The World Has Ended – Where are The Cascade Preppers by A R Shaw

Posted on July 17, 2014 by fundinmental

I have watched TV shows about Preppers, so when I saw this, I had to jump on it.

I know this is Book II of Graham’s Resolution, but I’m willing to dive right in.

How about you? Have you watched any of the Doomsday Prepper TV shows?

MY REVIEW

This is book II of Graham’s Resolution and I have not read Book I, The China Pandemic. I felt have read enough of these books, that I could guess a lot of what happened in Book I and it wouldn’t affect me in my ability to read this one.

The Cascade Preppers is an apocalyptic novel that borders on reality. I quickly became familiar with the characters and the back story. I felt their fear and wondered who would live and who would die. I had a good idea of how it would end, plus or minus an event or two, but I had a good time with the gang. I immediately felt Addy would play an important part.

The China pandemic – a flu that wiped out the majority of the population leaving pockets of people that survived the initial onslaught. Some doctors today believe that will be our downfall.

The Preppers (who are clear of the virus) lived on one side of the river and the Carriers (those infected with the virus) on the other. No one knows the long term results, so they stay divided. They do not mix, because of the danger of passing the disease to those uninfected.

Clarisse was their hope of finding a cure. What if they found a vaccine? Would it create immunity and allow them to interact with their neighbors, the Carriers? Even if they found a vaccine, could the virus mutate and bring about the need for another vaccine?

Their doctor is a vet and everyone is thankful for his skills.

Graham and Tala are a couple. She found out she was pregnant. It raised questions some wouldn’t think about – what happens if you are pregnant and a carrier? What will the baby be? Would you have it or abort it? Would do what was needed to keep the majority safe at the sacrifice of the individual.

Would you want to be one of the first to go or one of those left to figure out how to rebuild the world? Would you be one of those people, you know, “Why Me?”

What about relationships? Would you choose what would be beneficial for the group, no matter your own needs and desires?

Inner hidden strengths people never knew they had would rise to the surface. People would learn what is most important in life. They would need to get past all the pettiness and accept people as they are, foibles and all. The need to work together, combining everyone’s strengths may enable all to survive. Rebuilding the world would be done one person at a time.

A lot about the The Cascade Preppers is pretty predictable, but I love these books. I feel they are bordering on the truth of what will be the worlds’ downfall. The writing is detailed and realistic. The shift of POV messed with me here and there, but I did like knowing what each person was doing and thinking through their own eyes.

Next, Sam checked the wind direction by lifting the end of his barrel into the air. The thread tied to the end of this gun barrel floated up and slightly behind them .

Now that is realism. It is descriptions like this that make the story so believable.

I have watched a lot of the Alaskan reality shows on TV and find it reminiscent of what people would need to do to survive an apocalypse. It makes it easier for me to imagine what these characters are going through and visualize their actions. An injury in such a remote area could end your life and that would be the same for the characters here. Damage or scarcity of their food supply could cause them to starve to death.

What would a psychologist think of a nightmare about being chased by a giant safety pin? LOL

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

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

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

Virtual Book Tour Dates: 7/9/14 – 7/23/14

Genres: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, SciFi

Series: Graham’s Resolution, Book 2

Tour Promo Price: $.99 Countdown Deal: 7/10/14 – 7/17/14

Cover: Keri Knutson

BLURB

What the world dreads most has already happened. Now, there is only survival.

In her dystopian and post-apocalyptic bestselling novel, The China Pandemic, A. R. Shaw created a realistic world after a much too plausible pandemic event. Now, the remaining must not only survive but thrive or risk complete extinction. The story moves forward with…

.
The Cascade Preppers

Graham is back in book two of the Graham’s Resolution series. In the tiny town of Cascade, Washington, the members of Graham’s camp endure a severe winter season. Meanwhile, The Prepper community remains dedicated to isolation and maintains their benevolent relationship. Tensions rise when tragedy strikes. The human traits of community and compassion are pitted against instincts to survive. Will they be doomed by their own efforts to coexist? Read the ongoing saga of Graham’s Resolution, Book 2, The Cascade Preppers, for the startling revelation.

~~~

Excerpt

Chapter 1

The early winter sky cast in vibrant lavender led to piercing blue north of the horizon. It was as cold as hell is hot, if you can imagine the heat of hell as freezing. Graham pulled in the weighted line, hand over hand. He wrapped the twine from hand to elbow while staring down the murky blue ice hole of the frozen lake. The brown trout came squirming its way up the ice tunnel towards him, till it met its last fate.

Sam reached out and grabbed the greedy guy that currently hung in midair. Tearing the hook from its mouth, he dropped the frigid fish into a pail with its brothers. They went for quantity over size when fishing in the shallow waters beneath the ice, but the chore of getting enough to feed them all had taken a little longer than usual this morning. The sky had already gone from deep plum with a moon encircled in a fine mist to daylight so intense, eye protection and extra layers of fur to contain the fleeting warmth were called for.

Once they’d caught enough for everyone’s breakfast, they silently gathered their gear to make their way back up the trail to camp. Like any two men who’d worked the same routine, they would perform their job without uttering a single word with regards to the task. “Get your nose out of there, Sheriff,” Graham gently warned the dog in a worn, low voice as he caught him peering into the bucket. “You’ll get your share.” He tousled the dog’s head and picked up their morning haul. Sam came up behind him with the other lines after he’d covered the ice holes with spare plywood to keep them from freezing over too much.

“Ready?” Sam asked.

“Yeah.”

They crunched along the reliable crust as their boots echoed in the vast open until they met the trail between the trees. Mark had recently finished clearing the paths from that night’s continuous onslaught of snow.

As they walked up into the clearing, Bang, dressed in his snow gear from head to toe, tossed scraps to the chickens as they scampered all around him eager for their meager delicacies. Sheriff ran up ahead to help out his young friend. Amused that the dog didn’t understand why they kept the birds caged, nor why he wasn’t allowed to visit with them inside the coop, Graham laughed. The hens often ran away and rudely, collectively, scurried to the other end of their enclosure when Sheriff came to greet them each morning.

Graham called out to Bang, “Make sure you give them fresh water.”

“I always do,” Bang replied looking put out by the unnecessary reminder, then his expression changed. “Mark told me to tell you, Ennis isn’t up yet.”

“All right, thanks. I’ll give him a hand.” The two men walked in silence past the front of the cabin. Sam seemed to be pondering something which wasn’t unusual for the man. After spending the entire day with him, other than a nod or an occasional word, he didn’t say much, but Graham always suspected Sam was either thinking ahead or mourning his daughter. Whether he’d ever let another in on his thoughts, was anyone’s guess, so it surprised Graham when he spoke up.

“You know, he won’t see another winter. You might want to be prepared for that, Graham.”

Graham spoke softly. “Yeah, I’ve pretty much figured that out.” “We’re losing him a little each day. He rarely talks, but when he does it’s always warnings. Like, he’s trying to give us as much as he can before he goes.” Graham stopped in mid-stride and scuffed his boot at the ice, sending crystals a few feet forward. “I’m thankful we had him for as long as we did.”

Sam clapped him on the back in understanding. He liked Ennis too. The old man had even shown Sam a thing or two about carving the little wooden figurines he made for Addy, the daughter he could see and hear, but never again touch. If a man taught you something useful in life, he was a keeper in Sam’s book.

Buy Link: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. R. Shaw, born in south Texas, moved to Washington State in the late eighties. Always writing quietly in what little spare time available while participating in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Radio Operator and business owner. Only now embracing a writing passion full time and finding a place in the author’s community, Shaw has found a following of avid readers along the way.

Author Links

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Blog

Click on the cover below to pick up your copy of The Cascade Preppers by A R Shaw.

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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

A Tag Team Giveaway Event – Stunning New Cover for Apocalyptic Novel – Wormwood by D H Nevins

Posted on July 16, 2014 by fundinmental

$tag you're it photo: Tag! You\'re It! AnyOccasion-TagYoureIt-May2007.jpg$

Welcome to my Tag Team Events!

Laura and I are the Tag Team Bloggers.

You can find Laura at fuonlyknew.

We Tag Team an author and publish our posts at the same time.

Whether it’s for a cover reveal, giveaway, review, interview, or something more, the author will be tagged by us and you will be alerted to go to Laura’s blog or mine to see additional content. It’s really fun to see how differently we view the same book and you get an extra chance to win with our giveaways!

~~~~~

D H Nevins is here today to tell you how excited she is to share the new cover for Wormwood and how it came about.

Welcome, D. It is wonderful to have you here today. Take it away.

The Alternatives

It was exceedingly difficult to select my favourite cover. Every mock-up Derek created was incredible in its own right, and it would be a shame not to share them. So in all their glory, here are the other options he came up with.

The third one—the one with the wing obscuring the girl’s face—is so amazing, I’d very much like to use it as the cover for my sequel, Angel of Shadow.

What do you think?

I think it would be awesome D. I can hardly wait to get my hands on it. ^_^

A New Cover for Wormwood

First of all, before I say anything else, let me introduce Wormwood’s new cover. Oh, and before I do that, I should forewarn you that I’m a tad biased about this…

The New

This beauty took my breath away the moment I saw it. As an author, I couldn’t ask for a better representation of my work. And I’m kind of picky—so that says a lot! The image projects a mood that reflects the feel of my story so perfectly, I knew the cover artist understood Wormwood on multiple levels. But even if we’re just talking aesthetics, well, although I am most definitely biased, I think this is one fantastic-looking cover!

The Old

I originally had a different cover for Wormwood. It was a simple black and white etching by Gustave Doré, depicting a fallen angel reaching towards the heavens. The sheer turmoil apparent through the angel’s expression and pose not only fascinated me, but seemed a perfect depiction of the conflict raging through Tiamat, a half-angel in Wormwood. However, the etching–although classic–was hardly a trendy cover. The story itself was very well-received, but I found that people had trouble getting past the antiquated-looking cover in order to take a chance on reading what was within. My love for the cover, it seemed, was a lonely one!

The Cool How

About a month ago, I was contacted by cover artist extraordinaire, Derek Murphy. He had read Wormwood and subsequently offered to make up a new cover for the book—for free. Surprised, flattered and curious about the vision he had for Wormwood, I heartily agreed.

Then, as you know, the resulting cover blew my expectations out of the water! Its impact was immediate.

Why it Works

The image depicts the book genre clearly. The colour contrast is striking, which catches the eye instantly. Plus, it’s incredibly professional.

It also fits the story.

On a literal note, the protagonist is a strong female, adept with a crossbow, yet still out of her element. However, she would never admit it. I could see this in her stance. Yet the cover holds so much more than a simple literal representation of Wormwood. Derek recreated the feel of the book perfectly. The mixture of light and darkness remind me of a review Wormwood once received which, in part, said, “The lines will be blurred between good and evil, love and hate, truth and lies, and hero and antagonist.” The hazy fusion of sunlight and shadow reflect this beautifully. The unsettled, foreboding skies mirror the mood of this dark, post-apocalyptic story, and the falling feathers are a nice touch. They hint at the half-angels in the story without hitting potential readers over the head with their existence. The fact the feathers are broken and falling is also perfect, but I hesitate to say why… after all, I don’t want to spoil the most exciting parts of the book!

My Thanks

Naturally, I wouldn’t be sharing this with you if it wasn’t for Derek Murphy. His outstanding covers and unprecedented talent can be seen on his website, CreativIndie Covers. Have a look at http://bookcovers.creativindie.com/

And of course, I would like to extend a huge thanks to Sherry Fundin for her generosity in allowing me to ramble on about my new cover here on her blog. Thank you so very much, Sherry!

Thank you D. That is a fascinating story of what teamwork and the generosity of the indie and blogging world can accomplish.

Now for a little video entertainment to round off your eye candy fix.

After this fantastic trailer, which is so descriptive of the world devastation in the book, please continue reading for my review.

My 5 Star Review of Wormwood by D H Nevins

I won this book through fuonlyknew’s blog. I would like to thank Laura and D. H.Nevins for the giveaway.

Right off, the cover grabbed me. I didn’t know what to think of the title, but as you read the book, you will find out what it means.

The writing is excellent. Wormwood starts out fast and holds your attention throughout. The description of the devastation made me able to visualize the world around them. I can’t find the words to describe it myself, but D. H. did a great job of it.

The actions of Tiamat will make you question things yourself. Is God a kind, gentle person, or is he vengeful and vindictive? And what about angels?

As I was reading I kept thinking of Supernatural. I watch the reruns on TV most mornings. This book reminded a lot of how God and the Angels treated humans on the show. If you’ve watched it, you’ll know exactly what I mean. God has his own agenda and the angels will follow it, us humans are along for the ride.

The relationship between Kali and Tiamat, and Tiamat and God, was creative and complex. For me, it raises more questions than answers. I am sure most everyone has asked “Why Me?” more than once.

The biodegradable soap made me chuckle along with Kali. Tiamet was thoughtful, like when he supplied her with toiletries and clothes, but he stood away from her emotionally and physically.

The things that happened to her, could make the strongest person give in to the misery, horror, devastation, desolation, abuse………..

This is an amazing apocalytic/dystopian novel that will take you into another world. The details and descriptions enabled me to visualize the surroundings and characters as they struggle to stay alive long enough to find their destiny. Very well done and I can hardly wait to read the sequel, Angel of Shadow. Happy writing D!

SYNOPSIS

Against a devastated landscape, a legion of one hundred fierce half-angels is hell bent on purging the Earth of all humans. But one of them, the tormented Tiamat, struggles against his mission, and when he rescues a beautiful woman named Kali, he finds the attraction as troubling as it is dangerous. Can Kali trust the one creature who could be responsible for her ultimate demise?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D.H. Nevins was born in Toronto and currently lives in a quiet area of Ontario, surrounded by forests and lakes. By day, she is a personable, friendly school teacher. By night, she silently chuckles as she writes about destroying the world. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, camping, flying around on her motorcycle or dabbling in live theatre.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Wormwood by D H Nevins.

GIVEAWAY

In celebration of the new cover, D H Nevins is giving away 5 ebooks of Wormwood to 5 lucky commenters. Please leave your email address and answer the question:

Which cover would you choose and why?

This is a Tag Team Event sponsored by fundinmental and fuonlyknew. For another chance to win, go HERE.

Giveaway ends July 30, 2014.

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

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.

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

Monday Mini #11 – Dark Mountain by C B Pratt

Posted on July 14, 2014 by fundinmental

.

MY REVIEW

Beautiful cover and interesting storyline. I thought this book would be a great read. It is about a supernatural assassin that will handle the dispatch of a dragonet, a minotaur, or whatever creature is giving you problems. He is a jack of all trades. I was very disappointed. I struggled to get through it. I would find myself reading along and realize I was just reading the words. I had no idea what I had read and would go back over it again. I could not get involved in the story or the characters. It was like a school reading assignment in government. I picked it up and put it down for weeks. I was bored and the story created no curiosity or emotion. This is book 3 and I have not read the first two. Did this make a difference? I read 64%, but could not find a reason to continue. There are so many books and so little time, so I finally gave up. This is very unusual for me and I am sorry that I could not find it worth my while to finish.

I received an ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review.

DNF – Would Not Recommend

You can get your Amazon copy of Dark Mountain by C B Pratt, by clicking on the cover.

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

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.

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

Paul Kersey Meet Justine Ford – Battle Not With Monsters by Overton Scott Review & Giveaway

Posted on July 9, 2014 by fundinmental

All I had to do was see the cover and know I wanted to tour and read Battle Not With Monsters by Overton Scott

I wonder what’s going through her mind.

What do you think?

You can read my review below and be sure to enter both giveaways!

MY REVIEW

Battle Not With Monsters by Overton Scott starts out with a SMACK of the bat against her head and the first one goes down. What the hell? My eyes popped wide open and I began to wonder how many would die in the first chapter alone.

Battle Not With Monster begins with a brutal and savage murder of a beautiful young woman and keeps going from there. When Ray goes down next, I am bummed. HUH – I didn’t even get to know him and I miss him. I grieve for him, along with Justine. She had acted without thinking in the defense of Ray, her coworker, but it had done nothing but make her a target, putting a bullseye on herself. There is an evil stalking her, intending her great harm.

Justine barely squeaks by. She has a ratty car and lives in an iffy neighborhood. She has learned to be very aware and observant of her surroundings, rarely missing anything in her immediate vicinity. She is an expert in the martial arts, a quick judge of character and situations. She is fit, working out is a routine part of her life and she is not afraid to fight. She felt she had failed Ray, felt he wasn’t the first.

Chert thought would it would be easy peasy to take her down. He had no idea what was in store for him. Would he live to regret it? Would he live? When Justine realized he was after her – she was determined to take the fight to him.

Chert does come after her. I can feel her anxiousness. We’re both frantic, trying to figure out what to do. There is no escape, she cannot avoid the confrontation. My heart pounds, as I wait for him to enter her bedroom. Rapid breathing. Is it hers, his or mine? Waiting….the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck are standing up. I believe the dry mouth, the eyes popping out of the head, the feeling of running through molasses is hers.

Justine knows she needs more than her physical strength, she needs a weapon, a gun. As the salesman runs a line of crap on her just because she is female and not familiar with weapons, she finds him. The one who can help her. Conrad J Dalton, III – Lone Star Risk Management.

Traffickers bring young women in from foreign countries. The women are desperately looking for a better life. They are then broken, starved, raped, isolated, their families are threatened and they are even killed. They are forced to work in strip clubs and worse. It is big business, even in the 21^st century. As long as there is a demand, I am sure there will be a supply. Whether they come willingly and are then duped or if they are taken forcefully, kidnapped, does it matter? It is a tragedy either way.

Justine goes through the process of trying out and buying a hand gun. How do you feel about guns? I have thought about buying one myself. Am I reading too many thrillers? Getting to know too many serial killers? Wondering when the apocalypse will hit – a flu pandemic seems the most likely event to me, but a catastrophic failure with our food supply would not surprise me? Does my imagination run wild, or do I just want to be prepared?

Battle Not With Monsters has me visualizing Justine as the female version of Paul Kersey in Death Wish. I love those movies and cannot remember how many times I have watched them – and will again. I love a weekend afternoon when they run a Death Wish marathan. Now, that’s what I’m talking about for some good TV.

Overton Scott has done a wonderful job of creating a fantastic story with some, at times, all too real characters. Battle Not With Monsters has all my requirements for a great suspense/thriller – a hero (doesn’t matter if it is female or male, but there is something a little extra special about the badass heroine), a storyline that creates a mission or a demand that the hero step up and take action and, of course, that feeling of tension and suspense……waiting for the next sentence to be read or the next page to be turned or the next chapter to begin.

I loved the book that I received for an honest and unbiased review and will eagerly continue the journey with Justine……and Conrad? After all, a little romance can only enhance a story. How about it Overton? What’s next?

4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Battle Not With Monsters by Overton Scott

(A Neen Ford Thriller #1)

.
Publication date: March 8th 2014

.
Genres: Adult, Thriller

SYNOPSIS

Victim?

Neen Ford is a loner, drifting from town to town, working as a security guard and teaching martial arts. One hot night in Dallas, she witnesses the brutal murder of a Ukranian prostitute and becomes the killer’s next target. Neen’s never backed down from a fight, but she’s never tangled with a human trafficking ring before. Until now.

Hero?

Naïve young women are being trafficked into the United States by Russian criminals. Someone needs to help them. The police are trying, but they’re not moving fast enough for Neen, who is now being stalked by a man who enjoys inflicting pain.

Vigilante?

How far will Neen go to save herself? How far, to save three young women from a life of fear and despair? And what price will she pay for battling the monster? There’s a thin line between hero and vigilante – will she cross it?

AUTHOR BIO

Overton Scott is the pseudonym of a national bestselling author. Overton is interested in a lot of themes covered in the Neen Ford stories: martial arts, the warrior ethos, personal responsibility, and the concept of justice. Like Neen, Overton doesn’t think that the guilty should escape punishment on this earth. Unlike Neen, Overton prefers to write stories rather than take the law into his own hands. It’s just as morally satisfying, but less dangerous.

As you are reading this, Overton should be working on the next Neen Ford adventure. But he’s probably at the gym, shooting or wasting time looking at funny pictures on the internet. You can contact him at neenford@gmail.com, if you’d like to discuss any aspect of the Neen Ford stories.

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Battle Not With Monsters by Overton Scott.

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

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos There are two giveaways, so be sure and enter both.

My blog giveaway, (1) ebook copy of Battle Not With Monsters. Open internationally.

Leave a comment about the post. It can be about the cover, the synopsis, the author or even how you feel about guns? Do you own one?

Giveaway ends August 8th, 2014. The winner’s prize will be sent out after August 11th.

Tour wide giveaway

–2x Signed copies of Battle Not With Monsters (INTL)

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.

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

See The Evil – Joe by H D Gordon with lots of goodies & Giveaway

Posted on July 8, 2014 by fundinmental

I have tons of good stuff to share with you – my review, a guest post and poem by H D Gordon, an excerpt, the book synopsis and a giveaway.

Sooooo, let’s begin.

GUEST POST.

I would like to start by welcoming H D Gordon to my blog today.

I am honored to have you here today H D.

I suppose I should tell you why you should read JOE, but if the blurb about a school shooter, a young stuttering clairvoyant girl who tries to stop it, and six people who will all be in the line of fire come the day of the shooting doesn’t do it for ya, I’ve probably lost you already.

So, since I plan on releasing a poetry book soon (find me on Twitter or Facebook if you care to be updated) how’s about a little poetry? This one is an oldie but a goodie. I wrote it a while ago but it remains one of my favorites. It’s honest. Read it out loud if you want to truly dig the rhyme scheme, and dream on, brothers and sisters.

******

Afraid to Dream

By: H. D. Gordon

There is an uncertainty, that’s so certain it’s almost absolute, half of me is staring wide-eyed at the future and never blinking once as fireworks and sparklers blaze in my eyes, as I look, and all of it, so close, so obtainable, so much better than even it can seem

I’m almost afraid to dream

That I could do the things I’ve seen others, though there are few, that I could do those things, maybe even better than most would have me do, but really, I’m just afraid to grow old and never realize my potential, to watch myself settle into something, someone, I was never meant to be

I’m almost afraid to dream

That I could be successful, wildly so, if only I could tie, wrap up and secure in chains, the little girl who found out, maybe a little too early, that fairytales don’t come true, and who shakes her head and imposes more sensible life goals, if only I could chain her down and force her to sit in a back corner room of my mind until she could read what I mean

She’s way too afraid to dream

That they were wrong. All wrong. Wrong when they thought me fool and failure, wrong when they knew I had talent and said you’re going nowhere, the same ones who will love me when it all comes together and some of them love me truly but what does it matter when they help me believe

It’s okay to be afraid to dream

As long as I dream, and dreams I do have, they haunt me and taunt me to grab with everything in me, reach for the sunrise and horizon, just keep reaching and reaching until my arms ache, and keep giving me reason to say, it’s okay, you’re doubt is okay, I’m just another girl who knows her way, and I’ll reach until I can reach no more, and I’ll follow some rules and I’ll break even more, but sometimes, it gets harder and harder to breathe

That’s when I’m afraid to dream

Because dreams wash away, they sway and they gray and then all of a sudden you’re empty, left with a large hole in your soul where a dream is supposed to be, and you’ll squint and you’ll strain and still it gets harder to see, but there, there, back in that corner a something blazes, and it’s far and it’s faint and it’s crude and it leans but it means

What is life without hopes and dreams?

Lovely, H D. I am a dreamer and I enjoyed the poem tremendously.

I hope you enjoy the tour and my review. Feel free to drop by any time.

MY REVIEW

H D Gordon never ceases to amaze me with her ability to spin a tale. Joe reads as if it is a character study of people just living their lives. Her characters are superbly developed, with individual personalities that we can all relate to because they are like the people around us. There are six main characters, but I came to know some of the others pretty well. One person led into the next to the next. H D wove them together so naturally, I could see how we are all connected, creating a continuity of life. Each character has wishes, desires, hopes, plans and problems.

Don’t forget to live for today, it can all change in a second. That is the feeling I have while reading. There is tension, suspense and a feeling of doom. I know something bad is coming and I’m waiting for “the shit to hit the fan”.

“Evil is not just a thing of fairy tales. Evil is real and it walks among us.”

“That’s life baby and that shit ain’t always fair.”

My name is Joe and I draw my visions and premonitions. Some people think I’m strange. Well, who isn’t? I am a bit paranoid and mistrustful. I am a recluse, because of my stutter and gift. I write because I need to tell my story. I am 21 and just an average girl, except for my gift. I am taking the semester off from UMM – University of Midwest Missouri State. I am not hero. I only step in because of guilt. (But she puts her life on the line repeatedly over and over for others).

John became Joe’s friend after meeting in class. They were not in love, just friends. John had lost his love, Jade. Was she lost forever? She was back and wanted to see him on Monday. Monday a new day, a new week and new hope for John.

Nikkie and Claire – her sisters – are as different as night and day. Nikki is the black sheep of the family. She lives as if there is no tomorrow. Claire feels trapped. She is the good girl, the one expected to succeed. Claire would have loved Nikki’s freedom. She smoked pot, but only her roommate knew. What would everyone, her family and peers, think of miss-do-gooder if they knew? Claire was always planning for tomorrow. Claire is weak. She’s so afraid of life, the thought of retirement is terrifying.

Claire says to Nikki, “I’ll tell you this, you’re not going to be lying on your deathbed wishing you had spent more of your life working.”

Nikki “When you become aware of people’s natural inclinations and limitations, you can understand them and if you don’t expect from them what their nature doesn’t give, you’ll never be disappointed.” Great words to live by.

Best friends – Kayla and Kyle, sound a bit like Barbie and Ken. Giving and did not like or want attention. They were underestimated by others and like it that way.

I have a very good feeling about Mr. Landy.

Merion is one of Joe’s college teachers. He was going to let her retake her test on Monday, even though she had not planned on being at school that day.

Eric had an important appointment on Monday and needed permission to be out of town. He had worked so hard for this moment. What do you think will happen?

Michael is intrigued by her. She stood apart from others.

The Decider saw a raven sitting on top of the jaguar that is situated on the slight rise overlooking the Quad. Yet, it wasn’t there. Ravens are known to denote foreshadowing. Joe called him the shadowman.

Psychopath – he wants to leave a legacy of dead bodies. He feels he is greater than Hitler. He feels that others think him simple, but he thinks he is smart. He is meticulous. He has a face that hides the monster inside. He hates everyone. He believes in the “Survival of the Fittest.”

Joe – I see visions and I draw. Motherfucker. I have an awful obligation to do what I can. What to do? Would she fail in this also?

I love H D Gordon’s writing style. I don’t think it would matter what genre she wrote in. Her ability to spin a story is of the highest caliber, as are the stories themselves. I have read numerous books by her and loved them all. Joe, Book II is now out.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received the ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review. Thanks H!

This is an awesomely beautiful and captivating cover.

I love it, and I mean LOVE it, for its simplicity and suggestion of what is to come.

Look deep into her eyes, before you look deep into her soul.

Genres: Paranormal Thriller, Supernatural Thriller, NA, Thriller

Tour Promo Price: $2.99

BLURB

A psychopath planning a massacre. A stuttering young girl with disturbing visions of the future. Six ordinary people who will all be in the line of fire come the day of the disaster.

Joe Knowe is not a boy. She is twenty-one years old, and she sees things before they happen; bad things, and the worst thing she has ever faced is just around the corner. A madman is going to shoot up the college Joe attends. The trouble is, her gift is stingy on the details she needs to divert the impending tragedy. Now, Joe has four days to figure out the mystery and save the lives of many.

From the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga comes a tense tale that glimpses the mind of a genuine psychopath, follows an unlikely hero, and explores real-life terror in a race against time that will leave the reader breathless.

EXCERPT

Prologue

~The Decider~

It was a Monday.

The worst days are typically Mondays. But this one was alright. Different, sure, but alright. He’d made plans for today. He’d not only made plans, but acquired the artillery to back them up. Put them into action. Bang-Bang.

One song had played on a continuous loop in his apartment for the past three days.

Come Monday

He didn’t much care for music. Never really had, but this particular song amused him. Perhaps would have comforted him. If he were able to feel any emotion required to be in need of comfort.

It’ll be all right

He couldn’t wait to see their faces, to watch as they fled and cowered in fear. In fear of him. The thought of it all made his heart leap in his chest. And, oh, what a wonderful sensation that was. Potent. They should fear him. Hell yeah, they should. He could take his pick, and he would. They just didn’t know it yet, which was great, because they would know soon. They would know today.

Come Monday

He drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel in time to the tune, but had no mind of doing so. He was excited. Such a rare, beautiful thing this was, this excitement. The anticipation of it all, all his plans coming to life, of all their….faces. He bet some would try to beg, and wouldn’t that be amusing, to watch them crawl at his feet? They would know in that wonderful moment right before he ended their worthless existences that he had made the decision.

I’ll be holding you tight.

He reached down and brushed his fingers across the semi-automatic pistol sitting atop the passenger seat. It was the smallest of the lot, but his favorite. His baby. In the end, it would relieve him of his existence as well, but oh, the wonders the two of them will have seen together. He thought about what they would say in the news about him and his…decisions. Lunatic, Gunman, Madman…Massacre.

The last was his favorite.

If things went according to plan he may be able to take out a hundred, hundred-fifty people. If the bombs he’d built went according to plan he would take out many more. Hundreds. He dared to dream even thousands as he cruised down Highway 71 toward the Wilker campus of the University of Midwest Missouri State. UMMS for short. He hated that. Stupid fucking acronym. Man, he hoped his bombs worked. He’d followed the instructions on the internet as precisely as he could manage, but wiring the timers on the damn things had been tricky. It didn’t really matter, though. He would watch them fall to him either way.

In fact, he knew just what they would do.

They would be heartbroken and crying to their mommies. They would light candles and say prayers and mutter condolences, like any of them were even intelligent enough to give a shit about another worthless human being. The police chief and reporters would call him a madman, a psychopath, a murderer. They would analyze the video journals and poetry he left scattered about his apartment. And they won’t learn a damn thing. Because that’s how fucking stupid they were.

Oh, and there would be a body count. If things went according to plan, if the rockets’ red glared and bombs burst in the air, they would stamp his Decisions in the book of records.

The worst massacre in the history of the U-ni-ted States of Amer-i-ca.

The thought made his heart soar.

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

H. D. Gordon is the bestselling author of THE ALEXA MONTGOMERY SAGA, THE JOE KNOWE SERIES, and THE SURAH STORMSONG NOVELS. H. D. is a lifelong reader and writer, a true lover of words. When she is not reading or writing she is raising her two daughters, playing a little guitar, and spending time with her family. She is twenty five years old and lives in the northeastern United States.

Connect With H.D. Gordon: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Joe by H D Gordon.

GIVEAWAY.

Win a paperback copy of Joe! Enter through Goodreads.

Show H D some love and let her know what you think of the cover, blurb, my review, her bio, whatever strikes your fancy.

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

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.

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

Unofficial Book Trailer and Cover for Joe, Book II, by H D Gordon

Guest Post and Review – Shooting Stars, A Surah Stormsong Novel by H D Gordon

Review of Redemption: Book IV of The Alexa Montgomery Saga by H D Gordon

Awesome new cover for Half–Black Soul by H. D, Gordon

FANGED MANIA # 8 – Review of The Rise: The Alexa Montgomery Saga, Book III by H. D. Gordon

Fanged Mania #4 – Giveaway/Review of Half Black Soul by H. D. Gordon

Blood Warrior by H D Gordon

Freakin Friday #18 – The Monsters ARE Real – The Montauk Monster by Hunter Shea

Posted on July 4, 2014 by fundinmental

Freakin Friday!

Freakin Fridays is a meme brought to you by fuonlyknew. We will be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in Friday and get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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

THE MONTAUK MONSTER by Hunter Shea

I borrowed this book from my sister, Laura, @ fuonlyknew. We both love monster books and I could hardly wait to get my hands on this beauty. I was not disappointed.

OOOOOOOOOh my, what big teeth you have?

Oh yeah, loving the title. Simple yet effective, just like the awesome cover. Wowza! Is it a snake monster? Is it a water monster? Is it an alien monster? I open the cover eagerly and hunker down, ready for my journey of anticipation and terror to begin. ^_^ Have you ever heard of Plum Island? You know, the island where they do animal disease research? Or more? The writing is fantastic. Scary, suspenseful and humorous. I’ve heard of driving with eye one when drunk, have you? I couldn’t help but laugh, even though I know it is a big no-no. When Randy saw the monster and thought – What The Hell Is That – so did I. It brings to mind all the wonderful B movies I love to watch. I can hardly wait to find out what it is. I can hear the crash of the waves on shore and smell the heavy salt air. I know it well and love it. I live it, breathe it, so this book is really getting me excited. Thoughts of Jaws comes to mind as I race through the pages. Fast paced and easy reading. I can’t help but chuckle here and there. It is written with a light touch. A horror movie come to life. The Montauk Monster has all the elements of a great horror novel. Will you be a Montauk Monster meal?

(click on the cover to get your copy)

4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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

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

Posted on June 30, 2014 by fundinmental

I first learned of Demelza Carlton when I ran across a tour for Ocean’s Gift, a mermaid tale. I loved it. You can see my 5 Star review HERE.

This series came out and I saw the covers and titles, how could I resist?

A hilariously fun romp through HELL with Mel.

I have read and reviewed the FREE short story, Welcome To Hell by Demelza Carlton and loved it. See my 5 Star review HERE.

Lots of goodies today, so read and enjoy!

MY REVIEW

See You In Hell is an outstanding fun and sexy story of Mel’s job to find out what in the hell is going on at HELL Corporation. The writing will have you laughing at the disgusting behavior of Luce, who is the CEO of HELL, and Mel’s ability to keep him in check. Inner office politics are at work, just as in the normal world. Will she be successful or will she end up as corrupted as the ones before her?

Spoiler alert (even though I don’t believe there is anything here that would ruin Welcome To Hell for you) but it is Book II in the Mel Goes To Hell Series.

See You In Hell starts where Welcome To Hell left off.

“Congratulations on your new job. We’ll See You In Hell at nine on Monday morning.”

She was the only angel left and she was determined to take on HELL and win.

She worked for the Helpful Angels Agency doing temp jobs. She had been hired by HELL (Health, Environment, Life and Land) Corporation. She is the only angel, among all the demons. Of course, she had a target on her back. Could she keep from being corrupted? It would be hard, seeing Luce was Hot – in every way. LOL

Luce Iblis is the CEO. Most of us know him as Lucifer. Mel describes him leaning against the bar, with his lbulge show-cased, impossible to miss, like he’s God’s gift to women. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, drawing the attention to everyone in the dentist office. It is his was of saying, “Here it is, come and get it.” Would he be chasing her around his desk next? What do you think?

In his arrogance, he was stunned that she didn’t spread her legs on his desktop when he dropped his pants.

Did Luce really have temper tantrum?. Was it always his way or no way? Is it any different in the real world? Can there be good in a demon such as Lucifer or is he all bad? Can he feel fear, loneliness, love?

Mephi is the pit bull who guards his door, deciding who gets in to see him.

The banter and innuendos between Mel and Luce are more than hilarious. She gives better than she gets.

“You got balls, angel.”
“Actually, I don’t, but we’re not going there. I don’t do demons, Luce.”

Shopping in a sex shop was creepy and funny.

“Mel choked as she spotted a dildo so big she wondered how anyone could use it for anything but decorations.

….a display of dildoes with tentacles and what looked like strange torture implements….

Mel has a sense of humor and cares about others, even when they are demons. Will she be able to win them over? She even feels sympathy for Luce, but not desire. She loves to read. ^_^

“I’ve met worse humans than some of the demons in this office.”

I loved it when Mel had the winning number for the coffee machine raffle. Can you guess what the number was?

Oral sex from Lucifer himself well, there was an offer a girl didn’t get every day, much less an angel.

Hilarious. Uproariously funny. It is writing like this that makes See You In Hell a home run to me. Batting 100% for this 5 star series. Keep up the fantastic work, D.

Joke:…Anna Nicole Smith and Princess Diana arrived at the gates of Heaven for judgment.

Heaven was full and St Peter said they only had space for one more.

St Peter said, “Well a royal flush beats a pair any day!”

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received an ebook for review in conjunction with the tour. My review is honest and unbaised, my opinions and thoughts are my own.

SYNOPSIS

A devilishly hot CEO. The angelic new office temp. A match made in Heaven or Hell?

Melody Angel takes a job as a temp at the HELL Corporation. Surrounded by eternal bureaucracy gone mad, demons who love making life miserable, and dying for a decent coffee, it may take a miracle for Mel’s mission to succeed. She must find out what evil plans Lucifer and his minions have in store and stop them, using any means necessary.

Adding trouble and temptation to Mel’s job is Luce Iblis, the damnably hot CEO, who has set his smouldering eyes on the new office angel and he’s determined to claim her, body and soul.

Can ultimate evil and angelic perfection escape a limbo of desire and find a paradise of their own?

A tiny taste of what’s in store

I love this blurb and cannot help but laugh every time I read it.

“Do you know how long you’ve made me wait?” Luce lifted his chin. “Close the door.”

Mel turned and kicked the door shut with the sole of one shoe. The click of it closing coincided with her eyes meeting Luce’s once more.

“Now strip and get your arse on the desk,” Luce instructed.

Mel stared at him. He couldn’t be serious, could he?

“Every other girl in this building knows how to do as she’s told. Do you know how many girls I’ve had on this desk? You should consider yourself lucky. The last one I had in here was so quick getting undressed that I managed to give her a full fifteen minutes of my time. At this rate, you’ll be lucky to have five.”

Mel became transfixed by the timber desktop. “Did you wipe it clean afterwards?”

“What?” Luce’s face reddened.

Mel Goes to Hell series

• Welcome to Hell – A Short Story (#1) – FREE

See my 5 Star review HERE.

•See You in Hell (#2)

•Mel Goes to Hell (#3) – to be released in July 2014

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn’t leave her alone.

Interested in visiting her web page or reading about her writing process?

GO HERE!

Author Links

Purchase Links

OR you can click on the cover below for you Amazon copy.

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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

A Badass Fallen Siren and a Sexy FBI Werewolf – Captured Release, Review & Giveaway

Posted on June 28, 2014 by fundinmental

S J Harper has just released the much anticipated Prequel to The Fallen Siren Series.

Like a badass fallen siren? How about a hot FBI werewolf?

Check out Emma and Zack.

I reviewed Cursed and loved it! Check out my review HERE.

The Fallen Siren Series, Prequel #0.5

AUTHOR NAME: S.J. Harper

GENRE: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance

MY REVIEW

I had read Cursed before this prequel came out and loved it. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to read Captured and be a part of the tour.

How can you not love a fallen siren and a sexy werewolf as they use their special abilities to track down missing children? I found Emma and Zack captivating and easy to relate to. The novella is fast paced, easy to read and realistically written (aside from the paranormal aspect, or is it?). I felt a sense of urgency, wanting to tell them to hurry up, time is running out.

Emma is a fallen siren, cursed because she did not save Persephone from being kidnapped. She kept in mind that……

Redemption could be one rescue away.

I would also love to have a best friend like Liz, a super witch.

Zack is a sexy FBI werewolf that specializes in finding missing children.

Zack – more James Bond than Seeley Booth.

I think that is a fantastic description. I love Seeley Booth, but I watched James Bond before there was a Seeley Booth. They are two different kind of “super heroes” and there is always room in the world for another one.

When Emma and Zack come together, it is obvious there will sparks flying, but with two children dead and another one missing, their job is cut out for them.

Emma makes a Note To Self – When in the South, be sure to specify unsweetened tea. When I first moved down here, I came across the same problem myself. I don’t know how many times I would have to send back sweetened to get my unsweetened iced tea.

As Samantha and Jeanne talk about the heat in the South, I can vouch for stepping out and gasping for breath when the air is thick and heavy with humidity. It’s as if someone dumps a warm bucket of water over you, because you are immediately drenched and dripping from the moisture in the air. But….I love it.

Kidnapping, especially of children, brings peoples emotions to the surface, wondering how someone could hurt an innocent and trusting child. Family is always the first to be investigated, hopefully to rule them out.

Why can’t the bad guy look like a monster, instead of a handsome, charming guy who could be your next door neighbor?

I love crime stories, my fave. I love paranormal stories, not far behind. You put the two together and I am a very happy reader.

This is a great read, I loved it. I already knew Emma and Zack from reading Cursed, so I was predisposed to loving them and their story. Still, the story and writing must be good and entertaining, plus keep up a level of suspense that has me eagerly turning the pages, unable to put the book down until I find out the ending. Well done ladies! I look forward to reading Reckoning and being on another investigation with Emma and Zack.

4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I received an ebook of Captured, the novella by S J Harper, for review in conjunction with the tour.

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

SYNOPSIS

Join FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.

She’s a Siren. He’s a Werewolf.

Their mission is redemption.

Emma Monroe is a Fallen Siren, cursed by the gods and banished to Earth for her failure to prevent the kidnapping of Persephone. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now she works for the FBI and is on temporary assignment in Charleston. Solving this next missing persons case could be the key to ending her ancient curse—unless the temptation that’s her new partner gets in the way.

Zack Armstrong is a Werewolf. Tall, dark, and dangerous, he currently works for one of the bureau’s elite Child Abduction Rapid Deployment teams. In many respects the man is every bit as mysterious as his secret and perilous past. But there are two things he’s certain about, that he’s going to get his man and his woman.

When Zack finds himself suddenly shy a partner and a third child goes missing in Charleston, Emma goes from consultant to CARD team member in the space of a few hours. The abductions of the first two boys ended in murder, an outcome that neither Zack nor Emma can abide. As they race against time to track down the kidnapper and rescue the latest victim, they find themselves fighting something just as treacherous—a growing attraction that can’t be ignored or denied.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / ARe

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

CURSED

The Fallen Siren Series, Book 1

Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong. 

She’s cursed. He’s damned.

Together, they make one hell of a team.  

I reviewed Cursed and loved it! Check out my review HERE.

Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.

Special Agent Zack Armstrong just transferred into the San Diego Field Office. He’s a werewolf, doing his best to beat back the demons from his dark and dangerous past. As a former Black Ops sniper, he’s taken enough lives. Now he’s doing penance by saving them.

Emma and Zack’s very first case draws them deep into the realm of the paranormal, and forces them to use their own supernatural abilities. But that leaves each of them vulnerable, and there are lines partners should not cross. As secrets are revealed and more women go missing, one thing becomes clear: as they race to save the victims, Emma and Zack risk losing themselves.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / ARe / Audiobooks

~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

Upon waking I’m faced with the realization that a six-foot-plus werewolf is spooned up against me. His body is flush to mine. Head buried in my hair. Arm draped over my waist. Hand clasping my breast.

If the funny business happens while both parties are unconscious, does it still count as funny business?

Yikes. Was I so out of it that I actually invited Zack to sleep in my bed when there was a perfectly good couch in the room?

I lift my head off the pillow just enough to check the bedside clock red numbers flash, all zeros. The cable box next to the television seems to accurately display the time four fifty. Our wake-up call will be coming in ten short minutes. A wave of fatigue washes over me…along with memories of the last few days. I need another twelve hours sleep. No wonder my thinking was muddled. I move to slip out of bed when Zack stirs.

“Shit!” His hand moves off me so fast, you might have thought he’d been burned. He quickly puts distance between us. “Sorry.”

I roll over to face him. “It’s okay.”

“Really?” He places his hand on my hip. Gives it a gentle squeeze.

I gently remove it. “Not so fast, hotdog. Can’t help what you did when we were asleep. But we’re awake now. And we’re meeting with the committee in just over an hour. We need to get ready. And sex between you and me? Not a good idea.”

Zack sits up and reaches for the bedside lamp. Click.

The room is flooded with light.

He looks back at me over his shoulder. “I guess I’m going to have to agree to disagree with you on that point, Agent Monroe. I should probably confess, I’ve given the matter a great deal of thought and happen to believe sex between you and me is a fine idea.” He snatches the key card from the top of the nightstand and climbs to his feet. “You still up for dinner when we’re through? We can both pretend I didn’t feel you up. Wouldn’t want the evening to be awkward.”

I shrug. “Girl’s got to eat.”

~~~~~~~~~~

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

S. J. Harper is the pen name for the writing team of Samantha Sommersby and Jeanne C. Stein, two friends who met at Comic- Con in San Diego and quickly bonded over a mutual love of good wine, edgy urban fantasy, and everything Joss Whedon.

Samantha Sommersby left what she used to call her “real- life” day job in the psychiatric !eld to pursue writing full- time in 2007. She is the author of more than ten novels and novellas including the critically acclaimed Forbidden series. She currently lives with her husband and terrier pup, Olive, in a century- old Southern California Craftsman. Sam happily spends her days immersed in a world where vampires, werewolves, and demons are real, myths, and legends are revered, magic is possible, and love still conquers all.

Jeanne Stein is the national bestselling author of The Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles. She also has numerous short story credits, including most recently the novella Blood Debt from the New York Times bestselling anthology Hexed. Her series has been picked up in three foreign countries and her short stories published in collections here in the U.S. and the U.K. She lives in Denver, Colorado, where she !nds gardening a challenge more daunting than navigating the world of mythical creatures.

AUTHOR CONTACT LINK

Website / Facebook Jeanne / Facebook Sam / Twitter Jeanne / Twitter Sam

Goodreads / Newsletter

Click on the cover below to get your copy of Cursed, Captured or Reckoning by S J Harper.

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

GIVEAWAY

GRAND PRIZE: $50.00 Amazon Gift Certificate

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 at Home and let’s talk.

S.J. Harper’s CAPTURED Book Blast 6/23 – 7/27

6/23 Coffee Talk Writers

6/24 Musings In Fiction Alley

6/24 Addicted 2 Heroines

6/25 Binding Addiction

6/25 Night Owl Reviews

6/26 For Whom The Books Toll

6/26 Book Liaison

6/28 Under the Covers

6/28 fundinmental

6/29 Mythical Books

6/30 My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews

7/01 Eclipse Reviews

7/02 Fang Freakin Tastic

7/04 Tome Tender

7/05 In The Pages of a Good Book

7/06 I Smell Sheep

7/07 Book Monster Review

7/09 Karen Swart

7/11 Romancing the Dark Side

7/13 Dirty Girl Romance

7/13 Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

7/14 Talk Supe

7/14 Paranormal Romance Fans for Life

7/17 RomanceJunkies.com

7/21 Vampires, Werewolves, & Fairies, Oh My

7/23 Darkest Cravings

7/25 The Reading Cafe

7/25 LITERAL ADDICTION

7/25 Inner Goddess

7/26 Book Lovin’ Mamas

7/27 You Gotta Read

7/27 Dalene’s Book Reviews

Freakin Friday #17 Mini Review for Welcome to Hell by Demelza Carlton

Posted on June 27, 2014 by fundinmental

Freakin Friday!

Freakin Fridays is a meme brought to you by fuonlyknew. We will be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in Friday and get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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

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

The story is FREE (click on the cover to get your copy).

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

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

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

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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

Portals – Enter at Your own Risk – Review and Giveaway

Posted on June 26, 2014 by fundinmental

Take a gander at this beautiful cover and tell me, does it make you want to enter the portal?

Are you curious about what’s on the other side? Come with me and let’s see.

Six fantasy shorts by six wonderful authors.

Portals

Genre: Fantasy Anthology (mixed sub genres)

Release Date: June 5, 2014

Keywords: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Short Stories, Picture Prompt

******

MY REVIEW

Each story allows you to enter a portal and travel to other dimensions, other worlds. There are dragons, legends and quests, and magical creatures abound. Even though they were all about portals, doorways to other worlds, they all had unique individuals with stories of their very own. I enjoyed each and every story. It amazes me that so much fun, suspense and tension can be created in short stories such as these. As I came to the end of each one, I felt a little let down. I wanted the stories to continue. ^_^

I rated Portals as a whole, then each story separately.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos Easy peasy, a solid 4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I received an ARC copy for review in conjunction with a tour.

***

Maronda’s Quest by Christy Thomas

I love dragons. I laughed on the very first page – men! Would she battle the dragon? Would she step through the Portal of Life and meet her mate while on a quest? Is the Portal of Life a blessing or a curse? Maronda will find out. It is her eighteenth birthday and life as she knows it will change. Today is the day. It twisted here, there and everywhere. I always love a good dragon story, throw in some love story and a quest, what more can you ask for? Love it. 4

Entrance of Lost Souls by Echo Shea

Mary Anne, a dryad, loved slipping back and forth through the portal even though she wasn’t supposed to. My job was to convince her, and all the other fae, to go back where they belong. I am a troll and I deal with supernatural creatures of all forms. I am a guardian of the worlds. There has to be order in the world, no matter what. But sometimes things are not as they seem. Can you hear the wail of the banshee? Another story with twists I didn’t see coming. After all it is fiction, so we can be what ever we want. Who says we have to follow the same road as everyone else. Love it. 4

Mexmur: The Huntress by Anna Simpson

The marks above the archway say that the portal will open below two moons. But if they think I will let them sacrifice me, they have another thing coming. They need to think again. My journey began when the foot pushed me through the portal. I love dragons and legends and Mexmur has both! And a quest for the Huntress. She is strong, spirited and the hunter’s daughter, so I have every confidence that she will succeed. Love it. 4

Where Once Were Hearts by Havva Murat

Bartholomew went through the gate heading to his Uncle’s manor to mooch off him. Was he wrong? Well….he sure didn’t count on her. She could have been Satan’s mistress. He found her dead and gave her a mechanical heart, with the help of some magic. Sufficiently creepy. There is plenty of horror, steampunk and romance in this short story. Love it. 4

Ordinary World by Laurie Treacy

People were afraid of you if you were different. They can be cruel and dangerous. My question is, who or what is my new neighbor? It is right before Halloween, so I think we can see where this is heading. Just because her name is Salem didn’t mean she was a witch, even though her family Bible was the Grimoire. Or did it? Curiosity would cause her to see the portal, she knew from reading what it was. Of course she would end upon the other side, even though we all know she shouldn’t. Love it. 4

The Lunatic Queen by Michael Siciliano

Their world was dying. They had seen only darkness for more than a year. The land was dying. They were starving. Pavel and Tamara were going to risk it all to save everyone, but they would only have one shot at it. The characters were brave, overlooking their fear, knowing they had nothing to lose. So their journey through the portal began. Would their determination prevail? It was filled with all the scariness you can imagine in the supernatural world. Love it. 4

******

Description

No matter what world you call home, or what your station in life, there are just some paths that weren’t meant to be tread.

******

Ordinary World by Laurie Treacy

Imagine a new neighbor moves next door, a creepy guy who gives fifteen year-old Amy Silva the willies? Amy wonders what the stone archway in the backyard is for. Her life becomes even more stressful when her family reveals they’re witches.

Could Amy’s new neighbor have anything to do with a local girl’s disappearance or be a threat to her magical loved ones?.

Maronda’s Quest by Christy Thomas

The Grand Wizard has decreed Maronda enter the Portal of Life to embark upon a quest of great importance, but despite her Ma’s claims it is a blessing, premonitions of danger persist.

Lenox works to prove his worth to wed her, his true love, but it appears a wizard plots to remove him from Maronda’s life forever. To secure their future together, Lenox decides to accompany her on the quest, even if forbidden. He must ultimately choose between using his dragon fighting skills which could lead to his death, or give Maronda her greatest desire.

In the end, it’s Maronda who must learn to live with the consequences of his decision..

Mexmur, the Huntress by Anna Simpson

Long ago a dragonkeeper betrayed his charges. To bring back magic, to set things right, Mexmur is sent through the portal.

Can she succeed armed with only a poem, talon and blade..

Entrance of Lost Souls by Echo Shea

A guardian to the entrances between worlds, Gladys has been called to bring a little girl back from Fairyland. Passing through the Entrance of Lost Souls is no fun, neither is hunting down a deranged banshee, but what is a guardian to do?

And, is the banshee really kidnapping the girl…or saving her from something else?.

Where Once were Hearts by Havva Murat

After losing both his parents, his entire fortune and his childhood sweetheart, Master Bartholomew Battlesby sets out into the wilds of Northern England to make the acquaintance of his only surviving relation, the landed recluse, Mr. Horatio Grimsby who has an eerie penchant for both tinkering and clockwork. But, on finding his relation dead, with a gaping hole in his chest, and the beautiful, but scornful, Miss Evangeline Witherop ruling in his place, Bartholomew learns there is more than one way to lose your heart.

Can Bartholomew reignite the spirit of love and mercy within Miss Witherop, or will he suffer the same fate as his poor, heartless cousin?.

The Lunatic Queen by Michael Siciliano

The land of Mershinka has been thrown into perpetual night. Their King is dead and a moon witch, known as The Night Queen, rules from the royal palace in Grosnov. An endless fog shrouds the land, killing crops and starving the populace. Cold-eyed enforcers put down rebellions while volksa, twisted wolf-creatures, roam the mists looking for prey. Many have given up hope and wait for the inevitable end. All seems lost.

Two teenagers, Pavel and Tamara, devise a plan to kill Vazya the Night Queen when the moons Kainsk and Seresnya are down, end the stifling enchantment, and bring the sun back to their dying land. But, they need a watch to tell time, a compass to guide them through the mists, weapons to fight off Vazya’s minions, and all the courage they can muster.

Purchase Links

Will be sent as soon as they’re available

Tour Schedule

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos Book Blitz and Tour-wide Giveaway

Paperback copy of Portals and a $10 Amazon gift card.

Ends 7/03/2014

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Roane Publishing’s marketing department.