Teaser Tuesday #57 – Sugar Scars by Travis Norwood ( @TravisLNorwood )

Posted on January 19, 2016 by fundinmental

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of adailyrhythm.

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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Sugar Scars was on tour and I am so excited that I won a copy.

I love the ethereal cover that was designed by Greg Simanson.

MY TEASE

“You think that makes this okay?” I put my finger on the trigger. I remembered how easy it fired when I killed the pig. I had stood there in fear and it had surprised me. I still couldn’t bring myself to squeeze the trigger, but maybe I would slip. It would fire, and this would be over.

“You looked so you could prey on them.”

(page 179 in paperback)

MY REVIEW

Sugar Scars by Travis Norwood is an amazing post apocalyptic novel that concentrates on the survival on one nineteen year old girl, with diabetes. I raced through the pages, feeling all her emotions: fear, anger, sorrow, loneliness, joy and, yes, love.

A virus had killed off 99.9895833% of the world’s population. Some believe a virus will be the end of OUR world. With mass transportation, the virus would spread before there was time to contain it. Haven’t we had warnings? Something to think about.

SHE is a loner, a math whiz and a diabetic. HER life depends on math, math and insulin.

When the world ends…go to Walmart.

“Everytime. Even now. Every time I get the bad cart with a busted wheel.”

How true is that? I wonder what percentage of carts are damaged. 😆

I never learned her real name. She didn’t like it, so … why not change it? It’s not like it matters any more. You can be who you want to be. I love that she named her car and her house and her refrigerator…

I was so eager to read Sugar Scars that I was afraid I would be disappointed. Not to worry. Travis Norwood blew me away. If you love character driven stories, this is a MUST READ. The characters wrapped me in their arms and never let me go. Sure, we have some bad guys, but the good ones filled me with hope and the belief that there are more good people than bad in the world. Just like real life. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out what happens, yet I hated the thought of losing my new friends.

Sugar Scars struck me more as an adventure than a tragedy. Sure there is all the bad that comes with the end of the world, but the twists and turns, the originality of the writing, kept me racing through the pages, unable to put the book down. I read it in one sitting and I dare you to give it a try.

Do you believe a virus could be a threat to your survival? This will make you think…long after the story is read.

5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB: Living after the apocalypse really isn’t that hard for most of the survivors. The virus killed all but 1 in 10,000. The few remaining people are left in a world of virtually unlimited resources. Grocery stores overflowing with food and drink. Thousands of empty houses to pick from.

But one survivor, a nineteen-year-old girl, requires more than simple food, water and shelter. As a type 1 diabetic her body desperately needs insulin to stay alive. With civilization gone, no one manufactures it anymore. She hoards all the insulin she can find, but every day marches toward the end of her stash of vials. She has a choice. Accept her fate and death, or tackle the almost insurmountable task of extracting and refining the insulin herself.

Brilliant scientists struggled to make the first insulin. What hope does a high school dropout have?

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Monday Mini Review – Midnight on the Mississippi by Mary Ellis

Posted on January 18, 2016 by fundinmental

Midnight on the Mississippi by Mary Ellis just screams, “READ ME!”

This is the perfect time of year to be sharing a murder mystery on the Bayou – Mardi Gras season. So keep on your toes, keep your eyes open and Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez.

I love everything about the book and was ecstatic when I won a signed paperback for my collection. The cover is gorgeous and I love to read anything that takes place in the south.

Doesn’t the cover tell you there is a mystery inside the pages?

Cover: Lucas Art and Design

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Midnight on the Mississippi is the first book in a stand alone romantic suspense series that has everything I need to make it a must read series for me. Southern Belles, high risk investments, murder and mysteries abound. And then there is Nikki Price. I love her!

She is a badass chic who doesn’t take no for an answer and wants some for herself… from the Bayou.

It was so hard to put down the book, but it is 2am and I find myself losing my place because I keep nodding off.

The characters are rich and complex with the storylines to match. Sometimes I didn’t know whether to love or hate them. To me, that is a sign of great writing!

Midnight on the Mississippi is my first novel from Mary Ellis but it won’t be my last.

5 Stars

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

Midnight on the Mississippi begins the new Secrets of the South Mysteries from bestselling author Mary Ellis. These complex crime dramas follow an investigator’s quest to make the world a better place…solving one case at a time.

New Orleans–Hunter Galen, a stock and securities broker, suspects his business partner, James Nowak, may be involved in embezzling their clients’ money, but he’s reluctant to jeopardize their friendship based on suspicion alone. After James turns up dead, Hunter realizes his unwillingness to confront a problem may have cost James his life.

Nicki Price, a newly minted PI, intends to solve the stockbroker’s murder, recover the missing millions from the client accounts, and establish herself in the career she adores. As she ferrets out fraud and deception at Galen Investments, Hunter’s fiancee, Ashley Menard, rubs Nicki the wrong way. Nicki doesn’t trust the ostentatious woman with an agenda longer than the Mississippi River. Ashley seems to be hiding something, but is Nicki’s growing attraction to Hunter–a suspected murderer–her true reason for disliking Ashley?

As they encounter sophisticated shell games, blackmail, and murder, Nicki and Hunter’s only option is to turn to God as they search for answers, elude lethal danger, and perhaps discover love along the way.

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Saturday Shorts – The Critters Fight Back – Zoo by James Patterson

Posted on January 16, 2016 by fundinmental

James Patterson is an awesome writer, but his books have become pretty predictable…

until ZOO.

I was so excited to see him break from his usual and venture out.

Add me to Goodreads

MY BOOK REVIEW

I was very eager to get my hands on Zoo by James Patterson and I was lucky enough to know someone with a copy to borrow, my sister, Laura @ fuonlyknew.

The animals are fighting back. Are you surprised? I’m not.

I empathize with the critters and feel we are getting our just desserts. How long can we go on using and abusing everything around us, taking it for granted that it is our God given right?

Innocents are killed when it comes to war.

I must tell you, when I say, “DON’T OPEN THE DOOR…DON’T!”

Action packed and riveting.

This is a must read for us thrills and chills junkies.

The ending…is it?

A raving 5 Stars

MY TV SERIES REVIEW

I had been eagerly waiting for the series to begin.

I was a bit disappointed, but knew it could never match the book. Sometimes there is no way to take the book details and transition them to the visual.

I still eagerly anticipated every episode, adjusting my schedule so I wouldn’t miss anything, or at least trying to. Sometimes life just gets in the way, know what I mean?

The storyline left out a lot of the violent scenes in the book, but that was to be expected.

The actors were nothing exceptional, but did the job. It was really the story I was after anyway.

Will there be a season two? You betcha and I would have been very ticked off if there wasn’t.

Have you been watching…on the TV, over your shoulder, the rustle in the bushes…

4 Stars

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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Giveaway & Review – White Light by Anna Simpson

Posted on January 12, 2016 by fundinmental

Anna Simpson’s wonderful cover for White Light has so much going on, I have to tear my eyes away to get to the story.

At first glance it’s all nice and cozy, but it doesn’t stay that way.

Publisher: Three Worlds Press

Genre: Cozy

MY REVIEW

White Light by Anna Simpson is a fun cozy with unique and quirky characters that kept me laughing at their antics as the mystery grows.

In the small town of Ravenglass Lake, Mrs Perkins and Emma live alone and look out for each other. They make a great pair.

The scene in the beginning of the book, when Emma suspects wrong doing and finds Mrs Perkins tied up makes me think of a Castle episode. For those of you who have never seen it, Castle is a TV show that features murder mysteries. I can picture this feisty lady bound hand and foot and it makes me smile and want to smack her up side the head at the same time. To find out why you will need to read White Light for yourself.

I love writing that can pull emotions from me and White Light does that.

Emma had spent lots of time in mental hospitals thinking she was insane. Did she have mutiple personality disorder or is there a supernatural reason? She had always been alone, no friends. She was inexperienced when it came to socializing and men. She’s feisty, curious and a friend you want to have your back.

Emma writes about murder mysteries, so it’s no surprise that she becomes involved in one. This was the answer to her prayers. A mission, a reason to be, something to strive for. I love the way she and Mrs Perkins bob and weave their way through the mayhem.

Murder…attempted murder…money…

The mysteries grow larger and more frequent. We have plenty of suspects, colorful characters and the beginnings of a romance.

The writing kept me caught between the serious and the comical and I enjoyed being there. Anna Simpson’s ability to bring the words to life through her descriptive writing could make me feel as if I was there, sharing some of Emma’s experiences, feeling what she felt. I had my thoughts of who did what, but Anna did not let me know the answers too soon. Great job keeping me waffling back and forth.

There were a couple of places where I didn’t like Emma’s reactions to events and it didn’t read right for me. I received an ARC and the story may change before its release, so don’t hold me to this. Anna Simpson is an author I will keep my eye on.

I received an ARC of White Light by Anna Simpson in return for an honest review.

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Emma never dreamed of being a super-sleuth. In her mind, she’s more Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew and when her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, drags her to an anniversary party to solve a mystery, she rolls her eyes, buys a box of chocolates and hops in the car.

What’s a party without an attack on its host—or more accurately on the host’s grandson, sparking an allergic reaction and moving the party to the hospital waiting room. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Emma and Mrs. Perkins, along with Great Aunt Alice (a spirit with boundary issues who keeps stepping into Emma’s body like a new dress and playing matchmaker), dive into an investigation that almost gets Emma killed along with the man they are trying to protect. With so many reasons to kill him and so much to be gained if he died, Emma and Mrs. Perkins must unravel the tenuous ties that point to every member of his family as potential killers.

Even if it means going back to the psych ward, Emma will protect her friend and this innocent man. What good is freedom if it’s haunted with guilt?

AMAZON

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Enjoy this peek inside!

To stay free, I perform a ritual every morning. It begins with stepping outside, where dawn streams through the leafy branches of my maple tree, landing, shifting, and dancing on the flowerbeds at my bare feet. A steaming cup of coffee warms my hands. The fragrant air fills my lungs. I sip, leaving the liquid on my tongue to capture a moment of rich goodness.

My name is Emma, and I need to stay grounded and calm. It’s important for my health, so I walk along the fence and let the cool blades of grass tickle my toes and dewdrops cling to my skin. For fun, I kick a ball of dandelion fluff. Little parachutes take flight catching the same breeze moving the leaves above my head. The seeds float up, and up, over the fence to land on Mrs. Perkins’ perfectly tended lawn. Not a dandelion or mat of moss to be seen.

In a half acre of green sits one flowerbed, brimming with Lily of the Valley. I remember the first time I saw them over fifteen years ago. The delicate white bells could only be fairy hats. Today, the round base of cemented river stone is still full of waxy green spear tips. I don’t see fairy hats anymore. No, now I enjoy the effects of nature—its simple perfection.

Mrs. Perkins does it best. In fact, everything around Mrs. Perkins is perfectly cared for—her home, her yard, her car—all perfect.

But not today. A dark line sits between the jamb and the edge of the door.
A few inches of shadow drives my calm away and prickles the long blonde hairs at the nape of my neck. Butterflies in my stomach tell, no scratch that, demand I find my phone and go next door.

Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not a snoop.

Mrs. Perkins, a wiry old bird, did everything herself. I’m not sure if it is because she’s the independent sort or if she has no one else to help her. Either way, when she suggested we watch out for one another, I agreed.

I’m also alone. It doesn’t bother me unless I catch the flu or something. Then I wonder if I will die and no one will notice. It’s a thought, or fear, I can’t shake. Mrs. Perkins’ house has my full attention, and within it sits the same worry. I’ll check on her because she would do the same for me.

I crash into my kitchen, slopping my coffee onto the counter as I slam the mug down. My phone could be anywhere. My gaze travels from the pine tabletop to the gray marble counter. It’s not here. I push through the swinging door to the living area, run my fingertips between the couch and chair cushions, scan the smoked-glass coffee table through my veil of long blonde hair, and sneak a peek under my overturned book on the throw rug. Desperate, I check around the bowl by the door where I toss my keys as I pass the spiral staircase to the loft. Still nothing.

Down the short hallway, I rush to my bedroom. I tug the midnight blue duvet off the bed and shake it. My pulse speeds up as something thuds on to the carpet. I pick up my smartphone and check the battery. Half power.

Excellent. I dash through my front door, across the lawn and unlatch Mrs. Perkins’ white picket gate. Her shiny yellow front door looks as solid as stone. I follow her path to the back wondering if danger lurks.

I gasp as I near the door. It’s like living a moment in a crime drama. I mimic what I have watched on television and bring up my phone to take a picture. Inching forward, heart pounding, I wonder if poor Mrs. Perkins is sprawled out on the bathroom floor, from a stroke, heart attack, or a butcher knife.

Don’t worry, Mrs. Perkins. I’m coming.

I pull my cotton sleeve over my hand and push the door wider. Her kitchen looks untouched as if it’s sterilized or newly installed. Tiles cool my bare feet with each step. Fear scratches at my nerves, “Mrs. Perkins? It’s Emma from next door. Are you okay?”

Silence.

I raise the phone to call for help.

A small sound carries from deeper in the house. I should stop, leave, and make the call.

Following the sound might be dangerous or, worse, plain stupid. And I’m scared. So scared, my breathing is all I hear over the pounding of my heart.
I’d look stupid if I’m wrong. Ravenglass Lake is so small-townsville, and Benny the bully is like no cop I’ve ever met. He would be no help. Worst of all, they’d call me crazy for sure. I slip the phone back into my denim pocket, quietly open her knife drawer, and pull out a meat cleaver. Armed, I creep forward.

Thank goodness Mrs. Perkins likes an open airy room. Evil housebreakers have nowhere to hide in the dining room.

A small thump like a cat landing on carpet makes me jump. But Mrs. Perkins doesn’t have a cat…or carpet—only allergies.

I tighten my grip on the cleaver as I stick my head into the living room. All is quiet and undisturbed. I enter the corridor to the front door. To my right are stairs to the upper floor. Farther ahead is a hall closet and nook where she keeps a desk and a small bookcase. Nothing seems touched.

I glance up at the glittery ceiling, swallow, and pull my phone from my pocket. The sensible thing is to dial 911. I sidestep for the front door, but in my mind’s eye Mrs. Perkins, wiry but frail, shakes her head. Her arm outstretched urging me not to leave.

Thump, I freeze. The noise is right beside me coming from the hall closet.
Without thinking, I open the door and find Mrs. Perkins tied up with duct tape across her lips. Her green eyes, round and unblinking, grow wide, and her usual perfect curls are mussed. I drop the cleaver. It clatters on the floor, and I pull the tape free.

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About Author Anna Simpson

Anna Simpson lives near the Canadian-US border with her family. Even though she’s lived in several places in British Columbia, her free spirit wasn’t able to settle down until she moved back to her hometown.

She is easy to find though, if you know the magic word — emaginette. Do an internet search using it and you’ll see what I mean.

Author Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Blog

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GIVEAWAY

Anna is giving away one eBook copy of White Light.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER

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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Monday Mini – Pokergeist by Michael Phillip Cash @michaelpcash

Posted on January 11, 2016 by fundinmental

My sister, Laura, knows I love ghosts and playing poker, so she loaned me Michael Phillip Cash’s novel, Pokergeist. Looks super good to me!

“Shuffle up and deal”

Add me to Goodreads now.

I love ghosts, hauntings and poker and Pokergeist has all those things.

Pokergeist is a spine tingling novel that grabbed me and never let me go.

I felt for Telly Martin. If it wasn’t for bad luck, he would have none at all.

He reaches for the brass ring, only to be shot down time after time.

I thought I knew where this was going and I did, sort of.

Michael Phillip Cash held back a surprise that I didn’t see coming and I love surprise endings. I look forward to reading more of his work.

5 Stars

BLURB

From Goodreads: Sometimes life, as well as death, is about second chances. Luckless Telly Martin doesn’t have a clue. An awful gambler trying to scrape by as a professional poker player, he becomes the protégé of world famous poker champion Clutch Henderson. The only catch…Clutch is a ghost.

Telly and Clutch must navigate the seedy gambling underbelly of Las Vegas learning to trust each other in order to win the elusive International Series of Poker, repair their shattered personal relationships and find redemption in this life and the hereafter.

ABOUT MICHAEL PHILLIP CASH

Born and raised on Long Island, Michael has always had a fascination with horror writing and found footage films. He wanted to incorporate both with his debut novel, Brood X. Earning a degree in English and an MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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

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Saturday Shorts – Midnight Burning by Karissa Laurel (@KarissaLaurel )

Posted on January 9, 2016 by fundinmental

Karissa Laurel’s cover for the novel, Midnight Burning, is fantastic and I was so happy when I won a signed paperback copy.

A cover can make the difference between picking up a book or passing it over for another.

I am a “cover girl” and proud of it!

Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think.

Cover: Streetlight Graphics

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MY REVIEW

Midnight Burning is Book I of Solina Mundy’s paranormal/fantasy journey into the death of her brother, Mani.

She travels from a small town in North Carolina to Alaska and back again, seeking answers.

I love her new friend, Skylar, and think she will become a big part of Solina’s life. She’s an ex-Marine and backs down from no one.

The characters have distinct personalities and they shine through in the dialogue.

The dialogue is witty and snarky and I love it.

I love covers, especially when they foreshadow the upcoming story and this is a beauty. The eyes draw me in, looking for…

Midnight Burning by Karissa Laurel was not what I was expecting. The paranormal and myths and legends collide. It is sometimes hard to tell if their talents are a gift or a curse.

The story is predictable and there is a triangle. I would recommend the book and I am looking forward to more of Solina’s story in Book II.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Solina Mundy lives a quiet life, running the family bakery in her small North Carolina hometown. But one night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that Mani is dead. Driven to learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex-Marine, is the only one willing to help her.

As Solina and Skyla delve into the mystery surrounding Mani’s death, Solina is stunned to learn that her own life is tied to Mani’s friends, his death, and the fate of the entire world. If she can’t learn to control her newfound gifts and keep her friends safe, a long-lost dominion over mortals will rise again, and everything she knows will fall into darkness.

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Monday Mini – Mean Streak by Sandra Brown with Book Trailer

Posted on January 4, 2016 by fundinmental

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MY REVIEW

Sandra Brown is one of those authors that are a must read for me. I have read many of her novels and enjoyed each and every one. She is a master at spinning tales.

WOW! Mean Streak by Sandra Brown, a mystery romance thriller, may be her best work yet.

The action began from the opening page and I was unable to put it down.

I was like a starving person, gobbling up the words as if I hadn’t eaten in days.

I love the handsome mystery man that Dr Emory Charbonneau believes whacked her over the head and kidnapped her.

What do you think? Guilty as charged?

If you want an unputdownable thriller that will have you racing through the pages, Mean Streak is for you.

5 Stars

BLURB

From Goodreads: Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.

While police suspect Jeff of “instant divorce,” Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won’t even tell her his name. She’s determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.

Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can’t turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.

As the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.

ABOUT SANDRA BROWN

From Goodreads: Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), & SMOKE SCREEN (2008).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.

In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / YouTube

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Giveaway & Review for Caelum by Mandie Stevens @thebookgardenpr

Posted on December 30, 2015 by fundinmental

Caelum by Mandie Stevens

Series: Olde City Angels #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Publication Date: July 13, 2015

BUY NOW|
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

MY REVIEW

Cover: Stepahnie Nelson

I love the sweet looking cover of Eva, a guardian angel that has trouble taking care of her charges. She’s a good angel, but she can’t seem to get things right. I feel her pain as her self doubts overwhelm her. She sounds a bit like us don’t you think?

She is teamed up with Thomas, who has no confidence in her whatsoever. Their mission is to save Elsie, a Fae who has been kidnapped for evil purposes.

We have action from the getgo and the intrigue begins.

Angels, supernaturals and humans coexist, sometimes with fatal results.

Can an angel love a vampire? Why not?

With Mandie’s descriptive writing, I could smell the hot chocolate and taste the chocolate cake. MMMM, my favorite.

I love this novella with its combination of supernaturals and humans that unite with a common goal, to stop the demon from coming through the veil and endangering Earth. I look forward to Ethereal, Book II coming soon.

4 Stars

Eva doesn’t claim to be a good guardian angel, but she tries. After she loses two charges, the Powers That Be begin to doubt her abilities. To redeem herself, Eva sets out to rescue Elsie, granddaughter of the former king of the Fae. A demon has kidnapped Elsie to complete an ancient ritual that will allow him to slip through the veil between Earth and Hell during the Sturgeon moon.
Thomas, an angel liaison, finally lands his first mission. But when he’s paired with the angel responsible for his uncle’s death, he has to put aside their differences to get the job done.
With unlikely friends in tow, Eva and Thomas are in a race against time. Save Elsie, save the world—oh, and save Eva’s job.

EXCERPT

A young brunette was positioned on Soren’s lap, fresh blood trickling down her neck. As soon as he saw me, he pushed her off and stood. The girl didn’t seem to care. She was still high from his bite.

Soren looked to the girl. “Leave.” The words came out clipped and angry. His cheeks were flushed from feeding, I looked at the girl, wondering, but I wasn’t drawn to her. She wasn’t my charge. I did wonder if I had been sent to save Elsie from Soren. My entire being would know the moment I saw Elsie. George used to call it my angel voodoo.

He moved toward me fast. The energy coming from him was like a lightening storm, and I wanted to be in the middle, letting his rain envelope me. Getting too close would mean being struck by his lightening. Everyone close to him always ended up scorched.

Mandie Stevens

Amazon | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Goodreads

Mandie Stevens has always been accused of living in her own world so she decided to put it to paper. When she isn’t writing you can catch her lounging on the beach reading. Mandie has penned both nonfiction and urban fantasy.
She has ridiculously little feet and would be happy eating seafood every day.

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a Caelum Prize Pack – Signed paperback, $5 Amazon or iBooks GC, and fun character inspired prize pack.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Facebook | Website | Twitter

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Fun for the younger ones: The Big Fat Mermaid by Dweezel and Pallie Giveaway

Posted on December 29, 2015 by fundinmental

As the holiday season approaches, I have been looking for some fun books that may interest the younger crowd and The Big Fat Mermaid by Dweezel and Pallie fit the bill.

I love mermaids and could not resist a different kind of mermaid story.

Doesn’t it put a big smile on your face? Imagine what it will do for the kids on your holiday list.

Add me to Goodreads

The Big Fat Mermaid by Dweezel and Pallie

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GENRE: Middle Grade Fractured fairy tales

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MY REVIEW

Aria is The Big Fat Mermaid.

Ahab spotted her and named her as the whale that bit off his leg. She escaped his clutches by singing a siren’s song. She followed the boats, because she loved the human’s food.

Her father, Poseidon, put his foot down…seaweed only!

She rebels and goes to the water witch for a pair of legs, where she is seen by the prince who promptly falls in love with her. She burps, farts and eats, eats, eats, so it just goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The humorous writing made me view this as an animated movie that played in my head as I sang along; hanging out with the mermaids, turtles and crustaceans, singing, dancing, and eating, eating, eating.

I feel there is a message in here and Dweezel and Pallie did a great job of showing we are all unique and lovable in our own way. What would the world be like if we were all the same?

My only problem was, I felt bad as I laughed at her, but it never seemed to bother Aria. She was comfortable in her own skin.

I received a copy of The Big Fat Mermaid by Dweezel and Pallie in return for an honest review.

4 Stars

BLURB

She’s nasty, she’s gross, and she’s anything but little. All Aria the mermaid princess wants is to stuff her face full of food, but what happens when her dad, the king, tries to stop her? The answer: laughs beyond belief! Watch as Aria deals with her mean dad, a chubby-chasing prince, a harpoon wielding sea captain, and, in a grand final battle, the monstrous water witch herself.

Aria will bite, belch, and fart her way into your heart in this second installment of the Funny Stories for Kids series, brought to you by the famed Dweezel and Pallie.

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EXCERPT

Look at my stash, see all the treats?

See all the cupcakes and pickled pigs feet?

You can see I’m a mermaid

who wants to eat… everything!

I eat every second I’m waking

I’m so fat that I’m breaking the floor

Double chins?

I got twenty!

But so what?

I don’t care!

I want more!

I need to eat what the humans eat

I’d like to eat when the food is still dry

I want to eat some fresh…

Uggh… beef!

Down in the brine the food tastes so bad,

when all you’re allowed is some seaweed to live by,

None of that stuff that’s so salty and…

mmm mmm mmm… Sweet!

What do I care

if all the laws

say we have to stay hidden?

And what do I care

if eating of meat

is strictly forbidden?

I’m addicted to food

but it tastes so good

so I don’t give a single crum about rules;

want more yummies, dipped in honey,

no one to intrude.

Off by the ships

I get just get what drips

off of the sides, or they throw in barrels.

No primo stuff like

fresh dip and…

uggh… chips!

I want to munch,

I want to brunch,

I want to eat the thing they call lunch!

Sweets and the meats…

I need to eat

all of that food.

ABOUT DR DWEEZEL AND PROFESSOR PALLIE

Dr. Dweezel and Professor Pallie have become famed in their respective fields for outstanding contributions. For nearly a decade they have collaborated on the recording of lost ancient texts and tales.

Blog / Facebook

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GIVEAWAY

Dweezel and Pallie will be awarding a $30 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

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A 5 Star Shapeshifting Romance – Running Free by K Webster ( @KristiWebster )

Posted on December 28, 2015 by fundinmental

I fell in love with the cover for Running Free by K Webster as soon as I saw it.

I love Doberman Pinschers and have had several of them for pets.

Now…to find a Dobie shifter…I am LOVING it!

Add me to Goodreads

Cover: Jennifer Munswami

Adult: Strong language and sexual situations.

MY REVIEW

I am a Dobie lover, so just seeing the cover for Running Free by K Webster made this a must read for me. I am so very glad she is the Dobie shifter. I love the supernatural and paranormal world, so let’s see what’s happening in Woodland Creek, Indiana.

Frankie is a 12 year old foster kid, a coming of age young girl who is driven to Run Free.

It’s ten years later and the only person she cares about is an owl shifter named Otis. At least that is what she tells herself. OtisHe is the dad she never had. She wears a collar with a “bitch” tag. Love it! It’s special touches like the tag that takes a novel to an extra level for me. Frankie has the power of intimidation and a very protective nature towards the “people” that matter to her.

Detective Gunnar Mason has come to investigate Acey’s disappearance. He is one of the “rescued” that Frankie was looking out for. She is a badass, but kids are her weakness. She goes out of her way to help them. She finds them in animal shelters, where she had spent some time herself. I couldn’t help but smile and chuckle about that. I wonder…if her and Gunnar were to get together, what would they have? Humans or puppies? LOL

There is so much about Running Free that I loved and would like to share, but I am afraid of giving too much away.

I love that Frankie thinks of her new “family” as the Brainless Horny Idiot Pace. I love the witty and snarky dialogue that creates a tension felt through the written word. I love all the different types of shifters – we have owls, dogs, wolves, bears, tigers, swans, even a mouse. There is imprinting. Can you imprint on a mouse? I would love to tell you more about a couple of the shifters, but it is well worth your time to find out about them yourself.

I finished reading the book through teary eyes for the tragic/heartwarming end. A fabulous fantasy of shifters, love, sacrifice and a misplaced sense of revenge. The writing evoked a gamut of emotions, from anger and rage to sorrow and heartbreak to fun and laughter. And I LOVED every minute of it. LOL

My only complaint is…I WANT MORE and I want it now!

I received a copy of Running Free by K Webster in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Frankie Aleen, a Doberman-shifter, has lived her life in and out of both foster homes and animal shelters. Without a mentor to guide her through the trials of shapeshifting, she was left to struggle to find balance between that of human and dog. Five years ago, though, she ran away from Chicago and ended up in the quaint town of Woodland Creek, Indiana, at the age of seventeen and finally found a safe harbor. An owl-shifter, Otis Brock, took her in and has been a father figure to her ever since.

Even though Frankie, now a bartender, has a wild, rebellious streak, she feels obligated to seek out other abandoned shifters to provide mentorship of her own. Frankie’s safe haven is threatened, however, when teen shifters start turning up dead around Woodland Pond, and she makes it her mission to find the perpetrator and seek justice.

But when one of Woodland Creek PD’s finest, Detective Gunnar Mason, starts sniffing around, he begins to notice that each of the deceased teens are somehow linked to that of the sexy, mysterious bartender with a sharp tongue. He doesn’t want her out of his sight until he’s sure she’s not responsible for the deaths that are stacking up. Things aren’t what they seem in Woodland Creek and he’s sure that Frankie is harboring a dark secret—a secret that may be the key to solving the entire case.

Will Frankie become distracted from her quest for justice by the handsome detective that seems immune to her powers of intimidation? What will happen when Gunnar discovers secrets that weren’t ever meant to be uncovered by humans?

ABOUT K WEBSTER

K Webster is the author of dozens of romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers.

Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen.

Stalk K Webster: Website / Newsletter / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

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

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