The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant (Books 1, 5 & 6) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff @MimiJeanRomance

Posted on May 12, 2021 by fundinmental

I am a huge fan of Mimi Jean Pamfiloff and the Librarian’s Assistant series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I have read 3 out of 6 and have the bookset for books 1-3, so I plan on reading books 2 and 3 in the very near future.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I got The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant Book I by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff on a free day. It led me down a biting good path of laughs, love and vampires. I started with a smile and a chuckle. That’s a good sign and something Mimi Jean Pamfiloff does with ease. Michael Vanderhorst wasn’t looking for work, but he couldn’t resist her. Now, he’s a library assistant. Even though he saw Miriam coming, he never could have anticipated the affect she would have on his life. Hilarious, suspenseful, mouth wateringly, delightfully addictive.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a Horribly Sunny Mystery, The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant.

NOBODY MESSES WITH HIS LIBRARIAN. . .

Who killed Michael Vanderhorst’s maker? It’s a darn good question. But when the trail brings Michael to hellishly sunny Phoenix, Arizona, his biggest problem soon becomes a cute little librarian he can’t seem to stay away from. He’s never met a bigger danger magnet! Even her book cart has it out for her. And is that the drug cartel following her around, too? “Dear God, woman! What have you gotten yourself into?”

Things go from bad to worse when local vampires won’t play nice.

Can this four-hundred-year-old vampire keep his librarian safe and himself out of hot water? Can he bring his maker’s killer to justice? Yesterday, he would’ve said yes. But yesterday, he didn’t have a strange connection with a librarian. Yesterday, people weren’t trying to kill her.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I won a signed copy of The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant Book 5 by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff and I was sooo excited. I had already picked up the first book on a free day and loved it, so I dove right in. Fortunately it can be read as a stand alone, so I didn’t have any trouble following along.

I am immediately drawn back into Michael and Miriam’s world, watching the characters grow and change, finding their place in a world not of their own making. When it comes to a sacrifice that may free her from the life of a vampire, will Miriam take it? No choice is easy. There are always consequences.

OMG… I loved the book, but as I read the last chapter, I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. This is not in anyway a vampire romance you have read before. Five stars for love, hope, laughter and sweet sweet Stella. I will sorely miss these characters, now that the story has been told and the series is done.

Humans can live without us, but we cannot live without them. And that is why they must always be protected, for better or worse, they are the species that make this world what it is.

GOODREADS BLURB

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes the FINAL vampire-mystery-slash-romance-slash-adventure about a librarian and her trusty vampire assistant, The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant, Book 5. (Yes, yes. Still a standalone. Yippy! You don’t have to go back and read all four books. But don’t ya kinda wanna?)

NEVER HIRE A HANDSOME VAMPIRE!

MIRIAM MURPHY loves being a librarian. It’s all she’s ever wanted—to eat, breathe, and sleep books. But when she hired Michael, a handsome college student, she had no idea he was a four-hundred-year-old vampire and that inviting him into her life would result in her becoming one too. But not before he knocked her up and broke her heart.

Now Miriam is a single mother, all alone in a new world with a new vampire body. And someone’s trying to kill her. Who? Why? She has no real enemies.

If only Michael would help. After all, he’s the vampire king now. And this is one mystery she can’t solve on her own.

NEVER FALL FOR A LIBRARIAN!

MICHAEL VANDERHORST knows he’s changed. He can no longer love or laugh or enjoy hot peppers like he used to. But being an unfeeling, ruthless vampire is what it takes to rule the deadliest bloodsuckers on the planet. It’s the only way to keep humankind safe.

Problem is, his enemies know the librarian and his daughter are special to him. They are his to protect, even if he’s incapable of feeling love.

But when danger comes knocking at Miriam’s library door, he must choose between solving the biggest mystery of his existence and the woman he swore to protect.

What’s a vampire king to do?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“I am a Vampire Man! Vampire on the inside. Man on the outside. NOM NOM NOM

Michael and Miriam’s stories may be told, but we still have Mr Nice to deal with. Vampire Man picks up where Book 5 left off, but seeing it is Mr Nice’s story, a rebirth, if you will, it can stand by itself and he is about to get some very bad news. I feel for the messenger. You know the saying, right? Don’t kill the messenger? Well, Mr Nice could very well do that. There is a secret Mr Nice is keeping, thinking to unleash it when the time is right. We have good and bad vampires, as well as good and bad humans.

We have lots of laughs, danger and gruesome deaths, but love is the magic element that can make an evil vampire reevaluate what is important in life. Does he deserve a second chance?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Vampire Man by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff.

GOODREADS BLURB

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff, comes a standalone Paranormal Romcom about second chances.

CAN THIS EVIL VAMPIRE CHANGE HIS WAYS?

Just a few short years ago, a medical miracle turned this ancient evil vampire into a human baby. Just a small setback in Mr. Nice’s plans for world domination, right?

Wrong. Because now a slight problem with the transformation has left him aging five times faster than a regular human.

Sure, he’s happier and stronger than he ever was in his past human life (These vitamins do wonders!), but if he wants to live, he’ll have to find a vampire willing to turn him. Fast!

Of course, none of them are crazy enough to do it. Not after the hell he put the vampire world through, including the vampire king.

“Will no one give me a second chance? I’m only a little bit evil now!”

Then, just when all hope is lost, he walks into a library and meets the new head librarian. She might be the only vampire on the planet who has no clue who he is.

Can he convince her he’s a good man, one who deserves to live forever? Because she’ll only turn the man who’s destined to be her mate.

I have loved the series…so far…and will be reading Books 2 and 3 ASAP. This was free at time of posting, as was Book I

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 / Twitter / Instagram

MY MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF REVIEWS

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for stopping by fundinmental!

Loved Bad Fairy Strikes Again by Elaine Kaye @ElaineKAuthor @ChrysFey

Posted on May 5, 2021 by fundinmental

The cover for Bad Fairy Strikes Again by Elaine Kaye is so darn cute how could I possibly resist reading about Thistle Greenbud. I was amazed that an author I love so much, Abigail Owen, created the cover.

Bad Fairy Strikes Again (A Bad Fairy Adventure #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Smiles and delight abound as I embark on a mystery adventure with Thistle and her fluttery friends. I immediately fell in love with them all.

We have a mystery to be solved. Thistle’s dad is missing.

As the gang investigates, Elaine Kaye’s creative writing made it so easy for me to visualize them fluttering through the forest. Each fairy has a uniquely cute personality. I want to meet them again. I want to hang out with them. If I physically stepped into the book, could I be a fairy too?

The message fits the story and blends in seamlessly.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bad Fairy Strikes Again by Elaine Kaye.

GOODREADS BLURB

Thistle Greenbud thought the nickname Bad Fairy was behind her, but she can’t escape it. Someone is spreading a rumor about her that just isn’t true and can ruin all of her hard work in getting into Advanced School. What fairy would do such a thing?

As if that’s not bad enough, Thistle’s dad goes missing. Not a single fairy in Tinselville has seen him. He’s vanished like pixie dust. Her mom is distraught, and Thistle is worried. Where could he be?

Thistle and the Flutters, along with Dusty and Moss, are on both cases. Can they find out what happened to her dad and solve the Bad Fairy rumor? Thistle hopes so!

Age Range: 8-12

A Bad Fairy Adventure Series:
Bad Fairy (#1)
Bad Fairy Strikes Again (#2)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elaine Kaye is the author of A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster. Bad Fairy is her middle grade debut and the first of A Bad Fairy Adventure series.

Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.

Amazon / Goodreads / BookBub / Instagram / Facebook Twitter / LinkedIn / Blog

MY REVIEWS FOR ELAINE KAYE

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Villain Extraordinaire – I am Mayhem by Sue Coletta @SueColetta1

Posted on May 3, 2021 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“Prepare Cautious Cat, for I am the storm you”ve feared. I am Mayhem.”

“There’s only one way to learn the truth. The question is, how far will you go to find the answers you seek?”

I waited…looking at the cover every time I opened my Kindle…to let the anticipation build. Mr Mayhem is a fascinating villain and I am enamored by him. He is definitely one of my favorite villains.

The murder of crows, spotlighting Poe, Edgar and Allen dog her footsteps, giving her ‘gifts’ that are clues from Mr Mayhem. It is up to her to decipher their meaning. Each of the crows have a distinct personality, at times seeming almost human. Does Poe have his own agenda? He really, really hates her.

Sue wasted no time getting to it, in a gruesome way. A crow. A GPS destination. A bloody nose in a giveaway box. Surprise…

At 6% I am already tied in knots, breathing a sigh of relief when…well…I can’t tell you. But that is only a respite, because there is so much more to come.

My biggest problem writing this review, is giving away no secrets, especially if you want to go back to the beginning and read the entire series. The suspense, the addition of Indian mythicism and culture, the crows, and Shawnee operating on her own, make for a thrilling read.

Sue puts a lot of research into her work and it shows in her writing. I am fascinated.

At one point, Sue Coletta brought to mind my love of rising early, and with a cup of coffee, sitting on the patio, listening to the world come alive. The birds sing, flitting through the tree branches. Listen closely and you can spot them…And Shawnee will need all her powers of observation to survive.

What do a cop, a serial killer and a Shaman have in common? The need to defeat a common foe.

Brace yourself before reading, because the depth and detail that Sue Coletta takes to show us Mayhem’s game and why he does what he does, may surprise you. He sure did me, but now I understand why he is so interested in her and why he doesn’t just kill her outright. Shawnee will be taken to a place she never could have seen coming and the results will be life or death.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of I Am Mayhem by Sue Coletta.

GOODREADS BLURB

As bloody, severed body parts show up on her doorstep, Shawnee Daniels must stop the serial killer who wants her dead before she becomes the next victim.

But can she solve his cryptic clues before it’s too late? Or will she be the next to die a slow, agonizing death?

With crows stalking her every move, Shawnee can barely function. Things worsen when body parts show up on her doorstep. An unstoppable serial killer wants her dead. Mr. Mayhem threatens to murder everyone she loves, sending Shawnee a piece at a time.

As Mr. Mayhem sits in judgement, his cryptic clues must be solved before the final gavel drops. The game rules are simple—win the unwinnable or submit to a slow, agonizing death.

When Shawnee tries to fight back, she discovers her very existence is based on lies. But the full impact of the truth might become the headstone on Shawnee’s grave.

ABOUT SUE COLETTA

ABOUT SUE COLETTA Member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Sue Coletta is an award-winning, multi-published author in numerous anthologies and her forensics articles have appeared in InSinC Quarterly. In addition to her popular crime resource blog, Sue co-hosts the radio show “Partners In Crime” on Writestream Radio Network every third Tuesday of the month from 1 – 3 p.m. EDT/EST (see details at www.suecoletta.com). She’s also the communications manager

for the Serial Killer Project and Forensic Science, and founder of #ACrimeChat on Twitter. She runs a popular crime website and blog, where she shares crime tips, police jargon, the mind of serial killers, and anything and everything in between. If you search her achieves, you’ll find posts from guests that work in law enforcement, forensics, coroner, undercover operatives, firearm experts…crime, crime, and more crime. For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where subscribers will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes. As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door. Inside, like-minded folks discuss their favorite crime novels, solve mindbender and mystery puzzles, and/or relax and chat. Most importantly, everyone has a lot of fun. Sue lives in northern New Hampshire with her husband, where her house is surrounded by wildlife…bear, moose, deer, even mountain lions have been spotted. Course, Sue would love to snuggle with them, but her husband frowns on the idea.

Website * Facebook Author Page * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest Google+ * Youtube * Amazon * Goodreads

MY REVIEWS FOR SUE COLETTA

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

River’s End Rescues – Some Regrets Are Forever by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

Posted on April 28, 2021 by fundinmental

Oh yeah. A new series , River’s End Rescues, by Jane Blythe. I eagerly anticipate meeting new ‘people’ and watching how their lives grow and change through the danger and suspense Jane Blythe creates in her romantic suspense novels.

Some Regrets are Forever (River's End Rescues, #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Looking at the cover, I thought this may be a bit on the tame side, but I should never have second guessed Jane Blythe. I immediately connected to Meadow, a woman on the run…

She had just enough money to get her to River’s End.

From the moment Abe Black, the sheriff of River’s End, saw her at the diner, he became her protector. Seeing this is a romantic suspense novel, I don’t think it will stay that way. LOL

Abe had grown up in River’s End, and after the war in Afghanistan, he came home to the peace and quiet of the small town of River’s End. He became the sheriff and settled on his own plot of land. He determined it was his lot in life, to maintain a peaceful place for those to come.

I love stories that take place in small towns, a damsel in distress, and a hunkaclicious man who will save her. We quickly meet the characters that live there and they appear as if they could be our own neighbors and friends.

Abe made Meadow an offer…to stay with him until she got on her feet. It felt safe to her. It felt right, and she wondered….

She was running…from a psychopathic husband that wants what belongs to him and will stop at nothing to get IT back.

Jane Blythe has the ability to create characters and worlds that quickly draw me in, never letting me go. I loved that she found a way to write romantic suspense without the woman making some boner move that has her walking into danger. I know it’s hard to come up with new ways to create danger and suspense in the last half of the book without the woman looking like a dumbass and making a stupid move, running straight into trouble, but Jane Blythe did a bang up job of doing just that.

I highly recommend Jane Blythe’s work and can hardly wait to see what she comes up with for the next book in the River’s End Rescues series.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Some Regrets Are Forever by Jane Blythe.

GOODREADS BLURB

She will bring sunshine to his life … if he can keep her alive.

All Meadow Smith has ever wanted was to belong. Unfortunately her desire to find her place in the world led to a decision she regrets but can never take back. Now she’s on the run and has to decide if she can put her trust in another man or if she’s safer if she keeps moving. Problem is you can’t run from your problems forever.

Abe Black served his country and now he serves the people of River’s End as Sheriff of the quaint small town. As soon as he spots Meadow he knows she’s in trouble, he wants to help just like he wants to give in to his growing feelings for the sweet woman but he’s been burned before. Can he settle for just trying to keep her alive and then walk away?

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

Jane has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series, Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.

When she’s not writing Jane loves to read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies. She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears. She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!

Website / Twitter / Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

One & Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Christmas Hostage (Christmas Romantic Suspense)
Christmas Captive (Christmas Romantic Suspense)
Christmas Victim (Christmas Romantic Suspense)
A Secret to the Grave (Detective Parker Bell)
Winter Wonderland (Detective Parker Bell)
Dead Or Alive (Detective Parker Bell)
Little Girl Lost (Detective Parker Bell)
Flashes of Fate
The Diamond Star
Drowning in You (Conquering Fear)
Out of the Darkness (Conquering Fear)
Cracked Sapphire (Broken Gems)
Crushed Ruby (Broken Gems)
Fractured Diamond (Broken Gems)
Shattered Amethyst (Broken Gems)
Splintered Emerald (Broken Gems)
Salvaging Marigold (Broken Gems)

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Dead Meat: Day 7 by Nick Clausen @NickClausen9

Posted on April 27, 2021 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

We begin Day 7 with Dan, my favorite guy, and my heart breaks for him. I have been with him every step of the way, from Day 1, of the apocalypse.

I will warn you about the characters and Nick Clausen’s ability to kill them off, no matter how brave, courageous and selfless they may be. So be leery of falling in love with any of them.

“…the human body can go three weeks without food, three days without water…and 3 minutes without oxygen.”

Does that whet your appetite for suspense?

Iver, who we met in Book 6, is still alive. YAY! He is a wonderful character, putting his life on the line to do the right thing. Getting away from the ferry was pretty amazing, but, now, they are stranded on an island…with zombies outnumbering them.

“Paranoid people live longer.”

William….When he was stranded in the car, I thought of Cujo, but he has it worse. Will he survive? I really want him to…BUT…it’s up to Nick. Is there a way, Nick?

OMG…you are killing me Nick! From beginning to end, my heart was in my throat. BUT, when I reached the cliffhanger ending, it dropped to my gut and I think it will drive me crazy having to wait until Day 8.

So much happens in each terror filled Day, it feels like weeks, months, or even years have passed. People’s true nature rises to the surface, their humanity…or inhumanity…exposed.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dead Meat: Day 7 by Nick Clausen.

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

The dead have awakened. The world is ending. Can the disaster still be stopped?

Our survivors are facing daunting odds in their quest to find a way to save the world from the brink of collapse. The dead are growing in numbers rapidly, and hope seems like a distant dream.

This is Day 7 of the zombie apocalypse.

Fans of Mark Tufo, TW Piperbrook, Bobby Adair and Camille Picott will devour this action-packed zombie book. And if you liked The Orphans, Dead State or The End of Everything, you’ll love Dead Meat.

What readers are saying about Dead Meat:

★★★★★ “like reading an episode of The Walking Dead” – Amazon review

★★★★★ “I’ve read a lot of zombie series, and this is the best” – Amazon review

★★★★★ “terrifying, nightmare-inducing, impossible to put down” – Amazon review

ABOUT NICK CLAUSEN

Born 1988 in North Jutland, where I still live with my wife, who also happened to be my earliest childhood girlfriend. From 2017 I have lived as a full-time writer. Up until then, I had different jobs beside the writing. I have been studying as a carpenter for three years, and have also read two years of psychology at Aalborg University. It turned out that the writing had a much more powerful pull on me.

I decided early on that I would be an author when I grew up. In fact, the decision came to me already when I read my first book, Snevampyren by Dennis Jürgensen. My first “real” stories I wrote at 14-15 years of age. They were rejected by the publisher, but still got praise. There were some years when I was busy with being a teenager and trying to get an education before I suddenly remembered that I should be an author.

That day I made a promise to write 1,000 words a day until I got a book published. I sat down and started writing. I continued to write every single day for a year and a half. I sent the finished manuscripts to different publishers, and the rejections piled up. Twelve of them by the end. But each time I could feel it was a little bit better. The criticism became more positive. The thirteenth story was called Tidevandet, and it was adopted by the publisher and came out a year later.

I have always enjoyed writing, although in the beginning I put a lot of pressure on myself. My approach to the process has become much more free over the years. For example, I no longer plan my stories. That way, I feel that I’m experiencing the story while writing it and the characters feel like real people. I do not know where the ideas come from, but I’ve never had trouble finding them.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

MY NICK CLAUSEN REVIEWS

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair @MichaelFStewart

Posted on April 22, 2021 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“…privilege is often synonymous with assholery.”

“By the time you all figure it out, you’ve got daughters of your own being stalked by jerks like you.”

“How do you live a lifetime in four months?”

I don’t know if I found one character to root for, but I feel there is always an opportunity for them to redeem themselves. Knowing you are dying gives you an opportunity to rethink what life you have left. I do love a thought provoking book, and Michael F Stewart is able to do that with ease.

Tremmy and his ‘friends’ are what you expect from the spoiled elite who think their shit don’t stink. Little do they know, they walk alone. Even their friends will betray them at the drop of a hat. Is there no one who cares about his thoughts, his feelings? I expected his fellow students and friends to act the way they did, but I did not expect the adults to be the same way. I can feel his frustration and pain as the clock ticks down.

“To die well, you have to live well.”

As days pass, so do his old thoughts and feelings.

Michael F Stewart handles a difficult subject in an unusual way, with an twisted ending that deserves a star of its own. I had wondered how he would end the story, because he has a great way of taking me to a place, making me follow a path, where I thought I knew where I was going, until I stepped off that cliff saying WTF.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair by Michael F Stewart.

GOODREADS BLURB

Seventeen years old. Rich. Hot. Captain of the Drone War team. Head prefect of a surreally elite boarding school. Tremmy is dying.

His illness strips everything from him—including the support of his teachers and friends who once nurtured his bright future. Worst of all, his best friend’s meteoric rise has come at the expense of Tremmy’s spectacular fall. Far from going out with the bang he’d hoped for, Tremmy faces betrayal.

But his illness has the power to expose the best as well as the worst of his school, his friends, and himself. Tremmy sets out to prove that the community he loves has to overcome its fear of death in order to truly begin to live. And Tremmy receive the momentous end he so fervently desires.

ABOUT MICHAEL F STEWART

Michael F. Stewart is winner of both the 2015 Claymore Award and the 2014 inaugural Creation of Stories Award for best YA novel at the Toronto International Book Fair.
He likes to combine storytelling with technology and pioneered interactive storytelling with Scholastic Canada, Australia, and New Zealand’s, anti-cyberbullying program Bully For You. In addition to his award winning Assured Destruction series, he has authored four graphic novels with Oxford University Press Canada’s Boldprint series. Publications of nonfiction titles on Corruption and Children’s Rights are published by Scholastic and early readers are out with Pearson Education.

For adults, Michael has written THE SAND DRAGON a horror about a revenant prehistoric vampire set in the tar sands, HURAKAN a Mayan themed thriller which pits the Maya against the MS-13 with a New York family stuck in the middle, 24 BONES an urban fantasy which draws from Egyptian myth, and THE TERMINALS–a covert government unit which solves crimes in this realm by investigating them in the next.

Herder of four daughters, Michael lives to write in Ottawa where he was the Ottawa Public Library’s first Writer in Residence. To learn more about Michael and his next projects visit his website at www.michaelfstewart.com or connect via Twitter @MichaelFStewart.

Michael is represented by Talcott Notch.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

MY MICHAEL F STEWART REVIEWS

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I’m an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

You Don’t Want To Meet Molli – The Apocalypse Strain by Jason Parent @AuthorJasParent #Horror

Posted on April 21, 2021 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Yeah, I know, another virus novel…but Jason Parent has the ability to spin a tale that can rock my world, so I am very happy to read and share his version of research that is out of the control of those who TRY and contain it. Lives will be lost..and maybe…

As I write the review, I had to scrap my notes and write on the fly. I enjoyed the story so much, I sure don’t want to spoil anything for you, Experiencing the horror around every corner is worth finding out for yourself.

I know with Jason Parent, I’m going to have a wild ride into the depths of Hell, and I gladly buckle up, clench…well…everything, and settle in.

As each body falls to Molli, I keep hoping some will survive. Jason Parent creates characters that I quickly become involved with, and keeps me wondering if they will survive what is coming at them.

So…prepare yourself. Watch for that movement out of the corner of your eye. Is it Molli? How about that feeling that something is caressing your skin. Is it Molli?

Will anyone survive?

The ending…took my by surprise and I loved/hated it. I sat for a while, thinking about it. LOL Even though the story is told, my mind keeps going, anticipating what comes next. Is it really over? Great job, Jason.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Apocalypse Strain by Jason Parent.

GOODREADS BLURB

A multi-national research team, led by a medical genomics expert suffering from MS, study an ancient pandoravirus at a remote Siberian research facility. Called “Molli” by the research team, the organic substance reveals some unique but troublesome characteristics, qualities that, in the wrong hands, could lead to human extinction.

The researchers soon learn that even in the right hands, Molli is a force too dangerous to escape their compound. But the virus has a mind of its own, and it wants out.

FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

ABOUT JASON PARENT

In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his cuddly corgi named Calypso.

In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute timeframe they see on TV (it’s harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he’s back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that’s another story.

When he’s not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists into a knot or takes somebody’s head off – he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.

Please visit the author on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonP…, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AuthorJasParent, or at his website, http://authorjasonparent.com/, for information regarding upcoming events or releases, or if you have any questions or comments for him.

MY JASON PARENT REVIEWS

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/ product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

The Right Time by Amanda Siegrist @amanda_siegrist #romance #humor

Posted on April 14, 2021 by fundinmental

Looking for some romance? Amanda Siegrist has it in Book II, The Right Time. Mia Carter is planning a party and you are invited.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Amanda Siegrist is able to combine sorrow and delight into happy ever after in a way that keeps me reading, growing to love the characters she creates, and leaving me wanting more.

Amanda Siegrist takes an insecure woman, Mia Carter, and creates a realistic character who finds her place in life, and someone to share it with. Isn’t that what we all want?

Jaxon is a police detective who works with Mia’s best friend, Gabby. After a robbery, he comes knocking on her door. Her knight in shining armor has arrived…again.

Jaxson Brandt had made his feelings clear to Mia…at The Wrong Time. After he declared his feelings for her, it put a distance between them. She denied her feelings, a least to everyone but herself. Doubt and fear held her back. Coud she take that leap of faith that love demanded?

Would there ever be The Right Time?

Amanda Siegrist makes me a sucker for her sweet romances. There is no intense danger, most of the time, just two people working through their issues to find themselves and each other. They could be your friends, your sister, your brother..

The Wrong Time by Amanda Siegrist has all you could want in a sweet romance: angst, the push/pull of romance, sorrow. tears, humor, joy and a happy ever after.

I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of The Right Time by Amanda Siegrist.

GOODREADS BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes a brand new series full of humor, a sassy heroine, and a sexy, sinful hero that will sweep you off your feet.

The plan: Organize an epic birthday party without spilling the massive secret—that has nothing to do with the party.
Timeframe: Two weeks.

Plan a party? Check.
Try not to think about the man she can’t have? Check.
Suddenly accept said man’s proposal. Check.
Wait…what did Mia Carter do? There was no way she could marry Jaxson Brandt. It would never last. Nothing in her life ever does. They weren’t even dating. They couldn’t go from just friends to marriage. She’ll just have to tell him she changed her mind. If only he’d give her a chance to do so. But between planning a birthday party and trying to keep her bestie from finding out they’re getting hitched, she can’t seem to find the right time.
He’s making it his mission to show her what love is truly about—something she’d never had before. She’s just not sure it’ll be enough to convince her.

Warning: This is not a full romcom. While it has moments of humor, it also has a twist of angst. Okay, now you can dive in, you’re prepared!

The entire Perfect For You series: (Each book can be read as a standalone.)
The Wrong Brother (Book 1): Dane & Gabriella
The Right Time (Book 2): Jaxson & Mia

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

Website / Twitter / Facebook

MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

Sunrise Awakening
Sunset Darkening
One Taste of You
One Taste of Love
One Taste of Crazy
One Taste of Sin
One Taste of Redemption
Merry Me (A Holiday Romance Novel)
Mistletoe Magic (A Holiday Romance Novel)
Christmas Wish (A Holiday Romance Novel)
Snowed In Love (A Holiday Romance Novel)
Snowflakes and Shots (A Holiday Romance Novel)
Dark Consequences
Drowning in You (With Jane Blythe)
Out of the Darkness (With Jane Blythe)
Always Kind of Love (The McCord Family)
The Wrong Brother (A Perfect For You Novel)
Escaping Memories (A Lucky Town Novel)
Dangerous Memories (A Lucky Town Novel)
Stolen Memories (A Lucky Town Novel)

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Grotesquely Funny – Little Mike by Ken La Salle @KenLaSalle

Posted on April 7, 2021 by fundinmental

I have been reading Ken La Salle’s work for some time now and he never ceases to amaze me with his creativity and ability to spin a tale…and some of them are pretty far out there. LOL And I love it.

I was very curious about the cover, because I knew Ken La Salle just couldn’t find the right thing, so I asked him to write up a guest post and share his thoughts about it. The story is very original, unique and…well, it’s very hard to describe, but if you like something that can shock you and make you stretch your mind, this could be for you.

So….welcome Ken.

IN HIS OWN WORDS…

“Seat of the pants” is much more than a style of writing; it really is a way of life. And this is especially true in the writing world where book release dates and cover reveals are just as strategic as the handsome stranger entering in the third act.

For me, though, strategy can get boring sometimes. I was working on Heaven Enough when I was first captured by this strange notion of art as torture, which was only my first glimpse into the world of Little Mike. As strange as this notion was, I knew I couldn’t create a traditional outline or structure – or anything. Little Mike revealed itself much like a sculpture locked in stone, freed by the tiniest chips.

Because Little Mike was such a different kind of book, I talked up the idea with some friends just to see their response to some of the ideas presented and, after I wrote the novel, I managed to corral my first beta readers. I knew there would be pushback to some of my ideas but I was pleased to see the story connect in such a powerful way.

Agents and publishers turned Little Mike away in droves, however. Still, I had to believe that the reactions of my readers meant far more than the publishers and agents who turned their noses up at the mention of a Muslim prostitute. This was, of course, before my editor asked, and I’m paraphrasing, “Are you sure?” This was before two cover artists told me the cover was impossible to create and a third cover artist told me he couldn’t “draw funny.” (Not that anyone asked…)

Seat of the pants style, my wife and I bought a doll, found a place to shoot the cover, and brought Little Mike to life ourselves.

“Seat of the pants” is not a guaranty of success; it is an offer of adventure, a ticket to unexpected destinations. I hope Little Mike takes you someplace unexpected, just as it did for me.

You accomplished your mission, Ken. You definitely took me somewhere I couldn’t have gotten on my own and I LOVE IT! Keep up the great work.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“The country needed more pollution and dumber children, I guess.”

WOW! I mean…WOW! Ken La Salle blew me away with this grotesquely hilarious glimpse of what our future could behold.

Ken La Salle writes some of the most wildly entertaining, unique, and creative stories I have ever read and Little Mike hits all the marks.

I love the simple cover and it sure doesn’t give anything away. He worked on the cover for quite some time.

Ken La Salle’s version on the have and have nots, and the decline of the human race is…

BEWARE: There is graphic violence and his version of the end of the world, man, oh man…bereft of all hope, surviving while waiting to die…sure don’t see much to live for.

Perversion, depravity. Totally twisted. Laughs and disgust. Need a strong stomach…and maybe a puke bucket. LOL

A satire on the state of the union and what the future could hold for us. Think you have it bad…these characters show that it can always be worse.

Who is better off? An optimist? A pessimist? A realist?

Thought provoking. Soul crushing. Hopeless and hopeful. Had me questioning myself and my responsibilities towards the world we live in.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Little Mike by Ken La Salle.

GOODREADS BLURB

He’s come to destroy the world.
We beat him to it.
Welcome to a world where you have to suck the KKK for breakfast and people fight for the right to be warehoused. Welcome to a world where television is free just as long as you never turn it off, where opioids are delicious and safe, mostly, where the streets are filled with the bodies of the dead, worms are blessed, and children are tortured for the sake of art.
And into this world awakens Little Mike.
Little Mike is a doll.
Little Mike doesn’t know why he’s woken up. He doesn’t know that he means the end of humankind. He’s too busy being traded for sexual favors, watching Reality TV, and searching for the last shreds of human hope in the same landfill where they’d deposited their decency and their intelligence.
Dystopia is a word that gets thrown around a lot but what do you call a world where the future has been stripped of its meaning? Where the petty greeds of humanity eclipse survival? Where corporations have data-mined the human heart… and no one can see beyond the latest distraction… and human history culminates in silent surrender?
You’d call that the world of Little Mike. It only sounds like the world where you live.

ABOUT KEN LA SALLE

Born on an 18th century mining ship, Ken La Salle is not his name. He just likes it. He writes about whatever he damn well pleases, hoping to build more of a cult following than a readership just for a cut on the robes. Looking for the mainstream but sticking to the shore, you can find out more about Ken La Salle at the imaginatively named www.kenlasalle.com.

GIVEAWAY

Want a glimpse into Ken La Salle’s world? Now is your chance. Ken is offering 3 ebook copies of Little Mike. Entry is easy peasy. All you have to do is leave a comment answering the question and leaving your requested format and email:

Are you…An optimist? A pessimist? A realist?

Please share the love.

MY KEN LA SALLE REVIEWS

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold @HibbertStiles

Posted on April 6, 2021 by fundinmental

Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold is the second book in the Amanda Steele series and I am really loving Detective Amanda Steele.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

WOW! I was expecting a great read when I opened Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold, but I got more than I expected. I find that amazing, because I have been reading her work for some time now and loving it, so for her to write a novel that has me saying to myself (and you), “WOW, this is the perfect story for me.”, it hits all the spots.

Amanda Steele reminds me of Clarisse on the new TV show. I guess that shows how I feel about Carolyn Arnold’s work. It is suitable for the visual media, whether on TV or the movies. Who knows?

The romance is there, but not, and that is fine with me, because I was so involved with the characters I was reading about, I never really missed Logan. He did drop in for a minute or two here and there, just enough to let us know he is waiting….

I love that Amanda doesn’t jump into a relationship with Logan too quickly. I kinda like the one they have right now, taking their time to let it develop naturally, if that is possible in the world they live in. Danger is all around, and they never know when it will find them.

Carolyn Arnold does police procedurals proud. She gives the investigative details in a clear, concise manner, not slowing down the story in any way.

We have a lot of things going on in Stolen Daughters. Logan is trying to hook up with Amanda, but she is too busy trying to help her mother, find out who killed the girl in the fire and deal with her own personal issues.

I love when I can have empathy for the villain, but that does not excuse his actions. He knows right from wrong, he just loves doing wrong. The past is the past and I feel no one can use that for an excuse for their behavior, and when I remember his victims, well…you’ll have to read the book and then I think you may know what I feel.

I love when a fictional novel can draw me so far into it that I, at times, forget I am reading fiction. I had a bunch of notes, but after rereading the blurb, I had to wing it. I didn’t want to give anything away. I want you to experience it for yourself. It is well worth it.

I ignored everything going on around me and stayed up late to finish Stolen Daughters, so to say it was unputdownable is not doing it justice. When IT hits the road, Amanda Steele puts the pedal to the metal, no looking back and no second guessing.

I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of Stolen Daughters by Carolyn Arnold.

GOODREADS BLURB

The girl looked so peaceful, she could have been asleep. Except her eyes were open, blankly reflecting the flickering flames spreading towards her…

When firefighters discover the body of a teenage girl at an abandoned house, Detective Amanda Steele hurries to the scene. Dumfries, Virginia is a small town, yet no one seems to have any idea who the dead girl is until Amanda finds a dragonfly pin with the name Crystal engraved on it.

Working tirelessly, Amanda traces the pin to Crystal Foster, a thirteen-year-old who disappeared three years ago from her wealthy parents’ home. Breaking the news to the distraught parents won’t be easy, but the loss of her own daughter still haunts Amanda, and she knows this will bring them closure. But when Amanda goes to see the Fosters, they do not recognize the girl. She isn’t Crystal.

Before Amanda can react to this new development, she gets an urgent call. A fire has consumed another vacant house, and the remains of two more girls have been found. Who are these girls, and why are they being picked off? Amanda must stop this killer before the pattern continues, and the death toll climbs.

When Amanda receives a taunting note from the killer, she realizes that she holds the missing piece of this puzzle. The victims are connected to Amanda’s past, to a case she can never forget, and which almost claimed her life. As she follows the clues to their deadly conclusion, can she save more innocent lives… even if it risks her own?

An unputdownable, pulse-pounding mystery. Fans of Rachel Caine, Lisa Regan and Robert Dugoni will be gripped.

Audiobook
Amazo n | Audible

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online: Website / Twitter / Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.