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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.”

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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.

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GIVEAWAY

GRAND PRIZE: $50.00 Amazon Gift Certificate

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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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!

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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)

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar 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

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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

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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.

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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.

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

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Freebie and Review for Dark Deeds by Susan Fleet

Posted on June 23, 2014 by fundinmental

Dark Deeds: Serial killers stalkers and domestic homicides (Book 2)

by Susan Fleet

Stranger than fiction, a collection of 13 true crimes: the victims, the criminals, the bloody consequences. “Fleet immerses us in the world of serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides. Well researched and well written. A 5 star recommend!” Art Smukler, psychiatrist & author

Dark Deeds (Book 2) is FREE June 23 through June 27, 2014.

Susan Fleet manages to weave her love of music into her suspense/thrillers novels.

Susan also investigates the dark side of human nature world wide. I think she is as curious as I am to know what makes these people tick.

Be aware, be vigilant , because sometimes the monster is right next door.

I love her website, so if this sounds like something you are interested in, check her out at Susan Fleet or Renzi’s Rants.

MY REVIEW

Each chapter features one true crime case – 4 serial killer cases, four stalker cases and four domestic homicide cases, with a special case in Chapter 13 that Susan found difficult to categorize.

Susan tells their life story, including where they are now. At least these ones you don’t need to worry about any more. If they are not dead, they will never walk the streets again.

No one knows how many serial killers are active in the US. Some people think as many as one hundred people are murdered by them each year, but that is not accounting for the ones never found.

(Photo courtesy of Photobucket)

There are many more stalkers than serial killers and domestic homicide is a horrendous problem with most victims being women and children.

In the early years, before special investigation units, computers connecting similar cases in different states and advanced police techniques, who knows how many people could have been saved. We can see the advancement in police procedure has jumped by leaps and bounds.

(Photo courtesy of Photobucket)

Serial killers often have a signature, something that stamps their name on a killing,. It can be how they kill or the trophies they take.

Stalker assassins attack celebrities, presidents and others because they believe they can get away with it. How does a man’s mind work, when he believes, in this day and age, that he can pull a gun on the president and walk away? They are obsessed and believe they are in love. They will become violent when confronted and rejected. California was the first state to pass anti stalking laws in 1990. Looking back, it’s hard to believe we waited so long and why did we? That may be a story in itself.

(Photos courtesy of Susan Fleet’s blog)

I read these type of books, because man’s cruelty and depravity heaped on others for pure enjoyment is very disturbing and I am fascinated (is that the proper word) by the question, why. What makes them tick?

I can never understand how a nurse could kill her patients. The bigger question is how can hospitals and medical management allow it to continue to happen. I think most of us have heard a story or two about a criminal having a long rap sheet and question why nothing was done sooner.

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

I watch TV shows, like Criminal Minds (my personal favorite) and CSI, and see where they get their inspiration. I also watch a lot of the true crime shows, like Forensic Files and Cold Case. I have a morbid fascination with murder.

I do believe there is something wrong with these people, but I do not believe an insanity plea should get them off. They know the difference between right and wrong, they just don’t care. Sometimes, I think the justice system is skewed too much in favor of the accused and his rights and the victim is forgotten. After all, they can’t speak for themselves – because they are DEAD.

I cannot understand the binge killings, especially the ones committed by younger people. All the school shootings….I don’t even know what to say. It stuns me. Who are these “people”?

(Photo courtesy of Photobucket)

In some cases, I believe the murders could have been avoided. Some criminals have a rap sheet a mile long and are walking around and breathing air, just like you and me. Is it because we don’t believe anyone is capable of doing something like that or they are as bad as they are. or is the justice system overwhelmed with criminal cases?

Susan has done her research. Each story is told from beginning to end, telling us where these killers are today. She satisfied my curiosity about that. I still wonder, and probably will forever, HOW CAN THEY DO THAT AND WHY?

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received Dark Deeds, Book II from Susan Fleet, the author, in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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SYNOPSIS

Dark Deeds-Volume Two contains 12 new true crime cases about serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides.Once again, Susan Fleet has researched, written and compiled detailed accounts of twelve true crime cases: four serial killers, four stalkers and four domestic homicides. Chapter 13 involves a case that defies categorization. Some examples …

• Serial killers: The Candy Man loves little boys to death.
• Stalkers: Arthur Bremer and John Hinkley Jr. stalk Presidents.
• Domestic Homicide: A rabbi pays a man to murder his wife.

No one knows how many serial killers are roaming the United States. Some experts believe they murder as many as 180 people each year. Others say the count may be much higher because some serial killers hide the bodies and they’re never found. Stalkers far outnumber serial killers. Each year they threaten and intimidate 3.4 million people in America. Although stalkers may profess love for the objects of their obsession, many seriously injure or kill their “love object.”

Domestic homicide is rampant in the United States. Women and children rarely kill family members; men commit the majority of domestic homicides. Some are crimes of passion. Others are carefully calculated. Why bother with a divorce when you can kill your spouse?

Here’s what Arthur Smukler, MD, psychiatrist and author of Chasing Backwards, a psychological mystery, said about Dark Deeds, Volume One: “In Dark Deeds, Susan Fleet immerses us in the world of serial killers, stalkers, and domestic homicides. An inveterate fiction enthusiast, I found her real-life tales obsessively haunting and educational.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Midway through her successful career as a professional trumpeter and music professor, Susan Fleet discovered her dark side and began writing crime fiction. New Orleans is the setting for her award-winning Frank Renzi mysteries, Absolution, Diva and Natalie’s Revenge. The Premier Book Awards named Absolution Best Mystery-Suspense-Thriller of 2009.

Susan lived in New Orleans for nine years and now divides her time between the Big Easy and Boston. Visit her website and send her an email. She’d love to hear from you! http://www.susanfleet.com

Her other passion is promoting talented women musicians. While teaching at Brown University and Berklee College of Music, she created a course about female musicians, jazz and classical. Read about them at http://archives.susanfleet.com/

Susan also blogs about crime on DARK DEEDS: serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides. http://darkdeeds.susanfleet.com/blog_1.php
And don’t miss RENZI’S RANTS! NOPD Detective Frank Renzi rants about whatever is on his mind! http://darkdeeds.susanfleet.com/blog/renzirants.php

Some of her favorite authors are: Lisa Gardner, Lee Child, Patricia Cornwell, John Sandford, Elmore Leonard, Thomas Perry and Martin Cruz Smith.

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To get your Amazon US copy of Dark Deeds, Book 2, or any other book by Susan Fleet, click on the cover.

Click her for all other Amazon and book buy links or just to say hi to Susan Fleet.

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5 Star Review – Is Winning the Lottery a Curse or a Blessing – Jackpot by Susan Fleet

5 Star Review – Diva by Susan Fleet plus a Free Thriller

5 Star Review – Absolution by Susan Fleet

5 Star Review – Dragon Lady Step Aside For Natalie

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Mini Review – Kingdom by Anderson O’Donnell

Posted on June 22, 2014 by fundinmental

Everything about Kingdom by Anderson O’Donnell made me want to read the book. The cover hints at dystopia, but the story goes even deeper – can bioengineers discover and use the soul gene for their own nefarious means? This is a horror story about man’s inhumanity towards mankind. I had a hard time with the book. I could not get invested with the rich druggie, Dylan, nor the scientist looking for redemption, Campbell. The mix of science and religion is one that will probably go on forever as we push the boundaries of morality and ethics. Is the good of many worth more than the life of one when it is your life on the line? Kingdom is a Kirkus Reviews Top 25 Indie Book of 2012, but I could not get into the book and would not recommend it, however, I did like the ending. Maybe it was just me and the moment, so if this sounds interesting to you, be sure and check it out further. Just because it didn’t grab me, doesn’t mean it won’t grab you.

You can pick up your copy or learn more about Anderson O’Donnell by clicking on the cover above.

I won this signed paperback in a giveaway by Fighting Monkey Press. Thank you to the publishers and the author, Anderson O’Donnell. It holds a place on my bookshelf.

2 Stars – I finished the book, but would not recommend it

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Mini Review – Twilight Hunter by Kait Ballenger

Posted on June 11, 2014 by fundinmental

Jace is a Hunter of the paranormal kind, but when he runs into Frankie his life is changed forever. Isn’t that how it usually goes? She is Alpha to the Rochester Pack, so the last thing he needs to do is get involved with a were. I lived in Rochester for ten years, so I was very familiar with the territory, but I never did run into a were or a hunter. Drat, I wouldn’t have minded running into Jace myself. He’s a good guy that gets a bad rap and a great example for the all males. I love books about serial killers and this had twists and turns that kept me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. Romance, lust, murder, jealousy and so much more abound in this novel of the paranormal.

I am looking forward to reading more about The Execution Underground. Rated for adults.

I won this signed first edition paperback on Dark Faerie Tales.

To get your copy of Twilight Hunter or learn more about Kait Ballenger, click on the cover above.

4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend to Others

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Monday Mini – Review – Children of the Revolution by Peter Robinson

Posted on June 9, 2014 by fundinmental

I have read several books by the prolific writer, Peter Robinson – Playing With Fire, Friend of the Devil and All the Colors of Darkness – so I was very happy to have won Children of the Revolution. The cover led me down a path to murder and wicked political machinations. They do make, to me, not such strange bedfellows. If you want a detailed, step by step, approach to an investigation of a murder, this is the book for you. Children of the Revolution is a convoluted tale that drives Banks decades back into the past to find the answers. I do like knowing the process of an investigation, but I am an action junkie and needed more mayhem with my murder. I enjoyed the journey and I am sure I will travel through the pages of another Peter Robinson novel in the near future. I love this quote:

Hell is other people.

I won the ARC paperback on Goodreads First Reads.

To get a copy or learn more about Peter Robinson, click on the cover above.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

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Cozy Mystery Review and Giveaway – Death on Eat Street by JJ Cook

Posted on April 1, 2014 by fundinmental

Death On Eat Street by JJ Cook has an awesome cover. I looked at it and felt that it would be a fun read and I was not wrong. The chuckles and laughter are free.

It takes place in Mobile, Alabama. I lived in Mobile some time ago, so I am able to walk the streets with Zoe. It brought back some great memories and books that do that for me make them even more enjoyable.

The cover alone is enough to draw me in. How about you?

Death on Eat Street (Biscuit Bowl Food Truck)
BRAND NEW SERIES
COZY MYSTERY
Series: Biscuit Bowl Food Truck (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (April 1, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0425263457
E-Book ASIN: B00F9EZAUW

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SYNOPSIS

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Zoe Chase always wanted to own her own restaurant—but first, she’ll have to serve up a heaping helping of meals on wheels, with a side of mystery. When she’s once again passed over for a promotion at work, Zoe decides to take the big leap and go for her dream. She quits, gives up her fancy digs, and buys a fixer-upper diner in a shady part of town. To keep above water during the renovation, she buys a used food truck to serve the downtown and waterfront of Mobile, Alabama. Zoe starts to dish out classic Southern food—but her specialty is her deep-fried biscuit bowls that blow traditional bread bowls away. After a promising start, things start to go downhill faster than a food truck without brakes. First, someone tries to rob the cash register. Next, Zoe is threatened by the owner of a competing food truck for taking their spot. And when the owner ends up dead inside Zoe’s rolling restaurant, Zoe and her sole employee, Ollie, find themselves hopping out of the frying pan into the fryer. They need to find the real killer, before both of them get burned.

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My Review of Death on Eat Street by J J Cook

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Death on Eat Street has all the elements for a top notch beach read or just a book to relax with and enjoy. Full of plenty of mystery that kept me guessing who is the killer.

Zoe’s passion for cooking drives her, regardless of whatever her rich family and friends think. She doesn’t want the easy life that comes with money. She is determined to follow her dream.

When Terry is found dead in her food truck, she feels it’s her duty to follow proper procedure and do the right thing. Sooo, she calls the cops, because that’s the kind of girl she is.

The colorful cast of characters is fantastic, covering all classes. Her snooty controlling mother, her father who just wants to get along, her eccentric Uncle Saul, who they called in to help them with Zoe and he sure did. LOL Tommy lee, her jerk boyfriend, who doesn’t live in the real world. Ollie, from the homeless shelter, is a fantastic and tragic character that I am sure has a story to be told. He seemed to adopt her and was fast becoming her greatest ally. She would take the leftover food from the day to the guys at the homeless shelter, so they were always happy to lend her a hand. Miguel became her lawyer, when she was accused of the murder, but would he become more than that? Delia is her employee and friend and I can’t forget Creme Brulee, a sassy cat with a superior attitude. He snores and takes no guff from anybody. the I love them all, even the rich snobby ones.

JJ talks about Wintzell’s and I couldn’t help but smile. Wintzell’s is a seafood restaurant that is a staple of downtown Mobile, Alabama. Oliver Wintzell opened the restaurant in 1938 and the walls are covered with his sayings. I must confess, I have a couple.

4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

“Don’t worry. It will never happen again,” says Zoe.

I burst out laughing. This is the first book in the series and I feel she will be getting in much more trouble in the future. I am ready for the adventure.

I received a paperback copy of Death on Eat Street by JJ Cook for tour review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

About J.J. Cook

J.J. Cook writes award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, Joyce and Jim Lavene, 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. Visit them at www.jjcook.net.

Blog / Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links.

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AMAZON B&N Book World

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EXCERPT

It hadn’t been more than thirty minutes or so since I’d climbed out of the food truck. How did Terry get there after me? And what was he doing here? Had he followed me back to give me more grief over parking in “his spot” on Dauphin Street?

“What’s up out here, young ’un?” Ollie came out of the diner, still holding the sword.

“I don’t know. This is Terry.”

He nodded. “From the infamous tacky taco truck?”

“Yes. I don’t know what he’s doing here. I think he may be drunk or something.”

Ollie bent down and put his hand on Terry’s neck. “I don’t know either, but he ain’t goin’ no place else.”

“What do you mean? I can call him a taxi or something.”

“No, Zoe. You don’t get it. The man’s dead. A taxi won’t do him any good now.”

Dead? That made even less sense to me. Maybe I was too tired to think straight.

Why was Terry—alive or dead—in my food truck?

“We gotta hide him somewhere.” Ollie glanced around. “We gotta get rid of him before someone sees him here.”

“We can’t do that. We should call the police. That’s what you do when you find a dead body.”

“Oh? ’Cause you’ve got so much experience finding dead people?” He chuckled. “You better believe me, Zoe. You think you got trouble now, tell the police there’s a dead man in your food truck. You’ll be in for a heap more trouble.”

I knew he was wrong. If something had happened to Terry, regardless of how he got into the Biscuit Bowl, the police needed to be informed. If there was one thing I knew besides cooking, it was the law.

My mother was one of the most prominent attorneys in Mobile. There was even some talk of her getting a judgeship. She’d fed me the law with my pureed carrots and pears when I was a baby. She’d hoped I was going to follow in her footsteps someday.

I was kind of a disappointment in that area.

I took out my cell phone. “I’m sorry, Ollie. I have to call. If you’re worried about being here, you should go to back to the shelter. I can handle this.”

“I ain’t worried about me, Zoe. It’s you I’m concerned for. What do you think the police will make of you having a dead man in your vehicle?”

I thought about it. “What can they make of it? I didn’t do anything. Someone must have put him here. Or he climbed in and died. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Famous last words.

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GIVEAWAY

JJ Cook is giving away 1 (one) print copy. Just leave your email and answer the question:

What is your favorite tasty treat from a food truck?

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To get your copy of Death on Eat Street by J J Cook, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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Voodoo on Bayou LaFonte by Susan C Muller – Review & Giveaway

Posted on March 23, 2014 by fundinmental

Voodoo and the Louisiana Bayou, how could I pass this up?

BLURB

A frantic phone call leads Detective Remy Steinberg racing through the night toward the one place he vowed never to return. With the life of his kidnapped daughter at stake, he willingly faces shotgun-wielding drug dealers, corrupt law-enforcement officials, and a raging hurricane.

Scouring the seedy back alleys of New Orleans for information, he goes undercover at a sinister voodoo ceremony, and struggles to understand the forces of black magic that hold his daughter hostage.

With time ticking down, he battles for his life against a high voodoo priest, but can he face the two things he fears most: the swamp that terrorized his childhood, and the ex-wife he’s never stopped loving?

Buy it Here

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EXCERPT

Detective Remy Steinberg glared at his phone. No good could come from answering this late on a Friday afternoon, but he still had ten minutes left on his shift. It was one thing to slip out when you finished your work, but to turn his back on a ringing phone . . .

“Homicide, Steinberg.” Maybe it was one of the guys in the back, playing a joke on him.

“Remy?”

Shoot. Ball Breaker Number One. What could she want? He’d mailed his child support payment in plenty of time.

“Gabrielle, what is it? I’m just leaving the office.”

“Adrienne didn’t come home from school today.”

“She’s sixteen, Gabby. She can’t be more than an hour late. Cut the girl some slack.”

“She’s seventeen, which you’d know if you paid her any attention. And she hasn’t been missing for an hour. She’s been missing for over thirty hours.”

His heart caught in his throat and he couldn’t speak for several seconds. In his job, he’d seen what could happen to a young girl in that length of time. He might not be the world’s best dad, but he was her dad just the same.

He tightened his grip on the phone. What had happened to his daughter? He wanted to believe she was getting into the same sort of mischief he was at that age, but something in his gut told him her disappearance was far more sinister.

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My Review of Voodoo on Bayou LaFonte by Susan C Miller

The title gripped me from the very beginning. I love reading about the Louisiana bayou and voodoo. Nice cover, too. The swamp, gators and snakes – I can smell the rot of vegetation, hear the slaps of the gators tails and the hissing of the snakes. I feel anticipation as I pick up the book and begin to read, knowing the story to be told is dark and horrific.

Adrienne would be kidnapped, drugged and used in a voodoo ritual, all the while Hurricane Addie is heading straight for them all. She struggles to survive, believing her father will save her. Why did they want her? What evil do they have planned for her?

Remy is a cop in Texas, not Louisiana, but when his seventeen year old daughter goes missing, someone will have to pay.

Remy describes himself as a Yankee, coon-ass, redneck cop. He has an issue with his lack of height and assumes a persona for whatever locale he lives in (in Texas he’s a cowboy, in Louisiana he’s a bayou boy). His awful experience as a child in the swamp has never left him. He wanted nothing to with Louisiana and felt the people were backward, poor and superstitious.

He knew the small town cops with their bayou attitude would be hard to work with, but it was even worse than that. Every time he turned around in his investigation he ran into a Guidry. Did they control everything? Would they even look for her? Are they corrupt? Are they involved with the drug gang, or worse – dark voodoo? With no skills and terror dogging his steps, I know he will have to go into the swamp to get her back.

Gabby’s Grandmere had practiced good voodoo, but there was dark magic taking over the swamp. Gabby felt a sense of relief when Remy arrived, knowing he would stop at nothing to get there daughter back. They both carried guilt and blame for the events that tore them apart, but she began to see him in a new light as he investigated Adrienne’s disappearance. Would this bring them closer together? Could this be their second chance? Do you believe in second chances?

They had a failure to communicate. Maybe if they talked about it things would have been different. Their thoughts go back and forth as they try to figure out what when wrong. It made Remy and Gabby seemed so real to me. How often do we keep out thoughts to ourselves, our fears and insecurities making us afraid of what may happen if we put our feelings out there, showing our vulnerabilities.

I fell in love with Reuben. He had a sixth sense or is it more? If he believed Adrienne was alive, then Remy did too. He’s a Romanian Gypsy fortuneteller. I would love for him to have his own book. What do you think Susan?

I was shaking in my boots, just like Adrienne. The stagnant, rotten smells and the sounds of tails slapping on the water, the slithering of the snakes and being all alone in the dark. I can only imagine the terror she must have felt, afraid to even step outside, especially at night. The gators are out and they are hungry. And it’s hot, so hot.

I loved what happened to Sebastian, the High Priest of dark voodoo. I laughed out loud and thought, well done. I became so proud of Adrienne and Gabby. When push came to shove, they both stepped up and showed how people can do what is necessary when they feel they must.

Even though I know how it will end, I have tears in my eyes as I read it. I do so love a happy ending.

4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Quotes

“It’s easy to sit here and laugh at ideas you don’t understand, but I have to believe there are things in this world that defy logic.”

The gun might be more useful where he was going than a cookie.Throwing a cookie at an alligator wouldn’t be much help.

“He has to look out his window for the weather rock, tied on a string. If it’s wet, it’s raining. If it’s swinging, the wind is blowing.”

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan C. Muller is a fourth generation Texan. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she majored in Business Administration. She started her first novel at age eleven, but it wasn’t until after she had worked many years and raised a family that she returned to her first love, writing. She is a member of Northwest Houston RWA, Kiss of Death online RWA, and The Houston Writers Guild. Her novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend, has won several awards.

Susan and her husband, Sid, live in Spring, Texas with their rescue dog, Buster, a 120 pound black lab of advanced age. They have two children and four grandchildren. They love to travel and have been fortunate to see much of the world. Her favorite places include Kenya, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local hospital. She loves to read, travel, snorkel and take long walks.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

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To get your copy of Voodoo on Bayou LaFonte or learn more about Susan C Miller, click on the cover below.