Have you ever been ticked off by someone taking to long in the grocery store line? Has someone made you wait while they decided which cafe latte they wanted? And…to put the shoe on the other foot, have you ever got in a fast food line and hemmed and hawed about what you wanted to order? Have you ever fumbled around at the ATM for your debit card? At the pharmacy? This book will make you think twice…maybe.
Time Killer by Todd M Thiede is one of those books that is hard for me to rate. It had so many things I love in a suspense/thriller…an unhinged killed, lots of bodies falling, danger and tension making me have to know what happens.
It looks like this is the second book of Todd M Thiede’s writing career and his first Max Larkin Detective Series novel, so I can forgive some of the things that bothered me. The writing seemed to be loose, at times too quick to pass over what is happening. I would have loved to have more details about a couple of events, more details on the characters feelings about what transpired. But, all in all, well done, Todd. I would definitely read more of your work.
I flipped flopped between 3 and 4 stars, and when that happens I up it, so…………
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Witness a gripping thriller that will surely hook you from start to finish in Time Killer…
Have you ever stood in a line at a grocery store while a person in front of you argued every price and then at the very end they pulled out a book of coupons? Have you ever waited in a drive thru as the person in front of you took forever to order his food? There is a person in Rockton Illinois that has had this happen to him and he is doing something about it. He is getting rid of the Time Wasters in Rockton.
Detective Max Larkin has a pretty simple life in Rockton. He wakes up every morning and goes to the police station to solve small town crimes. However, today is going to be different. Not only is he getting a new partner, Jesse Fairlane, that he doesn’t want, but he is getting assigned to a murder case where the murderer writes TIME WASTER on the wall in the victim’s blood.
Follow them as they attempt to solve the murder mystery case and find out if their tandem would work in Time Killer.
ABOUT TODD M THIEDE (from his website)
When you think of an Amazon bestselling author you probably won’t think of Todd M. Thiede.
He’s been a finance manager at a car dealership in Illinois for over 15
years. He’s a father of 4 and now a grandfather of 3. When he’s not
working or spending time with his family, he’s writing books. His Max
Larkin Detective series has been on Amazon’s Bestsellers list for
multiple books in the series. He’s also written Political Thrillers
under the pseudonym T.T. Michael, and those books have won multiple
awards from Readers’ Favorite and Book Excellence Awards.
Todd M. Thiede is now diving into the Sci-Fi world with his new book “A New Planet”.
We’re so excited to be sharing the blog tour for CURIOUS OBSESSION by Elora Nicole Ramirez! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!
Title: Curious Obsession
Author: Elora Nicole Ramirez
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About Curious Obsession:
One moment Juniper Reese existed, and the next she vanished into thin air.This is how it feels for Lavender, her twin, when she receives the call that Juniper didn’t show up to her job one morning. Still adjusting to Juniper’s cross-country move to run from the ghosts of their mother’s death, Lavender knows something is wrong — but she also knows her sister is still alive.As she follows Juniper’s footsteps in an unfamiliar town, she begins to uncover a plot that seems to suggest her sister was being stalked before her disappearance. Now it’s on her to find Juniper before time runs out and convince those around her that her disappearance wasn’t an attempt to “get away.”What she doesn’t know is that she’s being watched by someone who just realized perfection came twice. He begins to hone in on Lavender, his attention never satisfied until he can have them both for himself.Will Lavender be able to find her sister before time runs out?Or will she be the next target in an obsession gone wrong?
Elora Ramirez has always been a word girl.It started when she was four, when she taught herself how to read and write as a way to entertain herself while her grandmother kicked and danced in aerobics class. She cut her teeth on books from Dr. Seuss and writing anywhere she could find the space — including her Fischer Price kitchenette, the pages of picture books, and Highlights Magazines.She’s matured a bit since then, now choosing to write in the margins of her books and on the mirrors of her bathroom ideas and thoughts surrounding story and what makes us human. By day she leads a team at a tech company, waking up before the sun rises to get in her love for words before stepping into her role of helping others see the plot line of their own story under development. Intuition and beauty get her through the day, as well as her chef-husband and their little lion son. Curious Obsession is her fourth novel.
Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder (An Andi Anna Jones Mystery) by Mary Cunningham
Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder (An Andi Anna Jones Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – Florida/Cancun/Las Vegas Wild Rose Press (April 27, 2022) Paperback : 224 pages ISBN-10 : 1509241086 ISBN-13 : 978-1509241088 Digital ASIN : B09QXR7WKX
Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent and
amateur sleuth, puts aside her resentment of her father’s widow and
books a sixtieth birthday cruise to Cancun for Ruby and three friends.
Never does Andi imagine the cruise will include the murder of a has-been
lounge singer—or that Ruby might be the main suspect.
Flirting with more than danger after
arriving in Mexico, Andi connects with charming local sheriff, Manual
Gonzales. An embarrassing night involving the sheriff, too many
margaritas, and a Mariachi band, can’t quell her determination to clear
the name of her ex-stepmother.
While gathering clues and interviewing witnesses, however, she suspects dear old step-mom isn’t the only one in jeopardy.
About Mary Cunningham
Author, Mary Cunningham, grew
up on the northern side of the Ohio River in Corydon, Indiana. Her
first memories are of her dad’s original bedtime stories that no doubt
inspired her imagination and love of a well-spun “yarn.”
Through the author’s horrifying stint as
a travel agent, Andi Anna Jones sprang to life. The adult/mystery
series gives extra meaning to the phrase, “Write what you know.”
Cunningham has several books published, including Cynthia’s Attic, a
five-book middle-grade fantasy, women’s lifestyle/humor book, WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty, Ebooks, Christmas With Daisy and Ghost Light. A biography of an army brat, turned UConn and WNBA basketball player, will be published in the spring of 2022.
She is a member of Sisters In Crime,
Sisters In Crime-Atlanta Chapter, International Thriller Writers, Inc.,
and the Carrollton Writers Guild.
When she gives her fingers a break from
the keyboard, Mary enjoys golf, swimming, and exploring the mountains of
West Georgia where she makes her home with her husband and adopted,
four-legged, furry daughter, Lucy.
Beyond The Creek by Nico Bell is one of those books where the rating bounces between a three and a four, so I always round up. What drew me in was the cover, then the title gave me that icky feeling that I look for in a horror novel, and the blurb finished me off.
We are in Madison, Virginia, where Alex Foster hopes for a new start, a second chance for her and her baby. Things are looking up for her. She just had to watch out for Harry, the tarantula, and don’t cross the creek. Would you? Sometimes being told not to do something makes me want to do it. You know that saying, curiosity killed the cat.
Alex didn’t care that her new home was not the Taj Mahal. There’s no Robert here.
The story sounded familiar to me…bit it didn’t take long for me to see it wasn’t what I was thinking. Nico Bell took it to a place that surprised me and I love when an author can do that.
I also love a characters that steps away from the norm. Alex is not a sleek, trim, model type. She’s giving and pregnant.
Danger arises, lives are at risk, monsters come a calling and I wonder, who will live and who will die.
Vivid, frightening descriptions of the monsters. Creepy good. So much better than I thought because it sounded so familiar to me, predictable, but by the time I got to the end, I had to hold my breath during the battle and smiled when she opened to door to….because I thought I knew what was coming. I loved the ending!
I vountarily reviewed a free copy of Beyond The Creek by Nico Bell.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When Alex Foster accepted the caregiver position with the eccentric Nox family, she was issued a single rule. Don’t wander past the creek. Alex isn’t interested in exploring the Nox’s vast wooded property. After escaping an abusive past, her sole focus is building a safe future for herself and her unborn baby. Except, a series of chilling events threatens her happily-ever-after. Now, she must fight to survive an ancient evil before all hope is lost. There’s something beyond the creek, and it’s hungry.
ABOUT NICO BELL (from Amazon)
Nico Bell is a horror writer from America who dabbles in both the dark and humorous. She’s had several short stories published, and her debut novel Food Fright is available March 26, 2020.
Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. The characters have issues, the sex is raw, graphic, including rape, bondage…
Desecrated Essence has another beautiful cover for the Desecrated Duet series by C A Rene, though the story inside is dark and tormented, as are the characters.
Desecrated Essence is the second book in the Desecrated Duet series. For me, Desecrated Essence takes erotica to a whole new level.
We are three months later than the end of Desecrated Flesh, the first book in the series.
I started reading Desecrated Essence as soon as I finished Desecrated Flesh. The characters fascinate, disgust, and frighten me. Psychopaths and sociopaths walk around us, never showing their true colors. Here, you will see them. Understand them? Probably not.
Pleasure and pain. Dark…I found these characters so deep, dark and primal, I cannot put into words what I felt as I read, yet I couldn’t stop reading. I am so disturbed that I have to know how their story ends.
I know I keep repeating myself, but I don’t even know what to say about Kailey…and the rest. Sex, sex, sex. I am worn out just reading about it. I am getting bored and kinda grossed out by all the sex, yet I am waiting to see what the Monster wants.
I know there is more to story about the guys, how dangerous they are. They do come from mob families.
I do love reading about dark, depraved characters, but these guys are so far gone, I don’t think any of them can be saved. To say they have mental issues is putting it way to mildly They are brutal, savage, murderous, yet, like all criminals, they do have a code of their own.
I had trouble writing the review for the first book, Desecrated Flesh, and I am having an equally hard time writing a review for Desecrated Essence.
If you like to wallow in the dangerous, brutal world of sexual degradation, come on in.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Desecrated Essence by C A Rene.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
What happens when your only source of warmth and light leaves you? The dismal shadows once kept at bay, begin to seep back in and coat everything the light once touched. All feeling becomes saturated in their inky grasp and escape becomes impossible. She left me here in the dark, alone and awaiting the impending destruction.
Who do you turn to when you feel all is lost? His presence isn’t welcomed, and his anger scorches my insides, but at least he never leaves. Now that I’m truly alone, his claws sink deep and trying to flee would be futile. We are one, him and I. There’s nothing I can do but watch the storm clouds roll in.
How do I warn them if the warning is me? I can’t control him once he has something in his sights, his determination knows no bounds, and his wrath is an addiction I know too well. There’s no stopping the lightning if you don’t hear the thunder.
ABOUT C A RENE (from her website)
First off… Call me Chrissy!
I’m
so glad you’re here, whether it’s because you found me from reading my
books or hit a link, I’m just ecstatic you decided to check me out.
In
my books you will find complete inclusivity and I refuse to be kept in
any specific box. I write across all genres and dabble in just about
everything.
To keep up with all new releases and teasers for all my upcoming books, you can follow me on any social media platform!
Lover
of all things dark. I love to read it, write it, own it, eat it,
whatever it. My addictions include Coffee, books, and WINE, in that
order.
Oath-Breaker River Starr (Shadow Pact, #1) Publication date: May 5th 2022 Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
No one survives their meeting with the Angel of Death—except for me.
After being accused of rallying citizens to revolt against him and breaking the rules of engagement with demons to save my best friend—guilty as charged on both accounts—the Angel of Death demands to personally oversee my sentencing in his obsidian castle of demons and death.
I’m done for. This is the end. But my death won’t be in vain—I’ll die a martyr to the Paladins Order’s cause, and I’ll rescue my best friend at the same time. She’ll be safe and the paladins will pick a new leader. They’ll thrive and continue the fight.
Or so I think. When judgment day arrives and I’m knelt before the Angel of Death, with his onyx eyes, his ebony hair, and his seductively imposing stature, my soul doesn’t leave me.
It soars.
Because when I dare to look the Angel of Death in the eyes, everything changes. And what unfolds in my anger and vengeance’s stead is a thread of events I never could have foreseen.
I survived my meeting with the Angel of Death. But can I survive his love?
OATH-BREAKER is the first of a M/F paranormal demon romance duology full of steamy goodness.
I am a lover of book covers and am always curious how a cover gets chosen for a book. So, I would like to welcome River Starr to tell us about her cover for Oath Breaker.
Oath-Breaker and its sequel Oath-Maker were
fun books to work on covers for! I worked with one of my favorite artists on
trying to find a blend between the romance and action readers are to be
promised. Working with cover artists on covers is one of my most favorite parts
of being an indie author. What artists can do by bringing the story and
characters to life is truly amazing.
For Oath-Breaker, I knew I wanted both main
characters portrayed on the cover as well as the background to contain a
castle. Throw in some wings and Ayla’s celestial sword, and we have the cover
that exists today!
The cover for Oath-Maker includes a bit of
a change… but you’ll have to check out Oath-Breaker for how it comes to be!
Thanks so much, River, for making an appearance on fundinmental,
Author Bio:
River Starr writes books that help you escape, especially fantasy romance full of magic and supernaturals. Favorite things: coffee, wine, chocolate, and a heavy dose of books to chase away the dark… or invite delicious darkness in.
I no longer have any little ones in my home, but I am always looking for ways to stay healthier for myself. I appreciate you dropping in and sharing this simple suggestion, Kalifa.
Nutrition Hack:
Using fruits to replace sugar
Hello! My name is Kalifa, I’m a registered dietitian,
certified breastfeeding specialist and the author of Eating These Foods Makes
Me… I have a passion for everything nutrition, food and a healthy lifestyle. One
thing I’m constantly noticing in my career is the re-occurring issue I notice
many of my clients struggling with and that’s the adverse health outcomes
having excess sugar in their diet is causing them to experience.
In our westernized diet, sugar is one of the top
nutrients we tend to inadvertently consume in excess amounts, and it can be
very challenging to cut down. The problem is too much sugar in our diet
promotes the onset of many health-related issues and chronic diseases such as
diabetes and obesity. So today I’ll share 3 quick and easy tips on how you can
swap out the refined sugar and use fruit instead.
1st off, the sugar found in our foods and
drinks comes in various forms. Fruits
contain natural sugars, which are a mix of sucrose, fructose and glucose, but primarily
fructose. I often suggest using fruits whenever possible to achieve the
sweetness you desire as a healthy nutrition hack. For example, berries
(raspberries, blackberries and strawberries) are quite low in sugar compared to
other fruits and sometimes just a handful added to your cereal, yogurt or
pancakes is all you need to satisfy a sweet craving as opposed to sprinkling on
the sugar, honey or syrup.
For those of you who love pastries and baking, you can
actually use banana, papaya or even apple sauce as a sugar swap. Put any of
these fruits in a blender and pulse until a smooth consistency, and there you
have it, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, you can use ½ cup of the
puree. Figs and dates are also great
sugar swaps and provide the added benefits of fibre and minerals such as
potassium, calcium and iron.
Lastly, the hot summer weather is just around the
corner so you and your little ones might be craving a sweet treat to cool down,
why not get the kiddos involved by making their own 3 ingredient fruit sorbet
ice-cream. You can take almost any fruit you
want and transform them into a delicious and refreshing treat. Raspberry,
Pineapple, Peach and Honey Melon are our favourites! Simply peel and cut up
your fresh fruit into cubes then freeze them. If you’re using smaller fruits
like berries skip this step and freeze them whole! Once frozen, add your fruit
and a small amount of lemonade, orange juice or apple juice to your ice-crushing
blender or small food processor. Feel free to add some ripened banana to make
it taste a little sweeter. Keep in mind this sorbet is best eaten immediately
because unlike traditional store-bought sorbets, which contain high amounts of
added sugar which acts as interference for freezing resulting in a
softer/scoopable texture even at freezing temperatures, this homemade one has
way less sugar therefore if stored in the freezer it will harden.
Remember, there are always ways to improve our nutrition by simply being open-minded to trying different alternatives!
Thanks so much for sharing, Kalifa. I hope others found this as helpful as I did.
Is
your kid a picky eater? Do you want your child to enjoy eating a variety of
foods? Reading can be a proactive way to introduce your little one to the
amazing world of nutrition! In this book, readers will explore healthy foods
and learn how key nutrients benefit the body. These pages repeat positive
affirmations that will empower and build your child’s mindfulness about the
foods they eat.
It is never too early
to instill life-long healthy eating habits. Happy reading! Or should I say,
happy eating!
EXCERPT
Eating these foods makes me… Strong.
These foods give us protein which builds our muscles and bones to make us strong!
Fun Learning Activities to Promote Healthy Nutrition
1. Using paper and crayons or coloured pencils, draw a
rainbow, and then draw a fruit or vegetable that is the same colour as each
colour of the rainbow. You can even use this book for ideas. Remember to eat a
rainbow of fruits and vegetables (at least 5 servings) each day! How many have
you eaten today?
2. Do you like to play any sports or games? Do you like to
walk to the park? Help your parents choose and prepare an energizing snack
before the next game or walk to the park.
3. Eat your water? That sounds silly! Did you know that some
fruits and veggies such as celery are mostly made up of water and can also help
to keep you hydrated? Can you think of any others? Now try adding those slices
of fruit or even cucumber to your water bottle to give it some pizazz.
4. Try introducing interactive sensory play for preschoolers
(age 3 and older). Gather a variety of beans, nuts, or seeds on a tray or in a
bowl with a spoon. Under adult supervision, let the preschooler feel, grab, and
scoop the legumes, nuts, and seeds. See if the toddler can separate them based
on different colours, sizes, and textures while the adult names each food and
talks about how these foods make us strong from the proteins and smart from the
healthy omega fats.
These foods give us protein which builds our muscles and bones to make us strong!
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Kalifa Rodriguez is a registered dietitian and certified breastfeeding specialist. She currently works as a clinical nutritionist in Montreal, Canada. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in nutritional biochemistry, she went on to complete a master’s degree in human nutrition and dietetics at McGill University. Kalifa is passionate about promoting healthy lifestyle choices through nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness. She also hopes to leave a positive impact in the community through her work by giving nutrition education sessions to community groups and organizations. Kalifa and her husband are parents to their delightful toddler, who is the inspiration for this book.
I used to read a lot of true stories about organized crime, so when I saw the great cover for Unorganized Crime by Judy Serrano, I had to read it. This is one of those times where the cover sucked me in more than the story.
I do want to make you aware that I read an ARC, so it is not the final product. Things can change, be tightened and ramped up, made clearer.
I thought the plot was an interesting concept, but the story jumped all over the place, like Jazz. I couldn’t decide if I liked her or not, but she did have her moments. It is hard to know the time frame and I would have liked a more detailed, fleshed out story.
Though I was not on pins and needles, I enjoyed my time spent with Jazz, Gage and Achilles. The way everything came together in the end makes me wonder what comes next and I am intrigued. That’s a definite thumbs up for Judy Serrano.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unorganized Crime by Judy Serrano.
As Jazz finds herself falling from a helicopter, Gage St. Claire
comes to her rescue. Organized crime is once again the culprit of her parents’
situation, and as usual, she is caught in the crossfire. Gage pulls her out of
the water and helps her escape to safety. The love between them is undiscovered
as he tries to leave her behind in an attempt to keep her safe and move forward
with his black ops pursuit. Jazz becomes an undercover cop with wiping out
organized crime forever as her goal. After Jazz exposes one of the largest
crime families in the country, quite by accident, she is hired to expose crime
syndicate leader Michael Giambetti Jr., otherwise known as Achilles. Achilles
earned his nickname because he has no weaknesses. He has no weaknesses, that is
until he meets Jazz. Achilles has been untouchable, and if she were to break
this case, she could finally prove herself as a serious undercover officer. Her
job is not an easy one, and people around her are not who they appear to be.
Will Gage come back for Jazz, or will he be lost to her forever? Will she crack
the case on her own? Read as this courageous upstart stumbles through another
adventure.
“When you think about it, I really only need one hostage,” he said as he put
his hand on the small of my back and gave me a gentle shove. The helicopter was
in the air, and I fell helplessly into the clouds. I grabbed hold of the
landing skid and dangled above the water. We were not quite high enough yet
that I would turn to dust if I were to drop. “Let go!” he shouted from below. I
saw Gage take off his boots and put his wallet next to them on the ground.
“Jasmine, jump!”
I saw him
dive into the water, and I let go. This was the most terrifying thing I had
ever done. As I hit the water, two strong arms reached for me and pulled me up
as I plunged powerlessly into the deep. I held my breath, but I didn’t have
much air left. He pulled me up so that I could breathe, and I grabbed hold of
his neck. “I’ve got you, Jazz. You’re okay.”
He turned
me so that I could hold onto his neck from behind, and he swam to the shore.
The helicopter, which was holding my dad tied up and gagged, was long gone.
When we got to the shore, Hector, Gage’s boss, was standing there. He pulled me
out of the water, and Gage followed. “Good job,” Hector said to me. “You’re
very brave.”
I watched
Gage grab his wallet, cigarettes, and shoes. “You need to quit,” I said.
“They’re no good for you.”
He pulled
out a smoke and lit the tip, taking a deep pull off his cigarette. “Someday,”
he answered. “Unfortunately, we often want what is no good for us.” I knew to
what he was referring, but I let it go. Although you might think that the smell
of the cigarette would fill the air, there was an engaging male scent radiating
off of Gage that made me almost forget my name.
Suddenly, I realized that Hector was gone. “Where did Hector go? Where’s my
mom?”
“They
went after the helicopter, Jazz. I don’t think she’s coming back this time.”
My mom
abandoned my dad and me years ago. They both worked for the FBI, and she never
seemed to be able to balance her job and her family. Hector was in charge of
all their destinies. As delightfully delicious as Hector was, I always resented
him for taking her away. It was my goal to be a cop someday and wipe out
organized crime just so people like the ones my parents fought daily would go
out of business for good. Of course, I realized how unrealistic that was.
“I
started my own team. You must remember me mentioning that to you,” he said.
“Yes,
Storm. That’s what you call it.”
We
stepped over to his jeep. He reached in and handed me a towel. I began to dry
my face and hair with it, as he did the same with his own. Gage was a storm all
by himself. He was tall, well-built, and had smoldering dark eyes. His hair
fell just below his ears, and I can remember how soft it was when I last ran my
fingers through it.
“I’m not
just working for the FBI this time. I have a job out of the country. I’m going
to find someone’s daughter who was taken by terrorists.”
My
stomach churned as he opened the door to the jeep, and I hopped inside. “Don’t
leave me, Gage,” I said, as my soaking wet body leaked all over his vinyl car
seats.
I reached
up for his face, but he grabbed my hand. “We’ve been through this. You’re too
young, Jasmine.”
“Gage, I
am 19 years old. I’m old enough.”
“I’m 27,
Jazz. You’re too young for me.”
That
stung. I was waiting for Gage to the be the one for me. I didn’t want anyone
else, and even though he may think of me as too young for him, I felt the ache
in his eyes. We heard a gunshot, and Gage pushed me down onto the floor of his
jeep. He jumped into the driver’s side and took off down the road. “What’s
happening?” I asked. “Who’s here?”
“Someone
realized you were still breathing, princess. Put your head down.”
I stayed
down on the floor of the jeep as a bullet hit the windshield shattering the
glass. I tried so hard to be brave, but I could barely hold it together. I
heard Gage give our location and situation out on a radio. It was only a few
moments before everything got quiet. “I lost them,” he said.
“This is all related to my parents, isn’t it.”
“You know
I can’t tell you that.”
“And the
terrorists. Who are they? Who’s the girl?”
He pulled
the jeep over to the side of the road and sighed before looking at me. “Jazz,”
he said, putting his hand on the side of my face. “Don’t wait for me. I won’t
be back. Do you understand what I’m saying? I’m no good for you. Forget me.”
He
grabbed his towel and brushed the glass off the passenger’s seat. Then he held
out his hand for me to take, and he pulled me up off of the floor. I sat
uncomfortably and refused to meet his eyes. He wanted me to discard him like a
pack of cigarettes. I knew he was no good for me, but I just couldn’t stop
thinking about him. I didn’t say anything. Clearly, my efforts were futile.
He put
his hand back on the steering wheel, put the jeep back in gear, and we drove
down the highway. “Don’t make me come back just to check on you,” he said.
“Behave yourself. Move forward. Forget about me.”
*****
I waited for him. I anticipated his return. I am now 24 years old, and he
didn’t come back in time … or did he? This is my story. Let the ride begin.
About the Author
Judy Serrano graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a master’s degree in English. She is the owner of Make Cents Editing Services, is an English teacher at a local high school, and an adjunct professor at a local junior college. Judy writes romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and Mafia romance novels. She is the author of The Easter’s Lilly Series, The Linked Series, Ivy Vines Visions, and Unorganized Crime. Although originally from New York, she lives in Texas with her husband and near her four boys. In her spare time, Judy plays guitar and sings at her church, and dotes on her fur babies.
Hardcore Kelli is my first foray into Wrath James White’s world and, even though it is a novella, it rocked my world and has stuck with me, leaving me wanting more. I love reading off the wall, twisted works and Wrath supplied me with a few hours of reading entertainment. I thought it would have a three rating, but seeing I can’t get it out of my head that seemed so wrong, so four it is.
Katy is a boxer, with a losing record. A garden variety type. She only did it for the money. Her world changed when she was introduced to Hardcore Kelli by her sister, Samantha. I love her. I couldn’t help but smile and laugh, until the story took an ugly turn, one I never saw coming.
If you love a quirky tale, with blood, guts, and gore, this could be for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Harcore Kelli by Wrath James White.
4 stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Bullets whizzed past Katy as she dashed through the grass and weeds, and the maze of broken recreational vehicles, farm equipment, and other slowly oxidizing junk. She gripped the gleaming battle axe in both hands as she waded through gunfire, determined to reach her archnemesis and end his reign of terror forever. Murder Man stood in the doorway of the rundown mobile home, firing at will. She had found his lair. Now it was time to bring him to justice.
Katy hurdled the rusting skeleton of an old ’77 Ford Thunderbird like an Olympic gymnast. She had once been a cheerleader, a good one. Once upon a time she could do flips, handsprings, and somersaults with ease. That was so long ago it felt more like an ancient story from some dusty old history book than something that had actually occurred in her lifetime.
Kiss of Darkness Taylor Aston White (Curse of the Guardians, #1) Publication date: May 5th 2022 Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
He despises her… almost as much as his beast craves her.
Kyra’s seen and survived the worst things imaginable, all because of the magic she was born with. Trapped by her secret, she has no choice but to serve Councilman Gallagher or risk everything she has tried so hard to build. Because despite black magic being banned, her very survival depends on it.
When she’s commanded to summon a Daemon, a Breed notorious for their corruption and brutality, she’s torn between keeping her secret and doing the right thing.
Xander’s hate for black witches was notorious, but nothing frustrated him more than the one witch that brings trouble with a capital T. With dark amber eyes, and a controlled strength that fascinated his beast – the monster he’s cursed to share a soul – Xander will do anything to push her away.
So when he’s forced into protecting her, he must put aside his prejudice and ignore his growing desire that’s an insult to his past.
Because he’s had an entire childhood to remember why you can’t trust black witches.
“Little girls shouldn’t be here.” A hand struck out, carefully circling her wrist with enough pressure to stop her, but not enough to hurt.
Kyra paused, the coin at the edge of the slot. She looked up, and Xander removed his sunglasses.
“That’s a rude comment,” she said, trying to tug from his grasp.
His mouth twisted, pale eyes narrowed as he released her wrist, only to grip her jaw. He angled her face against the light, her lip stinging when she frowned.
“What are you doing here, Kyra?” His white silver hair, just long enough to cover his unusually dark brows moved across his forehead, partially concealing his expression.
“Minding my own business!” she snapped, but the steel behind her reply lessened when she met his eyes, and flinched. “Don’t touch me.” The words came out quiet, desperate. His eyes had been blue, she was sure of it, yet she could see her own reflection in his irises made from a liquid silver.
His fingers opened, and she stumbled back, breathing heavily. She needed to get out of there before she suffered a full panic attack. Xander was just too much, his gaze too direct as she tried to look anywhere but him.
“Black witch,” he grunted, as if she were tainted.
Which she wasn’t, but she couldn’t explain why he was wrong. He wouldn’t care either way, his opinion on her already set in stone, and had been since they first met. Black witches were seen as evil because of their ability to gain power from death, and while many embraced that sordid side of magic it didn’t mean they were all evil. It did, however, make them illegal.
Ignoring him, or at least trying to as he seemed to press himself closer, always pushing her boundaries, she inserted the Ravyn into the slot, the portal opening with a flash of light. He said nothing as she stepped through, the package hugged tight to her chest, and as soon as the portal closed behind her she released a sigh of relief.
Author Bio:
Taylor Aston White loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern magic world. She collects crystals, house plants and dark lipstick, and has two young children who like to ‘help’ with her writing by slamming their hands across the keyboard.
After working several uncreative jobs and one super creative one, she decided to become a full-time author and now spends the majority of her time between her children and writing the weird and wonderful stories that pop into her head.
Nico Bell is a horror writer from America who dabbles in both the dark and humorous. She’s had several short stories published, and her debut novel Food Fright is available March 26, 2020.
