Action Packed Jungle Thriller – Yucatan Dead by D V Berkom – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Posted on September 16, 2014 by fundinmental

Yucatan Dead by D V Berkom is my first Kate Jones thriller and I love it.

I knew by the awesome cover that this is my kind of book.

I love the kickass protagonist and can hardly wait to see what see will be up to next.

I have lots of fun stuff to share.

Check out her gorgeous and bold cover, my 5 Star review, see the characters through DV’s eyes, enter the fantastic giveaway and much more.

Soooooo………let’s get started!

Paperback, 258 pages

Published July 17th 2013 by Createspace (first published June 24th 2013)

ISBN: 149096326X (ISBN13: 9781490963266)

4.7 out of 5 stars – 30 reviews on Amazon

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I LOVE covers! I guess you could call me a cover whore. And PROUD of it. 😉

We may not be able to judge a book by it’s cover, but it is most always the thing that makes me say, “I GOTTA have that book.”

WHAT DV BERKOM HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE COVERS

I did all but Yucatan Dead and A One Way Ticket to Dead–Kim Killion from the Killion Group created those. I just love working with her- she’s fast and professional.

MY REVIEW

Yucatan Dead by D V Berkom is an action packed adventure that had me racing through the Mexican jungle, dodging danger and death with Yucatan Kate. The characters come to life on the pages with multiple stories being told.

Mexico Cenote (c) Sherry Fundin

All Kate wanted was to have a normal life with her new love, Cole. She had a family now, but the past continued to haunt her. Would she have to pay for the rest of her life or would the assassin finish her off?

Kate had made a mistake falling for a drug lord. She knew you didn’t just walk away from someone like him.

I cannot imagine how terrorized she must be. Kate is plucked from her home in Arizona and hauled out of the country to Mexico. Back to Salazar, a dangerous drug lord, who is super pissed at her. Kate had not just left him, she took some of his money too.

Kate escapes. She is on her own and being chased, hiding, not knowing which way to go. Until…..

Quinn. He is a warrior of the twenty first century kind. D V Berkom describes him as a Rottweiler kind of guy. I love it. He has a pack of dogs, always at his side and has his own war going on with the cartel. Him and his team work the jungles, shutting down the traffickers.

He nicknames her Yucatan Kate.

The cartel is blood thirsty. They are ruthless and cruel, not just dealing in drugs, but also human trafficking and the slave trade.

Your enemy could be standing right beside you posing as your friend, your ally. Trusting the wrong person could get you killed.

A touch of mysticism walks with Kate through the jungle. She had bad spirits around her, but her jaguar spirit was watching over her. I am always intrigued with mystical cultures and, even though Yucatan Dead is light in this department, it does add a special additional element that makes me wonder if D V Berkom will add to it as the series develops. Or maybe she already has, I just don’t know it yet. 😀

Yucatan Dead is a spine tingling race for survival as Kate dodges the ruthless cartel who, will stop at nothing to get her. I loved running and hiding in the jungle with Kate, hanging out at camp with Quinn, his dogs and the team, floating through the Cenote, and trying to evade the people sent to find her.

I have a feeling I will be seeing Kate again and I am eager for the next adventure. How about you Kate? Are you ready? Will Quinn be there?

“I’ll give you a worse case scenario. Yucatan Kate is going to be Yucatan Dead.”

“If I had to die, the one thing I can control is how..”

I love that and will keep that handy for future reference.

I find D V Berkom’s bio pretty adventurous itself. Be sure and check her out.

I received Yucatan Kate from D V Berkom in return for an honest, unbiased review.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

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Soooooo, let’s meet Yucatan Kate as seen through D V’s eyes

Welcome D V. I am so excited to have you on fundinmental and I’m eager to hear what you have to say about your characters. I am always curious how authors create them. So let’s take a sneak peek into the mind of DV.

Where Did She Come From?

A Character in the Making

As a writer, I’m often asked this question. I write a couple of thriller series featuring strong female characters—both of whom frequently end up in extreme circumstances—but each one is uniquely different and have their own way of dealing with danger.

Like Kate Jones, for example.

Mexico Palms (c) Sherry Fundin

When we first meet Kate in Bad Spirits, she’s in her 20s and on the run from a huge mistake she made that I’m sure many of us can relate to—she fell for the wrong guy. And I mean the REALLY wrong guy. Turns out, Roberto Salazar is the vicious leader of a Mexican drug cartel. And, well, he’s not one to appreciate a woman who takes something that belongs to him and just up and disappears into the Sonoran desert. Oh, and did I mention she stole a bunch of his money?

She watched him slit the throat of a friend over basically nothing and in a blinding moment of insight realized if he could do something like that to a good friend, she could be next. Due to the nature of the business, drug lords often become a tad, um, paranoid, and what you don’t want to do is cross them. Ever.

So she runs, attempting to stay one step ahead of Salazar.

Until she doesn’t.

Several people have asked if I’m writing this series from memory (I lived in Mexico for a time in my twenties) and I can tell you that, to my knowledge, I wasn’t involved with a member of a drug cartel. I did meet several people in my travels who were probably connected in some way, but they didn’t talk about it. And, you know, I didn’t ask.

The truth is, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life that had long-ranging repercussions—and yes, a couple of those mistakes involved men. That’s the thing about decisions. You don’t know what consequences might be set in motion when you make them…

For Kate, I took something I might have done in the same circumstances and then threw everything I could think of at her, putting her in the worst possible situations and then letting her figure out how to get herself out of them (because, well, if she died then the series would be over J). She’s grown quite a bit from that first terrifying adventure but she hasn’t lost what makes her Kate. She’s still dealing with the three I’s that make up her character: impatient, impetuous, and intrepid, which, in real life as well as in fiction is a sure recipe for disaster.

My other character, Leine Basso, came into being when I had a bizarre dream about a reality show where beautiful women compete for a date with a serial killer (Serial Date). The dream came to me as a promotional spot featuring women contestants and the killer-bachelor. For balance, I needed someone who would be able to go toe-to-toe against a serial killer. I love writing strong women characters and it didn’t take long before Leine showed up, fully formed and demanding a leading role. Leine is a burned-out female assassin with daughter issues who doesn’t like people very much, except for a certain sexy homicide detective named Santiago Jensen…the perfect match for a serial killer. Her character is derived from several people I’ve met through the years, shot through with a few of my own imperfections, just to make it interesting.

Both characters are a kick to write, and, what I’ve heard from readers, fun to read. If you enjoy genuinely flawed but gutsy female characters who know how to handle danger, then you just might like meeting Kate and Leine.

***Warning: Neither series is for the faint of heart***

There’s adult language and situations, dead bodies, sleazy politicians, and enough villainous characters to fill a book.

Enjoy!

This is a fantastic guest post and I enjoyed it tremendously. I love how you threw everything at Kate knowing she couldn’t die. LOL The informative, yet light telling of your thoughts had me smiling and chuckling as I read it. I even went back and read it again. Thanks so much for visiting fundinmental and I look forward to having you back again…..soon.

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SYNOPSIS

She was a dangerous man’s lover…now she’s his dangerous enemy.

For Kate Jones, being on the run from her former lover-the vicious leader of a Mexican drug cartel-was never going to be easy. But with a new identity, a new lover, and a new life in Arizona, she was beginning to believe she’d made it through the worst.

Then, in an act of twisted revenge, Kate’s kidnapped and imprisoned by her deadly enemy, his intention to force her to pay back the money she stole before he kills her. Fate intervenes and she finds herself working against the cartels deep in the Yucatan with a group of off-the-grid commandos.

From peaceful northern Arizona to the steamy jungles of Mexico, Kate Jones must decide for herself if she’ll continue to run…

…or turn and fight the evil that pursues her.

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The next Kate Jones Thriller I will be reviewing is A One Way Ticket To Dead by DV Berkom.

Another fabulous cover that makes my mouth water and my hands itch.

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Check out DV Berkom’s other kickass female protagonist, Leine Basso in her Awesome Indies Approved novel, Serial Date.

Leine is an assassin who will stop at nothing to track down the serial killer who stole her daughter.

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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

Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes & Noble / itunes / Kobo

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))

Check out all the Kate Jones novels by DV Berkom. I believe they are in order from 1-7, even though they can stand alone.

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GIVEAWAY

D V Berkom is offering for the giveaway two (2) ebooks of each novel, Yucatan Dead and A One Way Ticket to Dead. The Novels can stand alone. Entry is easy. Just leave your email, your preference of which ebook and answer the question:

What do you like to see in your female protagonists?

Giveaway runs from September 16 – September 30, 2014.

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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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Teaser Tuesday #23 – Are Mermaids Real? – Ocean’s Justice by Demelza Carlton

Posted on September 16, 2014 by fundinmental

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page.

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Demelza Carlton has a new series and it is a whale of a tale.

(Ocean’s Gift – Turbulence and Triumph Series, #1)

These are prequels to the Ocean’s Gift Series.

I love how she throws in some of the Ocean’s Justice, so beware.

Look at this awesome cover.

Does it speak to you like it does to me?

MY REVIEW

Yippee! Another mermaid story, Ocean’s Justice by Demelza Carlton.

A humorous and sexy introduction to Demelza’s new Ocean’s Justice series. Recommended for adults.

This novella only took me a couple of hours. I was curious, happy, sad and left wanting MORE.

I love a kickass female protagonist, no matter WHAT she is!

A woman on a ship of superstitious men cannot be good. But she has two men that will do whatever they can to see that she is okay and stays that way.

William McGregor pulled her from the sea. He quickly becomes her protector, her hero. Little does he know, she can take care of herself. He is a gentleman and proves that chivalry still exists.

Charlie, the embarrassed young man, whose clothes she wears, has a serious crush on her.

Allchin – what a great name for the cook. Hints at the humor in Demelza’s wonderful tale.

She is in a world where she knows nothing and cannot communicate. Where did she come from?

Her introduction to chocolate is a sensual one.

Her first taste of rum was a doozy.

Demelza Carlton has a way with words. Her descriptions are vivid and place me right in the middle of the action, like a fly on the wall.

I love her blend of savagery and humor. Even during the worst parts, I usually have a smile on my face. I hope that doesn’t tell my badness.

At the end of the novella, Demelza asks, “What is your favorite part of the story?” It’s hard to choose just one.

I smiled through so much, I will have to say, the part that put tears in my eyes. BUT, I cannot tell you that part. You will have to find out for yourself. If you love mermaids, Ocean’s Justice is a MUST READ.

I wanted to be able to say, “Tell me what hurts, you great big baby, so I know what to tend first.”

5 STARS Would Buy It For Them (lol)

SYNOPSIS

Cast adrift on the Indian Ocean, eighteen-year-old Maria is saved by the crew of the steamship Trevessa.

She can’t tell them her tragic tale, so the superstitious sailors make up their own stories – and some would sacrifice her to the seas to save themselves from the coming storm.

Scottish engineer William McGregor boarded the Trevessa in search of adventure. He finds a crew convinced their ship is cursed, as he fights to protect the mysterious girl and bring her safely to shore.

When the sharks start circling and the storm closes in, are sirens more than just a myth?

.

Demelza Carlton’s Mel Goes To Hell Series is fantastic.

I love this series and you can check out my review links below.

5 STAR Review – Mermaids walk among us – Ocean’s Gift by Demelza Carlton

There is more to this series that I have placed high on my TBR list (sigh).

My 5 STAR Review – Freakin Friday #17 Mini Review for Welcome to Hell by Demelza Carlton FREE

My 5 STAR Review – What is it like to work in Hell – Find out by reading See you in Hell by Demelza Carlton

My 5 STAR Review – Is there Redemption for the Baddest of All – Mel Goes To Hell by Demelza Carlton

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Do you believe in mermaids? 😉

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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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5 Star Review & Giveaway for Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on September 11, 2014 by fundinmental

Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby is an amazing story with characters that come to life on the pages.

Bette Lee writes stories that ooze southern charm.

So, I would like to extend some southern hospitality to all my readers.

Come on in and sit a spell..

Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby

JUBILEE’S JOURNEY…FPA PRESIDENT’S BOOK AWARD GOLD MEDAL WINNER

When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?

MY REVIEW OF JUBILEE’S JOURNEY

“We’ll name her Jubilee, because this child is a celebration of our love.”

Thus, Jubilee’s story began and you will not want to miss it.

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Jubilee’s Journey is the sequel to Spare Change. Spare Change was the first book of Bette Lee’s that I read and it is still my favorite. I have been an avid fan of hers ever since.

The southern charm and giving nature of the characters captivate me. It makes me think of Hillary Clinton’s book, It Takes A Village. This book drives home the point that a community can accomplish so much more than a single individual. We can definitely learn some lessons from the loving and giving characters in Bette Lee’s novels.

I love her covers and this one speaks to me as strongly as all the others. They are some of the most touching and emotional covers in their simplicity. The cover design for Jubilee’s Journey was done by Kathleen Valentine of valentinedesign.com. Bette Lee will also occasionally incorporate a friend or fan’s name into her novels.

Living in coal country is never easy, but for Paul and Jubilee it became impossible.

Their mother died and my tears began. Paul did his best to be there for Jubilee – he never returned to school, so he did all he could think of to make Jubilee’s life better and took care of the house. After his father’s death, they were evicted from the only home they had ever known. How would Paul keep his promise to his mother to take care of Jubilee and his promise to his father to never work in the mine?

He knew of an aunt in Wyattsville, Virginia. He only had a name, Anita, but off they went.

Into the clouds – (c) Sherry J Fundin

Hurt McAdams dad had abused him and raised him with fear. As a defense, he took the offensive line and became a bully, then a murderer. He ended up in Wyattsville on his search to find his father and make him pay for his miserable life.

Oh no, Paul is in the store looking for work and here comes Hurt. I am very fearful, my heart is heavy with dread. I knew it. Bette!!!! But, what’s this? Who should arrive but Ethan Allen and I breathe a sigh of relief. No way will he allow anything bad to happen to Jubilee.

“Grandma Olivia’s nice. She helps kids in trouble.”

That being said, I knew things would be okay. Somehow.

Bette Lee Crosby writes stories as if they are biographies. They are full of the cruelties and unfairness of life, but also the beauty and wonder. The worlds and dialogue are so real, I feel as if I am there and I feel frustrated because I do not know what to do to help. She packs so much life and realism into her novels, sometimes a BOX of tissues is not enough. I laugh and cry with the characters. I go through their highs and lows, their ups and downs, all the while trying to figure out how Bette is going to make this end with a happy ever after.

The ending left me begging for more. I was sitting on the edge of my seat as if my happiness was on the line.

5 STARS Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review. I can hardly wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Stop in and read an Interview with Bette Lee Crosby as she shares her thoughts on Jubilee’s Journey.

REVIEWER PRAISE

An uplifting story of hope, love and the kindness of strangers. Rainy Day Ramblings

I was drawn in from the first page and held captive to the end. Jubilee’s Journey makes you believe in the power of the human spirit and the kindness of strangers. The Caffeinated Reviewer

Real both in circumstances and dialogue Jubilee’s Journey is a book that will have you up late to finish. It will make you believe that you can triumph over tragedy. Mrs. Mommy Booknerd

Crosby’s novels touch my heart big time, and Jubilee’s Journey is no exception. Even the Grinch would be hard-pressed to scowl at the Wyattsville Series books. They’ve got tension and suspense in their mysteries, Southern charm and lessons aplenty. Popcorn Reads

Purchase Your Copy

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iTunes * Kobo

EXCERPTS – POPULAR HIGHLIGHTS

” His death came as no surprise to anyone. He was one of the countless men forever lost to the mine. They were men loved and mourned by their families, but to the world they were faceless, nameless people, not worthy of mention in the Charleston Times.”

“When Jubilee said she was scared going to a place she didn’t know, I told her not to worry. I said it was a good thing ‘cause we was going to see an aunt we never even knew we had. Then she started smiling. The whole time I was telling her how good everything was gonna be, I was wishing I had someone to tell me the same thing.”

“I guess God looks past what you claim to want and gives you what you need.”

“We can plan ahead until we’re blue in the face, but regardless of what we do events will happen as they will. The truth is we don’t have a bean of say in the matter.”

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to 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.

“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.”

Crosby’s 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 fifteen literary awards, including the Royal Palm Literary Award, The Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal.

A third book in her Wyattsville Series is scheduled for release in January 2015 and the third book in the Serendipity Series will follow in the Spring of 2015.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Google+

You can get your Amazon copy of Jubilee’s Journey by clicking on the cover below.

BookBlast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/3/14

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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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.

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

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

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Friday 56 #24 – FREE Read – Dragon Eye by Anna Simpson

Posted on September 5, 2014 by fundinmental

The Friday 56 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.

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DRAGON EYE by Anna Simpson

Two blue moons ride the darkened sky, one the ghost of Dragon Eye.

This is a very short read and a prequel to Mexmur by Anna Simpson.

If you love fantasy and dragons and have 5 or 10 minutes, this is a MUST READ.

The king didn’t care what Rescer had to do to Rory, the young female dragon.

He just wanted his riches.

Rescer had a plan. I am afraid for him….and Rory too.

Would he set her free, or will the king kill them both?

I love Rescer. He has been with Rory since she looked like a deformed lizard.

I couldn’t help but let slip a girly giggle at that.

I am ROYALLY pissed at the king and nothing can change that.

If I could, I would put a curse on him.

OMG. A fabulous and tearful ending.

My heart dropped and I read on with tears in my eyes.

Then my heart soared on the wings of the dragon.

It totally blew me away and I have tears in my eyes as I write this.

I cannot believe Anna packed so much punch into this awesome short.

I love dragons and Rory is a very young dragon that I want to watch grow up.

You can meet her again in Mexmur, a part of the Portals fantasy anthology.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

GET IT HERE NOW FOR FREE

If the freebie is over, you can get it here, on Amazon

Mexmur is included in the fantasy anthology, Portals.

Click on the cover for your Amazon copy.

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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.

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

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon!

Thanks for visiting fundinmental.

5 Star Review & Giveaway for Ultimate Fear by Kristine Mason

Posted on August 28, 2014 by fundinmental

Ultimate Fear by Kristine Mason is another awesome novel in the CORE series.

If you haven’t read any of her work, you are missing out on a fantastic romantic suspense writer.

An angel in the Book of Life wrote down my baby’s birth. And whispered as she closed the book, “Too beautiful for earth.”

Author Unknown

CovertoCover Designs: Kari Ayasha.

MY REVIEW

The doll on the cover is pretty creepy, spine tingling. I found out, Kristine plans all her covers ahead of time. I love them all. They are simple and uncluttered, speaking loudly to me – danger, Will Robinson, danger.

I am very bad. As soon as my copy hit my Kindle, I dropped everything to begin reading! Kristine’s writing keeps me on the edge of my seat, hardly able to contain myself.

Blood – the very first word in the book. This is why I love Kristine Mason’s writing. I know it’s going to be bad, but I am loving the bad……and the good I know will come. I am riveted from the very first word and it never lets me go.

My notes are so long, I don’t know how I am going to condense them down into a coherent review. I want so much to let you know the horror, heartache, anger and rage that someone goes through when the worst thing a parent can imagine happens. Some people isolate themselves, while others need the comfort of those close to them.

The POV shifts back and forth and I love being able to see through each characters eyes.

Wayne and Dimples are some messed up people. After he told her she could no longer have children, he promised her he would do whatever it took to make her happy. The only thing that would make her happy is to ‘replace’ their Elton. His promise took him so far over the line, he will never find his way back.

Detective Jessica Donavan works murders and suicides, since the kidnapping of her daughter, Sophia. It has been six years, two months and four days. Jessica had let the tragedy drive her and Dante, her husband, apart, instead of closer together. She is stubborn, full of rage and anger, unable to see past it. She seemed real to me. Who knows how we would react. Would we be able to see past our own pain and be able to help our mate cope?

Dante has gone from a badass SEAL to a Ghandi wannabe.

I love Dante. He is so patient with Jessica, taking her abuse and rage in stride, hoping they will find their way back to each other. He bends over backwards to show her that she is his world. Dante had been the first recruit into CORE – which is second only to the FBI and CIA. He always finishes what he starts.

Jessica had left the house. The memories were so bad, she couldn’t cope with them. She refuses to accept that, even though she can’t live with Dante, she can’t live without him either.

Jessica would call to remind Dante to water the garden. Was that her excuse to stay in touch? I love the fact that Dante had put a timer on the sprinkler system for the garden, but he kept it a secret and used it to lure Jessica home, at least long enough to check on the garden.

Even though they live separately, Jessica kept in touch with another CORE employee, Rachel, their resident computer guru. Rachel kept her updated on missing children.

Dante thinks she is in deep psychological trouble, until he discovers she spends all her extra time, not just, looking for Sophia, but hunting down other missing children. She had been saving some, telling no one. She couldn’t hug her child, so she was determined to enable others with get their lost kids back. She has discovered a serial kidnapper. They will work together to chase him down.

I am already seeing their future. All the CORE men are sexy and deliciously yummy, all you want in an easy to love man package.

I loved the shower scene, each on different sides of the curtain. It seemed real. Their need to protect themselves, made it impossible for them to let down their defenses and communicate. Sometimes it is easier to if you are not face to face. Of course, we knew they will get back together, it is a romance suspense after all. The way Kristine has them work past their insecurities seems so real.

Kristine describes Jessica’s brown/green eyes to a Matuka fishing fly. Now that is some descriptive writing that enables us to visualize them. Funny Kristine, a fishing fly? LOL

Photo from english fly fishing flies website

Kristine can segue from a deep passionate kiss in the here and now, to a gruesome crime scene they had visited earlier, seamlessly. It is writing like this that keeps even a lengthy book, so hard to put down. I can only read for so many hours before my eyes start crossing or my hubby says “Is that all you’re gonna do all day? Read? Life is too short, so let’s go out to the beach for dinner and a sunset.” Well, I can’t say no to that.

When the stories converge, an urgency comes with it. A woman and her child’s life hang in the balance. The kidnappers have Chloe. I have good feelings about the drug addicted pregnant prostitute. Sometimes we can walk through the Gates of Hell and come out better than we entered.

I should have seen the ending coming sooner, but I was so into what I was currently reading to look very far ahead. I was totally absorbed in this horrific story.

Ultimate Prey, Book Three of the Ultimate Core Trilogy is Lola’s story. Lola, is Dante’s partner and he is supposed to be training her. He is a bit neglectful, because he is spending so much time helping Jessica locate the serial kidnappers. I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to read what’s up with her.

Sometimes we have to lose something to find what it is we’ve been really looking for.

“Always…and forever?”

How could she not realize she was his everything.

“Until the day I die.”

I received Ultimate Fear from Kristine Mason in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

Are you afraid of the laundry room?

The laundry room evokes many emotions for me…frustration, disgust and, yes, fear. I’m afraid of what lurks inside, especially during football season. The shoulder pads that smell like sweaty, dirty boys, the jocks that had been tossed on the floor, the muddy, stinky cleats. This room frustrates me because I have baskets to house the football equipment, only my three boys can’t seem to grasp the concept that everything has a place. This room disgusts me (remember the jocks?). But am I really afraid of my laundry room? Okay, fear is a strong word, but I do dread going in there. Since it’s the easiest way to get to the garage, I have no choice but to face what I truly dread.

My three-year-old daughter doesn’t fully understand the concept of fear, but she’s finding things that do scare her and I’ve had to find ways to reassure her that, for example, the sounds at night are just crickets singing (she’s still unconvinced and refuses to sleep with the window open). Then there’s my middle son who won’t go to sleep with the window open because what if a robber uses a ladder to climb the roof and comes through his window (I’m seeing a trend with open windows)?

I recently Googled how to overcome fear and came across several articles that all gave similar advice: A: Analyze your fear and define it. In other words, what’s your fear and what triggers it? How does it affect you? Is it dangerous or life threatening? What would be the outcome if you faced your fear? B: Don’t let fear control you. Numb yourself to those fears and confront them. C: Don’t allow your fear to hold power over you. One site I looked at suggested to “make your fears a source of fascination” and discover why your fear holds so much power over you.

When I was a kid, like my middle son, I was afraid of someone sneaking into my room, and terrified of horror movies. I could remember hating Halloween because horror movies would be airing during that week. I would become physically sick when I checked the Sunday paper TV guide and saw that Halloween or Jaws was going to be airing. Don’t even get me started on The Exorcist. That fear stayed with me until college. I can’t remember what the course I’d taken was, but I do remember that the professor had analyzed The Exorcist as a way to give the class a better understanding of how subliminal messages can affect people and, in the case of this particular movie, arouse fear. If you pause The Exorcist at certain points in the movie you’ll see these creepy flashes of a white, skeletal face. The first time I saw it, my skin crawled with unease, but it did waylay my fears to a degree and it turned my fear of horror movies into a fascination. I began watching them, studying them and had come to love them. Now when I put on a horror flick, I’m ready, waiting and wondering…will this movie scare me? Some do, but most don’t. Slasher films are meh, demonic ones? Well, those tend to scare the crap out of me. The Paranormal Activity movies had me very tense. I think taking ordinary people, living in the burbs and having strange things happening in the house is beyond creepy.

Now, I don’t write horror. I write romantic suspense. But one of the great things about a good horror movie is the suspense. You know something is going to happen. The music is telling you to prepare yourself (or in the case of Paranormal Activity it’s the time stamp on the video camera), and yet when that scare moment happens, I still get all jumpy.

I might be over my fear of horror movies, but I have plenty of other fears. Bridges and heights terrify me. Going past my knees in ocean or lake water, being stranded on the side of the road late at night with nothing but woods surrounding me and no cell phone reception. But if you want to know what really scares me…it’s in my latest release Ultimate Fear (Book 2 Ultimate CORE). I’ll give you a hint. I’m a mother of four.

So…what’s your ultimate fear? One day next week I’ll be posting more of mine on Facebook and Twitter and asking people to tell me what they fear the most. One commenter will receive a signed copy of my new release Ultimate Fear. So like my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter. Tell me what scares you and enter for a chance to win a copy of my book. I’m anxious to read what people fear the most…dying, the dark, spiders, snakes…or maybe what lurks inside your laundry room?

– See more at: http://magicalmusings.com/2014/08/21/guest-author-kristine-mason/#sthash.bupGgOWp.dpuf

Are you afraid of the laundry room?

– See more at: http://magicalmusings.com/2014/08/21/guest-author-kristine-mason/#sthash.bupGgOWp.dpuf

Ultimate Fear by Kristine Mason

SYNOPSIS

When a deranged mother’s grief drives her to replace her dead son over and over, obsession leads to murder…

Chicago detective Jessica Donavan will never stop looking for her missing daughter. Her obsession has destroyed her marriage, but the search is the only thing that helps keep her sane and her mind off of everything she’s lost—her husband and her baby girl. When she uncovers a string of unsolved disappearances and reappearances of a number of baby boys, Jessica turns to her soon to be ex, Dante Russo, a former Navy SEAL turned investigator for the private agency, CORE, to help her fit together the pieces in this perplexing puzzle. But as Dante helps her, she realizes just how much she still craves his support—and his touch.

Dante is still in love with his wife and would do anything to have her back in his life again. He’s been miserable since she left him to deal with the grief over their daughter’s abduction, never understanding how much he grieves as well. When Jessica tells him about the case she’s working, he jumps at the chance to take part in her investigation. He’s hoping not only to save their marriage and ease his personal pain over the loss of their daughter, but also to stop a serial kidnapper from taking another victim.

As Jessica and Dante work side by side, pregnant women begin to turn up missing or dead, and they start to uncover the consequences of another woman’s unfathomable grief. The childless mother doesn’t just want a baby. She wants a newborn straight from the womb.

And when forced to confront the dark and twisted perversion of a mother’s obsession, can Jessica and Dante find their lives again…or merely more death?

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AUTHOR BIO AND LINKS

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.

I’VE BEEN RUNNING A “CONTEST” ON MY WEBSITE. JOIN MY NEWSLETTER AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A $50 AMAZON GC.

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

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Click on a cover below to pick up an Amazon copy of a Kristine Mason novel now. If you are a thriller and suspense lover, this is an author you want to get to know.

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GIVEAWAY

Kristine Mason is having a fantastic giveaway on her website. Four signed copies of the suspense/thrillers listed below are up for grabs. Visit her WEBSITE to enter.

Ultimate Kill by Kristine Mason

The Collector by Nora Roberts

When Day Breaks by Maya Banks

Finding Kate Huntley by Theresa Ragan

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Check out my reviews for Kristine Mason’s novels…….so far.

My 5 Star Review for Ultimate Kill

My Review of Shadow of Vengeance

My 5 STAR Review for Shadow of Danger

My 5 STAR Review for Shadow of Perception

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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.

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

Murder at the Retirement Home – Clam Wake by Mary Daheim – Tour Giveaway

Posted on August 28, 2014 by fundinmental

Clam Wake by Mary Daheim

A Bed and Breakfast Mystery

Genre: Mystery

Published by: William Morrow

Publication Date: 8/12/2014

Number of Pages: 240

ISBN: 9780062317728

Purchase Link:

MY REVIEW

Clam Wake is a hilarious and enjoyable tale. Cozy mysteries are great summer reads, murder written with snarky dialogue and occurring in unusual places, like a retirement home.

Clam Wake is just such a novel. Mary Daheim, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling novelist, is a prolific writer and has many more mysteries just waiting to be read by me and you.

I saw the cover and it made me think of Cape Cod, so I had to read it. I have spent many summer vacations walking the flats and digging for clams. I can smell the odor of rotting vegetation when the tide goes out. I try to outrace the tide as it comes roaring in, much faster than most people anticipate. At first it is just lapping at my feet, then my ankles, then my knees……More than once, I have swam, instead of walked back in.

Cousins, Judith and Renie are house-sitting on Whoopee Island for their aunt and uncle, while they vacation.

Judith is an innkeeper and Renie, her best friend and cousin, works from home doing computer design. Even with their responsibilities, they have flexibility. Their many adventures seem to be because they are in the right place at the right time, or maybe, the wrong place at the wrong time. It depends on how you look at it.

Judith – funny, inquisitive and kind hearted. She seeks truth and justice with her amateur sleuthing. She is logical and a problem solver.

Renie – snarky with her sharp and cutting comments. She is very protective of Judith. She is always blurting out inappropriate jokes and I can’t help but laugh. She has a bottomless stomach and a vivid imagination. She is a character after my own heart and I fell in love with her.

Victim – hasn’t an enemy. Everyone liked him. Then why did a big knife take him out?

Judith even has her own fan club – FASTO – Female Amateur Sleuth Tracking Offenders. Her murder solving capabilities are well known, so when there is a murder at the retirement home, you can be sure her and Renie are going to be hot on the trail.

I know they are headed for trouble and I am eager to help them find their way out of it.

Clam Wake is a small town with all those pesky little secrets small communities harbor. The biggest hobby seems to be gossiping.

The retirement community does not have odd people, it has eccentrics.

I have listened to my hubby tell of the beach life on Cape Cod and the game of musical houses all the parents would play. His parents would host the cocktail hour one night, someone else the next, someone else the next….You get the idea. I am sure a great time was had by all. ^_^

Clam Wake is a fun mystery with a plot within a plot. Mary Daheim kept me wondering – who did it? I didn’t figure it out. Not because of a bunch of bells and whistles, just a lot of suspects that Mary twisted and turned around, keeping me guessing. Hmmmm, that doesn’t happen to me very often. Because of the great writing, easy reading and my inability to figure out the killer ahead of time, I must give this cozy mystery a 5 star rating. Very good, Mary.

“I’m wondering about these Obsession Shores people. Do the retirees just sit around during the winter and wait for the cocktail hour?”

“Hey – I know a good game – ‘Categorize the killers.’ Let’s start with Crazy as a Bedbug and work our way up to Jolly as Old Saint Nick.”

I received this novel in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

Innkeeper and irrepressible sleuth Judith McMonigle Flynn and cousin Renie face off against a cold-blooded killer in a beach community in this delightfully charming Bed-and-Breakfast mystery from USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Mary Daheim.

With the holidays gone and Hillside Manor almost empty, Innkeeper Judith McMonigle Flynn has a bad case of the blues. A housesitting stint at her aunt and uncle’s retirement home on Whoopee Island with cousin Renie seems like the ideal pick-me-up. Surrounded by retirees in the off-season sounds peaceful and pleasant–or so the duo thinks. But it isn’t long before a dead body pops up in their vicinity. Not surprising in an area full of older folks—until they learn it wasn’t a bad ticker that did in the victim, but a very sharp knife. With clouds of suspicion hovering over her and Renie, Judith reluctantly begins sleuthing—if only to prove they didn’t commit the crime.

But what she finds is puzzling. The victim reputedly didn’t have an enemy in the world–except for the killer. Digging for clams and answers, the cousins discover that retirement can be deadly—at least among the eclectic, eccentric residents of Obsession Shores.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Seattle native Mary Richardson Daheim lives three miles from the house where she was raised. From her dining nook she can see the maple tree in front of her childhood home. Mary isn’t one for change when it comes to geography. Upon getting her journalism degree from the University of Washington (she can see the campus from the dining nook, too), she went to work for a newspaper in Anacortes WA. Then, after her marriage to David Daheim, his first college teaching post was in Port Angeles where she became a reporter for the local daily. Both tours of small-town duty gave her the background for the Alpine/Emma Lord series.

Mary spent much of her non-fiction career in public relations (some would say PR is fiction, too). But ever since she learned how to read and write, Mary wanted to tell stories that could be put between book covers (e-readers were far into the future and if she hadn’t seen her daughter’s iPad, she might not know they exist). Thus, she began her publishing career with the first of seven historical romances before switching to mysteries in 1991. If Mary could do the math, she’d know how many books she’s published. Since she can’t, she estimates the total is at least 55. Or something. See below—count ‘em if you can.

At the time of her husband and mentor’s death in February 2010, David and Mary had been married for over 43 years. They have three daughters, Barbara, Katherine and Magdalen, and two granddaughters, Maisy and Clara. They all live in Seattle, too. Those apples don’t move far from the tree…literally.

Catch Up With the Author

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Clam Wake by Mary Daheim

GIVEAWAY

The giveaway is for one paperback copy of Clam Wake by Mary Daheim to one lucky commenter. US only, sorry to my international readers. Please leave your email and answer the question:

What about the post spoke loudest to you?

Giveaway ends September 10, 2014.

Tour Participants

8/12 Review @ Melinas Book Blog

8/13 Review @ Wall-to-wall books

8/14 Review & Giveaway @ 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!

8/15 Review @ Melissas Mochas, Mysteries and More

8/18 Review & Giveaway @ Beas Book Nook

8/19 Review & Giveaway @ Book Dilettante

8/20 Review & Giveaway @ Buried Under Books

8/21 Review & Giveaway @ Thoughts in Progress

8/22 Review & Giveaway @ Deal Sharing Aunt

8/23 Review @ fundinmental

8/25 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews

8/26 Review & Giveaway @ My Devotional Thoughts

8/27 Review & Giveaway @ Bless Their Hearts Mom

8/28 Review @ Deco My Heart

8/29 Review & Giveaway @ Once Upon A TIme

9/01 Review & Giveaway @ Marys Cup of Tea

9/04 Review @ Book Club Librarian

9/08 Review & Giveaway @ Brooke Blogs

9/10 Review @ Community Bookstop

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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 at Home and let’s talk.

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

Harry Potter meet Hope – Killer’s Instinct by Dawn Dalton & Judith Graves – Review

Posted on August 27, 2014 by fundinmental

KILLER’S INSTINCT by Dawn Dalton & Judith Graves

Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal

The cover of Killer’s Instinct made me very curious about the story inside.

Harry Potter step aside, there’s a new girl in town and her name is Hope.

Sooooo, let’s head to the Most Wanted Monster school and learn the tools of the trade with Hope and her crew.

Cover designer: Gaetano Pezillo

Photo: Siiri Kumari

Model: Johanna Taiger

Interior Art: Jeff Dalton

MY REVIEW of Killer’s Instinct by Dawn Dalton and Judith Graves

I did a tour for Killer’s Instinct a short while ago, because it sounded right up my alley. And we will be spending some time in alleys. I didn’t have time to review it then, but Judith Graves offered me a copy for review. Thank you so much Judith. I really wanted to read this.

OMG, I was right about Killer’s Instinct. I love it. It started out okay, but by the end I was bummed that I had no more to read. It is a young adult, paranormal novel that even us older folks can love.

I love the title, but the cover is creepy good. I saw the synopsis and it made me think of Harry Potter and Hogwarts. I was so looking forward to a fun adventure and I found it.

A teenage girl is determined to hunt down her zombie mom. I can read a bunch of psychological crap into that. LOL As she walks the streets, searching, she finds her training is not enough to battle the monsters she runs across. So it’s off to school……

Most Wanted Monsters Organization, like Hotel California, you can never leave.

Hope is special. She sees dead people. She can see behind the monsters mask. She was older than her years. She never had time to watch movies and read anything other than books her Dad thought she needed to be a hunter. Her defense had been avoidance, don’t let them know she could see them.

Hope – a hunter. She is strong, impulsive and alone.

Caddoc – privileged, arrogant and cowardly. His dad had been a hunter until he turned into an overweight drunk and drove his mother away.

Hyde – a fighter, a loner and full of rage. His parents gave him an ultimatum. It was either the psych ward or Le Manoir.

Kain – a machine, not social, as emotionless as a bioroid. He is a nerd, smart, strong, and dependable. His mother had died and his dad had dumped him at an orphange.

The jock, the geek, the rebel and the freak.

Why were such an unlikely group teamed together?

They were all fighting their inner demons and I saw early on they would come together.

As I read on, I began to wonder if there was more going on than meets the eye. Maybe the food wasn’t the only thing that was fake at La Manoir.

I am really enjoying Killer’s Instinct now, at 57%. It is written with a young adult Harry Potter feel, but the story is changing and coming together in a way I never saw. I am excited for the group. I can see all their potential……..maybe even their future.

Would Hope’s childish, impulsive need to prove herself turn out to be what saves them all? Reality was so much different from stories – the werewolves were bigger, the vampires meaner and their teeth sharper.

Imagine a vamp mesmerizing you, his gaze holding yours and you are unable to look away. His teeth gently brush against your neck as the hairs rise on your nape. A werewolf hovers over you, his saliva dripping off his teeth onto your face.

Zombies attacking vamps, heads falling, biting, chomping, blood and gore flying, slipping and sliding in body parts, the smell of blood and burnt flesh making it hard to draw a breath.

Sometimes the POV change confused me, but I quickly adjusted and read on.

I sit here, finished, trying to think of how to tell you how amazed I am at the writing and creative storyline. I never saw the story reaching such momentum that I hated for it to be over. I thought it would be a fun, young adult read for a summer day, but boy did it go down a different road. Harry Potter on steroids. The action is gruesome, but it is written in such a way that it does not make me cringe. I almost border on laughter at times. Written as if it could be included in a Supernatural, Sam and Dean, episode. ALMOST humorous.

“You have developed a Killer’s Instinct, Hope, but you must be prepared to face the consequences.”

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

KILLER’S INSTINCT

SYNOPSIS

Where there is NO life – there’s HOPE.

Hope sees beyond the veil to where the dead walk among the living — creepy flashes from a never-ending macabre dream. But when her mother crawls from the grave and her zombified corpse goes MIA, Hope’s last thread of normal snaps with a vengeance.

Enrolling in a militia-style school for monster hunters seems her best bet for tracking down Mommy-dearest and putting what’s left of her mom to rest. But does Hope have a true killer’s instinct? The stakes are raised when she’s partnered with three unique male recruits, each with their own personal demons to slay if they want to survive basic training. In a place like Le Manoir, all bets are off.

Pick up a print or eBook version right now!

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dawn Dalton is the author of creepy young adult fiction. When she isn’t dodging monsters, you can find her at creepy crossroads with her husband and two hounds — you know, just skulking around. Dawn also writes adult thriller, romantic suspense ad contemporary young adult under the last name Ius. She is represented by Mandy Hubbard at D4EO Literary Agency.

BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM: DawnDalton

Judith Graves has multiple young adult novels and short stories published with Leap Books, Orca Book Publishers, Compass Press, and, under the pen name, Judith Tewes, is also published with Bloomsbury Spark. In addition, Judith is abscreenwriter and playwright, writes freelance articles for literary magazines, and facilitates writing workshops for both adults and young adults.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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Click on the cover to get your Amazon copy of Killer’s Instinct by Dawn Dalton and Judith Graves,

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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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My Review of Remains of Innocence by J A Jance

Posted on August 13, 2014 by fundinmental

My Review for Remains of Innocence by J A Jance

I have read numerous J A Jance novels, so when I saw the opportunity to read and review Remains of Innocence, I jumped all over it. J A Jance writes an amazing mystery of murder, torture, abuse and the evil of human psychopaths. The writing keeps me on the edge of my seat as I try to figure out who is the murderer.

I can picture Lisa driving up to the dilapidated house that she had left so many years ago. Her memories are not good – an abusive mother who drove her and her brother away. Her mother had mental problems, not least of which was hoarding. Lisa grew up in poverty and filth. She had been teased at school and called stinky. A teacher stepped in and because of that, her life became bearable – she was able to shower, wash her clothes and had money to buy food That is why, now, her small apartment is spotless.

When Lisa’s mother ended up hospitalized, they called her. All her mother wanted was her “Joy To Cooking” book and was adamant about it. That’s how Lisa came to be standing at the door of her old house. A spider crawled on her hand as she retrieved the book and she dropped it. We both hate spiders. Who doesn’t? Money fell out. She started checking all the books and kept finding more. Where had it come from? Had she been using outhouses, no bathing or clothes washing and no food to eat while the money had been sitting there the whole time? Thirty thousand dollars.

In Arizona, Sherriff Joanna Brady was called from bed at 5AM to look for a developmentally disabled man. He had climbed out a bedroom window and was nowhere to be found.

Joanna had inherited the job of sheriff of Cochise County after her father died. She had proven herself and won the townspeople’s respect. She is married with two kids and pets that all seem to be damaged in some way. I love that her husband, Butch, who is a writer, handles most of the household duties. A man secure in his masculinity. Does he write crime novels? My hubby does the cooking too, so I can relate. When hubby’s not home, like Joanna, a PB&J sounds like a meal to me.

In her job as a waitress, Lisa knew people by what they ordered for dinner. They all chipped in to help her clean out and fix up her mother’s house with the money she found. Why would someone burn it down? Now she was on the run. She didn’t know from who, what or why.

I love J A Jance’s approach. Remains of Innocence is two separate storylines, until……

The reading is smooth and easy. Just enough suspense, mystery and tension to keep me reading page after page. The characters and plot are detailed and fully developed. No complaints. Even being an ARC, I found few things I would change and they were very minor and grammatical.

I am always happy and eager to pick up a J A Jance novel, especially if Joanna is in it. I love her. She takes no crap from anyone.

I feel J A Jance tried to trick me with the identity of the murderer. Whoa, a great twist. Where did that come from? No wonder I was vacillating back and forth. Most excellent and I can hardly wait to read the next one.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

BOOK DETAILS

Genre: Mystery/Detective

Published by: William Morrow / Publication Date: July 22nd 2014

Number of Pages: 400

ISBN: 0062134701 (ISBN13: 9780062134707)

Purchase Links

SYNOPSIS

Sheriff Joanna Brady must solve two perplexing cases that may be tied together in New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance’s thrilling tale of suspense that brings to life Arizona’s Cochise County and the desert Southwest in all its beauty and mystery.

An old woman, a hoarder, is dying of emphysema in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In cleaning out her house, her daughter, Liza Machett, discovers a fortune in hundred dollar bills hidden in the tall stacks of books and magazines that crowd every corner.

Tracing the money’s origins will take Liza on a journey that will end in Cochise County, where Sheriff Joanna Brady is embroiled in a personal mystery of her own. A man she considers a family friend is found dead at the bottom of a hole in a limestone cavern near Bisbee. And now there is the mystery of Liza and the money. Are the two disparate cases connected? It’s up to Joanna to find out.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A voracious reader, J. A. Jance knew she wanted to be a writer from the moment she read her first Wizard of Oz book in second grade. Always drawn to mysteries, from Nancy Drew right through John D. McDonald’s Travis Magee series, it was only natural that when she tried her hand at writing her first book, it would be a mystery as well.

J. A. Jance went on to become the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family, and Edge of Evil. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.

Catch Up With the Author

Tour Participants

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Remains of Innocence by J A Jance.

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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 at Home and let’s talk.

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

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

1. 8/04 – Review & Giveaway @ 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
2. 8/08 – Showcase @ Tales of a Book Addict
3. 8/11 – Review @ Mama Knows Books
4. 8/12 – Review @ Rhodes Review
5. 8/12 – Showcase @ Words by Webb
6. 8/12 Review @ Rhodes Review
7. 8/13 – Review @ fundinmental
8. 8/14 – Review @ Deal Sharing Aunt (USA)
9. 8/15 – Review @ Bookvisions
10. 8/20 – Review @ Vics Media Room
11. 8/21 – Review & Giveaway @ Hott Books
12. 8/22 – Review @ bless their hearts mom
13. 8/25 – Review & Giveaway @ The Top Shelf
14. 8/26 – Review & Giveaway @ Booked on a Feeling
15. 8/27 – Review & Giveaway @ Beas Book Nook
16. 8/28 Review & Giveaway @ Undercover Book Reviews
17. 8/29 – Review @ Book Dilettante
18. 8/30 – Review & Giveaway @ Marys Cup of Tea
19. Beagle Book Space
20. Melanies Muse
21. Melinas Book Blog

8/04 – Review & Giveaway @ 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!

8/08 – Showcase @ Tales of a Book Addict

8/11 – Review @ Mama Knows Books

8/12 – Review @ Rhodes Review

8/12 – Showcase @ Words by Webb

8/12 Review @ Rhodes Review

8/13 – Review @ fundinmental

8/14 – Review @ Deal Sharing Aunt (USA)

8/15 – Review @ Bookvisions

10.

8/20 – Review @ Vics Media Room

11.

8/21 – Review & Giveaway @ Hott Books

12.

8/22 – Review @ bless their hearts mom

13.

8/25 – Review & Giveaway @ The Top Shelf

14.

8/26 – Review & Giveaway @ Booked on a Feeling

15.

8/27 – Review & Giveaway @ Beas Book Nook

16.

8/28 Review & Giveaway @ Undercover Book Reviews

17.

8/29 – Review @ Book Dilettante

18.

8/30 – Review & Giveaway @ Marys Cup of Tea

19.

Beagle Book Space

20.

Melanies Muse

21.

Melinas Book Blog

Outstanding Cover for Kristine Mason’s new novel, Ultimate Fear

Posted on July 31, 2014 by fundinmental

I am so excited to be able to share Kristine Mason’s cover for the new book, Ultimate Fear, Book II in the Ultimate CORE Trilogy.

I am a huge fan of her work and this cover totally creeps me out. I haven’t even read the blurb yet, and I think, “Oh no, this is going to be bad.”

Kristine Mason’s work is right up there with the very best writers of thriller/suspense/romance novels.

Be sure and check out my review for Ultimate Kill, Book I, and enter the giveaway below.

Ultimate Fear—Kristine Mason

When a deranged mother’s grief drives her to replace her dead son over and over, obsession leads to murder…

And when forced to confront the dark and twisted perversion of a mother’s obsession, can Jessica and Dante find their lives again…or merely more death?

This reads as if it is an episode straight out of Criminal Minds. I can hardly wait to get my hands on it!

ULTIMATE KILL, Book I, The Ultimate CORE Trilogy

MY REVIEW

OMG. WOW. Fantastic. Amazing. Sizzling and suspenseful. Need I go on? ^_^ Okay, I will.

Kristine Mason’s thrillers are gripping and intense. I put her writing up there with the very best in her field.

As I open my Kindle and begin to read, I know some of what is to come and eagerly anticipate the adventure. Exactly what will happen and how is why I am so eager to delve into another Kristine Mason novel. It started with murder, a troubled love affair, a dangerous, jilted lover and ended with……

Ultimate Kill may be her best work yet. It grabbed me from the beginning and never let me relax. The pacing makes me race through the pages. Whew, I can relax with the characters and enjoy a moment, uh oh, here we go again, racing through the pages, dying to know what is coming.

Ian, the head of CORE, had manipulated Jake into joining the company. That seemed to be one of Ian’s best skills, getting people to do things. Now, between jobs and with time on his hands, Jake is determined to find Naomi. She had vanished, but he had never forgotten her and wanted what Rachel and Owen, and the other CORE couples had. He had to know what happened before he could move on.

Naomi didn’t realize that Rachel had found her and told Jake. Surely he wasn’t still looking for her. She had given up everything to escape the evil lurking in wait for her and him. If Jake found her, so could HE. It had taken all she had to leave him. When she saw Jake, the past came rushing back and her defenses fell. She could not let him go again. But, how could she keep him safe? She was being given a second chance to really live again and it was time to end all the lies and running. It is time to go on the offensive.

HE had given her everything.

She had rejected him and for that she would pay the Ultimate price.

How far will people go to have what they desire?

HE is a narcissist and feels nothing for anyone. It is all about him and what he wants. No one was going to cross him and get away with it. He is rich and money can buy many things. Can it buy the presidency? How bad is he? How bad is a honey badger? He is vicious. We could call him the billionaire badger. Nothing wrong with a little humor along with the evil.

Kristine Mason talks about some of the weird critters in the south. I love it. They do appear to be prehistoric and if you haven’t seen them before they can be quite frightening. I know how I felt the first time I saw an armadillo and the large flying cockroaches. With the bad, comes the good. The south has lush and colorful gardens, a visual extravaganza of color. I live in the south and enjoy the gardens and fight the cockroaches on a daily basis, so it is easy to visualize and walk with the characters through the pages.

I think I know what will happen. A little love and a little murder, but there is so much more. Every time I thought the end was coming, Kristine would be off on another route and I wondered where I was going. I didn’t think it could get more intense, but she revs it up a notch, and has me hanging my by my fingertips on the edge of the cliff, saying what the hell could happen next?

I am a huge TV fanaholic. I would love to see the CORE novels as a series of TV shows, or movies. It reminds me of Leverage. Hmmmm, now who would be the cast members?

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

SYNOPSIS

When the past collides with the present, the only way to ensure the future lies in the ultimate kill…

Naomi McCall is a woman of many secrets. Her family has been murdered and she’s been forced into hiding. No one knows her past or her real name, not even the man she loves.

Jake Tyler, former Marine and the newest recruit to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, has been in love with a woman who never existed. When he learns about the lies Naomi has weaved, he’s ready to leave her—until an obsessed madman begins sending her explosive messages every hour on the hour.

Innocent people are dying. With their deaths, Naomi’s secrets are revealed and the truth is thrust into the open. All but one. Naomi’s not sure if Jake can handle a truth that will change their lives. But she is certain of one thing—the only way to stop the killer before he takes more lives is to make herself his next victim.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

To get your Amazon copy of Ultimate Kill or to learn more about Kristine Mason, click on the cover below.

GIVEAWAY

Kristine Mason is offering a copy of Ultimate Kill for the giveaway. Show some comment love to Kristine by commenting on the cover, synopsis, bio or just say hi.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Is there Redemption for the Baddest of All – Mel Goes To Hell by Demelza Carlton

Posted on July 30, 2014 by fundinmental

Mel Goes To Hell is Book III in the Mel Goes To Hell Series by Demelza Carlton.

I have read the first two books and am eager to find out what happens next.

The covers are amazing and leave us to wonder who wins the fight between the angels and demons and heaven and hell.

MY REVIEW

Spoiler Alert: This is Book III in the Mel Goes To Hell Series.

The Mel Goes To Hell Series has been a hilarious romp through Hell with angels and demons vying for the souls of others. The witty dialogue and snarky repartee between Mel and Luce kept me laughing and hoping. Hoping that good will prevail and that Mel and Luce will be able to come to some kind of an agreement (?).

It is a story of love, sacrifice and redemption.

Yep. I thought that would happen and wondered how it would work out. But, I can’t tell you. You will have to find out for yourself and it is well worth the read.

Mel is bold, confident and calling in all her favors.

Love is Mel’s greatest strength.

Can it redeem Luce, the Lord of Hell? Or would she be the one to fall?

I am attracted to the bad boy. Can a bad boy change his ways? What do you think?

“Who would walk through Hell naked?

“I do it all the time. Well, usually with horns, the tail, the red skin…you know, the whole works . People seem to expect it on occasion…”

Mel Goes To Hell is a bit different from the first two books in the series. It is more serious in tone and storyline as the battle between good and evil escalates, but she does not forget the humor that, I believe, helps all friendships to grow and develop into long lasting relationships.

The series has such a unique storyline that it keeps me captivated and wanting more. The twists and turns, along with the surprises Demelza comes up with will, I hope, continue to entertain me. Is there more to come, Demelza?

I received the ebook for Mel Goes To Hell by Demelza Carlton in return for an honest, unbiased review.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

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A Mini Review

Welcome to Hell by Demelza Carlton is a hilarious introduction to the Hell Corporation. Good for some giggles and laughs as Demelza pokes fun at Hell. Meet Lucifer, the CEO and quite the hunk. He’s already got an evil glint in his eye when he literally runs into Mel as she is applying for a job. How would you prepare for a job at HELL Corporation? (Health Environments Life and Lands Corporation) Raphael at the Helpful Angels Agency tells her Mel has the job. She would be at Hells door promptly at nine. Demelza describes Mel’s commute on the train after the interview. I couldn’t help but chuckle as she talks about the briefcase, but I burst out belly laughing when she talked about farting. Does an Angel fart?

The story is FREE , so grab your copy now and happy reading.

Pick it up for a laugh or two and find out if See You in Hell is for you. My review for See You in Hell is coming on Monday, June 30, 2014.

Hilarious. Uproariously funny. It is writing like this that makes See You In Hell a home run to me.

MY 5 STAR REVIEW

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish. She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below. Sensationalist spin? No – Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all. Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world. The Ocean’s Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by her suspense thriller Nightmares trilogy.