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Lots To Share for Aftermath of Secrets by Cate Beauman Release @CateBeauman

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Cate Beauman’s Aftermath Of Secrets Release Celebration!

  • AFTERMATH OF SECRETS
  • The Carter Island Trilogy, Book 2
  • RELEASE DATE:  June 4, 2020

MY REVIEW

Aftermath by Cate Beauman is Book II of the Charter Island series and picks up where book one left off, though it is Molly and Brad’s turn to be in the spotlight. I don’t know why Aftermath fell a little flat, unless it was because I was blown away by Secrets in the Glass and read it immediately after, and it didn’t grab me, like the first one. Could it be because I wasn’t as invested in the characters and their outcome, like I was with Callie and Nate?

One drunken night had ruined Molly and Brad’s lifelong friendship. Molly, Brad, and Molly’s brother, nate, had been like the Three Musketeers. They both missed it, though they didn’t know how to fix it. With romantic suspense a lot comes down to communication. Who would make the first move?

When the characters mentioned watching Friends reruns, I thought, isn’t Friends always on cable somewhere. LOL I watch them all the time. I love little touches like this that make it easy to relate to moments in the characters lives.

Molly is easy going, but she is a tomboy and not shy about saying what she thinks. I love Molly thoughts about fashion…sneakers, jeans and a sweat shirt. And makeup? What’s that? She is the opposite of Callie and I think that’s why they make such great friends. Sounds like someone I could be friends with too. They can fill in the blanks and help navigate some of their troubles, all while building a friendship.

Molly’s sister, Gwen, is the opposite when it comes to fashion. I love when she is dressing her for a New Year’s ball and she looks in the mirror, all glammed up, and says,”Holy crap.” I busted out laughing. Been there, done that.

Brad’s brother, Jordan, appeared, I thought his timing highly suspicious and Brad is leery.

I knew a shitstorm was brewing, it’s just, what kind of shit storm will it be.

I have read a lot of Cate Beauman’s books and love them. I’m not sure what happened with Aftermath. The beginning seemed a little choppy. I was already invested in the characters and wanted the best for Molly and Brad, but, for me, it never reached the level of Secrets in the Glass. I would recommend reading Secrets in the Glass first and feel Aftermath keeps Carter Island on the map.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Aftermath by Cate Beauman.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 

When The Secrets Of The Past Threaten To Destroy The Future…

Boston’s Most Eligible Bachelor has it all: good looks, a great career, and plenty of wealth and prestige. But Bradley Sanderson’s charmed life quickly falls apart when scandal rocks his famous family. Arrests have been made; the media circus has begun, and Brad’s been tasked with the daunting chore of restoring the Sandersons’ good name. Moving back to Carter Island and picking up the pieces hasn’t been easy, especially when the one person he needs the most won’t give him the time of day.

Bakery owner and island resident Molly Carter is loyal to her core, but that doesn’t mean Brad’s homecoming hasn’t left her torn. Brad’s darkest days aren’t lost on Molly, but reaching out to her lifelong friend isn’t so simple when she’s forced to guard her heart. Everything changed when she woke up alone after their sexy summer night.

The complications keep coming when Brad’s long-lost brother shows up in town, bringing the remnants of his checkered past with him. Forgiveness and redemption are possible for all, until new secrets come to light that may have dire consequences.

*A contemporary romance with twists of mystery and suspense

BUY LINKS

Reviews & Endorsements:

5 Stars! “I’m a big sucker for a good love story, especially one that has drama. Aftermath Of Secrets by Cate Beauman provided both in a beautiful way. I was swept in by the characters, their wants, and desires.”  -Shannon Winings, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards

EXCERPT

“So, what now? The tree’s officially decorated. It’s just you, me, hot chocolate, and…a movie?”

“Scrabble,” Brad decided. His family wasn’t going to ruin one more moment of his night.

Molly’s left brow winged up again. “Scrabble?”

He nodded. “By the Christmas tree—something we’ve never done before. I didn’t get a chance to kick your ass after Thanksgiving dinner this year.”

She flashed him one of the grins that lit up her face and made his pulse race. Damn, she was spectacular. “I’ve kicked your ass the last two years in a row, which is odd because didn’t you go to Harvard?”

He laughed, rolling his eyes at the ceiling. “You’ve gotta come up with something else.”

“But it was Harvard, right? And Harvard Medical School after that?”

“Yeah, it was both of the Harvards.” He reached out, tugging gently on her hair. “Let’s do this, brat.”

She pulled the game out of the basket beneath the coffee table. “Oh, let’s indeed.”

They brought their mugs and plate of treats with them as they moved to lie on their stomachs across from one another and set up the game under the lights of the tree.

He selected his preliminary tile and grinned when he drew a letter A and Molly a G. “Looks like I go first.” He drew his seven tiles and let out a hoot as he studied his selection. “And here we go.” He laid out quit in the center of the board. “That looks like fourteen points.”

She glared as she pulled her tiles and looked at her pieces. “Beginner’s luck.”

He sent her a mischievous smile. “We’ll see.”

Molly beamed. “Got one.” She laid out an S, L, and T.

His brow shot up. “Slut?”

“And a double word score for eight points. Don’t be jealous.”

“I’m not. First move, and I’m winning.”

“For now, but it’s early days, Ivy League. Early days.”

He laughed as she did. Christmas tree decorating, Scrabble, and plenty of smack talk with Molls. Her five nights of fun idea was turning out to be the ultimate gift.

ALSO PART OF THE CARTER ISLAND NOVELS SERIES

Secrets Hidden In The Glass (Carter Island, #1)
  • SECRETS HIDDEN IN THE GLASS
  • The Carter Island Novels, Book 1

MY REVIEW

Secrets Hidden in the Glass is a looooong book and I have a lot to say. Once I started, I only put it down to eat, use the facilities, and sleep. The characters quickly became my friends and I went on one hell of a ride, filled with danger and suspense. It has so many elements I love in a book, my page and a half of notes is going to have to be severely edited.

Callie desperately needed a vacation and felt the magical affects of the island her first day there. She was in desperate need of sleep and it found her as soon as she sat down. She awoke more refreshed than she had felt for months.

She had already met the sheriff and, like the island, she felt an immediate attraction when he poked his head out from under the sink he was fixing in the home she was renting. He felt the attraction too and, seeing he was her landlord and neighbor, felt he would have many opportunities to get to know her better.

Callie is an artist, working in stained glass, and fame has not been kind to her. She prefers spending her time working on her art to hobnobbing with those who want a piece of her. She built a very high wall to protect herself.

Nate slowly dries the mortar that holds the wall,allowing it to fall and the light, along with her emotions were coming out in a slow way, relaxing in the small moments of getting to know someone. She steps outside herself not knowing why, just that it felt right. Their romance is a slow build with many uncertainties and danger.

The island life was what she needed. The people are real, easy going and not overbearing, even though they know she is famous, though she has no idea they know and is surprised by it when she finds out. All this reminds me soooo much of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Callie is relaxed, happy, but knowing Cate Beauman this is foreplay for the danger lurking in the background. I keep waiting and waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. The slow, subtle buildup is spent getting to know everyone, including the dark memories that put a bullseye on Callie. It does get hot and heavy, but not in the ‘I like you, let’s do it” manner.

I am soooo curious how she came to be abandoned at four years old. She has all the issues that go along with it. That explains why she holds people at a distance.

...love and attachment meant fear and pain for Callie.

When Callie’s adopted mom told Nate that as a child she would get up in the night and sleep in front of the door so she would know if they tried to leave her, it broke my heart. It’s the little details that Cate Beauman adds to the story that allows me to SEE what is happening.

“It crossed my mind to knock him out a couple of times, but then I would have needed to arrest myself…” says Nate.

Be prepared for tears, laughter, passion, danger, and hours of nonstop reading, because Secrets Hidden in the Glass by Cate Beauman is the complete package. I am BLOWN AWAY.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Secrets Hidden in the Glass by Cate Beauman.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

BOOK DESCRIPTION

The secrets of the past are always closer than we think…

Stained glass artist Callie Davis is in desperate need of a vacation. Burnt out and on the edge of a nervous breakdown, she’s fleeing the pressures of her career and is taking refuge on Massachusetts’ tiny Carter Island. Callie yearns for long, lazy days and pretty walks on the beach—blessed solitude and an escape from the complications of her life. Then she bumps into gorgeous Nate Carter and everything changes.

Sheriff Nathan Carter couldn’t be happier now that the height of the summer season has finally come and gone. After four endless months, tourists have packed their bags and headed for the mainland. The quiet days of autumn are about to befall the town—the way Nate and his fellow Sandersonians like it best.

But nothing ends up quite the way Nate expects when he meets the beautiful blonde with the big blue eyes. Callie’s pretty smiles hide secrets—deep, dark mysteries that could cost them both their lives if they continue digging into the past and cross a killer’s path.

*A contemporary romance with twists of mystery and suspense

Buy Links

Reviews and Endorsements:

2018 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner

Readers’ Favorite Five Star Book Designation

“Great character’s, fantastic plot, it is a book to sink into. You feel the magic of the island…” Amazon Verified Review

 “Even throughout the nail-biting scenes, and moments of terrible sadness, you feel the rise of love sneaking back into the picture.” Amazon Verified Review

  • Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
  • Goodreads Rating: 4.4/5

ABOUT CATE BEAUMAN

Cate Beauman is the multi-award-winning, international bestselling author of The Bodyguards of L.A. County series and the Carter Island Novels. She is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense and contemporary stories.

Cate’s novels have been named Readers’ Favorite Five Star books and have won the Booksellers’ Best Award, Maggie Award for Excellence, the Holt Medallion Award, two-time Aspen Gold Medal, two-time Readers’ Favorite International Gold Medal, three-time Readers’ Favorite International Silver Medal, and the Readers’ Crown Award.

Cate makes her home in New Hampshire with her family and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack.

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MY REVIEWS FOR CATE BEAUMAN

The Bodyguards of LA County Series (all the books can stand alone)

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Here Today, Gone Tomorrow – Day 4 by Nick Clausen @NickClausen9

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I received an email from Nick’s Reader’s Club with all those beautiful covers lined up in a row. Do you wonder who’s watching you now? LOL

Also, Dead Meat: Day 1 is free, while Nick has heavily discounted Day 2 And Day 3, so now is the time to jump in. You can also read for free on Kindle Unlimited. Happy reading.

Dead Meat: Day 4 (Dead Meat, #4)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Dead Meat series by Nick Clausen covers the apocalyptic/dystopian world he has created on a day by day basis. I highly recommend reading the series in order as each book picks up where the previous book left off.

It is so easy to visualize and relate to the storyline because we are going through it now, sans the zombies. I began reading this before Covid-19, but the characters careless actions read too much like real people’s disregard for others in spreading the disease. All it take is one person to break the rules, one moment of carelessness, others thinking, oh, it will be alright. It only takes one person to set off an explosion.

Day 4 is longer than the other books. It seems to grow as I meet new characters and keep up with the old ones.

I could not stop reading this action packed, heart in my throat, nonstop suspense with tension that left be a bit sore from my muscles being clenched so tight.

OMG…you better be prepared to lose some of your friends along the way, because Nick Clausen doesn’t hesitate to kill them off in gruesome, tragic, heartbreaking fashion.

AND…he ends with my emotions reeling as I mourn, yet I have hope.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dead Meat: Day 4 by Nick Clausen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

The dead have awakened.
Driven by insatiable hunger.
In eternal search of fresh meat.
The infection spreads like the plague.
Nothing stands between the undead and humanity.
Is it too late to save the world from disaster?

The end of the world one day at a time

 In this new apocalyptic zombie series from the author of They Come at Night and Human Flesh, we follow events day for day as the world slowly decends into mayhem and the zombies take over. Don’t miss the thrilling ride!

For fans of The Walking Dead and The Orphan Books.

Day 4 of the zombie apocalypse

 The story picks up from Day 3. Dorte, a young doctor, desperately tries to find a cure for her sister, who got scratched by one of the infected. It’s a race against time, and it’s only the beginning of another day in hell.

By Day 4, the infection begins to spread across nation borders, and it looks like none of the governments will be able to contain it. Is it too late to save the world?

  • ★★★★★ “Definitely the best day yet!”
  • ★★★★★ “This series just gets more and more exciting”
  • ★★★★★ “had me hooked from the first page”

EXCERPT

Henrik has turned away to go back inside the bedroom and pack a fresh set of clothes, when Kirsten screams.

He spins around and sees Finn come lunging out from Jennie’s old room, throwing himself at Kirsten, who backs away into the wall in a vain attempt to get out of reach. But it’s too late, and Finn bites down hard on her neck.

Kirsten’s scream turns even higher and more piercing.

Oh, Jesus Christ!

Henrik runs down the hallway and grabs Kirsten’s flailing arm. He begins tugging hard to get her away from Finn, but Finn acts like a predator who just caught his breakfast and isn’t intent at all on letting it go. He bears down harder with his teeth, growling and blowing bubbles in the blood from Kirsten’s throat. He also reaches up and grabs her by the grey hair, yanking her head sideways.

Kirsten screams again, very high-pitched, but a little weaker than before, and for an awful moment, she looks like a piece of toy torn between two big kids, as Henrik pulls her one way, while Finn pulls her the other.

“Let go of her!” Henrik shouts, and then, without thinking, he lets go of Kirsten with one hand in order to throw a punch at Finn. His knuckles connect with the old guy’s temple, and his jaw pops open for a moment, as he blinks his dead eyes and staggers backwards, loosening his grip on Kirsten’s hair and allowing Henrik to pull her free. She almost collapses into his arms, and Henrik half drags, half lifts her backwards down the hallway, away from Finn.

But the neighbor quickly regains his bearings and comes waddling after them, arms stretched out, the lower part of his face smothered in blood …

ABOUT NICK CLAUSEN

Born 1988 in North Jutland, where I still live with my wife, who also happened to be my earliest childhood girlfriend. From 2017 I have lived as a full-time writer. Up until then, I had different jobs beside the writing. I have been studying as a carpenter for three years, and have also read two years of psychology at Aalborg University. It turned out that the writing had a much more powerful pull on me.

Nick Clausen

I decided early on that I would be an author when I grew up. In fact, the decision came to me already when I read my first book, Snevampyren by Dennis Jürgensen. My first “real” stories I wrote at 14-15 years of age. They were rejected by the publisher, but still got praise. There were some years when I was busy with being a teenager and trying to get an education before I suddenly remembered that I should be an author.

That day I made a promise to write 1,000 words a day until I got a book published. I sat down and started writing. I continued to write every single day for a year and a half. I sent the finished manuscripts to different publishers, and the rejections piled up. Twelve of them by the end. But each time I could feel it was a little bit better. The criticism became more positive. The thirteenth story was called Tidevandet, and it was adopted by the publisher and came out a year later.

I have always enjoyed writing, although in the beginning I put a lot of pressure on myself. My approach to the process has become much more free over the years. For example, I no longer plan my stories. That way, I feel that I’m experiencing the story while writing it and the characters feel like real people. I do not know where the ideas come from, but I’ve never had trouble finding them.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

MY NICK CLAUSEN REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Forget Me Not by Lawna Mackie @lawnamackie #romanticsuspense

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Preorder price $2.99. Due for release 6.19.20.

Forget Me Not by Lawna Mackie has a beautiful cover to go with the wonderful story inside.

Forget Me Not by [Lawna Mackie]

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Pippin had been snatched by her mentally ill father. It’s a miracle, and thanks to Agent Matt Lalor, that she is alive today. Even Monty, his dog, had known that fate was calling.

My heart jumped out of my chest when Matt bade Monty to FIND Pippen…and he jumped. Great writing. That had me racing through the pages, and, even though I felt I knew where the journey would end, I was looking forward to the ride.

Ten years later…and Pippin returns home. It’s time to visit the past and put it behind her…forever. Yeah. Right. I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Matt Laylor is known as a cold fish, a loner, a recluse, a hard man.

I loved spending time with Vallor on Snow Lake, as he taught Pippin the fine art of ice fishing. I love a book that brings memories roaring back. I remember those huts on the frozen lake, like a small city on the ice, that appears and disappears at nature’s whim.

Lydia is Pippin’s editor for the mystery series she has been writing, and when she comes to town the action knows no limits. I knew she would add some good times…and maybe some bad times…to the equation. She has a very strong personality, but she’s one of those kind of people that make your life a richer place if she is in it.

I laughed out loud when she reached the cabin. I could see it playing out like a scene in a movie.

Levi, may be a bit slow, but he has a big heart. He comes and goes throughout the novel and I am worried what Lawna Mackie has in store for him. He is so sweet. She couldn’t kill him off, could she? At this point, every time I see his name, I feel a sense of impending doom, like he has a part to play and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him.

James? Chance?

I didn’t spot the villain right away. He sure has a lot of patience, waiting in the shadows for THAT moment.

Yes there were a few teary eyed moments. I even felt a Pretty Woman moment adding some good feels, which we always want in a romance…don’t we?

Predictable? Sure. Suspenseful moments? You bet. Laughs and love? For sure.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Forget Me Not by Lawna Mackie.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

He was dead…or so she thought.

At the age of twelve, Pippin Bartlett, is abducted by her mentally ill father who goes on a killing rampage. Fortunately she is rescued outside the small town of Snow Lake, Manitoba by ex-sniper and CSIS Agent Matt Lalor, who shoots and reportedly kills the man although the body is never recovered.

Fast-forward ten years and we find Pippin writing successful novels in New York under the alias of Avery Woods. Her words help lessen the impact of the terror she lived through. That is until a series of fan letters arrive. And not just from any fan, but one who sounds a lot like her father and is determined to finish the failed job from ten years ago.

Matt Lalor has secrets of his own. A career that ended badly and one he wishes to forget. He lives his life in a remote cabin in Snow Lake where, whenever possible, he avoids people. With two notable exceptions he mostly succeeds. The first is the day he is required to rescue a twelve-year old girl. Never missing a shot he believes whole-heartedly the man is dead. The second is the day twenty-two year old Pippin drives into a snowbank on his property to turn his world upside down. She’s being hunted by a killer for a second time, and Matt refuses to let harm come to her. What he doesn’t expect is for the fearless and sassy beautiful young woman to capture his heart in the process.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lawna Mackie

Lawna Mackie was born in Jasper, Alberta. After finishing high school and post secondary she moved to Calgary, Alberta, married her husband and settled in the small town of Didsbury, Alberta.

Lawna would tell you that a lot of her creativity comes from her mother, who could design and build, just about anything. Her mother never lacked the talent for hand-making toys. “She always amazed me. My brother and I were never bored because she made us flutes, toy cars, and even parallel bars in the trees,” she explains.

Her other creative inspiration comes from her husband Jeff, and the many adventures they have had. It was on one particular trip to British Columbia, when she stopped at the Enchanted Forrest that the fairy tale world called to her to write a story.

Along with the love she has for her husband and family, is the deep admiration and compassion she has for animals. “They bring so much joy and inspiration to my life I don’t know how I would ever live without them,” she says. Alaskan Malamutes are near and dear to her heart. With one Malamute, one Bichon Shih Tzu, one farm cat and a Bengal, her house is never quiet.

Lawna writes contemporary romance and paranormals. One fan writes, “Lawna’s books are well-written and are impossibly good! The scenes are unexpected and very creative. I highly recommend her books!”

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook  /  Instagram

MY LAWNA MACKIE REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Is There Such a Thing as a…Bad Fairy by Elaine Kaye @ElaineKAuthor @ChrysFey

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Isn’t this such a cute cover for Bad Fairy by Elaine Kaye?

  • Title: Bad Fairy
  • Series: A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book One)
  • Author: Elaine Kaye
  • Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
  • Genre: Fantasy Middle Grade
  • Length: 66 pages
  • Age Range: 8-12

BLURB: Thistle Greenbud is not a bad fairy. She simply doesn’t like rules, and it’s just her luck that her homework is to create a new rule for the fairy handbook. But first, she has more important things to do. Like figure out how to get back at Dusty and Moss for playing tricks on her.

Before she can carry out her plan, though, disaster strikes and she finds herself working alongside the very fairies she wanted revenge on. Can they work together and trust each other, or will things go from bad to worse?

BUY LINKS: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

As we watch the boys, the wind picks up, making the fern lay flat, exposing us. We gasp and make a dash for the closest tree. Behind it, we huddle together.

“Boogles! A branch just hit me,” Weedy says.

The sky turns black. Wind swirls dust and leaves, and spits pebbles at us. This is not good. We have to get going now or else our payback will get blown away.

“Let’s go!” I scream and lead the group from behind the tree, but the wind makes it hard for us to move forward.

Rose and Lilly grab hands as they run, screaming, toward the creek. Lacey stumbles over a fallen twig, landing flat and hitting her face hard on the ground. When she doesn’t move, I race to her as sand and pine needles prick my skin.

I help Lacey to her feet. Luckily, she only has a few cuts on her face. A tiny bit of blood streaks down her forehead. She looks at me. Fear is bright in her eyes. She needs help. We all need help. I peer toward the creek. The boys are still there, frantically trying to lift the bag full of stones.

Shouting a warning and waving my arms, I hurry to the creek, trying to get their attention. Finally, Dusty sees me. He looks as if he’s been caught with his hand in the pixie jar.

I point to the sky and wave them to come our way. Rain starts to fall. Dusty pulls Moss from the creek. Fat drops of water pelt my head and wings as I wait for the boys to reach me.

“It must be a twisty!” Dusty screams. “We better find shelter.”

GIVEAWAY:

  • 3 Signed Paperback Picture Books –
  • Pea Soup Disaster, Doctor Mom, The Missing Alphabet
  • Eligibility: International
  • Number of Winners: One
  • Giveaway Ends: July 1, 2020 12:00am Eastern Standard Time
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elaine Kaye is the author of A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster. Bad Fairy is her middle grade debut and the first of A Bad Fairy Adventure series.

Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.

Amazon / Goodreads / BookBub / Instagram / Facebook Twitter / LinkedIn / Blog

MY REVIEWS FOR ELAINE KAYE

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Sherry’s Shelves #204

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Sherry’s Shelves #202 is my blog update from 6.7 – 6.13.20.

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LATEST HAPPENINGS

Hello fellow bloggers. How are you today?

It’s been a good week, even with a tropical storm going through. We had a couple inches of rain and the wind knocked off those pesky loose and dead branches. That’s probably the biggest danger we faced…getting hit by a branch. Sometimes I find them stabbed into the ground and I would hate for it to stab into me. 🙂 Now, the sun is shining intensely and it’s in the 80’s. Bring it on. Summer is my favorite season.

We had to put Phoenix away because the high wind wanted to take it awayyyyyyyyy.

And…the Phoenix rises to live another day in our little bit of paradise.

I hope everyone is staying safe and doing well.

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

REVIEWS

Quarrelsome Quartz (Cozy Corgi Mysteries Book 7) Hearts and Minds (Class Heroes #5)The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure (Matthew Connor Adventure #3)

COMING UP ON fundinmental

I will be adding some more posts, so be sure and stop by.

  • Sherry’s Shelves
  • Music Monday – How You Remind Me by Nickelback
  • Is There Such A Thing As…A Bad Fairy by Elaine Kaye
  • Forget Me Not by Lawna Mackie
  • New Release – Snowed Under by Mary Feliz
  • Giveaway – Revelations by Hep Aldridge
  • Here Today, Gone Tomorrow – Dead Meat: Day 4 by Nick Clausen

What are you up to this week? Reading any good books? Watching any good movies?

  • To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
  • To see all my reviews, 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’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold @HibbertStiles

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I have been reading Carolyn Arnold’s work for some time now and always enjoy them. I am excited to be on another adventure with Matthew Connor. So…what do you say? Ready for a treasure hunt?

The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure by Carolyn Arnold is due for release on 6.16.20, but can be preordered now for $4.99

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Matthew Connor is an adventurous archaeologist and treasure hunter, a dreamer. This is not my first adventure with him, and I feel it won’t be my last. We never know where we will be going and what we will be after, but Indiana Jones step aside and make room.

Matthew and his friends search out the answers to legends, such as City of Gold. Feel free to ask Google, because Carolyn Arnold takes ‘true’ stories and makes them her own.

Today, we will be traveling with Gaspar, or Gaspiralla as his friends know him. He is a pirate that sailed the Gulf of Mexico and Spanish Main in the late 18th and 19th century. Is it a myth, a legend? There is an island named after him and Tampa has a festival, so draw your own conclusions.

Carolyn Arnold is not afraid to write in more than one genre, and I am so happy she does. Matthew Connor is one of my favorite series because I love to travel to distant places and she takes me all over the world, yet also writes of events in our neck of the world.

The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is action packed, filled with suspense and danger. The peripheral characters shine with their own talents and uniqueness that adds to this wild adventure where lives are lost and treasure found.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Join the quest for a pirate’s gold in the anxiously awaited third installment of the international bestselling Matthew Connor Adventure series!

For centuries, the existence of Spanish pirate José Gaspar has been relegated to legend, but archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his friends may have just found reason to believe the buccaneer truly existed.

Rumored to have sailed and plundered the Gulf of Mexico and the Spanish Main during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Gaspar would have amassed a vast fortune. But can Matthew and the gang prove myth as fact and find Gaspar’s priceless treasure? It will take courage and tenacity as the path to gold proves deadly—and even murderous once they discover the true identity and fate of the man nicknamed Gasparilla.

The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a fast-paced action adventure that’s akin to an Indiana Jones story set in modern times. It’s light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Buy this international bestselling book today and strap yourself in for an action-packed good time!

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Carolyn Arnold

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:  Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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Class Heroes – Hearts and Minds by Stephen Henning #stephenhenning

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I have been with the Class Heroes by Stephen Henning since the beginning and am so happy to be back with them again. Lolly has become my favorite superhero because I have a love/hate relationship with her.

Hearts and Minds (Class Heroes #5)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It has been a long time since I have been with the Class Heroes series by Stephen Henning. I have loved these teenage superheroes, watching them grown and learn about their powers and life in general.

Lolly is an exceptional character and has become my favorite. She is mean, evil, and now that she has a boyfriend, she is beginning to see things in a different light. She has the ability to control fire and I wonder what will become of her.

Her father, now I am not so sure he can be redeemed. He has the power to manipulate people int doing what he wants them to do. I wonder….does he use it on Lolly?

It’s been a while since Book IV, London Belong To the Alchemist, and Hearts and Minds picks up where it left off, and even though it has been some time, I had no trouble picking up where I left off.

There are moment of suspense where she is in serious danger, but, hey, she’s the main character. You wouldn’t kill her off, would you Stephen?

In Hearts and Minds, Lolly has reunited with her father after he spent nine months in prison. She struggles to find her own identity. I don’t trust the man at all, as they search for a missing girl who may have super powers.

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly….BEWARE! I feel a sense of danger, very subtle, yet always there and I don’t know who she can trust. The story doesn’t end here, so if we are looking for closure, we will have to wait.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Hearts and Minds by Stephen Henning.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Sixteen-year-old Lolly Rosewood, the cold and calculating anti-hero from the Class Heroes series, is back in a new, thrilling and dangerous mission.
Lolly and her father, Sir Michael, are in Montana on the track of a kidnapped girl — Erica Barrington — who they believe has superpowers. But there are other people hunting for the missing girl. Can Lolly and her father find Erica in time?
This is the fifth book in the Class Heroes series. It’s a journey of discovery — and more secrets — for father and daughter. Lolly has always trusted her father implicitly, followed his orders, and shared his goal to reach out to other people with special abilities. This mission to Montana is a new experience for Lolly as she battles to shake off the shackles of being seen as a little girl in her father’s eyes, and establish a new relationship with him as an equal.
Warning: Contains Violence, Death, Sexual References, Dark Humour and some Upper Class British Snobbery 🙂

ABOUT STEPHEN HENNING

Stephen Henning

 I began writing the first Class Heroes book on my laptop in February 2011, but these stories have probably been continually playing in my head since I was aged five or six, when I would act them out with toys and with my friends. I then branched out into using pencils, colouring pens and paper, moving on to writing pads and then my first computer.

So, as you’ve probably gathered, I have always enjoyed making up stories and the super-hero genre has been one of my favourites.

The CV-type stuff is that I went to Sheffield Hallam University to study English. I then trained and briefly worked as a journalist in Salford. After that, I moved into publishing – which was great. An interesting and fun industry to be in and fascinating to see how books are put together and sold.

After that I started doing technical writing, which led me to start my own business with my friend and colleague Andrew Butters. My love of writing, generally, led me back to writing fiction. Our company, Elucidox Ltd, publishes the Class Heroes books.

If you want to know a bit more about me, what kind of super powers I have and the kind of super villains I have to tangle with on a daily basis, then feel free to watch Rage. This is a short film, that took a long time to make. It’s a simple day in my life :-). Actually it’s just a fun movie that I made with the very kind help of some of my best mates. We had a laugh doing it, hope you like it too. And if you do, then why not explore the super world of the Class Heroes books?

Website  /  Goodreads  /  Facebook  /  Youtube

MY STEPHEN HENNING REVIEWS

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Quarrelsome Quartz by Mildred Abbott @MAcozymystery @pumpupyourbook

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Quarrelsome Quartz by Mildred Abbott is the last book of the stack for these cozy Corgi mysteries and I have enjoyed my time with Fred and Watson. Soooo…let’s get started.

Quarrelsome Quartz (Cozy Corgi Mysteries Book 7)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Quarrelsome Quartz by Mildred Abbot is the last book in my stack of cozy Corgi mysteries. I have enjoyed my time solving mysteries with Fred and Watson.

The Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery is doing great and Fred’s twin sisters just opened the New Age shop right beside them. A big to do is planned for the opening, but…it’s Estes Park and things rarely goes as planned.

The shop fits into the small town of Estes Park, Colorado perfectly. We have an eclectic group of people that keep life interesting.

What’s that? Watson smells a….dead body…and they are on the case.

Hunky Sheriff Branson is still pining after Fred, though she has made it clear they are only friends. Fred doesn’t know what she wants when it comes to romance.

Sue, one of the cops, and Fred have an antagonistic relationship, but Chief Briggs, who she’d only had one other encounter with, fills her with fear. Could it stem from her father’s murder?

I love Watson and all his Corgi cuteness and it sure was nice to visit with him and Fred, and the rest of her family, for lots of chuckles and a light mystery. Being fairly new to Estes Park, each book brings Fred closer to her family.

AND, we have a lovely quiche to prepare and you may enjoy while reading.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Quarrelsome Quartz by Mildred Abbott.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A New Age conference comes to Estes Park, Colorado, bringing a cacophony of tie-dye, crystals, and murder…

As summer draws to a close, the Spirit, Health, and Heart Conference arrives, just in time for Winifred’s sisters to open their store next to the Cozy Corgi Bookshop. To Fred’s surprise, Chakras turns out to be a beautiful addition to the delightful mountain town. The shop even has a room so pleasing in its crystal tranquility that Fred’s corgi, Watson, approves—and hardly anything impresses him. 

But not everyone is charmed by the crystals, tarot readings, and messages of personal enlightenment. When a famous spiritualist is found dead, Chakras and the entire town is plunged into a conflict that touches the lives of those closest to Fred. 

Although she is hesitant to become involved, it is simply not in the cards for Fred to sit out the investigation. As she and Watson embark on a journey that forces them to take a look into the darker shadows of Estes Park, Fred soon finds herself digging into the secrets of those she loves…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable quiches.)

ABOUT MILDRED ABBOTT

Reading the Cozy Corgi series is pretty much all you need to know about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed with everything she writes about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods.  She’s not obsessed with murder, however. At least not at her own hands (nor paid for… no contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in her personality.  Having Fred and Watson stroll into her mind was a touch of kismet.  

Website Address: http://www.mildredabbott.com
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Instagram address: https://www.instagram.com/mildredabbott/

MY MILDRED ABBOTT REVIEWS

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Tackling The TBR – 5.31 – 6.6.20

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I started this some time ago and never followed through. My mountain keeps growing, no matter how many books I read. Are they propagating when I’m not looking?

Previous TBR Total: 2460

Currently Reading:

Books Added to TBR:

Books Removed from TBR: 0

Books Read: (review to follow soon)

Books Reviewed: (linked to review post)

Justice GoneThe Beijing Memorandum: America's Worst Nightmare: The Chinese People's Republic of Mexico

Hacked (Special Forces: Operation Alpha Kindle Worlds Novella)Fractured Lives (Brotherhood Protectors Kindle Worlds Novella)

That Night (Nadira Holden, Demon Hunter)

Books DNF-ed: 0

Duplicates Removed: 1

New TBR Total: 2481

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Keeps Getting Better – That Night by Azaaa Davis @AzaaaDavis

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That Night by Azaaa Davis is Book II in the Nadira Holden, Demon Hunter series. I got so involved in Nadira’s World that I asked Azaaa if she needed any reviews for That Night…and she said yes. YAY!

That Night (Nadira Holden, Demon Hunter)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love when I find a series where I enjoyed the second book more than the first and that is what happened with That Night by Azaaa Davis.

That Night picks up where This Time left off, so you will want to read them in order.

A little recap: Nadira Holden had risen after twenty five years of being dead, to a world in which demons and humans lived together in ‘harmony’, or so the humans think. Nadira is possessed by a succubus and struggles to keep a leash on ‘her’. The succubus doesn’t mind killing off her friends, but it breaks Nadira’s heart.

Well, I must say, I am lost in her world, walking with the demons and humans, and wondering who controls what.

Nadira learns many things about herself and what she is capable of when her and her succubus work as one. When their life is on the line, we see who stands strong.

We are, however, left with a cliffhanger (frowning) and I plan to be around for These Moments, the third and final book of Nadira’s story.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

All Nadira Holden wants is to preserve the last of her soul and create a new life free of magic, demons, and war. Her involuntary bond with a succubus makes her desires impossible. The threat of this disgruntled demon possessing her urges Nadira to find the succubus’s missing body.

Nadira’s only hope of avoiding demonic possession lies with Derek, the only demon she can tolerate without slaying. Except, his hands are full trying to secure his recently-inherited title of prince. Desperate, Nadira agrees to help Derek secure his title by experimenting with the deadly magic they once generated in exchange for his aid in her investigation.

To untangle herself from the evil that surrounds her, Nadira must be willing to betray her friends and get cozy with her enemies. She may even have to do the unthinkable: break the peace treaty that allows demons and humans to coexist. If she can’t toss aside her scruples, Nadira may not make it out of this ordeal with her soul intact. That Night is book two in the Nadira Holden, Demon Hunter series. If you like monster-slaying action and simmering romance then buy That Night today!

ABOUT AZAAA DAVIS

Azaaa Davis

Azaaa Davis is an American author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels.

She fell in love with reading as a high school freshman and continues to read, write, and draw today. Her background in social work helps her portray realistic characters in otherworldly–and sometimes terrifying–situations. A New York native, Azaaa currently lives in New Hampshire (USA) with her husband and daughters.

She debuted with This Time, A Nadira Holden Novel, in 2018 about demon hunters, family ties and the magic of love. Azaaa is working diligently to finish writing more fantasy novels while raising her daughters. Thank you for showing an interest in her stories!

Website / Twitter

MY AZAAA DAVIS REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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