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

Posted on May 21, 2015 by fundinmental

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

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

He would be next.

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

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

There was the Child Collector who steals kids to sell.

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

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

Myths, Greek Gods, and super powers.

Flying deer, sound familiar?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received this book in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

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

SYNOSIS

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

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

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

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

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

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

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review ~ Ghost of Death by Chrys Fey

Posted on May 21, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome and I hope you are having a wonderful day!

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

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

Add to Goodreads

Title: Ghost of Death

Author: Chrys Fey

Genre: Supernatural/Suspense

Format: eBook Only

Page Count: 41 (short story)

Cover: Debbie Taylor

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jolie would find out first hand why earthbound spirits stay.

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

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

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

5 Stars

GUEST POST

Welcome to fundinmental, Chrys.

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

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

Chapter One – I Can’t Be Dead

Chapter Two – Ghost of Death

Chapter Three – Tea for One

Chapter Four – The League of the Dead

Chapter Five – What Happened

Chapter Six – Evidence

Chapter Seven – Pesky College Ghost

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

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

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

SYNOPSIS

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

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

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

BOOK LINKS

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

Add to Goodreads

Also available: WITCH OF DEATH

SYNOPSIS

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

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

BOOK LINKS

Amazon US / Amazon UK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

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

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

Author Links:

Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Thank you for visiting fundinmental!

Reality TV Murder ~ Serial Date by DV Berkom Review

Posted on May 17, 2015 by fundinmental

Hello Reader, meet Leine Basso.

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

I DARE YOU!

But…beware. All is not as it appears.

Add me to Goodreads now.

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

MY REVIEW

Serial Date + Serial Murder = Serial Killer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

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

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

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

and rescue her daughter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DV Berkom is a slave to the voices in her head. As the author of two popular thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating resilient, kick-*ss female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

Raised in the Midwest, she received her BA in political science from the University of Minnesota and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Many, many cross-country moves (and several years) later, she now lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with the love of her life, Mark, an ex-chef-turned contractor, and writes every chance she gets.

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

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

Author Pages

Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes & Noble / itunes / Kobo

The Leine Basso Thrillers:

I have read some of her Kate Jones Thrillers:

5 Star Review – Yucatan Dead by DV Berkom

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

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

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

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

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

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

Thank you for visiting fundinmental.

Review & Giveaway for The Body in the Birches by Katherine Hall Page

Posted on May 14, 2015 by fundinmental

The Body in the Birches: A Faith Fairchild Mystery

Genre – COZY MYSTERY

· Series: Faith Fairchild Mysteries (Book 22)

· Hardcover: 240 pages

· Publisher: William Morrow (May 12, 2015)

· ISBN-13: 978-0062310828

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Just looking at the cover, I knew I would have to read this book. I love trees and an island…in Maine…makes me think of Cape Cod. Too close to home to miss.

Katherine Hall Page is a prolific writer, with many “body” books. How have I not heard of her before?

The Birches on Sanpere Island had been handed down through the generations.This also makes me think of Cape Cod, where cottages are passed down. There are so many things that remind me of the Cape, that I felt right at home. Like the boat parade and the Fourth of July celebrations. Out on the water, I too would be bundled up as if it is winter. The mornings can start out chilly, so layering is a wise move. Katherine draws such vivid pictures with her words, I am able to see as if I am there.

pic of shelby as french fry

Sophie’s Aunt Priscilla, the owner of The Birches, is dead and Sophie’s mom had sent her there to find out who would inherit The Birches?

The family descends on The Birches like a flock of vultures, as the neighbors watch. The population is uder 3,000, so everyone knows everyone’s business. I think this will get very ugly. Will it read as true crime? We will see.

It doesn’t take long fo the sniping, sucking up and maneuvering begins. It is at times like these that you find out what people are made of. It brings out the best and worst of the characters. They run the gamut, from lawyers to hippies to snobs and yuppies. Some of the characters are loving and giving, helping out because it’s needed and they can. Others spend their time ordering people around like servants and insinuating themselves into conversations and situations without being invited. They are aggressive, selfish, narcissists.

Sophie is a lawyer and a hopeless romantic. Kendall is a lawyer too. The immediate attraction is a recipe for romance, don’t you think? I love that they eat out everywhere, from five star restaurants to the local dive.

Faith and Tom are staying at the Pines while there house is being renovated. Tom is a minister and Faith was raised in the lifestyle, though it seems now dead bodies seek her out.

I know Faith is the crime investigator and the series is names after her, but Sophie was the one who became most important to me.

Faith and Sophie – I feel something special will come of their meeting.

A predictable story, but very character driven for you people lovers out there. A glimpse into the characters lives, from the innocent children to the conniving and greedy adults. There are so many suspects, though one stands out.

Secrets can get you killed. Vermin can lurk right under your nose, justifying their actions, feeling a sense of entitlement, with no remorse. Actions tell a lot about a person.

A wonderful summer mystery, so be sure to add it to your reading list.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Faith Sibley Fairchild, Katherine Hall Page’s amateur sleuth/caterer is back on Sanpere Island in Penobscot Bay, Maine. The Fourth of July is one of the hottest on record and things heat up further when, after the fireworks, Faith discovers a body in the woods at The Birches, an early 20th century “cottage.” The body turns out to be that of The Birches’s housekeeper, and the death appears to be a simple but tragic heart attack. What is not simple is what’s going on at The Birches: a family gathering called to decide who will inherit the much loved, and valuable, place that has been in the Proctor family for generations. Meanwhile teen Ben Fairchild is learning things at his job at The Laughing Gull Lodge far removed from the dishwasher job description and his younger sister Amy’s new friend, Daisy Proctor, is frightened–she is convinced someone is trying to eliminate her mother from the competition for The Birches for good.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Hall Page is the author of twenty-two previous Faith Fairchild mysteries, the first of which received the Agatha Award for best first mystery. The Body in the Snowdrift was honored with the Agatha Award for best novel of 2006. Page also won an Agatha for her short story “The Would-Be Widower.” In addition, she has been nominated for the Edgar Award, the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and the Macavity Award. She lives in Massachusetts and Maine with her husband.

Author Links: Website / Goodreads

Purchase Links: Harper Collins

GIVEAWAY

5 individual promo codes for a free download of the book.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Winner must have access to Bluefire Reader and have an Adobe account to receive free download.”

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

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.

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

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review: Kidnap by Sally Ann Melia

Posted on May 13, 2015 by fundinmental

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

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

Add to Goodreads

Cover: Nevena, Sugarbricks

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received this book in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

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

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

Connect with Sally: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

Follow the tour by clicking on the banner below.

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

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

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

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

Posted on May 11, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop for this amazing paranormal romance.

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

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

Add to Goodreads now.

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

Genres: Paranormal Romance

Series: Fire Chronicles

ISBN: 9781311864826

Book Length: 110

Publisher: BL Publishing

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

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received this book in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

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

Kill the dragon.

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

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

A dragon shifter fairy tale for adult readers.

EXCERPT

Laryn

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

I am dragon.

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

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

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

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

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

Roxanne

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

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

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

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

I have a dragon to kill.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

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

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

Author (Contact Links)

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

GIVEAWAY

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

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

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

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

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

Posted on May 10, 2015 by fundinmental

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

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

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

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

Acasia is now on of them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

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

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

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

Author (Contact Links)

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

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

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway & Review ~ The Christmas Dragon/Strings by Ruthanne Reid

Posted on May 6, 2015 by fundinmental

fundinmental would like to welcome Ruthanne and The Christmas Dragon and Strings.

I am a dragon lover, so this was a must have for me.

What is your favorite shifter?

MY REVIEW

The box jumped. Between the cover and the first sentence, I knew this is a story I wanted to read. The writing was humorous from the opening line and I started laughing when I read about the rusty wand. Magic and a snow white dragon, what’s not to love?

This is a short story that left me wanting to know more.

Katie had left her family because she wanted a normal life, without magic. She is Merlin’s niece. She wondered who could have left the dragon on her doorstep – she can’t keep it and doesn’t want it. It’s cute, but she was getting rid of it. She can bring it by my house, at least that was my first thought, until I found out it had been stolen and whoever had it would be in serious trouble.

A wonderfully cute, light read that goes on to tell us how and why she has the snow white dragon, whose name is Starling. What other color would a Christmas dragon be?

Grey, a Fey, was unwilling to help her, but we will learn more about him in Strings.

A wizard, a Lin, an Unseelie, a baby dragon, vampires, elves, magic…I can hardly wait to learn more.

4 Stars

BLURB

*The Christmas Dragon*

All Katie Lin wants is to get away from her family: from the magic, from the mayhem, and from the never-ending war.

Unfortunately, someone has other ideas, and sends her a box. A box that jumps.

The tiny fire hazard inside may just force her back to Wales – and right into the path of a dragon war, the Crow King, and at least one reluctant elf prince. Sometimes, running away just doesn’t work as planned.

EXCERPT

*I chose this excerpt because of the first sentence. A smile jumped onto my face.*

The Christmas Dragon

The box jumped.

Boxes are not supposed to jump. It’s a law somewhere, I think. Maybe Guyana. Apparently not in New Hampshire, because the box kept jumping.

I sat in my idling car, puffs of exhaust rising in my rear-view mirror, and stared at the uncoordinated box-dance. It was wrapped in the loveliest paper, too, which was a shame, because bouncing on my boot-scraper had roughened all the corners and torn one edge. The bow was big and purple and covered in small green somethings. I wasn’t close enough to make them out.

I didn’t want to be close enough to make them out.

If I didn’t do something soon, the neighbors would notice. The box probably hadn’t been jumping all morning, or there’d be a crowd. Or maybe it was already on YouTube. I didn’t know.

So much for a safe, boring life among the Ever-Dying. New Hampshire, you have failed me.

I turned off the car. Time to go see what invaded my (mostly) magic-free space.

MY REVIEW

This is Grey’s story.

The Seelie feel they are the ones meant to rule everyone, including the humans.

Music is his magic. He is a prince, but left home to weave a magical spell of music around the humans and share the love.

Now he is called on to save them from the Slivers. He is determined to save the humans, no matter the consequences. But, who can he trust? He lives in a magical world where your enemy could be your friend and savior.

Among the Mythos, science fantasy and twenty thousand years of Earth’s history, Grey is an unwilling hero, but a hero just the same.

My only complaint is the story goes on and for how long, I do not know.

3 Stars

BLURB

*Strings*

Need help? You probably shouldn’t ask Grey.

A runaway Unseelie prince, Grey feeds on love – a commodity he conjures via music and magic in late-night Manhattan. It’s a sweet gig, if lonely, and Grey is almost sure the dire warnings he was given about New York in December won’t come true.

Then a monster from his childhood attacks in the middle of the night, and everything changes.

He survived, but he’s marked, and more monsters are coming for him and everyone who survived. Grey has no plans to be a hero but fate doesn’t care what he wants. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you aren’t the one pulling the strings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Indie author Ruthanne Reid writes about elves, aliens, vampires, and space-travel with equal abandon. She is the author of the series Among the Mythos, and believes good stories should be shared. Subscribe to her free email newsletter for free books and more at http://amongthemythos.com. You can connect with her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ruthannereid), Facebook (http://facebook.com/mythos), or Tumblr (http://ruthannereid.tumblr.com), where she looks at too many kittens and Avengers blogs.

Ruthanne’s love of magic, urban environments, and deep space birthed a strange world with undercurrents of faith, magic, villainy, and heroism (along with swords and lasers, on occasion). Among the Mythos showcases aliens with all-too-human feelings, entire societies on the decline due to greed and fear, protagonists who might actually be the bad guys (or vice-versa), and endings every bit as messy as the world that creates them.

Ruthanne knows from experience that endings are messy. No matter how exotic the setting, how many limbs the characters have or what (if any) genders, the problems and questions addressed by a good story are very real, and that’s why they have power. If she has a theme, it is this: keep fighting, and keep pushing toward hope, because the struggle is worth the finish-line.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Buy Links for The Christmas Dragon

Kindle / Nook / Kobo / Google / Play / iTunes / Scribd / Oyster / Flipkart / Txtr / Smashwords

Paperback / IndieBound / Bookfinder / Powell’s

Buy Links for Strings

Kindle / Nook / Kobo / Google Play / iTunes / Scribd / Oyster / Flipkart / Txtr / Smashwords

Paperback / IndieBound / Bookfinder / Powell’s

GIVEAWAY

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Click on the banner below to follow the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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.

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

Thanks for stopping by fundinmental!

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

Posted on April 13, 2015 by fundinmental

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

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

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

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

Read this free on Marissa’s Wattpad Page.

3 Stars

CINDER BY MARISSA MYER

The Lunar Chronicles, #1

Click on the cover above for your Amazon copy.

Add me to Goodreads now.

My Review

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

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

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

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

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

5 Stars

~~~~~~

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

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

Read this free on Marissa’s Wattpad Page.

4 Stars

~~~~~~

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

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

Blog / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

~~~~~~

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

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

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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

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

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

TAXI ~ Take a Ride with Dead Girl Blues by Joyce & Jim Lavene

Posted on April 9, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop for A Taxi for the Dead series, Dead Girl Blues and Broken Hearted Ghoul, by Joyce and Jim Lavene.

Dead Girl Blues
By Joyce and Jim Lavene

• Genre – Cozy Mystery (PARANORMAL)

Amazon

MY REVIEW

Dead Girl Blues combines two of my favorite genres, mystery and the paranormal. A ghostly twist here, a sorcerers twist there, zombies everywhere, but you would not recognize them. They look just like you and me.

I did not realize this was Book II and I have not read Book I, The Broken Hearted Ghoul. My enjoyment of the story did not suffer because of it. I loved the thought of a zombie bounty hunter and now I will go back and read Book I.

Skye and her cohort, Debbie, earned money working for Abraham Lincoln Jones by picking up LEPs – Life Extended People, or as she calls them, zombies.

Skye is dead, but she still feels the heat and carries a gun. It would hurt if she was shot, but she would heal. She had feelings, just like a living human being. Her heart still beats. Skye is a zombie bounty hunter. Did you see that coming?

She was a Nashville police officer for ten years before her death. She’d bargained with Abe for twenty more years of life to raise her daughter in exchange for working for him.

Skye and her husband had been killed in a car accident, but theirs were not the only mysterious deaths. Abe wanted her to investigate the death of his sorcerer and she was quietly investigating her own. There is something weird in the woods. Of course there is. LOL

When the LEPs started vanishing, I wondered how much more trouble she could get into.

Life was simpler when she could just take out a gun and shoot someone.

I would like to do that myself sometimes, so I am already relating to her before I even become fully involved. 🙂

Skye’s taxi fares are zombies. When their twenty years are up, she collects them and delivers them to the morgue. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. If you don’t, it is not pleasant at all.

A zombie bounty hunter, sorcerers, ghosts, the undead, werewolves, shapeshifters…

Dead Girl Blues is a zombie novel with a twist that is new to me. I love finding something unique, original and slightly funny. Imagine a zombie doing a murder investigation. It put a smile on my face, how about yours?

Instead of being horrified and creeped out, I looked at it in a “Supernatural” way, with a humorous slant. Magic and shenanigans keep Skye busy, but she needs some answers to “save” herself. I am siding with Lucas, a sorcerer, against the others more powerful than they are. Most sorcerers fight amongst themselves, but not Lucas. Maybe whatever happened that made him lose his memory was for the better. He is stuck to Skye, like glue.

This quote sums up Skye’s thoughts:

Life was so much less complicated when I was alive.”

I have an idea of what is going on and I am curious to see if I am right.

I know what I want to happen, but is it possible?

And the story goes on…

I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

When Nashville cop Skye Mertz and her husband, Jacob, are killed in a wreck, Skye is given the opportunity to come back for twenty years to raise her five-year-old daughter, Kate. With her ghostly mother-in-law’s help, Skye hopes to be there until Kate is old enough to take care of herself.

But three years into her twenty-year service to Abraham Lincoln Jones, the man who gave her the extra time, Skye is beginning to think life might have been easier before she died.

Abe asks her to investigate the murder of his sorcerer, Harold the Great, a man who was a victim of too many snakes. And the Life Extended People (LEPs – a nice term for zombies) who work for Abe have begun turning into ghosts and disappearing. Only Lucas, the possibly evil, amnesiac sorcerer who lives with Skye and her family, can save her from being the next victim of the deadly curse.

To make matters more complicated, Skye has found a lead in solving the riddle of her husband’s death. She has never believed Jacob died as a result of the crash, but hasn’t been able to prove it. Many other people have lost their lives in the same lonely stretch of highway that he did three years before. Skye goes against Abe’s express wishes to discover the truth with a crazy man bent on vengeance.

About The Authors

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Amazon / Twitter

First Book in Series
Broken Hearted Ghoul (Taxi for the Dead Paranormal Mysteries) (Volume 1)

Amazon / Goodreads