Southern Charm at its finest ~ Memory House by @BetteLeeCrosby

Posted on June 2, 2015 by fundinmental

Time and time again, Bette Lee Crosby captures me with her writing.

In her latest novel, Memory House, the southern charm oozes from the pages, the characters read as if they are my friends and family and the storyline captivates me.

The beautiful cover makes we want to walk up to the door, expecting Ophelia to be there, opening it before I have the opportunity to knock.

Check out the links at the end of the post for more novels by Bette Lee Crosby and my reviews of her books. Happy reading!

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

…books and stories, that’s where the magic is

Bette Lee Crosby is a master storyteller and her latest novel, Memory House follows the path of all the rest of her novels I have read – excellence. Her captivating characters had me eating out of their hands.

Bette’s writing takes us back and forth, between the past and present of Ophelia’s life, since she entered Memory House in Richmond, Virginia. She is such a wonderful person, alone, yet so giving of herself to others. She runs a small apothecary shop that may supply someone with items for beauty, a common cure, or a love potion that a weary traveler may need. Ophelia has many memories, not all of them her own. It is time for the passing of the sword. Could Annie be the one she has been looking for?

Annie will find herself on Ophelia’s doorstep, after a failed relationship.

Michael, her boyfriend is a super jerk, taking advantage of her desire for a relationship and her easy nature. He trots through life as if he is her gift from God and his desires are her desires. Boy is he in for a surprise as she realizes she doesn’t have to have him in her life. Will she leave him? Will such an arrogant personality allow it? He was so sure he could leave and come back whenever he wanted and she would be there waiting for him.

I felt a sense of danger in the writing and the thought that maybe Michael, her ex, would come after her, but Bette Lee Crosby’s dangers are more subtle.

Funny how smells can bring forth powerful memories and here at the Memory House Bed & Breakfast, they were good memories, healing memories, for Annie. Will the magic of Memory House enter her life and soothe her soul, giving her a purpose?

Ophelia and Annie quickly develop a comfortable relationship, as if it is meant to be.

Bette Lee Crosby has a way of giving you comfort when bad things happen. Sometimes I need to be reminded of the simple pleasures in life and her writing does that for me.

As per Bette Lee Crosby’s books I have read in the past, the story ends with tears of happiness swelling in my eyes. Another wonderful heart warming story of love, life, pain and sorrow, and the path her characters must walk through in life.

I received Memory House in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for those forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond ninety.

Before time runs out Ophelia must find a successor. Someone who can take hold of the gifts and keep the memories from fading.

When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. The two women forge a bond of friendship as they sip magical dandelion tea and share stories. When Annie starts to sense the memories Ophelia is delighted, but then a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia fears things have gone too far.

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby shares the storytelling charm of her Southern Mama in tales that are both heartrending and heartwarming. She is best known for her creation of characters that readers find unforgettable.

Passing through Perfect is Crosby’s tenth novel and the third book in the Wyattsville Series that began with the USA Today Bestseller Spare Change. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win another twenty literary awards, including the Royal Palm Literary Award, the Reviewer’s Choice Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal and the 2014 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

You can check out other her other novels and my reviews by clicking on the links below:

Passing Through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby & Giveaway

She Did It Her Way – Review for Blueberry Hill by Bette Lee Crosby

Interview & Review for Bette Lee Crosby’s Jubilee’s Journey

Review of The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

Show a little southern hospitality to Louise in What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby

Review of Cracks In The Sidewalk by Bette Lee Crosby

Review of Wishing for Wonderful by Bette Lee Crosby

What do you do with your Spare Change?

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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?

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Senior Citizens Beware ~ Blood Ties by Ashley Fontainne

Posted on June 1, 2015 by fundinmental

Ashley Fontainne is an amazing award winning and bestselling author that you will want to check out. Her novels are so good, they are being optioned for film.

Ashley Fontainne has teamed up with her mother, Lillian Hansen, in her new release, Blood Ties.

I am so excited to share all the goodies below, so please, grab a beverage, put your feet up and enjoy.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Ashley Fontainne and Lillian Hansen’s Blood Ties has a level of creepiness and reality that will linger long after you have finished reading the novel. The mother and daughter writing team continues into the characters of the story with Karina and her mother, LiAnn.

Karina, a private investigator for We’ve Got Ya, and LiAnn, a cop, had become sickened after their last case, that dealt with the abuse of senior citizens in assisted living facilities and quit their jobs. Now, it was off to Grandma and Grandpa’s farm in Arkansas.

Karina does not have female friends, except for her mother, who is her best friend. I love Karina’s badassery and the snarky dialogue between and her mother. My mother is my best friend and I spend more time around men than women. Who has time for cat fights, jealousy and shopping? Not me. I am not afraid to tell my mother anything, like Karina, sometimes in very “colorful” words. I do love Karina’s foul mouth and her “take out my gun and shoot you” attitude. I love fast cars and beer, too, Karina. She has a black Charger, with dark tinted windows and racing tires. She named it Dragula, after a Rob Zombie song based on the Munsters. Makes me think of driving the country roads when I first moved south with my Monte Carlo SS and doberman. Karina has a big dog, a 100lb black lab. I sure see the similarities and feel right at home with Karina and her family.

Of course, we need a love interest and her encounter with one of the twin Greek Gods had me grinning at the descriptive writing, which drew me further and further into Blood Ties.

Karina’s biggest Achilles heel is the mistreatment of senior citizens. She will not stand by and watch them be neglected or abused…by anyone.

The Magnolia is an assisted living facility that houses some of her grandparents friends. As Karina and LiAnn become aware of some funky goings on, they begin to investigate on their own.

Caesar is a mobster, a ruthless criminal and ex assassin that has taken many lives. When his wife dies, I find it impossible to feel empathy for him. What about the families he ruined? He has his sights set on The Magnolia, but…money isn’t the only thing he will be taking from the seniors.

Nick runs The Magnolia and sold his soul to the devil – Caesar – in return for money. He stuck his head in Caesar’s noose and would never get it out. Terror stalks him, day and night.

The Magnolia is understaffed with poorly trained workers, residents are neglected and abused – lawsuits and government investigations abound. How relevant is that today? Will you be in an assisted living facility? Blood Ties is a very thought-provoking novel that will haunt me into my golden years.

What can I say? I LOVE Blood Ties. Ashley Fontainne and Lillian Hansen’s ability to grab me from the beginning and keep me turning page after page, unable to put the book down, is proof of their awesome writing. The emotion I felt while reading ranged from happy and playful to rage and the need for justice. But is there any justice for crimes so despicable that I cannot find the words to describe them?

Blood Ties by Ashley Fontainne and Lillian Hansen is the first in a three-part murder mystery/suspense series and I can hardly wait to see what they come up with next!

I received the ARC of Blood Ties in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

LiAnn Tuck and her daughter, Karina Summers, are settling into their new life, enjoying the small farming community of Sheridan, Arkansas. The slower pace, compared to the craziness of Los Angeles, is a welcome distraction for them both. Taking care of her aging parents and their small farm is just what LiAnn needs to forget her twenty-five-year career as a detective. And Karina’s new love interest brings back the smile she lost from years of undercover work and her cheating ex-boyfriend.

The Bonds

Their idyllic lifestyle changes the minute a family friend, Cecil Pickard, pays a visit. He lives at The Magnolia, an independent living facility in Hot Springs, and believes someone is stealing from him. LiAnn and Karina offer to investigate and suddenly find themselves inside a living nightmare.

Are Permanent

Theft isn’t the only criminal activity taking place inside the historic, stately walls of The Magnolia. Organized crime has infiltrated Hot Springs, and what they’re after is not only money, but life itself. As LiAnn and Karina dig deeper, they might just be digging their own graves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne is an avid reader of mostly the classics. Ashley became a fan of the written word in her youth, starting with the Nancy Drew mystery series. Stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters that lurk within us are her favorite reads.

Her muse for penning the Eviscerating the Snake series was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Ashley’s love for this book is what sparked her desire to write her debut novel, Accountable to None, the first book in the trilogy. With a modern setting to the tale, Ashley delves into just what lengths a person is willing to go when they seek personal justice for heinous acts perpetrated upon them. The second novel in the series, Zero Balance focuses on the cost and reciprocal cycle that obtaining revenge has on the seeker. For once the cycle starts, where does it end? How far will the tendrils of revenge expand? Adjusting Journal Entries answered that question: far and wide.

Her short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five, touches upon the sometimes dangerous world of online dating. Number Seventy-Five took home the BRONZE medal in fiction/suspense at the 2013 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards contest and is currently in production for a feature film.

Her paranormal thriller entitled The Lie, won the GOLD medal in the 2013 Illumination Book Awards for fiction/suspense and is also in production for a feature film.

The suspenseful mystery Empty Shell, released September 29, 2014. Ashley then delves into the paranormal with a Southern Gothic horror/suspense novel, Growl, scheduled for release in the Spring of 2015. Plus, she will be teaming up with Lillian Hansen (Ashley calls her Mom!) to pen a three-part murder mystery/suspense series entitled The Magnolia Series. The first book, Blood Ties, is due out the Summer of 2015.

Ashley also hosts The WriteStuff, a popular BlogTalk Radio show, each Friday night at 10 p.m. CST.

For More Information

Visit Ashley’s website.
Connect with Ashley on Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about Ashley at Goodreads.
Visit Ashley’s blog.
Contact Ashley.

Check out my review for her awesome novel, Growl, here.

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

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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Will good conquer evil ~ Review and Guest Post for Witch of Death by Chrys Fey

Posted on May 28, 2015 by fundinmental

Chrys Fey is an author who has captivated me with her writing and I was very eager to read Witch of Death

Check out the gorgeous cover.

Add to Goodreads now.

Title: Witch of Death

Author: Chrys Fey

Genre: Supernatural/Suspense

Format: eBook Only
Page Count: 45 (short story)

Release Date: May 20th, 2015

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

MY REVIEW

Witch of Death by Chrys Fey is an awesome short of suspense, thrills, magic, witches and romance, wrapped up in a wonderful package.

Liberty Sawyer is called in by the police, when a magical murder occurs – a floating corpse and a spell cast by an evil, dark magic sorcerer bring her and Reid together.

She is a psychic, a witch to be exact. She takes no guff about whether you believe in her or not. She is a witch that hunts witches to be burned alive and has a gaze that can freeze a man in his tracks. Reid learns that first hand.

Detective Reid Sanders is a skeptic. Does he fight believing in her so much because he is in lust after Libby?

Chry’s Fey’s writing is sooooo good, that I will be reading anything she puts out!

Witch of Death is a short, but powerful read. Libby had me eating out of her hand from the first pages. The characters are well developed and got me so involved, I hated for the story to end. I want more, please.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

GUEST POST

Welcome Chrys. I am so happy to have you here today!

Thank you for the great review and for letting me borrow your blog to talk about Witch of Death, Sherry! 🙂

Music is my constant muse when I’m writing. I have a list of songs I go to when I need to write romantic scenes and action scenes. There are also my go-to artists such as 30 Seconds to Mars, Sia, Evanescence, Imagine Dragons, and more.

Witch of Death originally had chapter titles that were deleted during the galley phases, and those chapter titles were actually names of songs that inspired those chapters. For fun, I’ll share the soundtrack for Witch of Death, so if you read the story, you can maybe look up the songs, too.

Witch of Death Soundtrack:

Murder by Within Temptation
The Bleeding by Five Finger Death Punch
Crystal Ball by P!nk
Faceless by Red
Pieces by It’s Alive
Enemy by Papa Roach
Eyes by Kaskade, Mindy Gledhill

Thank you all for visiting and hopefully commenting. 😉

Thanks, Chrys. I love learning what inspires an author. I look forward to having you visit again in the near future. 🙂

BLURB

Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the
supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of
nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical
murder involves working with a witch.

Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil
witch, so it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch and she
becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more
people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / The
Wild Rose Press / NOOK
/ KOBO

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.

When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later
rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.

You can connect with her on Facebook and her blog, Write
with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!

Author Links:

Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads

Check out my 5 star review for Ghost of Death here.

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

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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Review & Giveaway: Joshua and the Lightning Road by Donna Galanti

Posted on May 21, 2015 by fundinmental

Donna Galanti’s latest novel, Joshua and the Lightning Road, is an action adventure novel that kept me entertained from beginning to end. This may be for the younger crowd, but there is no reason you and I can’t enjoy it too and I did, very much.

MY REVIEW

This is a story of friendship, love, sacrifice, hope and courage. A wonderful, magical, mystery adventure for kids of all ages.

This book could start out: It was a dark and stormy night…

Joshua is the worrier and Finn is the adventurer. Finn is his Joshua’s best friend.

Their game of hide and seek ended badly. The lightning struck and when Joshua could see again Finn was gone and he was left with a warning…

He would be next.

So…it’s down the Lightning Road to find the answers. Let’s go together, shall we?

The descriptive writing showed me the road and I traveled it with Joshua.

There was the Child Collector who steals kids to sell.

The Reekers, because of their smell, he things they are stinky.

Giant ravens, like the Wizard of Oz monkeys and giant rats.

Myths, Greek Gods, and super powers.

Flying deer, sound familiar?

Takers – Earth people who came looking for the missing children. Not all are good.

Prophecy – one born who is part Earth human, part Nostos and part Olympian – the Oracle – all powerful. He could bring back all twelve gods. They would have to do good and close the Lightning Road forever.

I thought of so many movies I have watched that could have contributed to the writing of this story: Indiana Jones, where Kalimar abducts children to make them slaves; Harry Potter with his magic; the Neverending story.

Once I put my mind together with my inner child and let my imagination follow Joshua, the roller coaster ride shot out of the gate…

The characters are giving and go above and beyond anyone’s expectations. Some put their lives on the line for friends, family and all the missing children, while the others are so despicable, it makes me want to climb into the book and put them on the hamster wheel to produce the power, then finish them off after a suitable amount of torture.

Donna writes with humor interlaced throughout, giving this adventure that light touch that keeps it to a comfortable level for the youngsters.

“Mizzle – misty drizzle. “…we’re being mizzled right now.” “Better than being whizzled on.”

“If I ever got home again I would cherish every minute being bored. Bored was better than dead. “

I received this book in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Joshua and the Lightning Road
Publication date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Donna Galanti

SYNOSIS

Stay away from the window, don’t go outside when it’s storming and whatever you do, do not touch the orb.

Twelve-year-old Joshua Cooper’s grandpa has always warned him about the dangers of lightning. But Joshua never put much stock in his grandpa’s rumblings as anything more than the ravings of an old man with a vast imagination. Then one night, when Joshua and his best friend are home alone during a frightful storm, Joshua learns his grandpa was right. A bolt of lightning strikes his house and whisks away his best friend—possibly forever.

To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road to a dark place that steals children for energy. But getting back home and saving his friend won’t be easy, as Joshua must face the terrifying Child Collector and fend off ferocious and unnatural beasts intent on destroying him.

In this world, Joshua possesses powers he never knew he had, and soon, Joshua’s mission becomes more than a search for his friend. He means to send all the stolen children home—and doing so becomes the battle of his life.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Donna is the author of the Joshua and The Lightning Road series and the Element Trilogy. She is a contributing editor to International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine and blogs at www.project-middle-grade-mayhem.blogs…, a cooperative of published middle grade authors. Visit her at www.donnagalanti.com and www.ElementTrilogy.com. Donna wanted to be a writer ever since she wrote a murder mystery screenplay at seven and acted it out with the neighborhood kids. She attended an English school housed in a magical castle, where her wild imagination was held back only by her itchy uniform (bowler hat and tie included!). There she fell in love with the worlds of C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, and wrote her first fantasy about Dodo birds, wizards, and a flying ship (and has been writing fantasy ever since). She’s lived in other exotic locations, including her family-owned campground in New Hampshire and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives with her family and two crazy cats in an old farmhouse and dreams of returning one day to a castle.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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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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Review ~ Ghost of Death by Chrys Fey

Posted on May 21, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome and I hope you are having a wonderful day!

I am so happy to be able to share my review of this fantastic story by Chrys Fey.

Are you a ghost lover? Well, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Add to Goodreads

Title: Ghost of Death

Author: Chrys Fey

Genre: Supernatural/Suspense

Format: eBook Only

Page Count: 41 (short story)

Cover: Debbie Taylor

MY REVIEW

I love the etheral cover for Ghost of Death by Chrys Fey. The ghostly effect made me eager to read this wonderful and sometimes humorous novella about a murdered woman, who is now a ghost, and the investigation into her death.

Jolie figured, if she had to be a ghost, she would be the best ghost she could be.

She could walk through walls, but not tweet. I thought that was very funny and the writing set the tone for the rest of the story.

Jolie doesn’t know how she died, but she watched as the police examined her crime scene. She had been going to college to be a journalist and noted everything in detail. Imagine watching the police document the scene, taking your body to the coroner’s office, watching the care and the feelings the workers put into their work.

Imagine watching as your family identify your remains, wanting to reach out to them in their time of need, feeling their anguish and wanting to alleviate their pain.

Jolie was watching the officer in charge of her case, Avrianna, pacing in her office. She shouted out in anger at her. Avrianna whipped around and shouted, “You know what? You need to stop shouting in my ear…” I busted out laughing. Didn’t see that coming at all.

Avrianna is Jolie’s Ghost Whisperer. I loved that Chrys mentioned the TV show, Ghost Whisperer, with Jennifer Love-Hewitt. I used to watch the show every week and have been watching some reruns on ION TV.

Jolie would find out first hand why earthbound spirits stay.

This novella had it all for me: mystery, ghosts, a great storyline and characters that I loved. The humor sprinkled throughout the story helped to make up for the times when I wanted to cry for those left behind.

I would highly recommend reading this fun story of Jolie and the detective that is determined to solve her case, if a murder mystery can be fun. 😈

The author supplied me with a copy of Ghost of Death in return for an honest review. I can hardly wait to begin reading Witch of Death.

5 Stars

GUEST POST

Welcome to fundinmental, Chrys.

I am so happy to have you here to share some of your thoughts with us.

I love chapter titles as a reader and a writer. I think chapter titles are a special dose of creativity that writers add to their books for readers to enjoy, whether readers look at those titles of not. For Ghost of Death, my seven-chapter short story, I created chapter titles for a bit of humor. My publisher doesn’t use chapter titles for shorter works though, so they were stripped from my story during the galley phases. I wanted to share those titles with you now.

Chapter One – I Can’t Be Dead

Chapter Two – Ghost of Death

Chapter Three – Tea for One

Chapter Four – The League of the Dead

Chapter Five – What Happened

Chapter Six – Evidence

Chapter Seven – Pesky College Ghost

QUESTION: What do you think of my deleted chapter titles?

Thank you for having my on your blog, Sherry. You rock!

You are most welcome, Chrys. It is definitely my pleasure and I look forward to doing it again!

SYNOPSIS

Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life. Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can…by stalking the lead detective on the case.

Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way.

But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an earth-bound spirit forever.

BOOK LINKS

Amazon US / Amazon UK / The Wild Rose Press / NOOK / KOBO

Add to Goodreads

Also available: WITCH OF DEATH

SYNOPSIS

Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical murder involves working with a witch.

Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.

BOOK LINKS

Amazon US / Amazon UK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.

When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.

You can connect with her on Facebook and her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!

Author Links:

Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads

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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.

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

Thank you for visiting fundinmental!

Reality TV Murder ~ Serial Date by DV Berkom Review

Posted on May 17, 2015 by fundinmental

Hello Reader, meet Leine Basso.

I have read several novels by DV Berkom and find her ability to tell a story amazing. If you are a lover of the mysterious, thrilling, suspenseful world of murder, step inside.

I DARE YOU!

But…beware. All is not as it appears.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Paperback: 274 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 2, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1480008435
ISBN-13: 978-1480008434

MY REVIEW

Serial Date + Serial Murder = Serial Killer

Serial Date is a fast paced, tension filled suspense thriller that had me engrossed from cover to cover. The quirky and twisted characters made me wonder who was running the asylum. I love her covers. The colors are vibrant and they foretell the story inside.

A brutal, heinous murder on a reality TV show brings in Leine Basso, an ex Agency assassin, to watch over the contestants. The show consists of ex cons dating hot women and pretending they are serial killers. There are plenty of suspects, but what happens when everyone is targeted by a real serial killer?

It’s pretty bad when the cons are better people than the ones running the circus. So, let’s meet the main characters, even though the peripheral characters are important and have their own impact on the story.

Leine Basso – she may be an assassin, but she is no psychopath. She does have feelings and desires, just like the rest of us. It pains her that her daughter, April, holds the past against her and wants nothing to do with her. She cannot escape the past, no matter how far or fast she runs, but maybe she can kill it. Evil and danger come at her from more than one direction.

Deliciously hot and sexy Los Angeles Homicide Detective Santiago Jensen is assigned the case and the sparks fly when he and Leine meet. Would he risk his job to be with her? The heart wants what the heart wants and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t stop thinking of her.

Peter Bronkowski is a sick and twisted individual. It had been his idea for the show and he is more interested in the ratings than the deaths mounting up around him. He has fears and problems of of his own that do no include Serial Date.

Senator Buzz Runyon is a corrupt, arrogant and pathetic politician that visits the pages. He is controlled by his ‘little head” and in a very sick way. The only things he cares about is reelection and his sex games.

Leine has no idea what is coming her way, until April is abducted by the serial killer. But that can be said for Azazel. He has no idea of the storm that will be unleashed on him. Revenge is his motivation and he will not stop, until he gets it. Leine will not stop, until she gets her daughter back.

Serial Date is the first in a series of suspense thrillers that stand alone. It is easy reading, action packed, loaded with tension and sizzling romance. There are as many weak and twisted men as there are strong and determined women. DV shows the ugliness of human nature, but also the beauty and goodness. I love the taste of humor with my evil and DV deals with this in a way that seems real. After all, the police, medical examiners and others in awkward situations use laughter to get through the badness or discomfort.

I read, but didn’t review Serial Date right away, so I reread it. I thought I would just skim it and refresh my memory, but I ended up reading it word for word. I think I enjoyed it better the second time around, because I wasn’t in as big a hurry to find out how everything ended.

I would love to have a margarita at the Happy Mermaid with Leine. Gimme a call! 🙂

I received Serial Date from DV Berkom in return for an honest review. Thank you DV. It has been my pleasure! I LOVED it!

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

When former assassin Leine Basso’s daughter is abducted, she’s drawn into the twisted game of a serial killer who may be a grisly remnant from her past.

Determined to leave her old life behind, retired assassin Leine Basso accepts a job working security at one of television’s most popular reality shows, Serial Date. When a contestant is found dead in the prop closet, it appears the killer is one of the ‘bachelors’ on the show- an ex-con billed as a serial killer- but the detective in charge of the case isn’t so sure.

When Leine’s estranged daughter is abducted by a man claiming to be the real killer, she’s forced to rely on old skills to find her and must come to terms with who she really is. She soon realizes the murderer may be a grisly remnant from her past and she’ll need to use all of her cunning to stop him….

and rescue her daughter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

For more information, please visit her website at www.dvberkom.com.

Facebook / Twitter / Blog / Pinterest / Amazon US / Amazon UK/ Newsletter

Author Pages

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The Leine Basso Thrillers:

I have read some of her Kate Jones Thrillers:

5 Star Review – Yucatan Dead by DV Berkom

5 Star Review – A One Way Ticket To Dead by DV Berkom

The Kate Jones Thriller Series, Vol. 1 box set (includes the 1st four novellas in the series).

(The Kate Jones Thriller Series, Vol. 2 includes Cruising for Death (#5), YD, and AOWTTD, all for $8.99 (bought separately they would be 12.99)

***all covers link to amazon, I am an affiliate***

Check out all these beautiful covers for the Kate Jones thrillers by DV Berkom.

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Review: Kidnap by Sally Ann Melia

Posted on May 13, 2015 by fundinmental

Sally Ann Melia caught me totally off guard with this awesome story of two young boys lives, in Kidnap.

I will be making a note of this series so I will be sure and follow up with her future work.

Add to Goodreads

Cover: Nevena, Sugarbricks

MY REVIEW

I wasn’t sure about this book, but something kept pulling at me. It didn’t take long before I was fully involved in Teo and Guy’s world. I could not put it down and read it through in one sitting.

Teo is a recalcitrant prince, soon to be king and Emperor.

Guy Erma is an orphan who dreams of becoming one of the Dome Elite.

Two boys growing up, so different, yet the same. They have desires and insecurities, egos and jealousy.

When Teo has a nightmare of the tunnels…and finds himself taken there, I immediately tried to figure out who was behind the kidnapping. He just happens to be a pawn in the ‘game’ that is being played for the title of Emperor of Freyne.

The characters had me eating out of their hands and I think they will grow and develop into some exceptional people who think outside the box, making unpopular moves that take their world to a better place.

D’Elen McClain’s writing took me on a space odyssey that included all the things necessary to take me out of this world. We have shapeshifting aliens, telepaths and suicide fighters. Political intrigue, terrorism, plague. Wonderful writing, great world building and so much more.

I love the gorans, giant cats that are ridden like a horse, making me think of the creatures in Star Wars.

The thrill and suspense held my attention throughout and I love that D’Elen showed the good and bad of her characters, making them more believable.

I am curious how she will bring the different worlds together. This may be fiction, but it brings to mind some of the problems of our own world and the question of…will we ever learn to live in harmony with one another?

I want to know more of the story of Teo and Guy. Will Nell play an important part in the future? 🙂

I received this book in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

I don’t want to go… Do I have to go? 13-year-old Prince Teodor of Freyne knows his duty to the memory of his father and his kingdom. Always, he must help those less fortunate than himself. Yet a frightening nightmare fills him with foreboding, but still he must go – into the Dome.13-year-old Guy Erma lives in the shadow of the Dome, he has no father and no mother and his future is uncertain, he must start earning a living when he turns 14. He knows not where he will live or even how he will eat, and his only dream is to enter the military academy – at the heart of the Dome.Two boys as different as any two boys might be. One act of cruelty will throw their lives together, but who dare they trust?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sally Ann Melia The author was born in Wallasey, England, in 1964, and moved to the South of France when she was eleven. She spent her teenage years living in the cosmopolitan city state of Monaco and became immersed in its many languages and cultures. An English girl in a French school, for three hours each week she would sit at the back of the class as her colleagues learnt English. To pass the time, she wrote stories. This led to a lifetime of writing novels, scripts, stories and articles.

In her working life, Sally writes marketing communications and manages large international websites.

In 2010, Sally joined the Hogs Back Writers, a club located on the outskirts of Guildford, and she set about turning an old manuscript into this novel: Guy Erma and the Son of Empire. Sally currently lives in Farnham, and she is married with two children.

Connect with Sally: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

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Can she tame his beastly heart ~ Dragons Don’t Love by D’Elen McClain

Posted on May 11, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop for this amazing paranormal romance.

If you love dragons like I do, this series is a MUST READ!

You can see my review for Book I, Dragons Don’t Cry here.

Add to Goodreads now.

Title: Dragons Don’t Love by D’Elen McClain

Genres: Paranormal Romance

Series: Fire Chronicles

ISBN: 9781311864826

Book Length: 110

Publisher: BL Publishing

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N:  will be available on release date 5/5/15 / Apple

MY REVIEW

I am ecstatic to be able to share Book II of the Fire Chronicles, Laryn’s stoy by D’Elen McClain. This is one of the best dragon series I have ever read. I could not put it down. Dragons Don’t Love is an adult tale of romance and love that flows smoothly from the pages.

Laryn had been alone for 25 years, now it was his turn to claim his new bride. The symbiotic relationship the curse placed on both dragons and humans was misunderstood by both of them, but because of the dragons love of their brides, they are constantly learning more about them.

Laryn first meets Roxanne when she ends up on his back, trying to kill him. Silly human. She can’t hurt a dragon.

Laryn is stubborn and brings a lot of suffering onto himself, but that is the way of dragons and their pride. He has never been know for his gentleness with his new brides, but when he meets his warrior woman, Roxanne, he marvels at her desire to fight side by side with him. I love the cat and mouse game Laryn plays with Roxanne as he attempts to seduce her, but Dragons Don’t Love and he fights his feelings for her.

Dragons love to steal others treasures and a trip is made to Earth, where we find vampires, shapeshifters and an athlete named Tiger. LOL Thought that was great for some laughs.

Their relationship grows and develops, from acting like a couple of kids having temper tantrums, to adults learning to love and live together. The characters personalities shine through making me love them all, especially Ashrac. Who doesn’t love a baby dragon?

The writing and dialogue had me hanging on D’Elen’s words. At times it was humorous, other times sad, yet other times so very touching.

After Dragons Don’t Cry, I knew where this story was going, but I am still amazed at the ride, reading page after page, unable to put it down until the last word was read. I hated it to end.

Next…Sarn’s story, Dragons Don’t Forgive. I think there may be a new twist in this one and I am very eager to find out.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

It’s finally the day of claiming. A dragon charges in breathing fire and leaves with an unwilling captive as his new bride. Roxanne, one of the brides he will chose from, wants nothing to do with the tradition that has gone on for thousands of years. From an early age she’s had one goal…

Kill the dragon.

Laryn—arrogant, gorgeous, and heartbroken since the death of his former bride has a plan for the new one. He will never love again. Of course, the last thing he expects is a feisty warrior landing on his back with a sharp sword in her hands intent on death. His death.

It’s a match made in… well… you need to read to find out.

A dragon shifter fairy tale for adult readers.

EXCERPT

Laryn

I admire my nakedness in the looking glass, flex my muscles and watch them ripple with undeniable power. I am more than a mere human. I’m faster—stronger—deadlier.

I am dragon.

“Why are humans so inferior?” I ask myself aloud. Their weak bodies give them no advantages. And they are ugly, even their females. Their puny appearance and sickly skin tone only enhance their frailty. At least some of the women are decent companions if they don’t nag too much. I grumble loudly. Chances are I’ll be stuck with a whiner again. I’ll not put up with it and I’ll quickly teach her to fear me.

As amazing as I am in my human form, it holds no comparison to my dragon, which is superior to all others. My mind flashes to Acasia, Bastian’s mate. Yes, she is beautiful, but all her damn rules ruin it. It doesn’t matter that she is the only female dragon in existence. Today, I chose my new bride at the claiming ceremony. Her training will begin immediately after our return to my lair. The sooner she stops the waterworks and settles in, the better it will be for her.

I turn and walk through the large doors of my bedroom and stand on a rounded stone ledge looking over my kingdom. The wind whips across my naked body and blows hair into my eyes. It needs trimming. I will gift my bride with the privilege, if she cooperates. It will be her first reward, well… after I fuck her, of course. Fucking always comes first. Bastian had no clue how to control a human female and now he’s stuck with Acasia. I always show the bride who’s boss and immediately put them in their place. My way works best.

I spring from the ledge and dive off headfirst in my human form. I pull in the magic and my dragon bursts free—the small amount of pain completely overshadowed by my majestic form. I spread my wings and admire their fifty-foot span of beautiful blue against the morning sky. Fire erupts from deep in my chest and shoots more than one-hundred feet in front of me. My roar echoes through the canyon and reverberates off the cliffs.

In all my blue glory, I fly to claim my bride.

Roxanne

I sharpen my two-foot steel blade before holding it up against the morning sun. The light shines off the blade, which fractures it into multiple beams of brilliance. Soon it will bathe in blood—the magical blood of a dragon. I will clean off the gore using my white bride’s dress and dance in the red puddles after I kill him. No sister of mine will become a dragon’s bride today. My death for this deed will be satisfying—the ultimate sacrifice.

I’ve spent most of my life preparing. No one in the village knows my true intentions. My parents think I’m reconciled to my fate. I was born during the span of years that established me as a claiming bride. A week ago, a proclamation went up throughout town informing the brides that our time has come. Our duty to keep the peace between dragons and humans demands our presence at the claiming. Today.

Early on, I used my family’s need for fresh meat and my father’s disability as the reason for learning to hunt. Every minute of every day that I could safely get away from home, I sharpened my skills. If the men of my town won’t defend the women, I will.

Slipping off my dreary daily garments, I don the beautiful, white, sacrificial gown required to entice my enemy. I secure the sword into the hidden back sheath knowing I can remove it and use it before anyone stops me. The virgins of this town will truly have something to celebrate tonight. I adjust my dark hair so it completely covers the blade’s grip. I walk from the glade with my shoulders back and my head held high refusing to acknowledge my racing heart and shaking knees.

I have a dragon to kill.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Best-Selling Author D’Elen McClain is a retired sex crimes and homicide detective who managed to retain her sense of humor. She writes under three pen names dreaming about stories from life on the street as a beat cop in an unflattering blue uniform to paranormal and spicy romance.

USA Today Best-Selling Author, Holly S. Roberts, is her new adult and erotic writing pen name and Suzie Ivy is her tough crime fighting alter ego pen name.

Her two dogs, Dizzy, a Rottweiler with anxiety issues, and Duchess, her overweight Chihuahua, sleep and play under her feet while she writes at her home high in the Arizona mountains. She also keeps her pen in blue ink as a contributing writer for UniformStories.com, Below The Salt News, and Bad Luck Detective blog.

Author (Contact Links)

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway info: General tour giveaway. 2 – $25 Amazon gift cards, 3 – free books the back list writing as D’Elen McClain or Holly S. Roberts

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Does a beast have feelings ~ Dragons Don’t Cry by D’Elen McClain

Posted on May 10, 2015 by fundinmental

The Fire Chronicles is an awesome paranormal romance series about dragons by D’Elen McClain.

I feel so fortunate to be able to review not one, but the first two stories about these amazing dragons and the humans who love them.

Dragon’s Don’t Cry is the first of the series and I hope you come back tomorrow, or bookmark this page, and check out Book II, Dragons Don’t Love. There will be a giveaway also.

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I recommend Dragons Don’t Love by D’Elen McClain to anyone who loves fantasy and enjoys some adult situations. The sex scenes are often humorous and I would not label this as erotica.

I love dragons, so when I saw this cover and an opportunity to read Dragons Don’t Love, the story of Bastian and Acasia, I jumped at it.

Hera cursed the dragons after wiping out all but four males. Each will have their chance to find their soul mate, once very hundred years. Her daughter, my sister, was dead because of Drakon, a dragon, but Angelos thought it was wrong punish them all and would do what she could to watch over them.

The claiming brides, women between he ages of seventeen and twenty one, appeared for the dragon to make his choice.

Acasia is now on of them.

When the dragon came, Acasia marveled at its strength and beauty, was drawn to it, thinking, it’s mine.

Acasia is a nerd. Instead of dreaming of a man, like the other girls her age, she is fascinated with mathematical facts and figures. I loved the scene where Bastian is playing cards and learns of just one of Acasia’s many talents. She is not a lovey dovey person and I can relate to that. Acasia’s fiery personality and verbal assaults had me in stitches. I loved her playful manner with man and beast. Me thinks she will rule the dragon before all is said and done.

My heart went out to Bastion. As a dragon, he is immortal. He claims his bride and each dies, leaving him alone again. Bastion vowed not to let another break his heart. Dragons Don’t Cry and he wouldn’t, but Acasia is different from the others. Would she win his heart?

The vivid description of the dragon had me marvel at his beauty and her puking episode almost made me upchuck. I laughed at his sexual discomfort as a dragon and a man.

I laughed out loud, when she wouldn’t beg for her life, but told him, “Eat me.”

I loved when she punched him in his bossy dragon nose.

Predictable, but that’s okay. I am very curious to see where it goes and am loving reading the story to find out. Dragons Don’t Cry is written with humor and makes me smile.

From sad to happy, savage to sweet, a fun and lovely fantasy romance. I loved learning about Bastian and love through the innocent child-like eyes of Acasia and watching them both grow and change, as the characters developed more fully.

All of a sudden a vampire appears…and other shapeshifters. Very interesting.

Awesome. A fantastically original story of dragons that leaves me breathless waiting for Dragons Don’t love, Laryn’s Story.

I received this ARC for review in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

One pint sized human female who’s had too much to drink, not enough sleep, and absolutely no patience meets one stubborn dragon shifter with an attitude.

Bastian claims Acasia, his unwilling bride, after she spends the night carousing with friends. She’s not happy, he’s pissed off, and with a curse from a goddess thrown in, you’ll see Bastian breathe fire.

Add secrets, treasure, and unimaginable heartbreak for an emotionally humorous read and discover why Dragons Don’t Cry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today Best-Selling Author, Holly S. Roberts, is her new adult and erotic writing pen name and Suzie Ivy is her tough crime fighting alter ego pen name.

Author (Contact Links)

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

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A Marissa Meyer Celebration – Glitches, Cinder and The Queen’s Army

Posted on April 13, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my reviews of 2 novellas and a novel by Marissa Meyers. She is a fantastic writer and I hope you enjoy.

Feel free to leave some comment love for her. ^_^

In this prequel to Cinder, Glitches (a novella), we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….

Even though everyone in the household isn’t happy Cinder is there, Peony welcomes her new sister with open arms. I immediately fell in love with Peony. Peony’s wonder, acceptance and zest for life are endearing. I found humor in Marissa Myer’s writing. I had previously read Cinder and loved it, so I was very happy to read Glitches. As I had thought, it is a wonderful glimpse into how Cinder became who she is today. If you loved Cinder, you will want to read her “bio” and meet her new family, with all the good and bad that entails.

Read this free on Marissa’s Wattpad Page.

3 Stars

CINDER BY MARISSA MYER

The Lunar Chronicles, #1

Click on the cover above for your Amazon copy.

Add me to Goodreads now.

My Review

I reviewed Cinder back in June of 2012. It was one of my first book reviews ever. I had posted it on Goodreads, but did not have a blog until shortly thereafter.

Cinder, the best mechanic in New Beijing, was working at the market when the Prince stopped in to have his android repaired. Even though she was a cyborg, she felt flustered and lost control of her brain’s net connection. Her human part made it hard to focus. As she studied the android, they agreed to meet the next market day to check on the status of the repair.

Adri, Cinder’s “stepmother”, hated her. Adri’s husband had made them guardians of Cinder, an 11-year old cyborg. Adri owned her and the money she earned. When His Imperial Majesty Emperor Rikan came down with the plague, one of her “stepsisters” implied she ought to volunteer for plague testing. A royal research team had come up with the cyborg draft, choosing a number every morning from the cyborgs of the Eastern Commonwealth, using them to test for an antidote. Cyborg’s were looked at as less than human. When Peony, the only human friend she had, came down with the plague, Adri had had enough. She volunteered Cinder for the draft. After all, she had no feelings, right? How was she going to survive? No one survives plague testing. Would she meet the prince again? What do you think?

Cinder didn’t remember anything before 11 years old . When she got to the research center, Dr. Erland began filling in some of the blanks.

Even though I knew where this was going, I could hardly wait to get there. I didn’t think I was going to be disappointed and I surely wasn’t. I thought it was a unique twist on a known storyline and great fun to read. Numerous times I found myself laughing out loud. I have a love/hate relationship with it being a series. I hate not knowing the end, even though I know it. Know what I mean, lol? I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

5 Stars

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In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.

Is it an honor to serve in the Queen’s army or is it a form of slavery? Will he be able to keep his humanity or lose himself to them. Goosebumps broke out on my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Creepy, scary. Now, I MUST read Scarlet.

Read this free on Marissa’s Wattpad Page.

4 Stars

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Marissa Meyer lives near Seattle with her husband and their three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf…) and will take any excuse to put on a costume. She may or may not be a cyborg.

Follow her blog or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.marissameyer.com.

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You can read the first five chapters FREE for Cinder and Scarlet.

Marissa Meyers also has novel written in Spanish, French and German. Check them out by clicking a cover below.

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