Am I Alive? Bleedovers by William Todd Rose

Posted on September 12, 2015 by fundinmental

Bleedovers by William Todd Rose is a Dystopian novella that rivals Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

Cover by TK

MY REVIEW

Bleedovers by William Todd Rose is a dark fiction novella that will keep you awake at night, wondering, could it happen to you.

The title didn’t make much sense to me until I started to read. Then it became clear.

OMG! The elaborate details of William Todd Rose’s world building are amazing. I am thoroughly creeped out. I sure couldn’t figure out WTF was going on. I raced through the pages, sometimes forgetting to breathe.

Chuck is a Level I Recon & Enforcement Technician – Whisk. He works in a covert, underground facility. He loves puzzles, math equations and the process of finding solutions. Chuck was investigating an unnatural death. Would it take him too?

Meditation frees the mind from the body and sometimes someone gets stuck in a Crossfade. Imagine the horror of not knowing whether you are dead or alive.

The paranormal leads to science fiction horror. The experiments invade your privacy, they know all your thoughts. I cannot imagine what it would be like to feel someone crawling through my mind, ferreting out all my secrets.

There are ghosts who refuse to move on. They have unfinished business. They delight in terrorizing. Why did the ghost scare him more than Crossfades? Being haunted and tortured by a serial killer seeking revenge and you can do nothing about it.

The details take me into his head and I feel his paralyzing terror, his inability to move to save himself, as the hatred washes over him. The ghost can cause physical damage, maybe even kill. It is all powerful. It not only enters your sleep, but your reality, making you see things. How would you fight something you cannot touch?

What is real, what is illusion?

Poltergeist is a fairy tale compared to Bleedovers by William Todd Rose.

Bleedovers is a dark, and I mean dark, speculative fiction novella that kept me enthralled beginning to end. Oh, about the ending, I didn’t see it coming and I was let down. It had to happen that way, but I didn’t want it to. That makes it all the better. We can’t always get what we want.

I received a copy of Bleedovers by William Todd Rose in return for an honest and unbiased review.

4 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Todd Rose writes dark, speculative fiction from his home in West Virginia. His short stories have been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines, and his work includes the novels Cry Havoc, The Dead & Dying, and The Seven Habits, and the novellas Apocalyptic Organ Grinder and Crossfades. For more information on the author, including links to bonus content, please visit him online at www.williamtoddrose.com

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Who is the real target – Three Days To Forever by Lauren Carr with Interview

Posted on September 10, 2015 by fundinmental

Title: Three Days to Forever
Author: Lauren Carr
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Pages: 466
Genre: Mystery
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Author Interview By Lauren Carr

Lauren, you have been averaging two to three murder mysteries a year—all of them best-sellers! This year, you have released three books. Obviously you write every day.

LC: Yes, I do write every day. I guess you could say I’m a workaholic—or maybe I’m a write-aholic. I am actually driven to write. As the author, I am the creator of my characters’ world. So, when I get going in a plot, I have a hard time walking away to cook dinner for my family because I myself want to know what is going to happen next. I especially have a hard time leaving my laptop in the middle of a shootout or when a bad guy is creeping up on one of my detectives to go clean up the kitchen. I feel like I’m leaving a friend hanging. Recently, a friend of mine reminded me, “It’s okay to leave one of your detectives bleeding out for a few days. He’s not real!” Well, he’s real to me.

What is your writing schedule?

LC: I do write full time—but I have the luxury of creating my own schedule. In the morning, I take care of business—answering emails, book promotion, interviews. The Mommy stuff gets taken care of in the afternoon—going to the gym, laundry, dinner. Then, after dinner, I’ll work on my next book. After everything is taken care of and everyone in my life settles down, I can escape into my characters’ world.

Where do you write? Do you have an office?

LC: Yes, I have an office on the top floor of our house with a built-in desk and a view of the valley that is to die for. But my teenaged son took it! So, I write in bed—propped up on a pile of pillows.

Is there a ritualistic thing you like to do when you’re writing?

LC: Not really. Some writers refuse to answer the phone. Me—I just plain tune it out! Really. I have had the phone ringing right next to me and my son or husband will hear it, but I’m so absorbed in what I am writing that I don’t. Other writers will use a laptop or computer that doesn’t have social media so they aren’t tempted to surf. Not me. I don’t know if it is disciplined or obsessive. I prefer to call it disciplined.

What about snacking? Do you come back to reality to eat a favorite snack when you’re writing?

LC: I never have been a big snacker. My favorite snack is Hershey kisses, or anything chocolate. I recently had to give up ice cream as an evening snack because I was starting to get as big as a house!

What books are you obsessing about now? Please tell us that you have not abandoned Mac Faraday and Gnarly.

LC: Oh, no! I will never abandon Mac Faraday. Gnarly won’t let me. Look for Cancelled Vows this winter.

In Cancelled Vows, David O’Callaghan’s wedding plans hit a huge snag when he discovers he is already married to an old girlfriend! With less than a week to his wedding day, David, Mac, and Gnarly go to New York City to have the marriage dissolved—only to end up in the middle of a murder mystery.

What’s next in store for Jessica and Murphy? Tell us that you are planning more Thorny Rose Mysteries.

LC: Sorry, but the next Thorny Rose Mystery is at least a year away. I’m now working on three series! However, readers who fall in love with Jessica and Murphy should be on the lookout for the next Lovers in Crime Mystery, in which they will make a featured appearance. Murphy and Jessica rush to Chester, WV, when J.J., Murphy’s twin brother, disappears after his girlfriend’s murder. This mystery will be released in Spring 2015.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I am familiar with Mac Faraday and his cohorts, so I was happy to be able to read to review this mystery novel. I felt Lauren Carr would not let me down and was right. I enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading more of her work.

I am loving the cover, simple, yet I sense an aura of menace.

Mac Faraday and Archie Monday are getting married. It will be the event of the season for the Spencer Inn and Deep Creek Lake, Maryland.

Just days before the wedding, Mac receives an envelope, containing a warning. As if that is not enough of a problem, he is attacked by a professional hit squad and the tale is off and running. Someone wants him dead. Or do they? Is he the real target? It seems so obvious, I am suspicious. I read on, getting deeper into the story, more involved with the characters as the danger spreads.

Plots within plots. There is so much going on, twisting and, turning, keeping me wondering how this will come together in a completed story. Who’s doing what to whom? Is it revenge for a perceived wrong? A terrorist threat from Iraq?

There are too many characters to mention, but they all contribute to the story in their own special way. We have met some of them before and will hear about some of them again and again, as we travel through the mystery series with Lauren Carr.

An invisible unit: Under the cover of anonymity, a secret unit, that does what no one else can do, what cannot be allowed to reach the light of day. They are cloaked in secrecy and deniability.

The politics are dirty, but necessary. This book will expose its biggest weaknesses, at the highest levels. Three Days To Forever by Lauren Carr reads as if it could be true. The good. The bad. The current events. Revenge, murder, terrorism, romance, love, loyalty and a determination to do what is right, regardless of the consequences.

Three Days To Forever is not a light read. The mystery and suspense kept me captivated, as I traveled from Iraq to the United States and back again. Lauren kept me guessing and on my toes. I never anticipated all the events that would ensue.

I did not sit on the edge of my seat with bated breath, or have to stay up all night until I finished it, but I did read the book, which is 434 pages in this ARC paperback, within a twenty four hour period.

I received Three Days To Forever by Lauren Carr in return for an honest and unbiased review.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

In this latest Mac Faraday Mystery from best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr, readers will embark on a rollercoaster adventure with old friends (including the Lovers in Crime team of Prosecutor Joshua Thornton and Homicide Detective Cameron Gates), but also meet new ones as Mac Faraday’s daughter Jessica Faraday and Joshua Thornton’s son Murphy Thornton join the team in the race to get the love birds to the altar!

With three days left to the year, Deep Creek Lake is hopping with holiday vacationers and wedding guests pouring into the Spencer Inn for Mac Faraday and Archie Monday’s huge wedding ceremony which is being touted as the social event of the year.

But droopy flowers and guests who failed to RSVP are the least of Mac’s and Archie’s problems when a professional hit squad hits Spencer Manor to send the groom, Joshua Thornton, Archie’s mother, and Gnarly running for their lives.

With time running out to the big day, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined to stop everything … FOREVER!

“Lauren Carr’s mystery novels are indeed one of my go-tos when I’m looking for a good whodunit.” –Reviewer: Shana Benedict, ABookVacation Book Reviews.

“Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue. And you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until the end.” – Reviewer: Every Free Chance Book Reviews.

ABOUT LAUREN CARR

Lauren Carr is the best-selling author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, which takes place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Three Days to Forever is the ninth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series.

In addition to her series set on Deep Creek Lake, Lauren Carr has also written the Lovers in Crime Mysteries, which features prosecutor Joshua Thornton with homicide detective Cameron Gates, who were introduced in Shades of Murder, the third book in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. They also make an appearance in The Lady Who Cried Murder.

Three Days to Forever introduces Lauren Carr’s latest series, detectives, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday in the Thorny Rose Mysteries. Look for the first installment in this series in Spring 2015.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. This year, several books, over a variety of genre, written by independent authors will be released through the management of Acorn Book Services, which is currently accepting submissions. Visit Acorn Book Services website for more information.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes.

She lives with her husband, son, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

For More Information

Visit Lauren Carr’s website.
Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.
Visit Lauren’s Goodreads page to find out more about her books.
Visit Lauren’s blog.
Contact Lauren.

GIVEAWAY

Win an ebook copy of Kill and Run with a $15 Amazon gift card (open internationally – 5 winners)

Win a print copy of Kill and Run (USA only – 4 winners)
Win a print copy of both Three Days to Forever and Kill and Run with a $25 Amazon gift card (USA only)

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Teaser Tuesday #48 – A Tinfoil Hat Of My Own by Echo Shea

Posted on September 8, 2015 by fundinmental

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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A Tinfoil Hat Of My Own by Echo Shea

The title, A Tinfoil Hat Of My Own, made this super short story a must read for me.

The cover put a smile on my face.

What do you think of when you read the title or look at the cover?

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I love the title and cover for A Tinfoil Hat Of My Own by Echo Shea. Not only did she write this super short, but she created the fabulous cover too.

Eunice should know better than to walk in the isolated part of the park. After all, it is very possible that her ex boyfriend’s biker club may come after her for what she did to them.

There are screams, a bite, she runs, but doesn’ t get far.

Thank God for Billy Joe.

Got 5 or 10 minutes, check out this fun and quirky supernatural tale.

I think the title shows that the story will not be all blood and guts, but smiles and laughter with the light hearted and comical writing.

Sometimes I find it hard to write a review for a story so short, 23 Kindle pages, without giving too much away.

That being said, I find it amazing that Echo Shea could pack so much into such a small place.

I read this four times and liked it better each time.

I received a copy of A Tinfoil Hat Of My Own by Echo Shea in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Dealing with the devastating end to her long-term relationship with Cobweb, Eunice decides to pick up the broken pieces of her heart and glue them back together with the healing song of nature and a nourishing brandy to replenish the soul.

As evening falls on her drunken pity party in the park, it’s time to head home and deal with the consequences of the not-so-anonymous tip to the cops and what she may or may not have done to Cobweb’s bike–and clubhouse.

All thoughts of that end when something bigger than a pissed off biker gets aold of her–nothing says burning calories like booking it through woods with a mermaid-killing werewolf at your heels.

Will Cobweb miss her? Will Eunice survive?

Friendship, bikers, werewolves, and repurposed tinfoil. Some stories just have it all.

My review for Light A Candle For The Beast by Echo Shea

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

Posted on September 7, 2015 by fundinmental

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Add me to Goodreads now.

Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Cover art: Dawne Dominque

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

Let’s ask boat captain Willie Sander.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

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

ABOUT KATHRYN MEYER GRIFFITH

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

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

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

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

Goodreads / Authors Den / Website

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

My review: Creature Dines on Crater Lake Smorgasboard

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

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GIVEAWAY

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

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

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

Giveaway ends 9/21/15.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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You can’t run from A Killer Past by Maris Soule

Posted on September 5, 2015 by fundinmental

A Killer Past by Maris Soule

Can we run from the past? I don’t think so.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I was drawn to A Killer Past for numerous reasons, the title, the cover, the blurb and the location, Michigan. I love to read books that are in a location I an familiar with and I know a bit about Michigan. This is not your comfy, cozy mystery.

Sergeant Jack Rossini had been called to a scene where two gang members claimed to be beaten up by a little old woman. After they arrived at the hospital, they changed their story to ninjas, ending with they fell.

That little old lady is Mary Harrington, who is 74 and looked like easy prey. Boy were they wrong. She kicked their ass, but that created a big problem for her, exposure. Now, not only is she in danger, but also those close to her. How far would they go to keep the past buried?

I knew the premise of the story was a forgone conclusion, but I was looking forward to some twists and turns that would entertain me. The first one was Mary Harrington.

I mean…a 74 year old woman is the main character and her hidden past forces her to go on the offensive. Even though it had been years since she had used martial arts, actions were done by reflex. All her training had paid off.

Even after being warned, Jack does not let the mystery lie. He wants answers. Will he get them? Will he wish he had left well enough alone? We shall see.

Seeing I am no spring chicken myself, it was hard to buy into her kicking ass and taking a few kicks herself, then walking away. I know surprise was on her side, so I’ll give it to her. I don’t know what is missing in A Killer Past, but I did not feel a sense of urgency. I knew the gang members would retaliate, I mean, they are gang members, after all. Isn’t that what they do? It took me three days to read it. It lacks that something extra that makes it unputdownable. Nevertheless, A Killer Past was worth reading and I did enjoy it. I would recommend this as a not so cozy, easy reading mystery.

I received A Killer Past by Maris Soule in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

When two gang members choose Mary Harrington as their target, the quiet widow has a secret to share of her own

Most people in the town of Rivershore, Michigan view Mary Harrington as a quiet widow whose only oddity is that she spends a lot of time at the gym. Her son thinks it’s time for her to move into a retirement home. Two gang members think she’ll be an easy target. No one in Rivershore knows what Mary did in her younger years—really did—but the two gang members discover they’ve underestimated their victim . . . and Mary fears reverting to old habits may have jeopardized her future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award winning author of 25 romances, 2 mystery and 2 short stories, with 2 suspense novels coming out 2015. Maris Soule was born and raised in California but moved to the midwest two years after her marriage. She is a member of MWA, MMRWA, Sisters-in-Crime, RWA, FWA, and Authors’ Guild. Soule is still married to the same man, has two grown children, and two granddaughters. She is currently working on another mystery, this one set in Skagway, Alaska.”

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Google+ / LinkedIn / Goodreads

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Life is Life whether Dead or Alive – Onyx Webb by Andrea Waltz & Richard Fenton

Posted on September 3, 2015 by fundinmental

How do you feel about books that seem to go on forever? Many times I pass them over, because I figure I may never know the end, other times they look so promising, that I cannot help myself and just hope I remember to keep on reading and looking out for the next one. How do you keep track? Do you have a list?

Onyx Webb is one of those books and I am so glad I chose to give it a try.

Read on and you will see why, but first, I would like to welcome Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz and let them share their thoughts with you.

Hi Richard and Andrea. I am so happy to have you here with us today.

Q: How did you come up with the subject matter and themes for the book?

We love paranormal stories and lots of twists. We also love stories that move quickly. We are inspired by paranormal movies like The Sixth Sense and The Others. We also love t.v. series like Downton Abbey with complicated stories about people and relationships. So we mash all that together in Onyx Webb. Some people have had a hard time coming up with an exact genre for us.

Q: Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

We are business book authors and professional speakers. One of our books, Go for No! has sold around 300,000 copies. That book is actually a fable with a supernatural theme to it so we are not so far off, we’ve just moved more into the fiction realm for Onyx Webb. And while not business, as people read it, they will begin to see that Onyx Webb does have an underlying message as well.

Q: What are some of the references that you used while researching this book?

We are very proud of the research that has gone into writing the series so far. We have spent countless hours researching historical events such as the World’s Fair in 1904, the Ferris Wheel, trains, it goes on and on. We visited Savannah GA where part of the story takes place and took tons of photos to inspire us. We also spent a few days at Lily Dale, NY a spiritualist community featured in the book. One of our characters walks to the pet cemetery there. Writing that scene was so fun because we did it.

Q: What’s the greatest criticism of your book so far and the best compliment?

So far, probably the stories themselves. It sounds cliché, but the old ‘I could not put it down’ is what we are hearing a lot of and that is a great thing to hear. Writers don’t need readers putting the book down! The criticism is probably how the various characters and their stories are connected and yet the connections are unclear. Some readers seem annoyed not having all the answers. But we are hoping that by after reading Book One and them by Book Two they will be able to let the uncertainty go and really enjoy this crazy ride we are taking them on.

Q: What do you think most characterizes your writing?

Our model is more story over lots of words. We don’t write flowery language or in depth descriptions of things or even people for that matter. We are very story based, more like a screenplay. For example, we wrote just a few lines on the 1904 World’s Fair and we could have done pages about it. But if you give people just enough – we let the readers create everything in their imagination. And because we move so fast, it seems to work well.

Q: What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Deciding how to write Book One was the hardest because it is the foundation of everything that we are creating. We had an entirely different model of the first book almost two years ago that featured Onyx Webb both young and middle aged, back and forth. People got confused so we started her story from her young age and will continue it chronologically without also showing scenes of her living in the future. That was a tough decision that set us back months with re-writes but it was the right move. Luckily all that content we did write will work for the future books!

Add me to Goodreads now.

Onyx Webb by Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton:

Publisher: Courage Crafters Inc. (March 17, 2015)
Category: Paranormal Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Thriller
Tour Date: August & September, 2015
ISBN: 978-0990751816
ASIN: B00VIP8KLC
Available in: Print & ebook, 264 Pages

MY REVIEW

The tagline on the cover of Onyx Webb hooked me – Think life is precious now? Just wait until you’re dead – and I had to read Book I by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz. I am just hoping I made the right decision, because there are more books to come and I will not learn the ending here.

Onyx Webb is a paranormal thriller that will have you questioning the most important things in “life”. If you are a fan of character driven stories, this one is for you.

Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz do a wonderful job of building complex characters that are well developed and I quickly found my favorites and the villains. As each characters story grows, so does my interest.

We have kidnappers and serial killers, ghosts and visions. What is real? You will have to read Onyx Webb to find out for yourself.

There is more than one villain walking the streets and you never know who you can trust. People are not always what they seem.

Onyx is not your average child and her life took a turn for the worst when she met him.

Men – they can be the life of you or the death of you.

Onyx Webb, Book I laid a solid foundation.There is so much going on, that I feel I will not be able to rest until I know the whole story. Thank goodness Book II is out and waiting for me to grab a copy of my own.

I received Onyx Webb by Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars

BLURB

The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times. The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series.

Written like a book version of a supernatural soap opera, each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

Praise for Onyx Webb by Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton:

“There isn’t a page that doesn’t hold our attention.“-Grady Harp, Amazon Reviewer Hall of Fame

“There’s only one problem with the book Onyx Webb – it was over too soon. When I finished the last word, I was ready for the next book, but it’s not out yet – bummer for me and all the other readers who enjoyed this story!
The authors’ writing style is descriptive and visual, which makes the story flow well, and the characters are interesting and well developed. The author does a good job of capturing the essence of each time period so that the reader knows where and more importantly when the characters are living. The story so far covers the 1900s, 1970s and 2000s, so there are marked differences in most aspects of the characters’ lives. Even with the different years represented it’s not confusing for the reader, possibly because each character is so distinct, which lets the reader identify character with time period.
While this is billed as a ghost story, it’s more than that since the characters are so interesting, and I think this will appeal to a wider reading audience than just ghost story lovers or mystery lovers.
I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment to this compelling story.”- Robin Surface, Amazon Reviewer

“I loved this book! Couldn’t put it down. Great writing and totally believable characters. The story lines move along so well and in some form or fashion begin to tie into each other. I am anxiously awaiting the next book.”-Alicia, Goodreads Reviewer

“Wow! That’s an understatement, though. Onyx Webb is one of those books that you just don’t want to put down because it grabs you from the beginning and keeps you wanting more. Not only do you get one story, you get three! And they are all told in different times, like the 1900s, 1970s, and in the current, 2000s. So you get three different points of view, and at first you’re thinking “What does this have to do with that?” But then you see it, and it’s like, WHOA! Of the three different story lines, they all connect in some way, and it’s pretty cool to see how it does.
This is such a good book!! You just have to read it. It’s really cool how authors Waltz and Fenton bring all of the story lines that span over time, together to all fit.
I highly recommend this book! And it’s just Book 1, so I’m really hoping Book 2 is already in the works because I am anxious to see what happens next!!”-Ella Marie, Reading Is a Way Of Life

“Amazing! This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time!“-Melanie, Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews

About Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton:

Richard Fenton & Andrea Waltz are best known as the authors of the #1 Amazon Sales & Selling book, Go for No! They are professional speakers who travel internationally speaking to audiences about how to overcome fear of failure and rejection. Although they have written several business books over the last fifteen years, Onyx Webb is their first fictional series.

They are married and manage to write to together while staying happily married, a fact they are very proud of. Richard and Andrea live in Central Florida along with their cat, Courage.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Buy Onyx Webb by Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton:

Amazon

Follow the Onyx Webb by Andrea Waltz & Richard Fenton Tour:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Aug 4 Tour Kick Off & Giveaway

Rockin’ Book Reviews Aug 5 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

SolaFide Self-Publishing and Book Blog Aug 6 Guest Post

Books, Books, and more Books Aug 8 Review

Mallory Heart Reviews Aug 10 Review

Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author Aug 11 Interview

What U Talking Bout Willis? Aug 14 Guest Post

Deal Sharing Aunt Aug 18 Review & Giveaway

Penny For Them… Aug 19 Review

Open Book Society Aug 21 Review

JBronder Book Reviews Sept 2 Review

Fundinmental Sept 3 Review & Interview

fuonlyknew Sept 8 Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Infinite House of Books Sept 9 Interview & Excerpt

Totally Addicted to Reading Sept 10 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Room With Books Sept 18 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

My Tangled Skeins Reviews Sept 21 Review & Guest Post

Sunshine book Promotions Sept 28 Review & Excerpt

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

Posted on September 2, 2015 by fundinmental

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

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

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

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

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

Cover: Greg Simanson

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

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

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

Buy on Amazon

Author Interview

What has inspired you to become a writer?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do you plan on writing any other genres?

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

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

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

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

Getting to Know the Author as a Person

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

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

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

What relaxes you when you need to unwind?

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

What are your favorite foods?

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

Have you ever had any paranormal experiences?

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

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

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

About Jason McIntyre

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

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

Amazon Author Page

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Fabulous Book Trailer for the Class Heroes by Stephen Henning

Posted on August 30, 2015 by fundinmental

Hello my wonderful peeps.

I have a super treat for you today.

I am a huge fan of Stephen Henning and his Class Heroes series and you don’t want to miss this fabulous book trailer, giving you a glimpse into his fantastic word of these twin super heroes.

I can see this as a movie or TV series, so be sure and check it out.

I have read and reviewed all the books…so far. Check out the links below.

This is a 2-minute trailer, introducing the characters of Samantha, James and Lolly; and giving a flavor of the first four Class Heroes books.

Lolly is the villain that you love to hate or hate to love. You decide.

Here is the first book in the series, A Class Apart, that is free on Amazon.

Now is the perfect time to check it out.

Amazon US / Amazon UK

MY REVIEWS FOR THE CLASS HEROES SERIES

Review of A Class Apart, Book I

Review of What Happened In Witches Wood, Book II

Review of Where’s Lolly, Book III

Review of London Belongs to the Alchemist, Book IV

I love the creative and fun covers.

Click on the covers below to get your Class Heroes book, or to learn more about Stephen Henning.

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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Another Killer Hit – The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathon Kellerman

Posted on August 29, 2015 by fundinmental

Jonathon Kellerman’s books, like his latest, The Murderer’s Daughter, are always on my must read list. No second thoughts, no hesitations, just, yes, please.

Add me to Goodreads now.

The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathon Kellerman

MY REVIEW

I was very surprised at Jonathon Kellerman’s twisted novel, The Murderer’s Daughter. I loved the rollercoast ride of emotions as I struggled to understand Grace. I wonder, did she have a brother named Dexter? For those of you who don’t know, Dexter is a book and TV series characters that walks on the dark side of suspense, as does Grace. I love to read of a flawed protagonist, a hardass female and Grace appeared.

Grace is a complex character, a bit twisted, to say the least. She was born and raised in violence and death. All she had ever known is surviving, so she had a knack for figuring things out quickly. She grew up to be Dr Blades, a psychologist, and she was special at that. She was a prodigy and fast tracked through her PHD. She even took a seminar taught by Alex Delaware, you could say he was her inspiration. (For those of you who don’t know him, Alex Delaware has his very own series, courtesy of Jonathon Kellerman) She’s a loner and likes it that way. She keeps tight control of her life. Is she a psychopath? Well…she does have feelings, though they are buried deep to hide any vulnerability. She will not show weakness.

I love a strong female protagonist with flaws and Grace has her share. I liked how Grace developed from a severely traumatized child prodigy, neglected and abused, to a fully functioning adult trained in a complex profession as psychology, using her experience and knowledge to help others.

In matters of healing, the body initiates and the mind follows.

This is an ARC, so the phrase may change, but I loved it, so I shared it.

The Murderer’s Daughter did not go where I thought it would, but took me to a scary place all the same. Man can be evil, but…

The mention of the good and bad side of Child Services sounded all too read, as does the greed and corruption of the Elite. Then, as the cherry on top of the sundae, we have a psychopath on the loose that revels in the evil he does.

Jonathon Kellerman has a wonderful ability to twist and turn a story so it keeps me alert and on edge, waiting for the next shoe to drop or the next monster to pop up on the horizon or from around the corner.

The twists and turns, beginning with the flawed character, stirred up deep emotions. Feelings of anger, rage and sorrow are overcome by pride, confusion and hope for Grace. I wonder, will she have a relationship, you know, meet a man, marry… I can’t say and if you asked her, she would tell you she is doing just fine.

I do believe we have moments in time where we can make a difference in someones life, whether its with a simple smile or a word or two in passing. We never know what small gesture could turn a person’s life around.

Jonathon has the ability to create characters that touch me and feel real. I felt Grace’s fear, but when on those rare occasions she smiles, maybe even laughs, I want to laugh with her. It is so much better to laugh with someone than alone. Makes me think she is lonely, her life empty and all she craves is knowledge, absorbing it like a sponge. If you have ever watched the TV show Scorpion, where the main character is above genius and cannot relate on a “human” level with others, allowed me to easily spend time with Grace.

I guess you can tell by now, that my focus was on Grace. She grabbed me by the throat and never let me go. The Murderer’s Daughter is dark and suspenseful, with everything you could want in a thriller. The story unravels and the pacing builds, so don’t think this will be a cozy mystery.

I received an ARC of The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathon Kellerman from the publisher in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense Jonathan Kellerman delivers a riveting standalone thriller featuring the unforgettable Grace Blades. Master psychologist by day, seductive adrenaline junkie by night, Grace has a very dark past—one that’s about to bleed into a terrifying present.

ABOUT JONATHON KELLERMAN

Jonathan Kellerman was born in New York City in 1949 and grew up in Los Angeles. He helped work his way through UCLA as an editorial cartoonist, columnist, editor and freelance musician. As a senior, at the age of 22, he won a Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award for fiction.

Like his fictional protagonist, Alex Delaware, Jonathan received at Ph.D. in psychology at the age of 24, with a specialty in the treatment of children. He served internships in clinical psychology and pediatric psychology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was a post-doctoral HEW Fellow in Psychology and Human Development at CHLA.

IN 1975, Jonathan was asked by the hospital to conduct research into the psychological effects of extreme isolation (plastic bubble units) on children with cancer, and to coordinate care for these kids and their families. The success of that venture led to the establishment, in 1977 of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology, the first comprehensive approach to the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer anywhere in the world. Jonathan was asked to be founding director and, along with his team, published extensively in the area of behavioral medicine. Decades later, the program, under the tutelage of one of Jonathan’s former students, continues to break ground.

Jonathan’s first published book was a medical text, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, 1980. One year later, came a book for parents, HELPING THE FEARFUL CHILD.

In 1985, Jonathan’s first novel, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, was published to enormous critical and commercial success and became a New York Times bestseller. BOUGH was also produced as a t.v. movie and won the Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher Awards for Best First Novel. Since then, Jonathan has published a best-selling crime novel every year, and occasionally, two a year. In addition, he has written and illustrated two books for children and a nonfiction volume on childhood violence, SAVAGE SPAWN (1999.) Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.

Jonathan is married to bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman and they have four children.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

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I am outraged – Read Cargo by DV Berkom and you will know why

Posted on August 27, 2015 by fundinmental

Hello Readers, I have some fabulous news!

I don’t know about you, but I love a strong, kickass and take names, female protagonist that will take me on an adventure I will not soon forget and DV Berkom has done that in spades with her latest thriller, Cargo.

I love the strong cover and double exposure that makes me want to look through and behind the pages. There is so much going on in this novel, that by the time I got to the end, I heaved a sigh of relief, but the thoughts kept coming.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

DV Berkom writes some fantastic thriller fiction and her latest, Cargo, does not disappoint. In fact, I think she took it up a notch. I anticipated a great read and wondered who Leine will be killing today. The twists and turns the characters and I went through kept the suspense building as the level of danger grew.

DV Berkom writes of strong, kickass, female protagonists and Leine Basso is a prime example. She is a complex character that is hard on the outside, with a soft filling. She is an expert shot and skilled in hand to hand combat. She wants to save everyone. Is it to atone for the guilt she carries from her past life as an assassin? How many lives has she ruined? Does she deserve the happiness she has found with Detective Santiago Jensen? She will do whatever is necessary to achieve her goal and right now, it is to rescue Kylie.

Kylie had been abducted while backpacking overseas and she was in for a horrific experience. She wondered what would become of her. Would they rape her? Would they take her organs and dump her somewhere far from home, never to be found? Would they sell her to the highest bidder? Or worse?

Things don’t go the way Leine plans and she ends up in need of rescue herself. She teams up with Derek, who is locked on the ship with her, bound for Africa. He is a poacher and Africa is his home. We will see him grow and develop as DV Berkom takes us on this wild African adventure of…

Poaching, terrorists, animals parading as men. Leine will learn more than she ever wanted to know about poaching and the men behind it. Their brutality and lack of respect for life, whether human or animal is beyond my comprehension. Women are treated as less than human, sold, traded, bartered and murdered at will.

The debasement and abuse heaped on Kylie by another woman totally shocked me. I wasn’t prepared for that. How depraved must she be to have no empathy, taking delight at treating her like a dog, or worse. I cannot imagine the terror Kylie felt thinking she may die.

I know this is fiction, but it reeks of realism. I was so angry about it all. I can see the women huddled in dank, dirty surroundings, scared out of their minds. I can see the herd of elephants after being brutally murdered and mutilated for their ivory. I recently read about their tusks being dyed pink so they no longer have any value. I agree with Leine’s feelings of disgust with the men who think they can do whatever they want without consequence. I want to see them get theirs.

Wang is a poacher and hopes to become the king of canned hunts, but that is only one of his criminal enterprises. I am hoping, crossing my fingers and talking to the book, please, please, please, make sure he gets what he deserves. I want him to come across someone who can mete out an appropriate punishment. A quick death wouldn’t be good enough for me. He needs to suffer horribly.

April is a bonus and I hope her role will grow as DV Berkom expands on the series. I am very curious about her. Leine is her mother and they were estranged for many years, but they had something in common. They had both been abducted. I know April has a story to tell and I want to hear it. What say you, DV?

I read a blog post of DV Berkom’s in which she talks of the research she does and I can see it paying off in a big way. The depth and details of the events and how the characters dealt with them were horrific, yet uplifting.

Cargo unfolds at a steady pace as DV Berkom takes us into a dangerous world of abduction, animal and human trafficking, poaching, canned hunts and terrorists. As we travel from the United States, to Bangkok, to sub-Saharan Africa the danger mounts, tension increases and the suspense has me reading faster, telling myself no peeking. When I turned the last page, I sat, just thinking. How cool is that, when a book won’t let you go, even after you have finished reading it? That is why DV Berkom is an author to have on your must read list.

I received Cargo by DV Berkom in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

The latest action-packed Leine Basso Crime Thriller–NOW AVAILABLE!

Money–the universal merchant. Anyone can be bought, anyone can be sold.

Anyone.

Haunted by memories of an op gone bad, former assassin Leine Basso travels to Bangkok in search of a missing backpacker. With help from an old contact, she discovers the man responsible for the girl’s disappearance is connected to a violent Hong Kong triad and is the linchpin of an extensive trafficking network–both animal and human.

Making enemies isn’t new for Leine, but making one in the triad is–she soon finds herself a prisoner on board a cargo ship headed for sub-Saharan Africa. To ensure her survival and to continue her hunt for the missing girl, she must join forces with Derek, an ivory poacher who promises to help her.

For a price.

As her involvement intensifies, Leine delves deeper into a disturbing and treacherous criminal underworld where everything has a price.

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.

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Author Pages

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I am reading my way through DV Berkom’s The Leine Basso Thrillers:

5 Star Review – Serial Date by DV Berkom

5 Star Review – Bad Traffick

The Body Market – Coming soon.

I am also reading my way through DV Berkom’s Kate Jones Thrillers:

5 Star Review – Yucatan Dead by DV Berkom

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

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

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

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

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

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