozen in the ice who thaws out alive, speaking a language no one understands—Val is his first call. Will she travel to the frozen North and meet this girl, try to comprehend what she is so passionately trying to communicate? Under the auspices of helping Wyatt interpret the girl’s speech, Val musters every ounce of her courage and journeys to the Artic to solve the mystery of her brother’s death.

The moment she steps off the plane, her fear threatens to overwhelm her. The landscape is fierce, and Wyatt, brilliant but difficult, is an enigma. But the girl is special, and Val’s connection with her is profound. Only something is terribly wrong; the child is sick, maybe dying, and the key to saving her lies in discovering the truth about Wyatt’s research. Can his data be trusted? And does it have anything to do with how and why Val’s brother died? With time running out, Val embarks on an incredible frozen odyssey—led by the unlikeliest of guides—to rescue the new family she has found in the most unexpected of places.

ABOUT ERICA FERENCIK

Oprah chose Erica Ferencik’s debut novel, The River at Night as a #1 Pick, calling the book “the page-turning novel you’ve been waiting for, a heart-pounding debut.” Entertainment Weekly named it a “Must Read,” and calls the novel “harrowing…a visceral, white knuckle rush.” Miramax has recently optioned the novel for a film.
Her new novel, Into the Jungle, one woman’s terrifying journey of survival in the Bolivian Amazon, will be released on May 28, 2019. Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review, calling it: “[A] ferocious fever dream of a thriller…Ferencik delivers an alternately terrifying and exhilarating tale.” Her work has appeared in Salon and The Boston Globe, as well as on National Public Radio.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

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Giveaway & Review – From Caterpillars to Butterflies by Raynelda A. Calderon @iReadBookTours

Posted on March 9, 2022 by fundinmental

Join Us for this Tour: March 1 to March 21, 2022

Book Details:

Book Title: The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies by Raynelda A. Calderon
Category: Children’s Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12)
Genre:  Children’s Book
Publisher:  Cayena Press, Inc., 48 pages
Release date:   March 2022
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all readers.

MY REVIEW

The Mirabel Sisters is a wonderfully illustrated look into a moment in time in the Dominican Republic during the rule of the dictator, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Because of these sisters, November 25th was declared International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in their honor.

Kudos to these brave ladies, and those that supported them. I am happy to share their story and the courage they showed. The book and illustrations work together to tell their inspirational story.

The sisters were just people, people who loved to read, paint, worked in the family store, and, even though the youngest, Dede, was not killed, she was left to raise the children and tell their story. They are the true definition of heroes, which I feel is bandied around all too easily nowadays.

Recommended age group: Grades 4 – 6, Ages 8 – 12. The MIrabel Sisters would be a great addition to any library.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Mirabel Sisters by Raynelda A Calderon.

Book Description:

Born in a small town in the Dominican Republic, the Mirabal sisters lived at a time when the country was under the merciless rule of a dictatorship. Their deaths on November 25, 1960 (at ages 36, 34, and 25), have received international coverage. In their honor, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed annually on November 25.

Buy the Book:
Amazon
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Raynelda A. Calderón, a Dominican native who lives in Queens, NY, is a children’s book author who has worked in public libraries for more than 15 years. She holds a doctorate in leadership in higher education, and she has taught Information Literacy at various colleges, most recently at Bronx Community College. As a librarian, working with children inspires Raynelda to write about the accomplishments of Hispanic women in history. She hopes to inspire young readers to follow their passions and never take no for an answer. Raynelda is the creator of the first Hispanic Heritage wall calendar that honors the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans in the United States. She lives with an untamed Shih Tzu, Toby, and a much attached Chihuahua, Maya. She spends her free time thinking (and drafting) about books to write, or painting, crocheting, or crying over abused dogs.

connect with the author: author’s website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Mar 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Mar 1 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 1 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight
Mar 2 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Mar 2 – Lynchburg Reads – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 3 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Mar 3 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 3 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Mar 7 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
Mar 8 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 9 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Mar 10 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 11 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight /guest post / giveaway
Mar 14 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Mar 15 – bujos_n_books – book review / giveaway
Mar 16 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Mar 17 – @twilight_reader – book review
Mar 18 – Lamon Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Mar 21 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

The Mirabal Sisters: From Caterpillars to Butterflies Book Tour Giveaway

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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Giveaway – Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever by Julie Thiessen @iReadBookTours

Posted on February 15, 2022 by fundinmental

Join Us for This Tour from February 1 to February 21!

Book Details:

Book Title: Pen Pal Gals: Friends Forever by Julie Thiessen
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 64 pages
Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Early Chapter Book
Publisher: Mascot
Release date: February 1, 2022
Tour dates: February 1 to February 21, 2022
Content Rating: Rated G. Suitable for everyone

MY REVIEW

I remember the days of snail mail. Do you? When I would go to the store, sorting through the different stationery, choosing the perfect one. Friends Forever by Julie Thiesssen includes a few pages of Pen Pal Gals stationery at the end of the book.

Summer vacation and Reese is on her way to Lake Shore Retreat with her family. As she packs, I remember packing for vacation myself. But, we sure were packing much different things.

Reese’s mom noticed that something was bothering Reese and asked her about it. She was hesitant, then shared, “…wish I had a friend to share it all with”. Sometimes wishes come true and just because the adventure ends…for now,,…that doesn’t mean the friendship developed won’t continue. They can be PEN PAL GALS.

Julie’s daughter, Reese, was the inspiration for Pen Pal Gals, because she loved writing letters to family and friends. Shows how much we can learn from the children around us.

I love this. I know how much I look forward to a package to arrive, so to anticipate a letter from a best friend, a family member from far away, a Christmas card, a Birthday card…there will always be a place in the world for snail mail.

I have seen two different age groups for the Pen Pal Gals book 6 – 8 and 8 -12, so you decide. As for me, I am glad I got a chance to read it and plan to share it with my nieces, so I think Friends Forever will get lots of love.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Friends Forever by Julie Thiessen.

Book Description

Meet Reese and Addie―two girls, one great friendship. It’s summer break! Reese is on her way to vacation at Camp Lake Shore with her family. When Reese meets a new friend, Addie, the two immediately connect and form a lasting friendship. Swimming, boating, laughing, and soaking up the sun are just a few highlights of their summer vacation. The girls become best friends. When their vacation comes to an end, Reese realizes she may never see Addie again. Determined to stay in touch forever, can Reese and Addie find a way to continue their friendship and share their adventures?

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Walmart
BAM ~ Target ~ Mascot
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Julie Thiessen always had a passion for creativity, design, and adventure, but above all, she values her lifelong friendships. With her bachelor’s degree in graphic design and the inspiration of her daughter Reese, she created and branded Pen Pal Gals for all to share the gift of an everlasting friendship. Thiessen lives along the beautiful Central Coast of California with her husband, two daughters, and son.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram

Tour Schedule:

Feb 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Feb 1 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 3 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Feb 4 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 7 – @twilight_reader – book review / giveaway
Feb 8 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Feb 8 – My Journey Back – book review / giveaway
Feb 9 – The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Feb 9 – The Phantom Paragrapher – book review / giveaway
Feb 10 – Pick A Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 10 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Feb 11 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 14 – Kam’s Place – book review
Feb 15 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Feb 15 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Feb 16 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 16 – icefairy’s Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Feb 17 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 17 – Older & Smarter? – book review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 18 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Feb 21 – Reading is My Passion – book review
Feb 21 – Lisa’s Reading – book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

PEN PAL GALS FRIENDS FOREVER by Julie Thiessen Book Tour Giveaway

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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Heartbreaking and Uplifting – Sacrifice by Charisse Moritz #CharisseMoritz

Posted on February 14, 2022 by fundinmental

Sacrifice by Charisse Moritz is a perfect romance for a romantic day!

Sacrifice is my third Charisse Moritz novel, and she does not disappoint.

The first book I read by Charisse Moritze was Shakespeare Burning. The title made me so curious, but the cover played it’s part. I had to read it and was blown away. This is not a genre I actively seek, so was there some ‘reason’ I was drawn to it? I have now found another author for my favorites list.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Need something to make you laugh out loud and feel good about life? Sacrifice is a must read.

Charisse Moritz and her novels would not seem like a fit for someone like me, who loves to delve in the darkness of romance novels. You know, the ones with murder and mayhem, rape and sex trafficking. BUT, Charisse’s writing and her characters draw me in so deep, sometimes I almost think they are real. They sure could be.

I have two pages of notes and wonder what I am going to do. Usually, with that many notes, I tend to share too much. I loved Sacrifice and the realistic, lovable characters that Charisse Moritz, so I don’t want to spoil a moment for you. I want you to experience their struggles, hope and dreams for yourself. I am sure you want a happy ever after. I know I did, and with Charisse, that is possible.

The situations the characters find themselves in could happen to anyone. The characters feel as if they could be the band members you find in the bar you frequent, the girl who left her abusive boyfriend and is hiding out, the single father that suffers from the lies his ‘ex’ feeds him.

The two main characters, Shae and Daisy, are flawed, frightened, insecure, beat down by life. Shae will do whatever it takes to make sure his son has the things he did not. Daisy looks through rose colored glasses, yet flinches at a knock on her door and things Shae is some kind of Sasquatch.

Her is a reason why I love Charisse Moritz’s writing so much…At 4 %, they meet for the first time and it is JUST TOO DARN CUTE AND FUNNY. The tone of the writing is serious, yet written in such a way that I never got too dogged down, too sad or depressed, because her vivid, hilarious descriptions of Daisy’s thoughts when letting her mind road to Shae, had me laughing out loud.

Mutt is a character that has to be mentioned. And if you want to know more, you’ll have to find out for yourself. I love when a peripheral character basks in the limelight…as I write that, I have a smile on my face.

A chat between Daisy and Shae when he picked up his son, Patrick, from babysitting, leaning against the doorframe with his feet crossed and his arms across his chest (which I so can visualize):

“Want to tell me why my boy is not wearing any pants?”
“He didn’t share his reasons, but I support his choices.”
I mean, how can you not crack up. Laugh out loud, whether anyone is around or not.

Patrick, a two year old, is, of course, adorable. I can hear that baby voice ‘speaking’. His actions and the dialogue is so cute, sweet, except when he’s letting them know he’s not happy. After all, he is two years old.

Shae took Daisy shopping. I don’t want to spoil the why of it, other than to say, Mutt is playing him like a fiddle. Her’s another quote that will share why I love Charisse Moritz’s writing

Patrick got a new jacket and a puzzle out of the deal. I got a hard on and a headache.

The sexual attraction is off the charts and I have never read of a couple of characters with this much self control. They both have their reasons, but Daisy is irresistible and his jealousy surprises even him

“Why don’t you just pee on me?”

I laughed out loud…again. Warning: If you read this around other people, well, you know.

There is more than one moment that shocked and awed me, in good and bad ways. I didn’t even try to figure out what was going on and why. I thought, even though I love Charisse Moritz’s writing, this is a romance, and I am along for the ride. Even a good romance rarely gets more than a four star rating from me. Out of the three books that I have read by Charisse, two of them have been five star ratings. She manages to supply those BAM, in your face moments and I love that.

EVERYTHING…PERFECT…for me. Romance with a dash of mystery and suspense.

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

Eighteen-year-old Shae is the daddy of a two-year old.
On his own and barely getting by.
Every day, he struggles to be good enough for his boy.
Every day, he falls a little further behind.
He doesn’t apologize.
He tries harder.
Sacrifices more of himself.
Because keeping his son is all that matters.
When Daisy Goodwill moves in across the hall, she is an irresistible splash of color and hopeful smiles. She disrupts his every waking moment in such wonderful ways, daring Shae to imagine a brighter future. But his new neighbor is full of apologies, hiding from an overly possessive ex and a threat to Shae’s black-and-white world. Because championing Daisy requires the one sacrifice he can’t survive.

ABOUT CHARISSE MORITZ (from Amazon)

Emily Award Finalist and Melody Of Love Award Finalist, Charisse Moritz divides her life between upstate NY and northern Florida. When not barricaded inside her writing cave or enjoying every possible minute with her husband and three kids, you’ll find her listening to 60’s music, singing off key and looking for new reads.

Her debut book, Shakespeare Burning was released in July 2019 and is available in digital and print.

https://charissemoritz.com

MY CHARISSE MORITZ REVIEWS

Shakespseare Burning
Shatter (Choosy Beggars)

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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WOW! 30 Red Dresses by Johan Twiss @JohanTwiss

Posted on February 12, 2022 by fundinmental

MY REVIEW

Looking at the cover, I never expected what was coming. I’m sure I read the blurb before I picked it up in 2017, but not before I started reading it this week and WOW!

30 Red Dresses by Johan Twiss was such a surprise to me. I have a file of short stories and novellas, and chose 30 Red Dresses as a One Sentence Review to wipe it off my TBR, but after reading it, I changed my mind. It hit me so hard, I had to share more.

It was so sad from the very beginning. Venta is eight years old. It’s her birthday and her uncle is taking her to town. She’s excited, but…my heart fell to my gut. Her uncle is a disgusting human being, so I knew she was in for a rude awakening.

Sex trafficking is all too real. I cannot imagine how a young girl of eight could in any way comprehend what is happening to her. I was so far past mad, angry, seeing red, disgusted…

What does a white giant, a Cambodian and and 30 red dresses have in common?

An incredibly powerful story where the characters lives are changed forever and I teared up a time or two because the story went so far in such a few words. Strong. Powerful. Thought provoking. Sickening, yet hopeful.

The author’s note at the end of the book is just as powerful as the story.

GOODREADS BLURB

While on a book tour in Cambodia, author James Moore unwittingly seeks refuge in a brothel to escape a devastating flash flood. He and his translator witness the atrocities of girls forced into prostitution, including a young child with a special gift. Together, they fight to not only save the girls from the rising flood waters, but from the menacing brothel owner and his men.

ABOUT JOHAN TWISS

Dear Brilliant Reader,

Thank you for your interest in my books. I am passionate about writing clean science fiction and fantasy stories that are not only exciting, but suitable for tweens, teens and adults alike.

Have a question? Complaint? Want to send me a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory? Simply reach out to me at my website at www.johantwiss.com/contact

(I can also tell your future at no extra cost, although gift cards to Cheesecake Factory tend to make the predictions more accurate.)

And if you really want to make my day, please leave a review for my books on Amazon and Goodreads. Your reviews help new readers discover my books, for which I am very thankful.

All the best and happy reading,
Johan

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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Legion Novellas by Ashley Fontainne #AshleyFontainne

Posted on February 1, 2022 by fundinmental

The Legion Novellas by Ashley Fontainne are quick reads and can be gobbled up in a day. I must warn you though, locked doors won’t keep the evil away. Lights won’t hide the shadows. I love that the covers create a brand for the series and have an eerie feel about them. The entire series is available in paperback for $11.25.

My name is Legion: for we are many.

Mark 5:9

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

He entered thinking one thing, facing a bloody, gory horror he never could have envisioned and by the time he figured out what really happened, he was face to face with evil and it wanted him. His faith will be tested. The book may be short, but it has the creep factor alive and well and I turned the pages faster to put an end to it. And, of course, the ending is so much worse than I thought. May be short. Isn’t sweet. Made my skin crawl. Packed a lot in this novella. For the most part three stars would work, but because Ashley Fontainne had to take me down such a twisting road, jerking me left and right til the end, she has earned that additional star.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Many be Ashley Fontainne.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A mother’s anguish and her descent into hell after her husband’s death will be called on to face a demon. A child’s anger over the loss of his family will have him questioning his faith. Will he make the right choice between good and evil? He didn’t remember that night, but evil will do whatever it takes to try and collect another soul. Legion is many and still has Clyde in his sights. Could he survive a second time? FREE WILL. Horror and evil oozes off the pages and Ashley Fontainne leaves me wanting more!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Madness be Ashley Fontainne.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I knew it was coming, but tears formed and my heart broke. The characters have been to hell and back and Ashley Fontainne shows no mercy. Who will be called to face Evil and have their faith put to the test this time? Looking at the cover, I think I know who Legion will be targeting. Mayhem is the third novella in the Legion series, so I am anticipating some heart palpitating horror to come my way. Not all the characters will survive. How strong is their faith? WOW…Just WOW…I knew what would happen, or thought I did, but not how it would happen. I find it amazing how Ashley Fontainne managed to pack so much action in a small package, containing all the emotions a human can feel and ending the series in an uplifting way.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Mayhem be Ashley Fontainne.

ABOUT ASHLEY FONTAINNE

Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne enjoys stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters lurking within each of us. She writes in numerous genres including mystery, suspense, horror, sci-fi and sometimes poetry.

Ashley lives in Arkansas with her husband and is the proud mother of one son and grateful daughter of co-author, Lillian Hansen. To learn more about her books please visit https://ashleyfontainne.net/

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MY ASHLEY FONTAINNE REVIEWS

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Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World @ericjguignard

Posted on January 20, 2022 by fundinmental

Professor Charlatan Bardot’s travel anthology includes many buildings, though no haunted houses. So…buckle your searbelt and let’s travel around the world.

Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the awesome cover for Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology by Eric Guignard. Some of the locales are real places, and, the rest, I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

The anthology includes short stories of horror from noted authors all over the world. Whether it takes place in a hospital, lighthouse, mining camp, wishing well…most everything but haunted houses, the anothology is sure to supply plenty of thrills and chills.

Might want to keep the light on…but, locked doors won’t keep them out.

Professor Bardot is as interesting as the beautiful book, with fabulous illustrations to go with the fantastic cover.

Travel around the world with horror as your companion. The Professor may have your imagination running wild on your travels when you visit your own hotel, cathedral…

I cannot think of anything that could be improved upon a book that gave me many hours of reading pleasure.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology by Eric J Guignard.

GOODREADS BLURB

“At Last, an Authoritative Compendium to (Fictional) Haunted Buildings for the Delight and Exploration of Reader-Travelers Around the Globe.”

For nearly forty years, renowned paranormal investigator Professor Charlatan Bardot has examined, documented, and acquired stories of haunted buildings around the world. Partnered with leading anthologist Eric J. Guignard, and gifted artists Steve Lines and James Gabb, the greatest of Charlatan’s discoveries are made available now in this comprehensive travel anthology!

From the Philippines’ tragic Ame-Soeur Clothing Factory, to Sweden’s reverent Fish Church; from Tanzania’s vengeful Unguja Restaurant, to Canada’s cursed Crow Island Lighthouse, Charlatan Bardot presents a lifetime of experience and insight into paranormal architecture.

27 feature stories and 36 tiny tales are included of haunted temples, diners, hotels, shops, hospitals, outposts, theaters, and other building types, along with maps, travel notes, illustrations, and more, all designed to provide an immersive experience for veteran travelers and armchair ghost hunters alike!

Enter Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World (2021 edition) and explore the strange and curious locales of the globe and of your imagination.

ABOUT ERIC J GUIGNARD

ERIC J. GUIGNARD is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press, Dark Moon Books. He’s twice won the Bram Stoker Award (the highest literary award of horror fiction), been a finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award, and a multi-nominee of the Pushcart Prize.

He has over one hundred stories and non-fiction author credits appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric’s published multiple fiction anthologies, including his most recent, Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror , and A World of Horror , a showcase of international horror short fiction.

He currently publishes the acclaimed series of author primers created to champion modern masters of the dark and macabre, Exploring Dark Short Fiction ( Vol. I: Steve Rasnic Tem ; Vol. II: Kaaron Warren ; Vol. III: Nisi Shawl ; Vol. IV: Jeffrey Ford ; Vol. V: Han Song ; Vol. VI: Ramsey Campbell).

He is also publisher and acquisitions editor for the renowned +Horror Library+ anthology series. Additionally he curates the series, The Horror Writers Association Presents: Haunted Library of Horror Classics through SourceBooks with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger.

His latest books are Last Case at a Baggage Auction ; Doorways to the Deadeye ; and short story collection That Which Grows Wild (Cemetery Dance).

Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com, his blog: ericjguignard.blogspot.com, or Twitter: @ericjguignard.

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom Review @dvberkom

Posted on December 23, 2021 by fundinmental

A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom is the 11th book of the Leine Basso series…a series that keeps on giving…and I am taking. This may have been the best one yet, seeing I have read 429 books this year and It has change my reviewing criteria. Some books that would have been fours before can end up as threes now, and it takes more to get a five star rating. I still love reading threes them, so I consider 3 a good number. As a matter of fact, I consider the number 3 and multiples of 3 my lucky numbers.

A vivid and colorful cover, sure to get anyone’s attention on a bookshelf.

A Plague of Traitors (Leine Basso Thriller #11)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Assassins…Leine Basso is my favorite! I have been with her from the very beginning and she has done nothing but fill my life with many hours of reading pleasure!

A bioweapon…is anyone safe? Leine Basso is on the case, and from my knowledge of her past, she will prevail…but, how?

Leine had been a badass assassin for the government, but now works for SHEN – Stop Human Enslavement Now – an anti trafficking network. She was pulled away from training to meet up with Scott Henderson, who wanted to recruit her. It’s off to Libya.

Sasha is Russian and had been offered a lucrative job in Libya, studying a virus that sounded all too familiar, after living with Covid.

There is so much more going on than Leine had thought, so she contacted Tony, who had been grooming her as a CIA operative. I feel for her. I’m not sure how much she can trust Tony, or anyone around her. After all, he is CIA.

Well, I have sooo many notes I am going to toss a bunch of them aside. I think it would be sharing too much and I loved A Plague of Traitors, so I sure don’t want to spoil anything for you.

Needless to say, Leine ends up in the thick of things. I did have some doubts about those around her, but the group she trained were there to the death for her. Yeah, it may not have went smoothly, but does anything worth having. If it was all sunshine and roses…

A book like A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom is so terrifying to me because I can envision something like this happening in real life. It brings to mind many questions. There are many people fueled by hate and greed. We can never know how far they will go. How do you protect yourself, others, your country?

Betrayals and double crosses abound. The story read so true, I kept asking myself how they could be so ignorant to trust and to believe they are in control of the outcome?

The CIA, Leine Basso, Russians, Syrians, mercenaries…Leine Basso is on her own, but she operates at a high level and accomplishes her missions. I have complete faith in her. To say she is a badass is putting it too mildly. I would love to have her at my side if I were ever in trouble.

I love that D V Berkom mentions animals and the hunters who hunt the poachers in Africa. She also mentions the devastation of the animal population that war causes.

The depth and detail make me worried, sad, angry, frustrated…as I think of all the book contains, I hope it will open readers eyes to all the consequences of carelessness, egoism, war and unrest. The Butterfly Effect rules the Chaos.

I love how D V Berkom combines facts and fiction and she has done an excellent job of blending them together so seamlessly it read like a history lesson. So many plots combine and they flow smoothly, taking the story to the highest level.

A well deserved 5 stars D! I applaud you and look forward to what comes next.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom.

GOODREADS BLURB

A former assassin leads a heroic band of foreign fighters to thwart an enemy like no other.

Former assassin Leine Basso races to prevent Syrian intelligence from obtaining a lethal Russian bioweapon—a savage combination of toxins never before seen in nature.

Leine’s called back to war-torn Tripoli, enlisted by her former employer to train a heroic group of Isis-fighting snipers to crush the horrific threat. But there’s a leak, and the Libyan operation goes terribly wrong—the bioweapon ends up in the hands of a brutal terrorist who will stop at nothing to force the West to its knees.

Are there spies in their midst? Can Leine and her warriors prevent a ruthless enemy from releasing the deadly toxin before it’s too late? Or will humanity be destroyed in a cataclysmic finale orchestrated by A Plague of Traitors?

ABOUT D V BERKOM

DV Berkom is a slave to the voices in her head. As the author of two popular thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating resilient, kick-*ss female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

Raised in the Midwest, she received her BA in political science from the University of Minnesota and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Many, many cross-country moves (and several years) later, she now lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with the love of her life, Mark, an ex-chef-turned contractor, and writes every chance she gets.