FREE Zombies – Mutation Z by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

Posted on October 30, 2015 by fundinmental

I am so happy to have Marilyn Peak here with her Mutation Z zombie novellas.

Book III has just come out, so you are in the catbird’s seat.

Cover Art: Mike Tabor

MY REVIEW

The first book I read from Marilyn Peake was The Fisherman’s Son, a middle grade fantasy. I was so surprised to find that she does adult horror, Mutation Z zombie horror, as a matter of fact. Her writing is so good, it doesn’t matter what genre she writes, I will be reading.

The Mutation Z series is a post apocalyptic look at life after zombies.

Emma Johnson is a spoiled, rich kid who sets off the adventure of a lifetime, as a volunteer nurse in Africa. The Ebola crisis is so much more than she could have ever imagined.

Dr. Gustavo Tovar is the tour guide for the new recruits. She picked up bad vibes from him, but shook them off. He stressed the necessity of never wandering off on their own. With such a highly infectious disease, they must proceed with extreme caution.

Well, hell, we all know they are going to fuck up and fuck up in a big way.

Something struck me wrong from the very beginning. The creep factor was running on high.

This conspiracy, horror novella scared the bejesus out of me. It started out fast and never let up. Every time I turned around, something was there to creep me out. I mean, think about it, a highly infectious disease is lurking, just waiting for you to make a mistake. A conspiracy is operating behind closed doors and when Emma stumbles in there is no turning back. I love this series and would highly recommend it to all horror lovers.

If Zombies are your thing, Mutation Z, Book I is free on Amazon.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

From Goodreads: First book in a series.

Ebola, one of the most feared of the hemorrhagic diseases, has begun spreading across the borders of West African countries. The CDC and the World Health Organization have admitted they are losing control over the disease. Some hint at a possible worldwide pandemic. At exactly this point in time, Emma Johnson graduates from nursing school. She takes a job in an Ebola treatment camp inside Liberia, West Africa. The camp is state-of-the-art. It’s run by the CDC and the World Health Organization, and protected by the U.S. military. Emma uncovers a secret about this facility: medical experimentation is being conducted along with treatment. Whether or not Emma can ever escape the camp, she’s determined to get the story out. She has intimate knowledge of a biological horror being secretly unleashed upon the world. NOVELETTE. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies is the first book in a series. In the next book, the zombie virus will cross geographical boundaries and go increasingly out of control.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies is free and I received Book II in return for an honest review.

SPOILER ALERT

Emma is now part of the experiment to create a zombie army. It wasn’t bad enough for her in Book I, now she has traveled to the furthest reaches of HELL and knows it.

In NYC, journalist Hunter Morgan smells a rat when Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals gets an exclusive government contract to develop the Ebola vaccine. I mean, wouldn’t they want competition? Why an exclusive contract? Corruption? Conspiracy? Greed? And why was he given such easy access to a crime scene?

The scene with Hunter and his daughter is so sweet. Marilyn Peake has an ability to make her characters come to life, human and zombie alike.

Hunter gets more involved and could be making the biggest mistake of his life or becoming the savior of the planet.

Imagine being aware of turning into a zombie, aware of your shambling walk, bumping and jostling each other, your skin falling off in sheets, and the worst of all…

Can a shred of humanity remain?

Mutation Z is gross, horrific, outrageous, infuriating, corrupting…heads are cracked open, entrails pulled from shredded abdomens, body after body, young and old alike.

I am so into Mutation Z, I am wringing my hands with an evil grin on my face as Marilyn Peake tells me Mutation Z: Protecting Your Own, Book III, has just come out and I can have a copy for review. YAY!!!!

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

From Goodreads: Second book in the series.

Eviscerated bodies are found along both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Military security is stepped up on both sides of the border. However, journalists are given free rein to explore the devastation. As more and more bodies are found, people begin to panic. Meanwhile in The Liberia Treatment and Research Camp of West Africa, Emma Johnson and Chibueze Koroma continue to receive experimental doses of Mutation Z. They also begin to remember the horrific things they’ve done. As journalist Hunter Morgan’s investigation leads him to that same Camp, his own little girl falls sick with fever. NOVELLA. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Mutation Z: Closing the Borders is the second book in the Mutation Z series. In the next book, Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own, guerrilla warfare breaks out between armed militias and those perceived as protecting the zombies.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

The story continues and gets more horrific with every page.

The monsters are not only zombies, but humanity when it lets fear take over.

In the opening scene, I breathed a sigh of relief when I felt the Dixon family dodged a bullet.

Well…

Hunter Morgan, the journalist striving to expose the truth of the zombies, has an emergency of his own.

The disease does not care if you are young or old, good or bad.

It is spreading and Hunter smells the RATS. His suspicions are growing and so are mine.

As the story develops, Marilyn Peake breaks my heart. Not everyone can live, I know that! But, damn it, why…

Fear can make people do things they never anticipated.

Zealots, hunters, and their victims. Who is good and who is bad?

I think stories like Mutation Z are food for thought. I always wonder what I would do if my life were threatened and I had to take action. Would I? Would you? And would it be the right kind of action. Would fear drive me? Would I sacrifice others for my own?

The Mutation Z series is a must read for horror and dystopian lovers everywhere. The story grows better and better with each novella.

I received a copy of Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own by Marilyn Peake in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

From Goodreads: Third book in the series.

Guerrilla warfare breaks out between armed militias and those perceived as protecting the zombies. Journalist Hunter Morgan becomes the target of Clay Dixon, the organizer of a militia in a Texas border town, when he advocates for protecting the zombies until a cure is found. The journalist has strong motivation for his beliefs: his daughter is suspected of having the disease caused by Mutation Z. This book ends with a devastating confrontation. NOVELETTE. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own is the third book in the Mutation Z series. In the next book, Mutation Z: Drones Overhead, the people working in Dr. Rojas’s house to find a cure for Mutation Z hide from the U.S. government spying on them with helicopters and drones that constantly fly overhead.

ABOUT MARILYN PEAKE

From Goodreads:

Marilyn Peake is the author of both novels and short stories. Her publications have received excellent reviews. Marilyn’s one of the contributing authors in BOOK: THE SEQUEL, published by The Perseus Books Group, with one of her entries included in serialization at THE DAILY BEAST. In addition, Marilyn has served as Editor of a number of anthologies. Her short stories have been published in seven anthologies and on the literary blog, GLASS CASES.

Awards: Silver Award, two Honorable Mentions and eight Finalist placements in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards, two Winner and two Finalist placements in the EPPIE Awards, Winner of the Dream Realm Awards, and eight Top Ten Finisher Awards in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll.

Stalk Marilyn Peake: Website / Twitter

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Friday 56 #59 & BB #39 – Gator Bait by Adam Howe

Posted on October 23, 2015 by fundinmental

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

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This has been a busy week that included a road trip to Biloxi, Mississippi with my mother. As the summer season comes to an end 🙁 I am “trying” to prepare for the upcoming holidays. That means blogging ahead and doing some yard cleanup so I can begin some projects. Because it is so hot here in Florida during the summer, I try to do my bigger projects in the fall and winter. I find if I wait until spring, I end up behind, because spring is so shortlived, it quickly becomes summer…And I must have my quota of sand, sun and water play.

Today, in celebration of the Halloween season, I have a real live monster to share with you. I must warn you, it is very dangerous in the swamps of Louisiana. The monsters are both animal and human, so tread lightly.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Cover: Inkubus

MY FRIDAY 56

Croker nudged my ribs. “See, what he’ll do now is, he’ll tuck ole Johnson under the tree stump. Let him turn good and ripe before he snacks on him later.” He chuckled at the wonder of nature. “Ain’t that something?”

(56% in Kindle)

MY BOOK BEGINNINGS

I fled the city: Two fingers short and sworn off dames for life.

(LOL, like I’m going to believe that!)

MY REVIEW

Gator Bait by Adam Howe has such a fantastic cover, I knew I had to read this novella. I was sure it would be full of grisly horror and I was not disappointed. The creature feature was inspired by true events and that only added to my eagerness to read on.

Adam Howe spun a tale that had me laughing at the tone of the writing, all the while cringing, waiting for the bad to snap at me from the pages I read. The action began from the opening pages and took me to the bad place I knew I was going to visit.

The Grinnin’ Gator, a honky tonk in the swamps of Louisiana, can only contribute to Smitty’s, well, I would say bad luck, but he tends to bring it on himself. Of course, there is a dame, and she belongs to the “club” owner. He has a very interesting pet and a very bad reputation.

I don’t think there is a good person among the lot, so maybe they all get what they deserve.

Gator Bait starts with blood, torture and murder. It continues with the evil and twisted “fun” the characters of The Grinnin’ Gator do for entertainment. After all, it is in the isolated swamps of Louisiana during Prohibition, which is as bad or worse than the Wild West.

It ends…

OMG! The ending blew me away and I couldn’t help but laugh. I never could have seen ALL that coming and I love it. The best laid plans often go awry and boy, oh boy, do they.

This is my first adventure with Adam Howe and I can only tell you, it will not be my last!

5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Prohibition-era 1930s… After an affair with the wrong man’s wife, seedy piano player Smitty Three Fingers flees the city and finds himself tinkling the ivories at a Louisiana honky-tonk owned by vicious bootlegger Horace Croker and his trophy wife, Grace. Folks come to The Grinnin’ Gator for the liquor and burlesque girls, but they keep coming back for Big George, the giant alligator Croker keeps in the pond out back. Croker is rumored to have fed ex-wives and enemies to his pet, so when Smitty and Grace embark on a torrid affair…what could possibly go wrong? Inspired by true events, Gator Bait mixes hardboiled crime (James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice) with creature horror (Tobe Hooper’s Eaten Alive) to create a riveting tale of suspense.

What does the cover say to you?

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s… Sharcano by Jose Prendes Review

Posted on October 10, 2015 by fundinmental

Flying flaming sharks star in this funfilled apocalyptic thriller, Sharcano by Jose Prendes

I love this cover. Talk about ACTION! I see a lot of it.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

OMG! As soon as I saw this cover, I knew I had to have Sharcano by Jose Prendes, so I bought my very own copy. This has been the first book I bought this year.

I read Jose Prendes’ bio and it reads as if it is a short story and great for some laughs.

It all started with the amazing find of an 83′ megalodon beached, mauled and burnt.

I can see it all now. Coming soon to a theater near you…It’s lava sharks!

As soon as Mick Cathcart hears of it, he dumps his daughter at his exes and it’s off on the adventure of a lifetime. He thinks he is God’s gift to women, arrogant and self absorbed.

When Father MacKenzie hung himself in desolation, Father Cox stepped in, determined to change the outcome Father MacKenzie had foreseen.

Reading about Bao and his terrifying and sad, yet uplifting, trial by water was so detailed and realistic, my emotions ran AMOK, highs and lows and back again. He is such a kind hearted and loving child who is put to the test, his losses and sorrow mount. I kept thinking, please Jose, don’t leave him out there alone. His sacrifices deserve a reward.

We have Buck and Trigg, just a couple of good old boys out looking for Sasquatch. They are quite the characters and seem to pop up at just the right time. I can’t help but laugh at them, even though things don’t look so good to me, they don’t seem to understand how up a tree they are.

Volcanoes are popping up from the sea floor, spewing lava worldwide and it is alive.

I can see them, forming in the lava, jumping, flying, determined to find…US!

A plague, the Hell Virus, begins to spread. Humans are facing extinction.

The action is easy to visualize after watching all those Sharnadoes.

Funny, witty, sad, hopeful, uplifting.

The characters don’t all make it to the end, sometimes sacrificing themselves to save others. They grabbed at me, pulling me for and against them. I didn’t always like them, but they all had their contribution to make.

There is a twist that sets it apart from the B movies I love so much…spirituality.

I was hem hawing and telling myself, yeah I know that, then WTF, then, yeah I know that, then WTF.

Jose Prendes did a great job pushing my buttons at the end of Sharcano. I loved this novel and am looking forward to the next one.

5 Stars

ABOUT JOSE PRENDES (From Goodreads)

Jose Prendes, international man of mystery, was found swaddled in a basket among the reeds at the mouth of the Amazon. Raised by local shamans, Jose learned the magic of language and decided to dedicate his skills to the betterment of all mankind. He trekked to America at the age of 12, on foot no less, and made his home in Florida for a few years. After discovering a cure for the common cold, and losing it among his comic book collection, Prendes decided to abandon Florida for sunny Los Angeles.

Upon arriving in the city of angels, he was made the leader of a small group of cinephiles who believed he was the second coming of Shakespeare. Wielding immense power, and a ridiculously awesome dvd collection, Prendes continues his struggle to save the world from the coming peanut butter and jelly apocalypse.

Stalk him: Goodreads / Twitter

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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I laughed and I cried when I read The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on September 29, 2015 by fundinmental

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is another heartrending, yet uplifting novel filled with southern charm. It reads as if it is a true story. I laughed and I cried, as I followed Annie’s story.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Cover: damonza.com

MY REVIEW

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is Book II in The Memory House Series. I have read all of Bette’s books and her writing blows me away. Her novels read as if all is possible, if we just open our hearts. The characters are real and will tug at your heartstrings, demanding to be heard.

Ethan Allen has come a long way since I first met him as a child. Now, he has a family of his own and it is growing. Annie and Oliver, Ethan’s son, are getting married.

Ophelia had taught Annie about the memories attached to some objects and her ability to be able to connect with them…which brought her to Ethan and Oliver. Do you believe in miracles? In magic? Do you believe if we just open ourselves up to the endless possibilities, that we can all tap into something bigger than us?

The Keeper of the Scale maintains the balance of sorrow and happiness. I LOVE it. Most of the time he uses small, round river rocks to balance the scale, but sometimes there is such a huge discrepancy, he has to toss a boulder on there.

If you look hard enough in the stars at night, maybe you will see it.

“LibraCC” by Till Credner

Geez, Bette, I am only 6% into the story and have pulled out the tissues. I blink to see the words through my tears, my throat tightens and I find myself holding my breath.

Bette Lee Crosby’s characters are so real, they can be YOUR husband, YOUR friend…She takes me from a happy place to deep sorrow and back again. The rollercoaster ride drains me, as if I am going through it too.

When you think you know what’s going to happen, Bette Lee Crosby introduces a new character, a new wrinkle. There is so much happiness, I am waiting for the inevitable. Do the scales have to balance? Good with the bad? Happy with sad?

How many times have you sat, worried, when someone is late? How often have you yelled saying, “Why didn’t you call? For all I know you were lying hurt or dead in a ditch on the side of the road?” I sit…waiting…waiting for something to happen, knowing it is coming.

Bette is not afraid to put here characters to the test. The question is…how bad will it be?

Have your ever commented on how small the world is? How things seem to connect in the oddest way?

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is filled with intense emotion and a story that put me through all of them. I soared with the eagles, riding high and feeling free. I sank like a rock thrown into the water, going down further and further, unable to reach the surface. On that note, I can only say, “What comes next, Bette?”

I received The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win twenty awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.

Crosby’s published works to date are: Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011). A Cupid inspired romance, Wishing for Wonderful, is scheduled for release in November 2014 and Book Three of The Wyattsville Series, Passing through Perfect, will be be available in January 2015.

MY REVEWS OF BETTE LEE CROSBY’S NOVELS

Passing Through Perfect

Memory House

Jubilee’s Journey

Blueberry Hill

What Matters Most

Spare Change

Cupid’s Christmas

Cracks In The Sidewalk

The Twelfth Child

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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Elisabeth Wheatley’s Fanged Series left me breathless for more!

Posted on September 26, 2015 by fundinmental

Elisabeth Wheatley’s Fanged Princess series are vampire fantasy novellas that had me racing through the pages as I was drawn into Haddassah’s journey of love, sacrifice, revenge and suspense.

I could not quit reading until the last page.

I was left hanging off the cliff by my fingertips. I have a feeling all will be well (^_^), but I have to know.

I have already reviewed Fanged Princess, but included it again, because it is now FREE on Amazon and all other venues.

You can also read her guest post by going to

How my central Texas upbringing plays into writing about a girly vampire

I love the beautiful covers. She looks so sweet, doesn’t she?

Beware of her wrath!

Add me to Goodreads now.

SYNOPSIS

I will not let my brother suffer the same loss…

Hadassah’s father, the Vampire King, punished her harshly for her choice to love a human. Now her brother, the only person in the world who still matters to her, has fallen for a human girl. Determined to keep the girl safe, the three of them flee from their home in New England and find themselves cornered with their father’s minions closing in. If they want to escape, their only hope may be to join forces with the mortal enemies of their kind…

Be ensnared in this dark tale of enduring love, revenge, and suspense from teenage author, Elisabeth Wheatley.

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MY REVIEW

..

I thought I had already reviewed this, but with her new release, Fanged Outcast, I realized I hadn’t. I am rectifying that situation right now. You are in for a treat today. I will be reviewing both books, Fanged Princess and Fanged Outcast.

OMG. I was completely engrossed in this fantastic fantasy tale of love, sacrifice, revenge and suspense! The trio are on the run from her father and she will do whatever needs to be done to let them have a life together, the life she was deprived of. But they can’t do it alone. Who would help them? The cast of characters comes alive on the pages and Elisabeth creates some surprising alliances as they struggle to survive. At one point I am leaning forward in my chair as I breathlessly read the words flowing off the page. I think short stories must be some the hardest stories to tell. How do you pack so much into such a small package and keep the reader at your mercy. Elisabeth did that splendidly and I can’t wait to read more of Haddie’s story in the Fanged Outcast.

Haddie knew her father would not let the relationship continue. After all, he had ended the relationship she had with the human, Fletcher. She is an enforcer, A Kaiju, a vampire. She had never killed anyone to feed and because of her own experience never would.

Damian, her brother is in love with a human, Madelyn. His father will never allow this, so they are on the run.

Madelyn is the human girl Damian is in love with. Yeah, this might have been shades of Twilight, but it is so much more than that. My feelings about Madelyn grow and change as the story unfolds and her love and loyalty shine through.

Chase – Hmmm. What can I say, except I can hardly wait to get to know him better.

The three humans survey me with apprehension. A fanged princess in their midst.

I received Fanged Princess from the author in return for an honest review.

5 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Add to Goodreads now.

SYNOPSIS

How much would you sacrifice for a love that wasn’t yours?

Hadassah managed to befriend her kind’s worst enemies and save her brother and the human girl he loves from the Vampiric King—once. After a month spent in quiet hiding under the protection of the Huntsmen, a surprise attack from a band of Kaiju shatters their brief reprieve. Faced with new challenges and new threats, Hadassah and the others must once more fight for her brother and the girl who stole his heart. And this time, the Vampiric King isn’t the only one they need fear…

Action, suspense, humor, and romance collide in this anticipated sequel from teen author, Elisabeth Wheatley.

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My Review of Fanged Outcast by Elisabeth Wheatley

The Fanged series starts out as a fantasy romance then turns into so much more, with political intrigue and the machinations of other races, with their own agendas, vying for their alliance. Fanged Outcast, a vampire novella, picks up where Fanged Princess leaves off and I am so happy I didn’t have to wait for the story to continue. Damian and Madelyn are all Haddie has left and she will sacrifice everything for them. She struggles to come to terms with the acts necessary for them to be able to live without looking over their shoulders every day for the rest of their life. Chase and his family will have to face the Council and explain why they are working with vampires, putting themselves at risk to help the trio. Do they have an ulterior motive for doing so? It’s a wonderful journey through Elisabeth’s fantasy world as the races adjust and adapt, changing from adversaries to allies, all with their own agendas. The sharp barbs slung from Haddie to Chase and hints of humor splashed throughout this novella has me chuckling and I am loving Haddie’s feistiness and determination to protect Damian and Madelyn. I love Bear. Who doesn’t love the faithful hound? A nice touch of the normal added to the otherwordly.

I am so impressed with the great writing of such a young author. It is obvious her passion for writing and her imagination will be taking me on many more journeys through her fantasy worlds with her marvelous characters and stories.

Drat. I knew this was coming. I ran out of pages. Book III is due out later this year. Please write faster Elisabeth!

This is the curse of the Outcast – always on guard, never knowing who might come after you next.

SUVs are not to be tackled.

I received this ebook from Elisabeth Wheatley in return for an honest review.

5 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elisabeth Wheatley is a teen author of the Texas Hill Country. When she’s not daydreaming of elves, vampires, or hot guys in armor, she is wasting time on the internet, fangirling over indie books, and training her Jack Russell Terrier, Schnay.

Stalk Elisabeth Wheatley. She doesn’t bite, or does she?

Blog / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Amazon / Pinterest

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SOME HAPPY NEWS!

In celebration of The Key of Amatahns, going on a $0.99 sale for the first time ever, I will be sharing a post with my review, a giveaway and a visit from the author herself, Elisabeth Wheatley for The Key of Amatahns on September 30, 2015. The Key of Amatahns will be on sale for 99 cents from September 28th (Monday) and run through October 2nd (Friday), so stop by and get a copy for yourself from this amazing fantasy author.

Click on the Amazon affiliate link below to get your copy of an AWESOME Elisabeth Wheatley story.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Was this fanged princess review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads!

Tears of Love – For Nick by Taylor Dean (A Tag Team Giveaway)

Posted on September 23, 2015 by fundinmental

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Welcome to my Tag Team Events!

Laura and I are the Tag Team Bloggers.

You can find Laura at fuonlyknew.

We Tag Team an author and publish our posts at the same time.

Whether it’s for a cover reveal, giveaway, review, interview, or something more, the author will be tagged by us and you will be alerted to go to Laura’s blog or mine to see additional content. It’s really fun to see how differently we view the same book and you get an extra chance to win with our giveaways!

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FOR NICK by taylor dean

I am thrilled to have Taylor Dean on my blog today. For my peeps, you will find a familiar name. Welcome Taylor and take it away. Oh, be sure and read to the end to enter the fantastic giveaway from Taylor.

From the Author

I admit, when I wrote FOR NICK, I wanted to write a tear-jerker.

Why do women sometimes love books or movies that make them cry?

Good question.

Some ladies tell me they hate anything that turns on the waterworks. They say they feel utterly depressed when the book or movie is over.

Not me.

Image courtesy of [iosphere] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It makes me feel like I’ve experienced the meaning behind life, as if I’ve found the truth behind this crazy journey.

There’s something about observing the human experience without actually having to live through it. Perhaps it’s just learning what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes.

I feel somehow refreshed and my life seems so much better than before. I realize my problems and trials are not that bad after all.

Having a good soul-cleansing cry lifts my spirits and makes me feel in touch with my emotions.

My daughters and I will bawl like babies while watching a touching movie and then pronounce how good it was, leaving the men in our lives baffled and rolling their eyes.

That being said, I love a happy ending so I can smile and laugh after all those tears.

An HEA is a MUST HAVE in all of my books. FOR NICK is no exception.

I don’t consider myself to be much of a comedian, but the ending of For Nick always gives me a good giggle.

For Nick will leave you, at first, liking the hero, then falling in love with him, having sympathy for him, becoming irritated with him, feeling all out mad at him, then falling in love with him again–and laughing at his very human frailties.

Enjoy the ride!

Add me to Goodreads now.

For Nick by Taylor Dean

Cover Design: Jules Isaacs

MY REVIEW

Taylor Dean can spin a tale that will tug at your heartstrings and For Nick is no exception. I used to think that contemporary and inspirational fiction was not my cup of tea, but authors like Taylor have won me over. The fabulous writing and realistic characters have the ability to touch my heart and leave me wanting more.

I knew right away something was wrong and what would happen but not why. Taylor’s writing grabs my attention and doesn’t let go. She will lure you in, starting out all lovey dovey and sweet, then BAM!

Zachary’s grandfather had given him a choice. He had one year to find someone and marry, or he would lose his inheritance.

He chose Andie, because she said no in a firm and funny way that intrigued him. I couldn’t help but smile at her response to him.

The deal, one year of marriage, one episode of consummation, one million dollars.

The dance of love, when all is bright fun and breathtaking. The banter between him and Andie is fun. They act like kids in love, sometimes goofy and playful.

Why are we so closed that lack of communication can ruin something so good? I get frustrated with no communication. The “funny” thing is, it complicates real life too. Taylor has a way to make her characters come to life, draw you in, and never let you go.

The saying curiosity killed the cat is so appropriate, but I will leave it to you to find out why for yourself.

The restaurant scene not only broke my heart, it pissed me off. Tissues required.

I was already on verge of tears, but when Andie said “I’m scared,” my tears flowed and my throat tightened. I couldn’t see the words through my tears streaming down my face. I tried to read through them so I could find a happy place to take a breath. Painful and sweet, laughter with the tears, isn’t that life?

The story is predictable, but the journey is an adventure I was delighted to be on.

For Nick smacks of the Pretty Woman movie, with Julia Roberts, fairy tales and miracles.

Taylor has a way with endings. You think you know it, but she puts in a special twist that clutches at your heart, yet fills it with joy. She adds that little twist that will make you smile and crave more. I want to tell you so much more…but I am done.

This is a story you want to learn on your own, no spoilers from me.

I received a copy of For Nick by Taylor Dean in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

What would you do for love?

Zachary Drake had love in his life—and tragically lost it. He knows it won’t come his way again. Andie Parker would do anything for the love of her life.

Even marry a total stranger.

In spite of the unorthodox manner in which Zach and Andie come together, there is no denying that things are unexpectedly good between them, taking them both by surprise.

However, when secrets come between them—and trust does not—Andie soon finds herself vowing to never make the same mistake again. But, she’d do it again in a heartbeat and she knows it. She’d marry a hundred strangers if it helped Nick. She’d do anything for Nick . . . anything.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.

To find out what Taylor Dean is up to, follow the links below:

Website/Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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MY REVIEWS FOR TAYLOR DEAN’S BOOKS

Loss, grief, sorrow and the love that binds – I’m With You by Taylor Dean (Book Trailer, review coming soon)

A sweet romance – Joshua’s Folly by Taylor Dean (Review)

sierra by taylor dean – Come on over and take a peek (Book trailer)

Missing Any Memories? i have people by taylor dean (Review)

sierra by taylor dean (Review)

the middle aisle by taylor dean (Review)

Is he a ghost? A vampire? Is he even real or just a figment of her imagination? (Lancaster House Review)

GIVEAWAY

Three winners!

Up for grabs: The first winner will receive a signed paperback, bookmark, and tote-bag. (US only) AND the second two winners will receive a Kindle ebook. (INT. Sorry, kindle only.) To enter, leave Taylor Dean some love below and leave your email so you can be notified. Giveaway ends October 7, 2015.

What makes you cry?

WINNERS: My winners: First prize: Linda Nadwodny Moore
2 ebooks: Lynda Dickson and Rita Wray

Laura’s winner: First Prize – Anne

Two ebooks – babyblue and betty w.

For another chance to win, soar on the wings of love over to fuonlyknew.

The Complete Package – Island Secrets by R T Wolfe

Posted on September 18, 2015 by fundinmental

The vibrant yellow color on the cover of Island Secrets by R T Wolfe jumped out at me and made me check this out further. I do judge a book by its cover, at least my first impression. The cover can make me read on or pass it over for the next book.

I love stories that have anything to do with the water, so as I read the blurb, I wanted to read it even more.

Cover by ebook Prep

Island Secrets by R T Wolfe

MY REVIEW

I recommend this for adults due to the sex scenes. They are not necessarily erotic, but more romantic and important to the story.

OMG, a tropical island, treasure, murder, mystery and romance. Island Secrets is the complete package. Once I started, I could not stop until the last sentence was read.

Zoe is a boat captain and was a scuba instructor and guide, until she sold out to Dane after the death of her brother. She felt the guilt for letting him dive alone and was determined to find out what happened. She would not rest until she found his body.

Zoe can be a bit pushy, lol, which is putting it mildly. She refuses to be kowtowed to and coddled. She is not a hardcore, kickass ninja type, just independent and tough.

Dane is a treasure hunter. So why did he buy the business and why isn’t he out finding treasure? I think we know. He found Zoe infuriating and, oh so, desirable.

The small town cop was lazy and incompetent, but ruled his domain like a king. Ilbis Island is a small community and like all small towns, everyone knew everyone’s business. So…what’s the big secret?

What a job, cruising on the Gulf, watching the dolphins frolicking, checking out the birds at the sanctuary and I sure do wish I was on the tour with Zoe.

The dance scene with Dane and Joe was sizzling HOT! When they finally hooked up, I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. I won’t call this is a spoiler, because we all know it is going to happen. The sexual tension had been so thick you could cut it with a knife.

I love that R T Wolfe included all the wonders of Florida, not just the gorgeous turquoise water, but the bird life, loggerhead and green turtles and the need to protect them and the sea oats and dunes that help to save the beaches the casual way they dressed, half naked, the open air bars, the pleas to not on the dunes, use special lights so the turtle don’t go the wrong way when they emerge from the sand….

It’s as if I am living the life, well I pretty much am. It is all so familiar, except the skull and the murder. When Zoe walked on the beach, I felt the sand between my toes, the water rolling over my feet and the breeze heavy with salt in the air, coating my skin.

I have driven over the Skyline Bridge, just to say I did it. It is a beautiful view, with miles of water and I was lucky enough to be there at sunset.

I was so engrossed in the book I could not put it down until I found the answers I knew wouldn’t come until the end. What a fantastic journey it was. I wanted to sit at the bar with Dane, Zoe and her family. I wanted to lick my wrist, sprinkle the salt, lick the salt, down the shot of tequila and suck the lime wedge, chatting about what we did that day. It brings back such good memories to me. I have been there, done that, all while looking out over the Gulf and enjoying the salty air.

I loved this book, the writing was descriptive and detailed, putting gorgeous pictures in my mind. The mystery is still alive for Book II, but Island Secrets story was told.

I received a copy of Island Secrets by R T Wolfe in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

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BLURB

When Zoe Clearwater learns that the skull she found in an underwater cave is her missing brother, she sells her scuba diving business, Sun Trips Touring, and dedicates herself to unravelling her brother’s mysterious death.

Dane Corbin, the new owner of Sun Trips, is determined to prove to Zoe, now his employee, that he is not the womanizer he once was. But it’ll take more than profit to turn Zoe’s head.

Her investigation at a standstill, Zoe unearths letters from a secret lover among her brother’s possessions, along with plane tickets, a promise to run away to safety, and the painful realization that she’ll need Dane’s help.

As mercurial clues plunge Zoe and Dane into a life-threatening pursuit and the truth burns brighter and brighter, Zoe recognizes she needs Dane as much as her brother’s un-named lover needed him. But Dane will have to make it to safety, first.

Amazon / Google Play / B & N / iTunes

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EXCERPT

The muscles in his body reflexively tensed as he recognized the faint shade of dark blue that tinted her fingers and lips.

“Hey.” His hair dripped water on her face as he maneuvered over her and gave her a shake. “Zoe. What the hell? Are you okay?”

Her eyes rolled in his direction. She looked as if she’d seen a body. “Don’t call me Babe,” she croaked.

An unwanted smile spread across his face and, despite himself, he brushed the strands of hair from her smooth cheek. Checking the area, he spotted her pure oxygen tank under the boat dash. As he crawled to it, he noticed the expiration date was months away. At least she followed some rules. Her hand swatted him as he maneuvered the nosepiece under her nostrils.

“I feel fine,” she whined.

“You won’t soon. You ascended too quickly. I can tell. Breathe this, or you’re going to feel it.”

Of all things, she lifted her arm like she was checking for her frigging camera. Her lids closed when she spotted it on her arm. He hoped it was a sign of defeat as he slipped the oxygen tube around her head.

He glanced over his shoulder to make sure all was well with his boat, then searched for her cell in her bag. He couldn’t leave his divers, and he couldn’t leave Zoe. Knowing what he was doing, she grabbed his hand and shook her head. Cats’ eyes the color of the green water pleaded with him.

“I’ve got a boat out, Zoe. How do you think I found you? I have six divers in the water. I can’t leave them there with only my assistant.”

She let go and her eyes drifted closed again. Life was much easier before she talked him into buying out her business, before she started working for him.

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ABOUT R T WOLFE

R.T. was born and raised in the beautiful Midwest, the youngest of six ornery children. She married at a young age and began her family short after With three amazing small boys, life was a whirlwind of flipping houses and working two jobs in between swim lessons and Candyland. Now that her boys are nearly grown, R.T. spends much of her time on the road traveling from one sporting event to another serving as mom and cheerleader. She works to assist the several non-profit organizations that have supported her books and promote the work they do for those who cannot help themselves.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

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GIVEAWAY

R.T. Wolfe will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER HERE

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

#Giveaway – She is Perfectly TOXIC by Kristine Mason

Posted on September 16, 2015 by fundinmental

Kristine Mason’s latest novel, Perfectly Toxic, had me racing through the pages unable to put the book down until the last page was read.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Perfectly Toxic by Kristine Mason is a thriller that stars Melanie Scarlet. I love the CORE and am so excited to finally read Mel’s story. The language and sex scenes are pivotal to the story and I think Kristine handled them well.

“I think I broke her.”

With a start like that, I knew I was in for a horrific ride into the twisted psyche of Adeline. I can hardly wait to dive into all the creepiness to come, and I know there will be plenty of it. As I read along, mini movies played in my head. When I was done reading, I felt like I needed to take a shower.

Well, what can I say about Perfectly Toxic. I had three pages of notes, but it just wasn’t working for me. So…I tossed them out and here I am, just telling you about my feelings about this, hmmm, horrifying thriller and the sadistic, psychopathic, crazy as a loon villain, Adeline and her cohort, Rodney.

I laugh at Frankenstein. that was a comedy compared to what these two were up to. What they were doing goes so far past that, I am finding it difficult to put into words the events in Perfectly Toxic. The lives lost and the torture suffered under their hands remind me of the evil men behind human testing during the holocaust. Both of them belong under the jail, not in it.

The most repulsive thing of all, Adeline revels in it. She loves to watch her toys squirm. There is nothing she won’t do to get what she wants. Feelings…what are those? She sure doesn’t have any warm and fuzzy ones. She is ice cold and beware, to be near her could be hazardous to your health. She is very smart, well educated, manipulative and broken. Something is very wrong with her. OMG, she is not just a psycho, she is bat shit crazy and evil beyond words.

I love all the CORE characters, but I can relate well to Mel, an ass kicking, swamp raised, don’t look at me cross eyed kind of gal. She is the Ice Cream lady. She is also a cleaner. You need something to disappear, just contact Mel. She hides her girlie girlness behind a really sharp knife. She’s the type to stab you with the knife, then cook dinner with it. She is married to Cash, but it doesn’t seem to be going so well. They are both stubborn and have strong personalities. She hangs with men more than women and I do that too. I love that she goes to the dock when she has heavy thinking to do. The water calms her and it has the same effect on me. I have spent many a day Sitting on the Dock of the Bay…wasting time.

Mel’s cousin, Bobby turns up missing and the mystery begins.

When Mel takes Harrison to meet Cash for help, the scenario could be hazardous to Harrison’s heath, but it is laughable. The who’s dick is bigger scenario had me cracking up. Cash’s mantra to control his anger is Unicorns are magical. Imagine seeing a huge hunk of a man repeating those words over and over. His therapist had called his and Mel’s relationship – TOXIC.

Cash buys Mel flowers from the gas station just because. I can relate to that. Mr Wonderful, my hubby, brings home flowers from the grocery store. The element of realism is coming through loud and clear. I love their snarky and sensual dialogue.

Cash’s housemate is a German Shepherd named Dolly. They served in the Army together and she is the one who came home in a wheelchair. I love dogs, so I had to mention her.

Kristine ramps up the suspense as the search for Adeline takes on new meaning. Each of Kristine Mason’s stories read as the most twisted Criminal Minds on steroids episode. They are unique and original.

I am totally engrossed in the love story and then Kristine shocked me, woke me up and the pacing reached a level of urgency I hadn’t felt before.

I would love to be one of her characters, kicking ass, fighting evil and having some hot and heavy sex with a stud. What an adventure and one I only live through in Kristine’s words, hanging on each one.

NOW, we get to the best part, the last quarter of the book. I know how the story will end, villain 0 vs good guys 1 and the guy gets the girl, but, man oh man, the rollercoaster ride to get there leaves me breathless. The nail-biting, rapid breathing, sitting on the edge of my seat is the suspense reading an armchair junkie like myself lives for. I read a lot of mystery and suspense thrillers and it is books like Toxic and authors like Kristine that feed my need for thrills.

I can’t believe that the story lasted only six days. So much happened, so many emotions ran AMOK as I read, my head was spinning. I had to turn around and read it again. I would apologize for rambling on and on, but eh, I can’t help myself.

I received a copy of Perfectly Toxic by Kristine Mason in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5+++++ Stars

BLURB

What do you get when you mix a mad scientist, a psychopath, an ice cream lady and a repo man? Something perfectly toxic…

Melanie Scarlet is a knife-wielding badass who knows how to dispose of a body, and make evidence disappear. But Mel, a.k.a., the Ice Cream Lady, draws the line at one thing: she refuses to live with her husband, Cash Maddox, unless he quits the repo business that nearly got him killed—no matter how much she loves him.

To thaw Mel’s heart and convince her to leave the Everglades and move back home to Tallahassee, Cash is finally ready to retire from his adrenaline-fueled job…until homeless men begin vanishing. As Mel investigates the disappearances, Cash’s temper goes into overdrive when he realizes his wife has been keeping a dangerous secret from him. She’s been doing more than scooping ice cream—she’s a cleaner for the underground criminal investigation agency, Above the Law.

Mel isn’t the only one with a secret. A scientist has created a drug that will cure psychopaths by deadening the urge to dominate, hurt and murder. To prove his chemical combination works, he uses the homeless as test subjects. He breaks and scrambles their minds, turns them into killers, then tries to fix them. But what if the scientist creates a killer he can’t fix? A true psychopath he can’t control? As Cash joins Mel and the ATL crew, they learn firsthand, the results could be…toxic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good came from writing it. I realized my passion and found a career I love.

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.

Website / Email: authorkristinemason@gmail.com / Facebook / Twitter

MY REVIEWS FOR KRISTINE MASON’S NOVELS

Shadow of Danger / Shadow of Perception / Shadow of Vengeance

Ultimate Kill / Ultimate Fear / Ultimate Prey (review coming soon)

Celeste Files: Unlocked

Perfectly Twisted

All covers link to Amazon.

The Celeste Files of the Psychic CORE series are paranormal and supernatural novels that star Celeste, from the very first book in the CORE Shadow Trilogy, Shadow of Danger. I love the mix of psychics and ghosts, with murder and thrills. Check them out below.

Perfectly twisted is the beginning of another series, CORE Above the Law, that takes the characters even further than I thought they would go. I am LOVING it!!!

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ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION

GIVEAWAY

Kristine Mason has generously offered a print copy of Perfectly Twisted (US only) or a $5 Gift Card, your choice. Click for my review of Perfectly Twisted to help make your choice.

Ask Kristine a question and leave your email!

To those who left a comment before I added the giveaway, Kristine and I want you to know how we much we appreciate you, so you will be automatically entered.

Giveaway ends 9/30/15.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads

OMG! They’re back and more dangerous than ever. Dinosaur Lake III by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Posted on September 7, 2015 by fundinmental

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Welcome to my Tag Team Tag Team Events & Giveaways Page!

This is where myself (Sherry at fundinmental) and Laura at fuonlyknew tag team authors and their books.

We share our reviews and giveaways, giving you two views and two chances to win!

**all covers linked to Amazon, I am an affiliate**

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The Dinosaur Lake series by Kathryn Meyer Griffith is fabulous. Book III, Infestation takes the danger to a whole new level.

If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the cover. How would you like to meet that face to face?

We do have all sizes, color and types. Which one would you like to take home?

Be sure and scroll to the bottom to enter my giveaway and find a way to have a second chance to win.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Cover art: Dawne Dominque

MY REVIEW

I just recently watched the Jurassaic Park movies, over and over again, in preparation for the recent release of Jurassic Park III. It made me think of Kathryn Meyer Griffiths series of Dinosaur Lake books and I realized I had not reviewed Book III: Infestation.

So, let’s party with the dinosaurs. Kathryn writes this series in a way that reminds me of Jurassic Park. Even while in terror, there is a sense of enjoyment, humor and fun.

Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore is back. He has been mulling over the past six years, first a monster dinosaur in Crater Lake, then dinosaurs flying over Crater Lake. What comes next? Will it be a water, air or land animal?

Let’s ask boat captain Willie Sander.

Poor Henry. Not again. How many times will he have to go through this? Maybe he needs to approach it in a different way? How will we learn to live WITH them?

Our old friends are back. Ranger Kiley Stanton and Ranger Elle Stanton seemed to have hooked up and are the better for it.

Ann is free of cancer, but she had made up her mind that she would do what made her happy, spending time with her family and Sasha, her new kitten. They were even thinking of retirement.

I’m so excited to find out what we will be playing with in this book, but I hope my favorite characters don’t get bumped off during the adventure. Kathryn is not afraid to kill off her characters.

I knew when he didn’t close the door all the way what would happen. No, No, Sasha. Come back. Will she or won’t she make it? I’m not telling. Even little kitties are on the dino’s snack list.

Justin, Henry’s son in law has been doing investigating of his own. Could this be happening in other locations? Oh man, it just keeps getting better and better.

They’re here. They’re big. They’re hungry…and they aren’t going anywhere. A dino apocalypse.

Nice twist, Kathryn adding Steven, a musician, dinosaur lover and ebook writer.

Denial of the problem could mean you would be served as lunch.

After watching Jurassic Park, it is easy to visualize the herds of dinorsaurs, their attacks, their eating snacks, which included pet squirrels and innocent people.

Kathryn’s writing makes me know that no on is safe. I may lose some friends. The big question is…who?

Dinosaur Lake is Jurassic Park without genetic manipulations, on steroids. Kathryn takes it so much further. The dinosaurs are mutating, they have sharp teeth and claws, are quick on their feet, attack in groups and herds, are vicious and smart, plotting attacks and setting traps the the unsuspecting humans. They are communicating with each other. They hit and pounce, like a cat playing with a mouse.

I have had a feeling from the opening ages that something really bad will happen and I am not going to like it. That is what makes Kathryn’s Dinosaur Lake novels so good. She pulls no punches, yanks the run out from under your feet as soon as you feel you are on solid ground and demands that you pay attention at every turn. Ignore the warnings at your own peril. I am left with a lot of questions and wonder…do I have to draw my own conclusions, or will there be more to come? How about it Kathryn?

I received Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation from Kathryn Meyer Griffith in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore has dealt with and fought real live dinosaurs at his beloved Crater Lake National Park for over six years. With the help of his rangers, a few brave FBI friends and army soldiers he’d been victorious over a prehistoric lake creature and years later some particularly fiendish, and clever, specimens of the flying variety. He and his newspaper publisher wife, Ann, thought their park was finally rid of the monsters and they could reclaim their tranquil life in a place they cherished. Not so. For suddenly across the park new and even more malevolent mutant species of dinosaur begin to appear and create havoc, attacking the park’s visitors and threatening its peace. And this time the primeval scourge isn’t confined to just their park. The creatures have moved into the nearby towns, across the western United States and up into Canada. They are so much more aggressive, smarter and hungrier than any that have come before and the infestation is spreading further and faster than Henry and Ann can even imagine. This time there’s no easy way to defeat the dinosaurs. There’s too many of them and they’re too devious. This time it’s full out war and the victor will someday claim Earth.

ABOUT KATHRYN MEYER GRIFFITH

I’ve been writing for over 41 years now…published for 30 of those years since 1984; have EIGHTEEN novels, 2 novellas and 12 short stories to my name…and more coming. Aug. 30, 2012: I (first time ever!) SELF-PUBLISHED MY 16TH NOVEL *DINOSAUR LAKE* TO AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT! January 2013 I SELF-PUBLISHED MY 17TH NOVEL *HUMAN NO LONGER*, my fourth vampire novel. Also in January 2013 I self-published my rereleased murder mystery (originally a 2003 Avalon Books hardcover) SCRAPS OF PAPER-Revised Author’s Edition and FOUR SPOOKY SHORT STORIES, a collection of 4 horror/romantic horror short stories.

I write traditional supernatural horror, SF horror, romantic time-travel, murder mysteries and paranormal romance. I’ve been writing about ghosts, ancient Egyptian spirits, haunted places and evil vampires WAY LONG BEFORE Stephanie Meyer (no relation to me even though my maiden name is Meyer) and the rest of the vampire author crowd, ha, ha. And now ALL 15 of my older Zebra, Leisure paperbacks, Avalon Books murder mysteries and my Wild Rose Press books have been revised, reprinted and rereleased for the first time in many years (and in e-books for the first time ever) from DAMNATION BOOKS www.damnationbooks.com and ETERNAL PRESS www.eternalpress.biz and AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT. Yippie! So look for them.

I’m a wife of almost 35 years (husband, Russell), mother (one son, James) and grandmother (two grandchildren, Caitlyn and Joshua). I was a graphic designer in the corporate world for 23 years; and have published with Dorchester, Kensington, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle Direct, Damnation Books and Eternal Press, and Amazon Publishing. Six years ago I crossed over into e-books as well as paperbacks and now ALL my old/new books are in ebooks…and soon to be in AUDIO BOOKS from ACX. I love cats and nature, classic rock and country music (my brother, JS Meyer www.jsmeyermusic.com, is a singer/songwriter and does the songs for all my self-made book trailers that are on my websites). VISIT me at www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG or www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith to see all my book covers and trailers.

My published books: (ALL OF THESE OUT AGAIN…PLEASE LOOK FOR THEM!) Human No Longer (2013),Dinosaur Lake (SF horror), Scraps of paper-Revised Author’s Edition, Evil Stalks the Night (supernatural horror), Leisure 1984; The Heart of the Rose (historical romance) Leisure 1985; Blood Forge (supernatural horror), Leisure 1989; Vampire Blood (romantic supernatural horror), Zebra 1991; The Last Vampire (supernatural horror), Zebra 1992; Witches (romantic horror), Zebra 1993 & Pinnacle 2000; a novella called The Nameless One in Dark Seductions, an erotic horror anthology, Kensington, 1993; The Calling (supernatural horror), Zebra 1994. The Nameless One, a short erotic novella in the 1994 Zebra Anthology Dark Seductions. And Scraps of Paper (hardcover mystery) Avalon Books, 2003; All Things Slip Away, the second mystery in the series came out also from Avalon Books in February 2006 and now both are out again from Amazon and both in ebooks for the first time ever. And my three novels and two short stories from The Wild Rose Press are out again from ETERNAL PRESS: Egyptian Heart(ancient Egyptian time travel romance); Winter’s Journey(a romantic suspense novel); The Ice Bridge, (a contemporary romance e-novel with a dose of murder mystery) and two ghostly short stories, Don’t Look Back, Agnes and In This House. BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons, an apocalyptic saga from Damnation Books, June 2010. THE WOMAN IN CRIMSON, a vampire eternal love story, is out now from ETERNAL PRESS http://www.eternalpress.biz. The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Volume 1 (I did the Introduction) 2011 and Telling Tales of Horror 2012(I did the chapter on Putting the Occult into your Fiction)***

Goodreads / Authors Den / Website

Dinosaur Lake I is an 2014 Epics Award Finalist in the Suspense/Thriller category. Check out

My review: Creature Dines on Crater Lake Smorgasboard

My review: They’re Here – Dinosaur Lake II by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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GIVEAWAY

Kathryn Meyer Griffith is offering for the giveaway three (3) ebooks of Dinosaur Lake III. International. Entry is easy peasy. Just leave a comment along with your email address.

Answer Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s question…What do you do when they are smarter than you?

For a second chance to win and another review, visit fuonlyknew.

Giveaway ends 9/21/15.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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Beware, things are not what they seem – Zed by Jason McIntyre Review

Posted on September 2, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Zed by Jason McIntyre!

I love this cover and joined the tour because of it. I am very happy I did.

This was a great story that had me asking, is this paranormal, science fiction, horror? WTF is going on?

Zed…The title alone had me curious and I love what Jason McIntyre did with this unique story.

I have some great things to share with you, so grab your coffee, get comfy and let’s begin.

Cover: Greg Simanson

MY REVIEW

The unusual title, Zed, and the gorgeous cover hooked me. Zed is a wild ride on a wave of evil and horror that will have you questioning the evil that lurks around us.

In the opening pages, Jason McIntyre included a map of Dove Cove and I love that.

Right from the beginning, with the little old lady, Karen, Jason got me. I love it. He grabbed me by the hand and never let me put the book down until the last page was read.

Tom worked for her in the group home for the mentally disabled.

Zed, Zeke, what can I say about him. He was different than the others and I thought him very creepy.

Jason McIntyre amazed me with his characters, good and bad. They each have their distinct personalities. Sometimes, the least likely people are the ones that step up and do the right thing, regardless of the outcome. I loved them all.

It’s so hard to describe this book without giving away the good parts. A bit of horror, suspense, thriller and mystery, Zed kept me reading until the last page was read. A creepy mystery in Dovetail Cove.

This is a MUST READ for those of you who love mystery, the best and worst of humanity and an ending I never saw coming but left me feeling just fine.

I received a copy of Zed by Jason McIntyre in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

It’s the waning dog days of August, 1975 and Tom Mason’s in Dovetail Cove for the last few weeks of his summer job at the group home. His boss and the home’s owner is Karen Banatyne, one of the wealthiest folks in town. It seems like she’s got it in for Tom; she’s the only one standing in his way as he scrimps for a new camera.

But Karen has her own problems. A regulatory agency might cut off her funding, plus her hubby hasn’t been seen in a few weeks, and she’s not saying why. Most ominous of all, it seems as though something’s hiding in the hot spring north of the main beach and one of Karen’s ‘houseguests’ is about to come face to face with evil. Tom is too.

Buy on Amazon

Author Interview

What has inspired you to become a writer?

Inspiration to tell stories came early. I was the kid in the fourth and fifth grade sneakily reading Stephen King novels at 800 pages apiece behind my propped-up math text book. At eight, I was the editor of a short-lived school paper and we didn’t have enough content to fill the back page. I went home and hauled out my Mom’s old IBM typewriter to begin an epic serial about two young girls who are abducted by aliens in their backyard. I knew I had something when the other kids begged to know what would happen in part two. Alas, the teacher who managed the newspaper project got a transfer and part two of the saga never made it out. I guess, in a way, I’ve been writing towards the end of that tale ever since.

How do you come up with your characters and how do you make them so interesting?

I start in a very visual way. Without even closing my eyes, I can clearly see what’s happening and, as I noodle around on the ‘what’ of a story, I eventually start to form a visceral view of the ‘who’ in the tale. The people inside that vision have to become real to me, even before I start the first sentence. If they don’t then I don’t care about them. I have to care, or else I never haul them out of trouble. And, really, isn’t that what makes fiction great? Dumping someone you care about into a heap of worry and then methodically traipsing them out of said trouble in a believable and satisfying way.

My biggest conundrum is when a dazzling or lovely person gets in a trap and they aren’t pulled out in time. It’s the biggest challenge for me — I can’t save everyone and, sometimes, a character I adore needs to die so that things keep chugging for the whole story. Forgive me, readers. I will kill again.

What makes your stories and books different than other books you have read? Everyone has their own style, what is yours?

I mix and match genres, influences and types of stories. One major thrust of my writing life is to never repeat the same kind of book twice. I want to push myself to unearth new and different pieces of myself as I tell stories. So while a book like ZED has companion books that have a flow between them, there are nearly a dozen different genres represented among them. One might be a coming-of-age paranormal while the next might be a murder mystery and then I may discover that the next works best as a straight-ahead horror. There’s noir and crime books and even a western. Now, do they all look exactly like their home genres suggest? Not at a glance. They use the tropes from each genre but usually in a new mix. They meld into something that, I guess, looks and reads like a Jason McIntyre novel. Hopefully, readers enjoy the journey through all the different places I like to play. Oh, and I hope they get scared and a little upset along the way.

Do you plan on writing any other genres?

Future genres include something that no one who’s read my work will believe. I want to write a romance novel and a deeply historical fiction that is true to an extremely ancient time period. As always, I want to have fun with what I write, and produce something unique that interests readers, but pushes me into new territory.

Anything else you would like to discuss about you as a writer?

ZED is part of a mosaic novel. The only other writer I know who’s written this kind of a work is George RR Martin. His mosaic comprised of books written by a dozen different writers all working within one world and telling stories about the same characters.

DOVETAIL COVE works in a similar way. The characters flow in an out of the background of several books and the island setting is the same place, spanning a decade in the history of one place that has a succulent past and a lurid present. The difference between Martin’s mosaic and this one is that I’m writing all the pieces myself. Each DOVETAIL book stands on its own, with a distinct beginning, middle and end. But if you read more of them, the pieces of a much larger puzzle begin to fall into place. At present, ZED marks the fourth of ten books to be released. Others available now are BLED, SHED and DREAD. Look for new ones in 2015 and 2016.

Getting to Know the Author as a Person

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I travel as much as I can and spend time with my crazy kiddos. Readers and friends from social media will likely remember all the posts about the nutty things my kids say. I won’t even mention my wife here. She has her own cult following among my Facebook and Twitter feeds.

I have built a lovely studio in my home and use it to write music, paint when I’m able and, yes, nap profusely when the spirit is not moving me otherwise.

What relaxes you when you need to unwind?

Creation of every sort is about the most relaxing thing I can imagine doing. I adore many forms of music and art and, when I’m in the middle of drafting a new book, it’s the greatest escape from life’s stresses. I peel back the page and transport to an entirely new place as I write. The process of uncovering a story is food for my soul.

What are your favorite foods?

I have always loved to travel and try new experiences and dishes wherever I go. Lately, I’ve been on a jag for Eggs Benedict and have been trying that in as many countries and cities as I can. Now, of course, lots of places don’t have that so I’ve broadened it to ordering eggs prepared in whatever style is most prevalent in the place I’m visiting. It’s really interesting to discover the different cooking methods — not to mention the different kinds of birds’ and lizards’ eggs that have been brought to my table!

Have you ever had any paranormal experiences?

I’ve had what I call ‘inconclusive’ paranormal experiences. Things have happened that, even after intense scrutiny, a rational person might not be able to form a judgment as to whether it was explicable by science or by para-science. Rest assured, all strangeness in my world (paranormal or just odd and intriguing) eventually finds its way into a story or two. Writing, I’ve discovered, has really become my own form of torture, er, I mean self-therapy. I write to understand the events of the world, of people and of my own life.

Tell us anything you would like your readers to know about Jason McIntyre.

I once shared a bottle of expensive red wine with a homeless man. The throat infection I developed the following week nearly put me in the hospital and my health insurance had lapsed so I couldn’t get a scrip for antibiotics. I went through six tubes of topical Polysporin. Yep, I gargled the stuff five times a day until I could see straight again.

About Jason McIntyre

JASON MCINTYRE is the #1 Kindle Suspense author of THE NIGHT WALK MEN, bestsellers BLED and SHED, plus the multi-layered literary suspense, THALO BLUE. His first novel, ON THE GATHERING STORM, earned a spot in the Top 20 Debut Authors for the Goodreads Choice Awards.McIntyre’s debut novel, ON THE GATHERING STORM was VOTED as one of the TOP 20 DEBUT AUTHORS — Goodreads Choice Awards

Learn more and connect with the author at www.theFarthestReaches.com

Amazon Author Page

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