Giveaway & Review for Scattered Legacy, Book III of the Annalise Series @ewephoric @ireadbooktours #romanticsuspense

Posted on February 8, 2023 by fundinmental

I WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TOUR Join us for this tour from Jan 30 to Feb 24, 2023

Book Details:

Book Title:  Copper Waters – A New Zealand Mystery (Annalisse Series Book 4) by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 340 pages
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
Publisher:  Ewephoric Publishing
Release date: October, 2022
Format available for review:  print – softback, e-book (mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF )
Will send print books out:  USA
Content Rating: G. Book is for general audiences. No profanity. No graphic scenes. Crimes described briefly after-the-fact. Mild and limited romance https://www.youtube.com/embed/PjDimoA2yQc

Book Description:

Annalisse Drury and Alec Zavos find themselves on opposing sides when an ex-lover from Alec’s past introduces him to his alleged son. With Alec distracted and their future engagement in limbo, Annalisse accepts a key to her dream cottage—situated on a picturesque sheep station on South Island, New Zealand—only this time, she travels alone.

But not long after her arrival she’s confronted by two peculiar deaths—either accidental, or the deliberate acts of a psychopath.

Local investigators are closing the cases too quickly and want Annalisse to exit the country before she reveals the town’s darkest secrets.

Will she return to Alec, or sacrifice their future together to expose it all?

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon

Also Available for Review:

Book Details:

Book Title:  Stolen Obsession (Annalisse Series Book 1) by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 296 pages
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
Publisher:  Ewephoric Publishing
Release date: March 2018
Format available for review:  print – softback, e-book (mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF), audiobook (audible download)
Will send print books out:  USA
Content Rating: PG. Subtle romantic interludes. No profanity. https://www.youtube.com/embed/EfPsyRPdIwI

YOU CAN SEE MY REVIEW HERE

Book Description:

People die, but legends live on.

New York antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury’s best friend was murdered. The killer’s identity may be linked to her friend’s expensive missing bracelet—a 500-year-old artifact that carries an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family.

Weeks later, Annalisse sees a matching necklace at a Manhattan gallery opening. She begs the owner to destroy the cursed piece, but her pleas fall on deaf ears—despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act. Desperate, Annalisse enlists the gallery owner’s son to help—even though she’s afraid he’ll break her heart. Wealthy and devastatingly handsome, with a string of bereft women in his wake, Greek playboy Alec Zavos dismisses Annalisse’s concerns—until his parents are ripped from the Zavos family yacht during their ocean voyage near Crete.

Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his parents, feared kidnapped or even dead. When the killer changes tactics and goes after Alec behind Annalisse’s back, can her plan to rescue Alec’s mother save them all?

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
Audible

Book Details:

Book Title:  Spent Identity (Annalisse Series Book 2) by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 378 pages
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
Publisher:  Ewephoric Publishing
Release date: Nov 2019
Format available for review:  print – softback, e-book (mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF), audiobook (audible download)
Will send print books out:  USA
Content Rating: PG-13+M. Main Character is accosted and fights an assailant in one chapter. Mild profanity. https://www.youtube.com/embed/bqwn2d2qBQU

SEE MY REVIEW FOR SPENT IDENTITY HERE

Book Description:

Antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury drives to her family farm in upstate New York to consult with Aunt Kate about her troubled relationship with Greek tycoon, Alec Zavos. When Annalisse arrives, she learns the beloved farm she expects to inherit is for sale.

That same morning, they find a stranger’s body decaying in the barn. Then her aunt vanishes.

In Spent Identity, Annalisse and Alec join forces for the second time. They must find the mastermind behind her aunt’s abduction before Kate’s health issues worsen. Was the corpse in the barn a coincidence or a warning? The clock ticks for Annalisse to find her aunt and repair what she has left with the man she loves.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
Audible

Book Details:

Book Title:  Scattered Legacy (Annalisse Series Book 3) by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 352 pages
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
Publisher:  Ewephoric Publishing
Release date: Oct 2021
Format available for review:  print – softback, e-book (mobi file (for Kindle), ePub, PDF)
Will send print books out:  USA
Content Rating: PG+M. Brief kissing/romance. mild use of profanity like “damn.” No F Bombs. Some violence and talk of an attack by villain that doesn’t materialize.

MY REVIEW

It’s wonderful to be back with Annalise, on another adventure. I went right from Spent Identity, Book II, to Scattered Legacy, Book III, in the Annalise series, eager to go to Italy and face a new danger, since Trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes.

I love the cover. Those slashes, and those eyes, what the heck?

Annalise has the ability to visualize who may have held a jewel or sat for a portrait. She sometimes sees others and their motives for acquiring or stealing oils and jewels. She is a partner with Generosa Zavos, her lovers mother, in the Sazos Gallery, specializing in antiquities.

Annalise receives an envelope and hesitates to open it. I think it may take us on our next murder mystery adventure…and I say…open it Annalise.

Before Alex and Annalise head to Bari, Italy, his mother’s birthplace, Generosa gives her a rosary, a very special rosary. The visit will be a working vacation. They reach a bump in the road in the sale of his sports car company. Since mystery and murder follow them wherever they go, I am waiting for a dead body to make an appearance.

Zavos’ father had went to prison for his part in dealing with the Mafia, but there is so much more to the story that will be revealed.

In Spent Identity, we learned Annalise’s family history. In Scattered Legacy, it is Alec’s turn, with the help of his chauffeur and bodyguard Brad, and his friend and private investigator, Bill. What’s so important about Stella the cat? I sure didn’t see that coming.

Marlene M Bell’s vivid descriptions make me taste the salt air and feel the sand between my toes. I can smell the aroma of garlic and broccoli rabo, tasting the deliciousness of the pasta.

She reacts as a sleek thoroughbred would react, ready to belt at the starting gate, unsure when to run how far the finish line is.
Delicious trouble (with a capital T) seems to follow her…

Now, on to Copper Waters and a trip to New Zealand. Grab a book and follow along. You won’t regret it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Scattered Legacy by Marlene M Bell.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

Book Description:

To outsiders, the relationship between Manhattan antiquities assessor Annalisse Drury and sports car magnate Alec Zavos must look carefree and glamorous. In reality, it’s a love affair regularly punctuated by treasure hunting, action-packed adventure, and the occasional dead body.

When Alec schedules an overseas trip to show Annalisse his mother’s birthplace in Bari, Italy, he squeezes in the high-stakes business of divesting his family’s international corporation. But things go terribly wrong as murder makes its familiar reappearance in their lives – and this time it’s Alec’s disgraced former CFO who’s the main suspect.

Accompanied by friend and detective Bill Drake, Annalisse and Alec find themselves embroiled in a behind-closed-doors conspiracy that threatens the reputation and legacy of Alec’s late father – linking him to embezzlement, extortion, and the dirty business of the Sicilian Mafia. The search for the truth sends the trio straight into riddles, secrets, and an historic set of rosary beads. Annalisse leads Alec toward a discovery that is unthinkable, and events that will change their futures forever.

Scattered Legacy is the third in Marlene M. Bell’s thrilling Annalisse series, which weaves romance, crime, and historical mystery into addictive tales to instantly captivate fans of TV show Bones or Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon

Meet the Author:

Marlene M. Bell is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep in beautiful East Texas with her husband, Gregg, three cats and a flock of horned Dorset sheep.

The Annalisse series has received numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity,) and FAPA— Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award for two other installments, (Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy.) Her mysteries with a touch of romance are found at marlenembell.com. She also offers the first of her children’s picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! Based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.

connect with the author: website ~ website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Jan 30 – Cover Lover Book Review – book series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 30 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Jan 31 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Jan 31 – Bigreadersite – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Jan 31 – fundinmental – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 1 – Reading Excursions – book review of COPPER WATERS
Feb 1 – Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 2 – Mystery Review Crew – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 2 – JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 2 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 3 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 3 – Bigreadersite – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 6 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 6 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 7 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 7 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 8 – fundinmental – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 8 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 9 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 9 – Rockin’ Book Reviews –book review of COPPER WATERS / guest post / giveaway
Feb 10 – Books for Books – book series spotlight
Feb 10 – Older & Smarter? – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 13 –Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 13 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 13 – Bigreadersite – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 14 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 14 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 14 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 15 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 16 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 16 – Olio by Marilyn – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 16 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 16 – Lynchburg Reads – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
Feb 17 – Lynchburg Reads – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 17 – Older & Smarter? – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 20 – Splashes of Joy – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 20 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 20 – Bigreadersite – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 20 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 21 – Liese’s Blog – book series spotlight
Feb 21 – Splashes of Joy – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 21 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 21 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 21 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 22 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of COPPER WATERS / guest post / giveaway
Feb 22 – fundinmental – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 22 – Splashes of Joy – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 22 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 23 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 23 – Splashes of Joy – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 23 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 23 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of COPPER WATERS / guest post / giveaway
Feb 24 – Stephanie Jane – book series spotlight / giveaway
Feb 24 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway

MY REVIEW LINKS FOR MARLENE M BELL

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Review – Taking Myths To The Mat: Integrating Yoga Mythology Into Your Asana Teaching by Sandra Sluberski

Posted on February 7, 2023 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Seeing I am not Sandra Sluberski’s target audience for Taking Myths To The Mat: Integrating Yoga Mythology Into Your Asana Teaching with fabulous and colorful illustrations by Cecilia Engvall, I was very surprised how much I got out of it. I have loved myths and legends, it seems forever, and have read numerous fiction and nonfiction books about god and godesses.

Taking Myths is a companion novel to the YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Program. I found it fascinating, even though I am no teacher. Sandra Sluberski fills the book with many resources and insights that she is very happy to share with everyone.

I find Sandra Sluberski’s bio fascinating and urge you to check it out. Even though Taking Myths is not aimed at me, I found so many fascinating and useful thoughts that will stick with me. Such as:

Keep in mind that yoga mythology is really all about one concept: all beings and all things are part of a great universal one-ness

I’m sure many of us remember The Beatles, John Lennon and Maharishi Maresh Yogi. John Lennon wrote the lyrics for I Am A Walrus and incorporated a mantra: Jai guru deva om, which means Hail to the divine teacher or Gory to God the divine. How about The Little Engine That Could: I think I can I think I can. A football slogan can be a mantra: Go Blue Wolverines, Roll Tide Roll…Even our calendar has a connection to mythology. I highly recommend checking that out for yourself. I also found the fun fact below awesome:

The logo of The Rolling Stones is based on Kali’s tongue. See, fascinating information in an unexpected source. That is why I try to keep an open mind when reading books. I never know where those hidden gems will come from and every book, to me, has something to offer.

I based my rating on how easy it was to follow the book, though it is aimed at teachers of the craft, how Sandra shared so many resources that can lead us to gods and goddesses, myths and legends, nature and nurture, music and form…and so much more that may have us using those resources to learn more about life and what is waiting to be explored.

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

Bring your yoga class sequencing to a new level with the inclusion of yoga mythology! This book gives you the methodology for creating single-asana inclusions, longer partial-class sequences, and and entire one-hour YM themed vinyasas, utilizing ancient yogic myths and fascinating stories. Three different approaches to YM presentations are discussed, along with samples of sequence planning notes. Commonly-asked questions regarding YM and spirituality are also addressed, and a practice guide is given for seven essential mantras which any instructor can easily include to enhance the YM experience for their students. This book is also the companion to the YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Program) course of the same name, available at the Online Yoga School (www.courses.onlineyoga.school).

ABOUT SANDRA SLUBERSKI

Dr. SANDRA BOYSEN SLUBERSKI is an RYT-500 and E-RYT 200 yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance, as well as a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Contiuing Education Provider), teaching at both the Online Yoga School through the Yoga & Ayurveda Center, and at The Hochstein School in Rochester, NY, in addition to her own business at SBS Yogaworx (www.sbsyogaworx.com). Introduced to yoga in 2010, she completed teacher training in 2021 through the Yoga & Ayurveda Center under the guidance of Steph Bal-Mitchell, earning additional certification in Yin, Restorative and Chair Yoga, as well as in Ayurveda studies. She offers themed yoga workshops, with currently over a dozen available, and more than 60 Yoga Mythology 1-hour sessions, all available on the OYS Virtual Studio site (https://courses.onlineyoga.school). She’s the creator and lead trainer of OYS’s YACEP course, “Taking Myths to the Mat: Integrating Yoga Mythology into Your Asana Training,” released in August 2022, and released the companion book by the same title as a paperback on Amazon and an eBook on Amazon Kindle.

She’s also a Kirtan leader who trained with Mike Cohen through the Kirtan Leadership Institute in Boulder, CO. She records monthly 1-hour Kirtan satsang/sessions, teaching mantras and bhajans (meditative devotional chants), using harmonium, singing bowls and cajon percussion. She’s also a Brand Ambassador for The Ohm Store (www.theohmstore.co), a fair-trade global supplier of singing bowls.

Sandra holds the D.M. and M.M. degrees in voice performance from Florida State University’s College of Music, and is currently in her 23rd year on the voice faculty at The Hochstein School, which honored her with the Faculty Service Award in 2013 and the Faculty Excellence Grant in 2019. She provides voiceover talent for commercial and media venues through SBS Vocalworx (www.sbsvocalworx.com) and West Rush Media LLC (www.davesluberski.com), and is listed for booking on Backstage (https://www.backstage.com/u/sandra-sluberski/). Her audiobook narration of “Stories of Food and Life” by Mariuccia Milla is available through Amazon.

She’s married to Dave Sluberski, professor of audio recording for film/animation/gaming at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Film & Animation/MAGIC Spell Studios, and broadcast audio recording engineer for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. When not on the mat or behind a mic, Sandra enjoys her pet Silkie hens, or works on cars in the garage with Dave, who enjoys being married to a yogini.

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Review – Never King’s by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff @MimiJeanRomance

Posted on February 6, 2023 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Oh man…Never King’s is the finale of the King series by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff and I am sad to see it end. But, there will be a spinoff and Mimi gives that away at the end of Never King’s. I have missed a book or two, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment.

As I was reading, I highlighted numerous spots on my ereader, but I don’t think that is the way to go with Book 8, Never King’s, of the King series. I feel that may spoil the story. I will, however, try and entice you with snippets and my thoughts and feelings.

Never King’s by Mimi Jean Pamfilof was a total surprise. Every time I thought I had a grasp on what was happening, Mimi spun me in a different direction. Her ability to create such imaginative stories amazes me. Her characters have me loving and hating them, occasionally, at the same time.

King is dead and now Ansin is the baddest of the bad. He was the one that killed King, so Jeni fought against him every step of the way. He had killed the father of her baby. The only leverage she had, when dealing with Ansin, was that she was the last Seer in the world.and he needed her bloodline to revive his.

Good and bad? Well, there is definitely a lot of bad…and secrets. When Draco, her son, goes missing, Jeni is frantic and will do anything, work with anyone, to find him.

If I was going to find Draco, it wasn’t going to happen with these two…supernatural dickheads who claimed to be dying and would rather hold all the cards close to their chests than lay them out so we might help each other.

That had me laughing out loud. Did it tease you, wondering how the two dickheads are?

As all the secrets are exposed, I am stunned. Mimi Jean Pamfiloff twisted and turned me inside out as I rapidly devoured the words, wanting to reach the end, but not. I have been with the characters for a long time and I will miss them, and the darkness they brought to light. I never could have anticipated how Mimi would wrap up the King series, but she did it a in a incredible way, with wit and creativity. They will be missed.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Never King’s by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff.

GOODREADS BLURB

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a Paranormal Suspense, Never King’s, the finale of the USA Today bestselling King Series.

KING IS DEAD, AND NOW THE CHILD HE LEFT BEHIND ISN’T SAFE …

ANSIN

Ding-dong, people. The wicked king is dead. And, yes, I take full credit. King had it coming.

So now that I’m the most ancient, deadly badass on the planet, I can finally get on with my plan. Step one: resurrecting my bloodline.

But to do it, I must win over Jeni, the one woman who can give me powerful children. If only she’d stop holding a grudge. So what if I killed the father of her baby?

Sooner or later she’ll have to forgive me because there are bad, bad things coming her way, and I’m the only one who can protect her.

But will she come around before it’s too late?

JENI

My love for King never made sense, but now that he’s gone, I’m holding it together (barely) for our newborn son. I must be vigilant because my enemies think he belongs to them.

Unfortunately, the only one who can help is dangerous, evil, and a constant reminder of what I’ve lost. Then my worst nightmare happens, and he steps in. No demands. No bartering. Just help.

Has he finally changed his evil ways, or is this a trick to get what he wants? Because without Ansin, my baby and I won’t get through this.

ABOUT MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF

MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a New York Times bestselling author who’s sold over one million books around the world. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dreams.

Mimi lives with her Latin lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and their three spunky dragons (really, just very tiny dogs with big attitudes) Snowy, Mini, and Mack, in the vampire-unfriendly state of Arizona.

She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Instagram / Amazon / Bookbub / TikTok / Pinterest agram

MY MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF REVIEWS

Colel (The Immortal Matchmakers 5)
Brutus (The Immortal Matchmakers 6)
God Of Temptation (The Immortal Matchmakers 7)
Fanged Love
The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant (Book I)
The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant (Book V)
The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant (Book VI)
Ultra Mega Love (RevoLUVtion)
Lord King (The King Series)
Oh Baby Please (TheOHellNo Series)
Wall Men (The Wall Men)
Wall Men II (The Wall Men)
Wall Men III (The Wall Men)
The Immortal Tailor

MY M O MACK REVIEWS

She’s Got The Money (The Suite #45 Series)

YOU CAN GRAB A FREEBIE AND GET TO KNOW KING

As Lucifer would say, “I am a devil of my word”

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Sherry’s Shelves 1.29 – 2.4.23

Posted on February 5, 2023 by fundinmental

Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Sunday Salon is hosted by Readerbuzz
Stacking The Shelves by Reading Reality
**images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**

Hi Everyone. I have been bust going through closets, trying on clothes and messing around the house. I am doing some decluttering and I love when I can look in the closets and know what’s in there and where things are. I still have some drawers to go through and the office is…well, I’m not saying. LOL How about you? Do you do spring cleaning?

The pool is in dire need of cleaning, but I need the pool guy to come first. I have been putting it off, but, no more. I hope to get him in this week. Until then, Mr Wonderful and I are doing some yard clean and shed clean up. I am actually excited about it. 🙂

I was hoping the weather would be warmer, but I do remember Mardi Gras and the Senior Bowl, which we are watching right now, are usually pretty chilly. At least the sun is shining. Right now my computer say 52 degrees and I have my blankie keeping me comfy. What’s your weather like where you are at?

I have a couple of Book Trailers by Anita Dickason, a fabulous author.

I hope to see you during the week for reviews and giveaways. Stay safe..

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

COMING UP ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves
Giveaway – At Last by Whitney Dineen
Giveaway – DAWGS by Diane Trull & Meredith Wargo
Review – Never King’s by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
Giveaway – Wicked Games by Nancy Brown
Review – Talking Myths by Sandra Sluberski
Giveaway – Shadowed Seats by Marguerite Ashton
Giveaway & Review – Scattered Legacy by Marlene M Bell
Books From The Backlog
Giveaway – Whiskey On Our Shoes by Tonya Preece
Giveaway – Grumpy Beignet Boss by Melissa Chambers
Giveaway – Carmel Conundrum by Stacy Wilder
Tackling The TBR

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Review – Empty Shell by Ashley Fontainne #AshleyFontainne

Posted on February 3, 2023 by fundinmental

I can’t remember how I got so many of Ashley Fontainne’s novels, but I think I won them in a giveaway. I have been trying to pick them off one by one as I also read/review her newer books. She is always a must read author for me since I cracked open the very first book.

I love this fabulous cover. What do you think about it?

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Ashley Fontainne is a must read author for me since I picked up the very first book. That being said, Empty Shell is not one of my favorites, though I did enjoy the mystery. She has an ability to start her books with a fantastic hook, making me continue flipping pages.

Over the years, I had watched too many of my friends go through this nightmare. Held them while they wept, hearts ripped apart.So many strong women turned into empty shells, nothing but former husks of themselves.

I was lost inside the empty shell of my womb, unable to find my way out of the darkness.

Secrets, betrayals, mystery, murder and loss fill the pages. Good friends can make life easier, so it’s a good think Melody as a couple. I didn’t see the biggest betrayal of all, and I love when an author can sneak in a surprise that leaves me shaking my head because I didn’t see it.

Ashley Fontainne has included many Christian references and I found, at times, it slowed the reading down for me. That may not be the case for others, so keep that in mind if Empty Shell sounds like a good fit for you.

I am looking forward to the next Ashley Fontainne story.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Empty Shell by Ashley Fontainne.

GOODREADS BLURB

A pair of pink, silk underwear…

The quiet world of Melody and Jack Dickinson is about to be turned upside down. Twenty years of marriage hangs in the balance when Melody finds out about Jack’s infidelity. The betrayal is made worse when Melody discovers his lover is Serena Rowland, a young woman who works at Melody’s law firm.

A receipt from an overpriced hotel…

Harsh words are exchanged before Melody storms off to work, determined to have Serena fired. But when Melody hears Serena was murdered over the weekend, everything changes. Serena’s body is found beaten and strangled with a pair of pink, silk panties, in the same hotel that Jack had admitted staying at over the weekend. Within seconds of hearing the news, Melody’s life spins out of control when Jack calls in a panic. The police are at their home to arrest him for Serena’s murder.

Pictures of a young woman’s scantily clad torso on a cell phone…

Was she married to a monster? One who beat and strangled the young woman to death, or was Jack set up? Did Melody’s own dark secret, hidden inside her heart for years, have something to do with the nightmare they suddenly find themselves in?

Melody and Jack are about to discover that one fateful mistake will destroy many.

ABOUT ASHLEY FONTAINNE

Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne enjoys stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters lurking within each of us. She writes in numerous genres including mystery, suspense, horror, sci-fi and sometimes poetry.

Ashley lives in Arkansas with her husband and is the proud mother of one son and grateful daughter of co-author, Lillian Hansen. To learn more about her books please visit https://ashleyfontainne.net/

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O M G Lost Girl by Michaelbrent Collings @mbcollings #PeterPan

Posted on February 1, 2023 by fundinmental

Michaelbrent Collings is an author that captured my heart, just don’t cut it out, PLEASE!

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

This is a true fairie tale. And like all true fairie tales, it is bloody, violent…and there is no guarantee that good will win in the end.

Michaelbrent Collings writes some of the darkest stories I have ever read and creating some of the most violent villains that I have ever ‘met’. I love that the stories are so original and unique, and I challenge you to figure out what is coming before it happens. I sure can’t. I am sure my review is not going to do Lost Girl justice, but I will do my best.

The stars are Eve, Peter Pan, Wendy and Hook, but don’t let the fairy tale fool you. Not all characters are as you expect them to be. Be careful who you trust. Be cautious who you let into your life. Who can you trust? It’s hard to say, because even her mother and grand mother have secrets they do not share.

I have read several books in the past few weeks where a character has asthma. That adds an extra level of danger. For Eve, it has gotten worse and she feels something is coming, something evil. How can she prepare for it if she has no idea who will bring it and what it will be? I never could have anticipated any of it, if I hadn’t read the blurb…vampires! Oooo, I love vampires. Don’t care if they are blood thirsty cannibals or soft and friendly.The big question is…who is the good guy and who is the bad guy? The Lost Boys are truly lost in this unconventional coming of age story.

Brutal, violent, savage:

Gaping holes. Hearts cut from their bodies. No blood. No blood no blood no blood because there was NO BLOOD MOMMY NO BLOOD AT ALL.

Eve has no father, an alcoholic mother and a grandmother with alzheimers who always wants Eve to read her favorite book, Peter Pan, to her. She is on her own. She abuses herself, just to feel alive. She is bullied and abused at school, but she continues to attend. She wants the education, regardless of no support, no friends, and teachers turning a blind eye. Dreams, or should we say, nightmares, haunt her sleep.

My heart breaks for her, but I had a feeling…somehow…she would find someone, something good would come out of her life. Well, it doesn’t work out like I thought. I was constantly surprised, if that is the correct word. Nothing is at it seems. No one is as they seem. The complexity of the novel kept me riveted, rapidly ‘flipping pages’, wanting to get to the end, but not. I wanted more…

Lost Girl by Michaelbrent Collings was published in 2012, but I feel there is more to be told. Give me more!!!!!! How about it M?????? Are the characters talking to you yet??????

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Lost Girl (Formerly Peter & Wendy: A Tale Of The Lost) by Michaelbrent Colliings.

GOODREADS BLURB

Eve has no father. An alcoholic mother. Abused at school. A loser. But when the new boy comes to school, things start to change. He’s popular, he’s good-looking, he’s smart. He likes her. And he wants to kill her. Because he’s Peter Pan. And he’s a vampire.

Eve is Wendy’s great-great-great-great-granddaughter, and Peter has made it his mission to seduce and destroy every woman in the Wendy line.

Eve can’t stay with him, but can’t stay away, either. Now, the only one who can save her is a young man, crippled and lonely, named Captain Hook: sworn protector of the Wendy line.

Eve has to uncover the mysteries that have roots in her past, and that will change her future. Mysteries that will determine whether she lives, dies… or suffers a fate worse than death.

Because Eve is changing herself. Becoming faster, stronger. More than her life is at stake. Her soul is up for grabs, and Eve will have to find more strength than she knows to stay alive… and to keep from becoming the thing she fears…

ABOUT MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS

Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally-bestselling novelist, multiple Bram Stoker Award nominee, produced screenwriter, and one of the top indie horror writers in the United States.

He hopes someday to develop superpowers, or, if that is out of the question, then at least to get a cool robot arm.

Michaelbrent has a wife and several kids, all of whom are much better looking than he is (though he admits that’s a low bar to set), and also cooler than he is.

Michaelbrent also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentC… and can be followed on Twitter through his username @mbcollings. Follow him for cool news, updates, and advance notice of sales. You will also be kept safe when the Glorious Revolution begins!

STALK MICHAELBRENT: Website / Twitter

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Giveaway & Review for Spent Identity, Book II of the Annalise Series @ewephoric @ireadbooktours #romanticsuspense

Posted on January 31, 2023 by fundinmental

I WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TOUR Join us for this tour from Jan 30 to Feb 24, 2023

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Also Available for Review:

YOU CAN SEE MY REVIEW HERE

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MY REVIEW

I love the Prologue. Ethan Fawdry, the farmhand is walking along, engrossed in a myrder mystery he is reading, and stumbles across something pink…with teeth.

Annalise needed a break from her Manhattan life and her relationship with Alex Zavos. Coming home to Goshen and the Walker Farm to get advice from her Aunt Kate.

A letter arrives from Kate’s son Jeremy, telling her he is selling the farm out from under her, leaving her with nothing. But, that is only the beginning of her troubles.

One thing after another is thrown at Annalise. It should have had her head spinning, and sometimes it does, but she approaches each situation methodically. She has people she trusts, looking out for her. Though she has her doubts by Alec, he is by her side. Can they work out their issues? We shall see.

Communication was definitely an issue with the characters, but isn’t that how real life is. People keep silent to protect themselves.

We have plenty of suspects and I was unable to eliminate any of them, feeling I was missing something…until Marlene M Bell spelled it out for me. She was able to keep me guessing. Even though I had an inkling who may be behind it all, I didn’t see it unraveling the way it did. I love when I can’t figure things out. Great job, Marlene.

From the Prologue, to the end of the book, I didn’t want to put it down. Annalise is no damsel in distress, and I loved following her through all her trials and tribulations. It never hurts to have a happy ever after and it feels just right.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Spent Identity by Marlene M Bell.

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Meet the Author:

MY REVIEW LINKS FOR MARLENE M BELL

Stolen Obsession

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Review – Creators by Nicole Ciacchella #apocalyptic #dystopian #NicoleCiacchella

Posted on January 30, 2023 by fundinmental

I grabbed Creators by Nicole Ciacchella on 6.9.14. Don’t ask me why I waited so long to get to Creators and Contributors (which is free on Amazon, but be sure and check). Books seem to get lost as I download and download and download…

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Scrolling through my books, looking for something to read, I came across Creators by Nicole Ciacchella, a ninety page novella in the Contributor series. I find the cover and title interesting, making me curious, and I do love apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. When I saw it was about the food system being threatened, I thought….could this be a portent about what is to come for us?

With all the ecological damage being done to the planet, the overpopulation, what happens when there isn’t enough left for everyone to survive? Who makes the choice of who to save and who to leave to their own devices? Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Well, we shall see. Even good people have to make hard choices. Would you choose to stay behind and let someone else have your spot?

A lot of my emotions rose to the surface. I felt disgust for those who had no thought for anyone but themselves, empathy for those knowing what is going on and having to make difficult choices, despair for those who figure things out and know they are being left to fend for themselves, almost no food, no water, the planet a barren landscape.

What would I do? What would you do? Does throwing ourselves to the wolves benefit anyone? How do we live with ourselves?

Glad I have Contributor, Book I, by Nicole Ciacchella to see what happens next.

GOODREADS BLURB

When the imminent collapse of the world’s food system threatens to all but eradicate the human race, it’s up to nineteen-year-old Liang Zhang to determine which of his company’s employees will live and which will die.

Liang and the other Job Creators have only weeks to choose which of their staff and families to move into the domes, the last refuges on the barren planet. Despite their best efforts, the Job Creators are unable to keep their selection project under wraps, spurring violent protests against the privileged few.

Now, Liang must race: against starvation, against insurrection, and against his own conscience.

ABOUT NICOLE CIACCHELLA

Nicole has never met a genre she doesn’t like. She dabbles in everything from science fiction to contemporary rom-coms to fantasy fiction.

Nicole has previously published under the pen names Elizabeth Darcy and Anne Wentworth, but is no longer using those names.

Nicole has had a lifelong passion for the written word. As a child, one of her most treasured Christmas gifts was an electric typewriter, which enabled her to crank out her stories even more quickly than she could with a pen. Naturally, the personal computer is one of her favorite inventions. When she isn’t writing, Nicole can usually be found curled up in a chair, whiling away the hours with a good book.

One of Nicole’s other great passions is travel, and she has visited Europe, as well as traveling to many of the fifty states. Her favorite trips include visits to Paris, Maui, and various parts of Belgium. She feels fortunate that she is married to a native Belgian, as it gives her plenty of reasons to visit Europe as often as possible. Also, it gives her an excuse to eat Belgian waffles regularly.

Born and raised in Michigan, Nicole lives there still with her husband and two beautiful children. She thinks Michigan is the greatest state in the country, and Michigan State University is the greatest university in the world.

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Artwork & Guest Post for Green Shoots by Ben Westwood @benwestwood #ecologicalthriller

Posted on January 26, 2023 by fundinmental

The beautiful cover caught my eye. The title made me curious. And this line from the blurb finished me off:

Green Shoots is a story of grief and revenge, a gripping crime thriller with an ecological heart.

I reviewed Green Shoots by Ben Westwood on November 16, 2022. Everything about his book spoke to me and I was amazed at Ben Westwood’s ability to pen such a fabulous debut novel. So….I decided to spotlight the artwork and cover that knocked my socks off.

You can see my 5 STAR review HERE.

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

The artwork has always been central to my novel Green Shoots, not least because the ideas for the cover and the mural came before I had even started writing the book.

I’ve always been obsessed with the color green. It’s my favorite color and I’ve always had a lot of green in my house – from the carpet to blankets and clothing. Of course, it’s the color of nature and the environment, and bathing in green light is supposed to be great for the soul. I always find myself drawn to natural surroundings to feel better.

Calling the book Green Shoots did present some problems though – it doesn’t sound like a thriller. It sounds like a nature book or possibly an economics book – “green shoots of recovery” etc. This is why the central image of blood dripping off green shoots is so important and ended up on the cover. With that image, I feel the story is defined – it’s an eco-thriller, which expresses a love of nature under the shadow of violent crimes. The image itself only appears in the book once – in the video that the killer releases globally, which in effect expresses his manifesto.

“Out of their ashes, green shoots will grow” – these words were a sort of mantra and again they came to me before even writing the book. As I was writing the first couple of chapters, I knew that I wanted the killer to leave that message at the crime scenes. But as I was writing, I realized it would be far more interesting to have a visual representation of the words rather than leaving them simply written. That’s how the idea of the mural came about. I liked the idea that the words came from somewhere else, repeated by the killer rather than actually coined by him. When I repeated the sentence to myself, I clearly visualized ashes and death on the left and rebirth on the right. I then pictured a mural with the detail of this image.

It’s described in chapter 3 of the book: “On the left is a scene of scorched earth, blackened tree stumps, skulls and bones, merging into thick forest on the right with toucans, monkeys and indigenous children. The graffiti written in white in the soil below reads: ‘De sus cenizas crecerán brotes verdes’. My Spanish is good enough to know it means: ‘Out of their ashes, green shoots will grow.’ ”

The mural first appears as a photograph in the first crime scene, but appears later in the book as an actual mural in South America. Its appearance is never fully explained and that was deliberate – I have always admired subversive pop-up artists such as Banksy and I had that idea in mind.

When the book was finished, I knew there was still some creative work to do. I wanted someone to actually paint the mural – not on a wall but as a painting. I have no painting talent at all so I found an artist – my friend Anna Walker, who lives local to me in Sussex, England. Over a couple of months she moved from sketches to completing the painting. It now hangs on my wall. It’s big – over a meter wide and dominates by living room.

The words and their accompanying images very much define the book. It is a book about hope coming from despair – both personally for John and for the world at large.

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Review – The Last Track by Sam Hilliard @samhilliard #mystery

Posted on January 25, 2023 by fundinmental

I picked up The Last Track by Sam Hilliard on 10.20.14 and I am glad I did.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I was scrolling through my books to be read and came across The Last Track by Sam Hilliard. The cover and title made me curious and when I saw that we had a mystery with a paranormal twist and a young man with asthma, alone, lost in the woods, running for his life, I had to know more.

Mike Brody is a former Special Forces operative and a master tracker, with psychic abilities that enhance his tracking talents. When he learns an asthmatic, young boy is lost in the woods, maybe being chased by those who he saw commit a murder, he knew he had to find him.

Mike has his own demons, nightmares from his past that haunt him. And it is a horrid past that no child should have to go through. That is what motivates him.

A murder, sure, but a mystery that goes so far much farther than the loss of one life. I had my sites on several as the villain, but Sam Hilliard does not make it easy to commit to one or eliminate another. Danger surrounds Mike Brody and his family. Threatening phone calls, people creeping in their rooms, makes ME nervous, so why doesn’t Jessica hold her cards closer to her vest. They have traveled together, even though Jessica and Mike are separated. They still have a good relationship and a child that they love. She is an investigative reporter, with resources that will come into play, but I worry that she isn’t more careful about her person, her room, her child.

As we track the boy, the murder starts to take a backseat to the complex mystery of what is really going on in the town and who is behind it. I love that I had the villain(s) in site, but could never make up my mind if it was them or not. There are so many of them and some others that could be and could not be ruled out..until Sam made it official. I love when I say yeah, its him, no, it’s not…..

GOODREADS BLURB

Mike Brody, the man you want when the one you love is missing.

After an asthmatic boy witnesses a murder and goes missing in the Montana wilderness, police turn to Mike Brody, a former Special Forces operative and master tracker with psychic abilities. But as Mike and a local officer follow their elusive quarry deeper into the woods, the killer begins a hunt of his own…

Some say his gift is supernatural, others consider it a curse. To Mike Brody, it’s a penance.

From the back cover:
“A good mix of mystery and adventure, The Last Track will appeal to any thriller reader. A good yarn, not to be missed . . . highly entertaining and extremely difficult to put down.”
~John A. Dunay, Police Lieutenant (Ret. ‘06)
~Police Advisor to Department of Justice, Dinwanyah and Kurdistan, Iraq ‘08

“The Last Track, by Sam Hilliard, is full of mystery and suspense to intrigue the mind. The story captures the thrill of the chase and the fear of the unknown. What kept my interest was the struggle for that we desire most in the form of love, success, money, and complete control. This book will keep your reading lamp on in the wee hours of the night!” ~Spc Amanda Daigle, Jan-Dec 09, Kirkuk, Iraq.
~Purple Heart, Feb 09

“The Last Track is one of the best thrillers our book club has ever read. Chock full of unexpected twists and turns, this well-crafted mystery kept us guessing up until the very last page. A natural storyteller, Hilliard knows how to build suspense and create compelling characters. We can’t wait to go on another adventure with Mike Brody!” ~Revolution Reading Club

ABOUT SAM HILLIARD

For seven years Sam Hilliard served as the IT Director at an all-girls boarding school, where he learned world class drama first hand, as well as the proper role of martial arts in secondary education and the need for a very strong deadbolt on his office door.

Currently he lives at an undisclosed location in New Jersey with his wife and Cat Army. On the long dark nights, he works on the sequel to The Last Track, which despite allowing the manuscript sufficient breathing space at times, is not, in fact, writing itself. He also works at Princeton University.

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