Monday Minis #2 – The Brown House by Christy Sloat

Books on My Bookshelf by Sherry Fundin

Books on My Bookshelf by Sherry Fundin

I have created a Monday Mini post for two reasons: (1) it is always difficult for me to have a post ready for Monday and (2) since I had to move my blog I am having difficulty catching up on reviews for all the books I want to share. So, I hope you enjoy these short, but sweet, reviews.

I got the idea for this from Laura at fuonlyknew. Thanks Laura.

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 The Brown House (The Visitor's Series, Book One)    “Don’t  read in the dark.”

Brylee’s dad had lost his job in California, so they moved into The Brown House In New Jersey. Brylee was told the house was haunted and people died there. She didn’t believe in ghosts, but she was curious why there was one door that had no key and it was never opened. Was she the only one that felt the desire to know why?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others

The paranormal holds a fascination for me and I love to read about ghosts and things that go bump in the night.The book includes some teenage angst about school, moving and making new friends, but is mainly a ghost story of a cursed family. But, be careful, one wrong step could create more problems than it solves. Made me think of Ghost Whisperer, only the main character is a teenager. A great young adult ghost story of curses, revenge, love and sacrifice. I enjoyed the story and will be looking for Book II. I would like to know more of Brylee’s story. I won the signed paperback from a giveaway on tiffanylovesbooks. A big thank you to Tiffany and Christy.

To see the book trailer for The Brown House by Christ Sloat, go HERE.

If you would like to purchase any of Christy Sloat’s books or learn more about her, simply click on a cover below.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

To keep updated on the latest happenings here on fundinmental, follow by email.

 

Giveaway and Review of Shudder by Samantha Durante

I love the covers for the Stitch trilogy. Be sure and scroll to my Review and the Giveaway below.

Shudder by Samanth Durante Blog Tour - June 15th to Sept 1st

Haven’t read the first book in the series? Check it out on Amazon and Goodreads.  Just $0.99!

ShudderCover

 Add Shudder to Goodreads

Genre/Keywords: Dystopian, Paranormal Romance, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult, New Adult, Psychic Abilities, Empath, Clairvoyance, YA, NA
Length: ~80,000 words (348 pages)
Sample Chapters: Ch1-4 (31 pages)
Release Date: June 15th, 2013

 

Shudder Synopsis

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

Shudder Purchase Links

Amazon (Kindle $2.99, print $8.99)
Barnes & Noble (Nook $2.99)
Smashwords (multiple e-book formats $2.99)
Also available ($2.99 e-book) in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold

Buy Stitch on Amazon!

EXCERPT

 She heard one set of footsteps trail away from her doorway, and a moment later, a man stepped through.

He cleared his throat gruffly.  Phoenix fluttered her eyelids, feigning disorientation from sleep before she finally settled her eyes on his.

He wasn’t a large man, but there was something intimidating about him, something dark.  He was middle-aged, neat, not unattractive exactly, but there was something about his face that pushed her gaze away instead of drawing it towards him.  His eyes, maybe.  His eyes seemed to drink all the light from the room, flat and cold as they bored into her.  Something about those eyes made her shudder inwardly.

She noticed that he was distractedly rubbing a long scar that slashed across his thin lips.

“You’re awake?” he groused.

As she sat up in bed, his eyes slithered quickly over her body, making her feel unclothed.  She pulled the blanket up over her thin hospital gown.

“Y-yes,” she answered.  Her voice was shaky, but she didn’t understand why.  She steadied herself, and more forcefully she added, “And you are?”

He regarded her for a moment before answering in a low growl, “You can call me the General.”

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MY REVIEW OF SHUDDDER

Alessa is finally learning what the Stitch is all about.

Now, she has a mission. She wants to get it done so she can go home. She has no idea if Janie is dead or alive. It had broken her heart to leave her behind.

The Mission:

1. Find the rebels base.

2. Figure out who is the enemy.

3.  Avoid the creatures.

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

The cover for Shudder is very pretty. I like that the covers of the trilogy are similar.

Samantha Durante’s second book of the trilogy, Shudder, is another resounding hit. It has so many things going on that, at times, I was torn about where I wanted the story to go. There is much to decipher, while she weaves her way through the hidden pitfalls.

Alessa left Pargon and her sister behind her to be with Isaac. But she could not forget about Joe, even though it was jeopardizing her relationship with Isaac. I’m thinking there must be a reason that Joe is on her mind so much. Will we see him again?

The nuclear winter caused when the bombs fell created famines. As the viral epidemic decimated the population and people became more and more desperate to survive, there was a group of men who figured out a solution. But, it is not a solution that anyone in their right mind could believe would work. I wonder if the same would happen in the real world.

The saying: “History repeats itself” is so pertinent to the events happening to Alessa.

It makes me think of the Holocaust and and the evil that spawned from the minds of some evil men who thought they had all the answers. It, also, makes me think of American politics at this time, how a few can disregard the many, for their own gains.

It is amazing to me that the egos of some people allow them to think they have all answers and, therefore, have the right to play God.

The thought of a virus wiping out the majority of the Earth’s population is something real. Just think – due to rapid means of travel, a virus could be spread world-wide before it is even recognized. I have talked to a doctor who believes that is what will be our downfall.

Would our governments step in and decide who would live and who would die? What do you think?

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbaised review. I was eagerly waiting for Book II of the Stich Trilogy and would have written the review regardless. Now I am waiting for Book III so I can see how Alessa’s story ends.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

— Social Media Links —

Facebook: Stitch Trilogy | Author Samantha Durante

Goodreads: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante

Twitter: @SamanthaDurante | Hashtag suggestions: #Stitch, #StitchTrilogy, #Shudder

LibraryThing: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante

Shelfari: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante

To purchase a copy of Samantha Durante’s books, simply click on either cover.

 

   To see my Review of Stitch, go HERE.

 STITCH INFO

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees – and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell – Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn’t figured out yet is that she’s not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university’s idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface…

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.

Stitch Purchase Links.

Amazon (Kindle $0.99, print $8.99)
Barnes & Noble (Nook $0.99)
Smashwords (multiple e-book formats $0.99)
Also available ($0.99 e-book) in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

Buy Stitch on Amazon!


GIVEAWAY

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Monday Minis #1 – ARC Review of An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James

Books on My Bookshelf by Sherry Fundin

Books on My Bookshelf by Sherry Fundin

I have created a Monday Mini post for two reasons: (1) it is always difficult for me to have a post ready for Monday and (2) since I had to move my blog I am having difficulty catching up on reviews for all the books I want to share. So, I hope you enjoy these short, but sweet, reviews.

I got the idea for this from Laura at fuonlyknew. Thanks Laura.

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An Inquiry Into Love and DeathJillian’s uncle dies when he falls from a cliff. She travels to the village of Rothewell to pack his belongings. Things immediately start going bump in the night. Was there more to his death than everyone believed?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others

I love a good ghost story and Simone St. James does not disappoint. The gothic feel reminds me of Daphne Du Maurier. As Jillian strives to solve the mysteries of Rothewell, she meets Drew Merriken, a Scotland Yard Detective. An Inquiry into Love and Death was a fun romp in the woods, with so much more to the story than a ghost. It kept me wondering what was really going on in the forest. As they strive to find the answers, I was happy to be along for the ride. I won this book from a giveaway on The Quillery. Thank you Simone St. James for signing the ARC paperback. I love adding books to my collection.

To  pick up a copy of Simone St. James books or learn more about her, simply click on a cover below.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

To keep updated on the latest happenings here on fundinmental, follow by email.

 

What’s more dangerous than a lion protecting its young, a vampire protecting hers – Human No Longer by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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 every Friday. Get your scare on!

 Let’s have some fun!

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A unique and twisted tale of a vampire mother, who has children to protect. Just looking at the cover, Jenny appears locked and loaded. I wouldn’t want to take her on, would you?

Click on the cover to pick up your copy of Human No Longer, by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

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Jenny was a wife, a mother and a writer. She had put her writing on hold while she helped her husband start his business. Once they could afford a secretary, she went back to her writing. One of the books was about a gang of vampires whose home base was a renovated theater.

Now she was a part of the story.

She had to learn to live with her handicap, otherwise she would be sucking the blood from her own loved ones.

She was so soft-hearted she found it difficult to kill an animal. She had to eat and it was better than the alternative.

How was she supposed to survive and keep her secret?

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

I am so ticked off. I misplaced my notes and had all this great stuff I was going to tell you. I will do my best to remember, lol, all the things I wanted to say.

This was a unique twist on a familiar tale. A mother vampire can be vicious as she struggles to protect her family, not just from others, but from herself. I loved it.

Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s writing flows so smoothly I was carried through the pages and felt as if I was walking in Jenny’s shoes, not wanting to put the book down. The plot was so unique, I wasn’t sure how Kathryn was going to tell the tale. It’s nice to know not all vampires are so cold and blood thirty that they cannot control themselves, ripping, tearing, killing and slaughtering with no thought or remorse.

My heart went out to Jenny as she struggled to adjust and make ends meet. She still missed her husband, who had died in the attack that made her who she is now. Now she was alone AND a vampire. Would she be able to have a normal life, or as normal as it could be seeing she’s a vampire? Would she survive, seeing someone was out there with a plan that didn’t coincide with her own?

The characters drew me into their lives. At times I forgot Jenny was a vampire. Her flawed brother made me want to wrap my arms around him and tell him it will be all right. Joey was steadfast, loyal and in love with her. Would they have a future together?

I can see now that there could be another book. Is there going to be one? I would love to find out how Jenny fares in the future.

I received this book in return for a fair and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

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

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

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

Stalk Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Website / Goodreads / Amazon Author Page

These are just a few of the many books published by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. Click on the cover to purchase, or be taken to Amazon for more of her books.

My 5 STAR Review for Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

To keep updated on the latest happenings here on fundinmental, follow by email.

 

Tag Team Event – She remembered…….Accendo (Book III of The Light-Bearer Series) by Emily Guido

In Celebration of Accendo Book III of The Light-Bearer Series) by Emily Guido.

This is a Tag Team Event hosted by me and Laura at fuonlyknew. You can also enter on her blog for another chance to win and read her thoughts about Accendo!

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Be sure and scroll through the post for the Giveaway of Accendo (Book I), Review links for Accendo (Book I) and Mactus (Book II) and a glimpse of the soon to be released Seditious (Book IV) of the Light Bearer Series by Emily Guido. Book Trailer for Seditious, Ransom and Conundrum. When Emily says Charmeine’s Castle is rocking, she isn’t kidding.

 

Accendo (The Light-Bearer, #3)

Spoiler alert – This is Book III of The Light-Bearer Series by Emily Guido

She remembered………

Tabbruis had been taken from her, but she was being given an opportunity to save him from Hell.

She heard, “Accendo Charmeine….. You will set in motion your destiny when you cross the gates of Heaven” . “Accendo Charmeine.”

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Charmeine and Tabbruis assembled everyone in the Grand Hall.  It was decided, they would go to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece to put an end to the Elder Council. Charmeine and Tabbruis would lead them into battle.

Charmeine had been warned about the dangers and she told them everything. Tabbruis argued with her, when she told him her plan.

Her heart broke. She knew he had no trust or respect for her plan of attack. He had lied to her, betrayed her trust. Tabbruis had failed her. She was his gift from God, how could he not believe?  She felt she would have to leave her family and friends in order to save them.

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As Tabbuis watched her ring drop, his heartbeat slowed. He was terrified, as he looked around, stunned that she had left.

He followed her, but Charmeine knew it was wrong. Wrong to let him convince her to follow him into battle. Even in her sorrow, she fought, and her vision was fulfilled. Not everyone returned to Romania alive and the Elder Council still lived.

It took losing her to make Tabbruis see, that she was the strong one –  her- not him. He realized how wrong he had been, not to have faith in her. How wrong, not to believe in God and God’s plan.

Now, what would become of them?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

The story strikes at your soul. Telling of love, faith, loyalty, trust, betrayal and the ultimate sacrifice one makes to save those you love. Emily’s writing is simple and direct. It speaks to my heart. I laugh as I’m writing that. I’m turning into an old softie. That is SO not who I am. LOL

This is a novel about religion, but not like any religious novel you have read before. Emily Guido’s approach to God, Hell, Heaven, Angels, Vampires, Judgment day…..is so unique it sets her books apart from the rest. Everyone starts out as an Angel, it is the choices you make that change you from innocent and good, to evil and everything in between.

Do you believe we are born good or evil? Do you think it is our environment that makes us choose one over the other? Is it our love for family and friends that helps us make the right choices in life? Or do we occasionally become lost through no fault of our own?

The books get my mind working.  Isn’t that what a book is supposed to do? Leave your mind running long after you have closed the cover? Each book is better than the last.

I have fallen in love with the characters and their plight. In their deepest sorrow, my heart mourns for them. In their happiness, my heart soars. At the end of each book, I am saddened by the need to wait for the next one. I want to know right now what is going to happen. This will be a series I will reread when I have all the books in hand. ^_^

I received this book from Emily Guido. She has not asked for a review, but I happily give it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Guido Emily Guido is a Young Adult, Paranormal Romance Author. She was inspired to start writing Charmeine because one day she got an idea of two characters that needed to have their story told.Not ever dreaming a week later she would have over a 100,000 words written. When she writes, it is similar to you or I watching a movie. She pictures the characters in her head going through vivid descriptions. There are so many nuances going through her mind that she can’t type fast enough. The novels “Mactus” “Accendo” “Seditious” and “Ransom” are the continuation of the wonderful adventures of the inhabitants of The Castle Charmeine. Emily is currently writing Conundrum, the sixth novel in the Light Bearer Series. She is also working at a college full time and pursuing her Master of Business Administration.

The Light Bearer Series are a young adult, sultry, paranormal romance, vampire, angels, action and adventure, and historical novels.

To Find Emily, Follow The Links

Website / Website / Goodreads / Twitter

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.To Purchase Emily Guido’s books from Amazon, simply click on the covers below.

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and PhotosGIVEAWAY

I am so happy to tell you that Emily Guido is giving away a signed paperback copy of Charmeine (Book I of The Light-Bearer Series). US and UK ONLY, sorry to my International friends, but she is also offering 3 ebooks, International.

All you need to do is answer the question:

Emily Guido’s heart is so big, it makes me think of a girlfriend of mine who was taken from the world too soon. People like her are so rare that it made me curious. Have you ever had a friend that stood out from the crowd because of their ease of sharing their love and generosity with everyone they meet, never meeting a stranger?

This is a Tag Team Event, so for another chance to win, go to fuonlyknew.

CONGRATULATIONS! EVERYONE’S A WINNER.

COMING SOON – SEDITIOUS (Book IV in the Light-Bearer Series) by Emily Guido.

4 Seditious Book Cover

Follow the link below to learn more about Emily, The Ligtht-Bearer Series and Seditious.

Emily:  SEDITIOUS 4th book “The Light-Bearer Series” another 5 Star Review & Why I Wrote it!

To see my Review of Charmeine, Book I of The Light-Bearer Series, go HERE.

To see my Review of Mactus, Book II of The Light-Bearer Series, Go HERE.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

To keep updated on the latest happenings here on fundinmental, follow by email.

 

 

Freakin Friday #4 – New Release of Emma Meade’s short story – Dark Whiskey

 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 every Friday. Get your scare on!

 Let’s have some fun!

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Emma Mead’s cover for Dark Whiskey is eye catching. I love the colors and the simple design.

The cover was designed by Clarissa at Book Cover Art. Hop on over and check her out.

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Uh oh! Jesse knew they should not have gone into the bar.

The vibes were bad and kept getting worse. She felt she should run, not walk to the nearest exit. But, she didn’t.

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

Dark Whiskey grabbed me from the first page and swept me through to the last. The suspense kept me racing through the pages. Emma Mead’s writing is easy to read and flows smoothly.  I can never figure out how an author can pack so much into a short story.

I must confess, I almost liked Eli.

I couldn’t help but laugh as Emma describes the girls. I had a girlfriend that was the motivator in our relationship, so I could relate to both of the girls.

Tasha got dumped and was determined to get back on the “horse”. Being BFFs, Jesse felt she had to be there for her, but wasn’t happy about it. Since her breakup, Tasha refused to go to their usual haunts, so, on to new territory. Have you been there, sticking by your friend, even when you know they are making a huge mistake?

Haven’t we all done something stupid when we were drinking? Okay, maybe not all of us.

I would love to hear more from Jesse and Eli. I feel there is a story to be told.

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT EMMA MEADE

Emma Meade

Author of Nights Sighs, Under the Desert Moon and The Awakenings & Other Stories.

Emma Meade writes paranormal fiction. She lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural. Stephen King’s The Stand is one of her most loved books. Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on. She is not ashamed to admit that Dirty Dancing and Twilight make her top ten movie list but wishes to point out that The Last of the Mohicans, Reality Bites, Dead Poets Society, Stand by Me and The Goonies are in there too.

Writing supernatural stories & watching marathon re-runs of Buffy are some of her favourite ways of escaping reality.

You can find Emma here:

Amazon Author Page/Blog /Website/Goodreads/Facebook/Twitter

 

 

To see my 5 STAR Review of End of The Line, go HERE.

To Purchase one of Emma Meade’s books, simply click on the cover.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

To keep updated on the latest happenings here on fundinmental, follow by email.

 

5 STAR Review & Giveaway for Promise Cove by Vickie McKeehan

Promise Cove is a novel of romance, suspense and the paranormal. My expectations are high and Vickie McKeehan does not disappoint. She starts out with the familiar, takes a twist and turn, then ends with ooey, gooey, warm fuzzies.

Drink in the gorgeousness of this awesome cover. I can see myself sitting in one of those chairs with my camera, a margarita and the next book in the series, Hidden Moon Bay, listening to the palm fronds rustling in the wind and enjoying the wonder of the beach.

Promise Cove (Pelican Pointe, #1)

Add To Goodreads

The words rolled off his tongue, “Murphy at the store said you might need help out here.”

It didn’t make sense. With all that Scott had, it was Nick standing here talking to Jordan. It had been Scott’s family home, but his grandparents had suffered a financial hardship and lost possession of it. After Scott and Jordan were married, he bought the house. They started their married life with the thought of the B & B the house would become when the renovations were finished……………………… until he was called to duty in the service of his country.

Scott’s last words,  “Promise me, Nick….”

Nick had thought they would be his last words.

What was the promise?

Come on in and have a seat. Let’s talk about Promise Cove.

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

I am continually surprised when I read and love some Romance books as much as I do. I look at a book blurb like this and think – oh – girl meets boy, falls in love, they fight a little, will she lose him, and then happy ever after. I find that is not the case here. There is so much more to the story. The Goodreads book blurb says it will hold me breathless to the last page, how about the last sentence.

A small town. Of course I know some of what is to come. But wait. I expect Vickie to come up with something surprising and she does that flawlessly.

I keep trying to think of a way to describe Vickie McKeehan’s writing. It is so smooth, the words flow like water rolling gently down the stream. I never said I was a writer. LOL

She takes romance to a level so far above the usual, that it takes a while for me to see how it will get to the happy ending. I am always trying to figure out the end of a book, from the very first page. In this instance, I don’t want to know what is coming. Surprises can be very nice. ^_^

I cannot imagine war. My mind will not go there emotionally. I cannot begin to get a sense of what it would be like to know you can be shot or blown up at any second. What about the wives, keeping the home-front running, while waiting for their spouse’s return? And what if they don’t return?

Our service people’s bravery is something to be inspired by. I would like to thank all our military people for the wonderful job they do in protecting us and our way of life.

Her characters come alive on the pages as you enter their world, hoping and wishing that all works out for them. I am usually drawn to a strong female character in the books I read. I guess because I am female and I want to walk in their shoes. This time?

I fell in love with NIck. Yep, that’s right. You heard me. Read on and tell me you wouldn’t.

Nick – hypervigilent – fight or flight response in soldiers returning home from war.

Had he inherited a gene that kept him from emotional attachments?

When Vickie describes Nick with Hutton it blows my mind. This is the thing that stood out most in the book for me. She describes his wonder at learning he has feelings and emotions, just becoming aware as if a baby himself. So sweet. My eyes watered at Nick’s amazement of Hutton and Vickie describing his awe as Hutton would speak, drum and just do normal baby things. I couldn’t put it down. How could you not fall in love with Nick yourself? Plus, he’s pretty HOT.

I always like a little chuckle when I am not expecting it.

“…closest thing to a hunk….UPS man who gave her a three minute thrill…”

I loved the ending. To me a great romance ends with a little surprise and happy ever after.

There is no doubt in my mind that I will grab every book Vickie McKeehan writes, knowing she will take me from my world into hers. At the moment there are three more books in the Pelican Pointe Series and I can hardly wait to see where Hidden Moon Bay takes me.

I picked this book up on a free day at Amazon. Thank you Vickie for sharing the love.

I know I keep rambling on and on, but every time I edit the review, I think of something else I want to include. With that said, I’m going to read this ONE more time, then publish it. LOL

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vickie McKeehan   Vickie is the author of six novels, including The Evil Trilogy and the Pelican Pointe series. She’s a hardcore lover of books who grew up listening to her mother tell fascinating stories about ghosts and other tales full of characters she wasn’t sure ever really existed.

A self-proclaimed beachgoer and ocean-lover, she lives in Southern California with the love of her life. When she isn’t working on her next manuscript or screenplay, she loves to be outdoors.

In her spare time she tries to grow things which other people commonly refer to as gardening. She loves reading all kinds of books, both fiction and non-fiction, loves to play video games, and enjoys watching football with the hubby. If you’ve ever read any of her books, you know she’s a die-hard Raider fan, which means she has the patience of Job.

She lives for chocolate, but then who doesn’t? She’ll kill for a cup of coffee in the morning. She’s convinced the best food on earth is French fries. And she could easily be a vegetarian if it wasn’t for bacon.

To find Vickie McKeehan just look below:

Blog/Goodreads/Facebook/Twitter

To Purchase any of Vickie McKeehan’s books from Amazon, click on the cover.

GIVEAWAY

Vickie McKeehan  is offering  for the Giveaway 4 ebooks. International. Easy entry as always. Just leave your email address and answer the question:

Do you have someone close to you, or know of anyone that is now, or has ever served in the military? 

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. All winners have been notified. THE WINNERS ARE:

Gail /  T. O. / Vanessa / Ann

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone, who has served their country, for their and their families sacrifices.

The response was overwhelming. Thanks go out to everyone who commented and shared their stories.

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Freakin Friday – Good Ghost Gone Bad by Janiera Eldridge

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 every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

Good Ghost Gone Bad by Janiera Eldridge

“No, I’m not a Vampire……The dead, not the living dead. The Ghost, walking through walls kind of shit dead.” I burst out laughing.

Good Ghost Gone Bad

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I had been murdered. “….narcissistic son of a bitch had murdered me”.

It had been two weeks and I was still learning how to be a ghost – moving objects, appearing and disappearing, and such. I had no idea it would be so hard.

Time passed and I became angry, then furious.

I wanted my revenge and I would HAVE it!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

The cover is pretty creepy.

I knew with the first page of the book that it was going to be different. The ghost story has been told so many times, I would think it very difficult to come up with something different, but Janiera Eldridge does it extremely well.

Brianna’s personality and outlook on life, or death, had me laughing all the way through the book. When I wasn’t laughing, I was pissed off for Brianna and wanted her to get her revenge.

The details and descriptions as she dies and her “life” as a ghost are vivid.

I picked this book up on an Amazon free day. I learned about it through Feed Your Reader. If you aren’t following them, you might want to check them out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janiera Eldridge loved feeding her book addiction and putting all her crazy stories on paper. When she is not immersed in the world of fiction, she is working as an entertainment freelance writer.
Janiera also enjoys connecting with other authors and supporting their work on her book blog Books&Beauty.

*I no longer answer GR pm’s if you would like to contact me feel free to email me anytime at prettyhaydengurl@yahoo.com

To stalk Janiera Eldridge
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To get your copy, simply click on the cover below.

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A Book Of Poetry – Loss and Remembrance by Stan Dean

Loss and Remembrance by Stan Dean

Ruminations On The Speed Of Life

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Amazon Book Blurb:

In Loss and Remembrance, Runimations on the Speed of Life, Stan Dean has selected poems written over the past five years to capture those moments, both significant and seemingly insignificant, which have lingered in his memory since childhood.

Sometimes tender or sentimental, sometimes harsh or brooding, his works reflect the unfolding inevitabilities of disappointment and death, the beauty and cruelty of nature and the quest to find hope and meaning in the cyclorama that is life.

His words sing with profound simplicity of life’s wondrous, if often ephemeral, journey.

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

I have never reviewed Poetry before and I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed the poems and how easy it was to get them.

How sweet is the cover? I keep trying to figure out – is she tired or sad? Has she lost her balloons, or did she let them go to watch them fly? What do you think?

The poems evoked memories of my childhood, and I hope they will do the same for you. The title says it all. I read them and thought of ……….

This poem is my favorite. Short and sweet. I remember the first time I took the time to sit quietly and listen. I was amazed at the sounds all around me and wondered why I had never noticed them before. Sometimes we are too busy and wrapped up in day to day life to appreciate what is right in front of us. When I read this poem, the saying, “take time to smell the roses”, made me think, “take time to listen to the birds sing”.

cardinal bird photo: Male Cardinal cardinal.jpgLISTENING

No mocking here

Only imitation

Sweet songs

of other birds.

Saves time

sitting in one place

to hear them all.

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I loved Irony. An ironic poem about irony. I smiled and chuckled and read it again. ^_^

The poems made me laugh and think, sometimes wondering how I felt. I had to reread them as I thought of the beauty of nature, the ugliness of war, the loss of a loved one, the moments spent with my child, my mother, my friends and siblings.

I am so surprised that I loved them all. As I write this, I keep flipping through the pages, finding myself stopping to read this one or that one again. They brought a smile to my face, a frown to my brow and a sadness to my heart.

I can safely say that Stan Dean accomplished his goal of making me think and feel of the good and bad that is life. Without one, we wouldn’t have the other.

This book was given to me by Stan Dean in return for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stan Dean is retired as Director of Theatre at Pensacola State College in Florida. He has been a musician, an actor, director and educator for over fifty years. He holds a B. A. in Theatre Arts from the University of West Florida and an M. F. A. in Drama from the University of Oklahoma, where he was a Sam S. Shubert Playwriting Fellow. He also studied creative writing with novelist-in-resident Harry Crews at the University of Florida. He writes plays, short stories and, of course, poetry. Stan is a member of The Drama League and The academy of American Poets. He lives and works in Pensacola.

Stan Dean had another book of poetry published in December of 2012.

Through In the Autumn of Always he hopes to inspire readers to recognize and appreciate the multifaceted effects of our connections with nature and all humanity.

Amazon Book Blurb:

In this his second collection of poetry since Loss and Remembrance, Ruminations on the Speed of Life, Stan Dean again captures with profound empathy on the beauty, terror, and wonders of nature, the joy and disappointments of love and life and the inevitabilities of death. It is his struggle to find hope and meaning in life’s wondrous, if often ephemeral, passage. And he does so with gentleness and compassion. He exercises faith in the economy of words and uses the words to paint images and reveal knowledge that mere speech cannot. Through In the Autumn of Always he hopes to inspire readers to recognize and appreciate the multifaceted effects of our connections with nature and all humanity.

–This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Top purchase a copy of his poetry, simply click on the cover below.

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Ride with me through the pages of Moonlit by Jadie Jones

Take a long look at this beautiful and fantastic cover. Gorgeous. I can almost feel the power radiating from the amazing animals. That alone made me want to read the book. Be sure and scroll down to read my Review and enter the Giveaway.

moonlit tour

 MOONLIT by Jadie Jones

Moonlit

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

Amazon Kindle * Amazon * Goodreads

WiDo Publishing * Barnes & Noble

 Praise

“Virginia’s trees look like they’re burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they’d give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they’re dying.”

And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery and other-worldly romance, you’ll love this novel!

~Author Julie Ford

Prologue

The first anniversary of my father’s death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn’t know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I’d never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn’t tried to get out of the way. She had just missed.

I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there’s nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn’t say a word.

horses black or white photo: White and Black Horses Rearing together 1d0ere2.jpg

MY REVIEW

Tanzy thought she saw something in the woods, then she heard the howl. She told herself it was just coyotes.

Tanzy’s father’s death ended life as she knew it. Not only did she lose her father, she lost her mother and her horse, Moonlit. She had not ridden since.

Dana McDaniel has been running the farm. She knows horses and Tanzy trusts her. She didn’t push her to get back on a horse, just left a note saying, “Hopewell needs a ride…..” She mounted Hopewell and felt like she had come home.

It is the anniversary of her father’s death. She receives a call telling her to be careful. She wonders if it is someones idea of a sick joke.

Tanzy had fallen asleep at Dana’s desk and awoke to see Lucas. His eyes were almost black and his face had two scars running down his cheek. She does not know him and is surprised by her immediate attraction to him.

Tanzy took Hopewell on their nightly ride. She had disregarded the warning telephone call and the night would end in a vicious attack on her.

white and black horses photo: Dashing... dashing.jpg

When she awoke after the riding accident, they told her she was lucky to be alive. The only thing that saved her was Dr. Metcher and his miracle drug.

Dana told her, while she was in the hospital, there had been a fire at the farm and there was no sign of the horses. They had not died in the fire, just seemed to vanish into thin air.

She meets Vanessa, Dr. Andrews wife. He is one of Tanzy’s doctors. Vanessa told her she got lonely at home during the nights her husband worked, so she came to read to patients at the hospital and had been reading to Tanzy while she had been unconscious.

Tanzy asks her about Ryan, the medical student who was assigned to her. There was something puzzling about him, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was.

Tanzy had tried to keep the accident from her mother, but she showed up anyway.

She was brutal when she told her that Tanzy was not hers. She said she was done with her. She is speaking but Tanzy can no longer understand what she is saying. She walks out the door and Tanzy begins to vomit blood and feels like she is dying, again.

Lucas takes her hand and pulls her back, but when she open her eyes, it is Ryan and Dr. Andrews standing over her. She waits for an MRI and Cat scan with Ryan and proceeds to tell him about the golden horseshoes she keeps seeing on peoples palms. But he doesn’t explain.

Vanessa confides in her, telling her about seeing things others don’t. She said it made them special and they had to stick together. She told Tanzy she saw what happened to her. Vanessa explained that her visions had started after a bad car accident.

When Tanzy was released from the hospital, she stayed with Vanessa and Dr. Andrews. She thought it was the kindness of strangers but would soon find out it was so much more than that.

Who can she trust as the world she knows crumbles around her and she finds her true purpose in life?

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

The cover made me choose this book. It is so beautiful. I love the horses. Wildwood, the  horse farm in Shenandoah Valley, made me think of Bonanza. Does that date me?

I was amazed by everything in this book. I loved it. It took me places that I haven’t been before and didn’t see coming. It was riveting from beginning to end. I can hardly believe this is Jadie Jones’ debut novel.

This novel has everything and more that you would want in a paranormal story. It was very well written and the characters come alive on the pages. Watch out for the twists and turns and be careful of who you trust.

Even after being warned, Tanzy takes her nightly ride on Hopewell. When someone tells you don’t go in the woods, then don’t. It is not going to end well. I always laugh when I come across this example in the books I read. Don’t open the door. Don’t go down in the basement……….

I was crushed when I realized I wouldn’t find out what happened to Tanzy until the next book. I hope Jadie Jones is a fast writer because I can hardly wait to get my hands on Book II.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbaised review.

 ABOUT AUTHOR Jadie Jones

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.

She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she’s not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

 

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