Books From The Backlog – Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan Lewis #susankiernanlewis #booksfromthebacklog

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Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Murder in the South of France (Maggie Newberry Mysteries, #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

ASIN B005GY0Y8S moved to this edition.
TOTALLY NEW AND REVISED EDITION! Maggie Newberry is sheltered, privileged but also a whip-smart advertising copywriter who’s fast on her feet and a little stunned to realize that she’s 34 years old and still hasn’t found “the one.” When her long-missing sister ends up dead in Maggie’s trendy Atlanta condo, Maggie finds herself flying to the south of France to find the little niece that up until then no one in the family even knew existed. Along the way, she finds handsome Laurent Dernier, a sexy if nefarious Frenchman who it’s not clear is there to help or hinder Maggie’s search for the girl. Meanwhile, her sister’s murderer sets his sights on the little girl — and Maggie.

The first book of the Maggie Newberry Mystery Series, Murder in the South of France was originally titled Murder on the Côte d’Azur.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.39  · 5,143 ratings  ·  426 reviews

I added Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan Lewis to my TBR on 1.14.13. I have read some of her work and really enjoyed it, so to add another book and go on another adventure with her characters is something I think I will enjoy. To me, her books read like cozy mysteries and would make them perfect for a laid back summer read.

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Eco Thriller Dragon Gold by Kristie Clark #KristieClark

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Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt and the dragon that protects it?

Dragon Gold (Order of the Dolphin, #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Order of the Dolphin series by Kristie Clark keeps getting better in Dragon Gold. I do recommend reading them in order, beginning with Killing Dragons, but Kristie Clark includes all the updates if you were inclined to read it as a stand alone.

Eva is in charge of dolphin research at the Roatan Institute for Marine Science in Honduras. She talks to dolphins and has been creating a vocabulary to enable them to communicate.

Thomas is head of the Sternberg Center for Cancer Cures in Kansas city, Kansas, creating innovative gene therapy. On his last trip to Roatan, his lab tech, Ivan, had found an enzyme in the toxic red tide. Thomas and Eva are both passionate about their work. but how can they have a relationship with so much distance between them.

I love anything to do with water, so to dive with the dolphins, hunt with them for lionfish, and learn of the world underneath, even in a fictional way, is very interesting and entertaining to me.

Action and danger enter the story and Eva’s life early on. She has friends that will come to her aid in Julian’s deadly game. All the characters play pivotal roles, even if they are not the stars.

An extreme sense of urgency lingers on the pages, and I feel it almost as much as Eva, but she must keep her cool, make a plan…and wait for Thomas. He was a Navy Seal working with dolphins, and she can use all the help she can get.

Kristie Clark’s blend of fact and fiction brings her world to life, making me want to jump in with both feet. She explains her research and facts at the end of each novel and I love it. Getting lost in her tropical paradise gave me many hours of reading enjoyment.

The first book, Killing Dragons, took Kristie Clark ten years to write, but like the pacing of Dragon Gold, she wrote this one in a month. Guess these characters had a lot to say to her.

There is so much between the cover of Dragon Gold…a touch of ecology, giving back to the world that gives us life, cancer research, Naval bits and pieces, fish farming, genetic engineering, kidnapping and murder, and Kristie Clark ties it all together in an amazeballs package.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dragon Gold by Kristie Clark.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A dragon will kill any who dare to take its gold.

After her dangerous adventures earlier in the year, everything is finally going well for Dr. Eva Paz. Her breakthroughs in dolphin communication are changing the world. Her discoveries could save the reef she loves. And now her mother has found love again.

But then a madman returns to claim what’s his. Eva’s old nemesis, Julian Gulliver, kidnaps Eva’s mother, and he demands an exorbitant ransom.

It’s money Eva doesn’t have.

What she does have are friends who are willing to do anything to help, including ex-Navy SEAL—and ex-boyfriend—Dr. Thomas Sternberg. But Eva’s greatest asset may be her dolphins: Taffy, Finn, Cleo, and Chico.

Together, they need to mount a rescue effort. Yet things are even more desperate than they imagine, for Julian isn’t the only menace terrorizing Roatan.

Join Eva as she works with Thomas and her dolphins to rescue her mother and save the reef from a man who would destroy them all.

For fans of Michael Crichton, Dragon Gold is book two in Kristie Clark’s Order of the Dolphin Series.

ABOUT KRISTIE CLARK

Kristie Clark

KRISTIE CLARK, a pediatrician, lives on the High Plains with her husband, sons, border collies, and a cat named Bonsai. An avid scuba diver, she holds a Roatan Marine Park Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License.

You can see more about Kristie on her WEBSITE.

MY KRISTIE CLARK REVIEWS

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Review & Giveaway for The Academy Saga by C J Daly @iReadBookTours @theacademysaga

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Join us for this tour from July 12 to August 6!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Academy Saga by C.J. Daly
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  500 pages
Genre: Suspense Romance
Publisher:  BrandyLight Ink
Release date:   September 2019
Content Rating:  PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
 
“Unique, intense, and suspenseful. A story with compelling characters that pull you into the author’s world and keep you reading from beginning to end. Intriguing start to a new series.” –New York Times Best Selling Author Jami Brumfield 

“CJ has created an unforgettable story about a young woman caught up in a world of lies and deception. The Academy Saga is a page-turning read with a twist you may not see coming.” —Tony Jones, Executive Producer of My All American

“Wow wow wow! This book has it all. It’s extremely well written, the characters are amazing and the story is so intriguing that it pulls you in from the very first page. There’s tension, mystery chemistry and of course romance. I loved it! I would highly recommend this page turner!” — RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @abbi_reads_xx

Book Description:

Readers’ Favorite Suspense Romance

Kate Connelly should be careful what she wishes for.

Just seventeen, she already feels like she’s suffocating. Since her mother’s death, her father’s basically checked out, so she’s stuck raising her brothers by herself out in the New Mexico scrub. All Kate wants is a little distraction from the same-ole, same-ole that is her life.

When two mysterious guys show up at the diner where she works, she thinks her wish has come true, until they start giving her a hard time. Like her life isn’t hard enough. Something about them niggles her, but she brushes it off. She’s never going to see them again anyway . . . right?

Then they appear in an alley one night to either rescue or kidnap her (she’s still not sure which) before disappearing like figments of her imagination.

Kate decides to put the bizarre encounters out of her mind. She has bigger problems to worry about: like that elite military academy that’s been pursuing her gifted little brother. When one of their cadets shows up at her high school, he creates instant pandemonium. And just happens to be one of those mysterious guys. Coincidence? Mama said there’s no such thing. And to always trust her instinct. But that might be kind of hard, because every time she’s around Cadet Peter Davenport, her gut starts flip-flopping on her. And her heart.

Can Kate keep it together long enough to stop Cadet Davenport’s mission? She’s about to find out. And—once again—how neatly life can be split into before and after. 

 BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Walmart
add to Goodreads

Continue the Saga:

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Academy Saga: Cadet-in-Training by C.J. Daly
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  441 pages
Genre: Suspense Romance
Publisher:  BrandyLight Ink
Content Rating:  PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes. 

 

MY REVIEW

After reading Book I, I could hardly wait to begin Cadet In Training by C J Daly. which picks up where Academy Saga left off.

They use sweet little Mikey to keep Kate in check, but I have a feeling about her. When or how it will change, I don’t know, but she is the mama grizzly bear when it comes to her family and I don’t see her backing down. She is naive, innocent, too trusting, easily manipulated, headstrong, determined, devoted to Mikey.

The Academy is not like an military academy I have ever heard of, and, like her, I am very suspicious of what they are really up to. Pete has been gone for a some time, and Ranger is her trainer. He is a cruel taskmaster…and there is a story there.

“…when I slowed down to breathe, the air smelled foul.” I feel the same way as Kate.

She is independent and Ranger does everything he can to break her. She fought like a hellcat, but she knew she had to change.

Mikey, I love the way C J writes this character. Her fabulous writing makes me smile. I can hear his words and see his actions.

I love Ranger. He walks that like of bad/good and adds a level of excitement for me that Pete can never do. He is intriguing as I try to figure out who he realllllly is. Would not have a dull moment with him.

The greater good…whenver I hear that I feel someone is about to be sacrificed. A life with purpose…or a slave to whatever the Academy deems. AND IT IS FOR LIFE!

Much of the books deals with school, learning and training, but the second half ramps up, hooking me for Book III

The epilogue…WHAT…WHAT…It blew my mind. I didn’t see that coming…and I am sooooo curious how it will play out.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Cadet In Training by C J Daly.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

>“Absolutely ADDICTING!  CJ Daly does it again and delivers a story YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN! Edge of your seat GREATNESS! I was completely hooked into this story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The Cadet in Training was such a phenomenal escape. With characters that fly off the pages, you become immersed! CJ Daly has stunning story telling skills! I’m still sitting here, like what did I just read and why is it over! Agh! I can’t wait for book 3!!!  #theacademysaga is going down as one my absolute favorites! #TeamPete! All the stars! I’m ready to read this one again!” RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @elizabeth.ness.56

Book Description:

Another Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR Suspense Romance. Begin the journey today.

Kate’s destiny has been determined for her.

Hidden out in the country for most her life, Kate Connelly suddenly wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed, in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her crime? Being “gifted.” And it’s Officer “Ranger” Nealson’s job to make her adhere to The Academy’s agenda for her. Even though he’s the one who drugged and dragged her in. Kate’s hate for Ranger, and his academy, is at an all-time high. Ranger has his work cut out for him . . . and Kate does too. She has to fight through the rigors of the Cadet-in-Training program, and quickly. If not, she’ll lose the one privilege she’s been given at The Academy—access to her precious little brother.

And until she graduates from the CIT program, Officer Nealson is banned from Missions. When General Weston finally offers a juicy recon to Ranger, he wants to jump at the chance to prove himself again. After all, catching bad guys is his thing. Almost all pros for doing it. One con—Cadet Connelly has to ride along.

The hardened officer finds he’s slowly been growing a soft spot for his mentee. But he’s determined not to end up like his father, and former Elite Cadet Pete Davenport—throwing away their career for a girl (not even a woman). And Kate has lingering feelings for Pete, who risked his life to warn her, and conflicting feelings for Ranger. She has to set both aside to focus on completing her first mission.

When the dust settles, old alliances are broken and new ones are formed. But one thing remains the same: Kate’s destiny has been determined for her by The Academy. Ready or not . . . she’s set for Missions. Will one of the former elite cadets step in to help change her fate, or will she be left to fight the Academy’s agenda alone?

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
B&N ~ Walmart
add to Goodreads

 

Meet the Author:

CJ Daly grew up on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. When she was supposed to be helping her six siblings with chores on the family ranch, she was really sneaking behind dusty haystacks to read. And dreaming about becoming a writer.

After graduating high school, CJ moved to Big D, where she quickly put herself through college while trying to rid herself of her country accent. She had better luck with college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in English literature. After teaching a few years and pausing to have back-to-back boys, she began writing in earnest.

A few years later, “The Academy Saga” was born. It instantly earned a Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval and became an Amazon best seller.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodread

Tour Schedule:
 

July 12 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
July 12 – The World As I See It – book review of the Academy Saga
July 12 – Nikki’s Bookstagram – book spotlight
July 13 – fundinmental – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 14 – Booking With Janelle – book review of The Academy Saga
July 15 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 15 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 16 – BookishKelly2020 – book spotlight
July 16 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
July 19 – Books Lattes and Tiaras – book review of The Academy Saga  
July 20 – Splashes of Joy – book review of The Academy Saga / author interview / giveaway
July 20 – @twilight_reader – book review of The Academy Saga
July 21 – Pause for Tales – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 21 – Booking With Janelle – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
July 21 – Books Lattes and Tiaras – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
July 22 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 22 – I Read What You Write – book spotlight / guest post / author interview / giveaway
July 23 – Wottaread – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 23 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
July 26 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 26 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / giveaway
July 27 – Splashes of Joy – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / author interview / giveaway
July 27 – Lissdoeslife – book review of The Academy Saga
July 28 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 28 – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of The Academy Saga
July 29 – Pick a Good Book – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 29 – Lissdoeslife – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
July 30 – @twilight_reader – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
Aug 2 – @londonairylibrary – book review of The Academy Saga
Aug 3 – fundinmental – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / giveaway
Aug 4 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / giveaway
Aug 5 – I’m Into Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 5 – Books for Books – book review The Academy Saga
Aug 6 – The World As I See It – book review of the Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
Aug 6 – The Eclectic Review – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
 

 Enter the Giveaway:

  

THE ACADEMY SAGA Book Tour Giveaway

 


 

 

Giveaway – I Was A Stripper Librarian by Kristy Cooper @librarydefend @XpressoTours

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I Was a Stripper Librarian
Kristy Cooper
Publication date: July 30th 2021
Genres: Adult, Memoir

No one at the library she worked at knew about Kristy Cooper’s other job.

On the surface, it seem that being a librarian and a stripper are polar opposite jobs, but in practice Kristy found that they were not nearly as different as most people would think. Strip club customers and library patrons both produce wild stories, and you have to be good at working with people in both professions (whether your clothes are off or not).

In this first-hand account, Kristy describes her decision to get into stripping to make her student loan debt more manageable, overcome her introversion to learn how to hustle customers, learn about sex worker advocacy, and finally transition into full-time library work. For years Kristy hid her stripping history to fit into the mold of a respectable librarian, but as time went on she realized this wasn’t something she should feel ashamed about. Telling these kinds of stories helps destigmatize sex work, which makes it safer for current sex workers.

Librarianship is changing, especially as the profession begins to evaluate itself through a greater anti-oppression lens. Librarians can learn a lot about class struggle and privacy advocacy from sex workers.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

I got involved with a former stripper before I ever became one myself.

Lillian had gorgeous long red hair, tattoos, and wore glasses. She was working as a barista at a coffee shop in my college town, Champaign, IL. I was twenty-three and finishing off a year of fucking around partying before moving to Ann Arbor to pursue a Master of Science in Information at the University of Michigan.

One day, I went into her coffee shop and, as I often did when ordering things, I became annoyingly indecisive about what I wanted. “I want a green tea, or wait, maybe a chai… I think I’m hungry… I’m sorry I’m wasting your time.”

Lillian just looked at me coyly. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t have anywhere else to be.” I smiled and felt more at ease as she winked.

I finally picked a chai and enjoyed the feeling as her gaze lingered on mine while she handed it to me. Then another customer popped up behind me, and I realized I had to move along, but I knew I wanted to see her again.

Later, I found out from mutual friends that she was newly single and, like me, was hitting the bars like a fiend. We formally met when our friend groups started coalescing at all the local watering holes. After our drinking group finally reached critical mass, we declared ourselves a girl gang, named ourselves Pussy Control, after the Prince song, and convinced ourselves that we were a serious force to be reckoned with. Most guys quickly learned not to mess with us, because we would cackle at them or mock their ridiculous attempts to approach us. We were not the toughest or most organized gang ever, but we did at least manage to decrease the number of random guys hitting on us.

Maybe Lillian’s risqué past was part of what drew me to her. I don’t know. I had never thought there was anything wrong with stripping, but like most people, it was something I didn’t think I would ever do. At the same time though, I was intrigued with her previous job and wondered what it was like to do something considered so socially deviant and potentially stigmatizing. I had actually done sex work before, but it was working as a dominatrix one summer in Chicago. That kind of work had its own stigma, but there was no audience, I didn’t have to get naked, and I also didn’t have to be nice.

Lillian would tell me about the stage and the pole tricks that would leave calluses on her hands. There were her quirky customers, like the man that just wanted her to sit still like a doll on his lap while he spoke to her. She explained how different customers liked different looks for their strippers and how she avoided working at clubs that only featured what she considered Barbie look-alikes. Lillian described living in Baltimore and how she would walk around half-naked all night, make good money, and then go home to her apartment. It sounded so normal, like being a waitress who happened to forget to put the rest of her clothes on.

Author Bio:

Kristy Cooper is a librarian single mom in Michigan. In her spare time, she fights politicians for libraries and will eventually get around to finishing writing her YA series.

Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


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Sherry’s Shelves 7.25 – 7.30.21 #thesundaypost #thesundaysalon

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Sunday Post

Hi Everyone. I love the heat and the sun, but this year seems to be the most intense year I have ever seen. Heat advisories and temperatures over 90 degrees every day, with a heat index of over 100. I don’t care where you live, 100 degrees is hot! Then we have the humidity, making it feel like a sauna and hard to breathe. Thank goodness for the pool. I wouldn’t even stop outside if I didn’t have one. Can’t say I am getting much yardwork done and with all the rain we have had those darn weeds are having a party. LOL

Hope you had a good week and another coming up.

Stay safe.

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

COMING UP ON fundinmental

  • Sherry’s Shelves
  • Music Monday
  • Giveaway – I Was A Stripper Librarian by Kristy Cooper
  • Review & Giveaway – Cadet In Training by C J Daly
  • Books From The Backlog
  • Giveaway – The Shade Under The Mango Tree by Evy Journey
  • Tackling The TBR
  • 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!

Tackling The TBR 7.24 – 7.30.21 #tacklingthetbr

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I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Book Blog Names Are Taken. It has helped me to keep track of my reading shelf as far as current events and I also started doing a post for Books From The Backlog, from Carole’s Random Life in Books, to tidy up my shelves. I feel better about my out of control TBR and have even knocked off a couple of those old ones that had been hanging around for years.

COME ON….JOIN IN.

Previous Total: 2264

Currently Reading

Books Read

Books Added

Books DNF-ed: 0

Books Deleted: 0

Duplicates Removed: 2

New TBR Total: 2260

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • 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!

Giveaway – Absolution: Redux by Louis Corsair @XpressoTours

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Absolution: Redux
Louis Corsair
(Elohim Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: September 15th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

At the end of the original Absolution, the Executor traveled back in Time and altered Reality. But by doing so, he set in motion a plan to end his existence and collapse Creation. Because of his actions, there is Absolution: REDUX…

In 1947, a gangster murders private investigator Raymond Adams. In 2011, he’s brought back to life for 24 hours to solve the supernatural murder of a Hollywood Adult film star.

When the son of a Pit Lord is murdered in Hollywood, the celestial beings in charge of the Realms ask Raymond Adams to figure who did it and find the victim’s missing soul. Without memories of his life, he accepts the case to gain eternal peace. But the job is daunting:

24 hours to nab a killer…
24 hours to find a missing soul…
24 hours to unravel the victim’s exotic private life…
24 hours to stop a plot to send the universe into chaos…

With only the help of a possessed cop and a medium, Adams must trek through a Hollywood underground filled with pornography, prostitutes, and sadists, along with supernatural monsters. But can he solve the case when his own haunting memories keep surfacing, telling him exactly what kind of man he was in life?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo


EXCERPT

Victor was in tears now. His hand steadied and fired a shot into Lady Chris’ abdomen.

“Baby…” said Lady Chris and held his stomach. Tina screamed and screamed. But Chris still held out his hand, stopping the car with the darkened windows. “You idiot! They’ll kill you if I’m not here!”

“Why, Chris?” said Victor and sobbed a little. “They loved you…” He shot Chris in the shoulder.

Lady Chris collapsed and Tina dove back into their car; he drove off, tires screeching. The silver car accelerated towards us. But the car with Victor’s people slammed into its rear, sending it into a spin. The machine gun barrels came out again. I pulled out my gun and went to Jenn.

“Meet me at 12!” I said to her.

She stared at me, but then got in her car and drove away. The machine guns went off, pummeling Victor’s crew. Someone in the other car must have still been alive because they popped off a volley of bullets into the car with the darkened windows. There were screams and the machine guns went off again.

Victor hovered over Lady Chris with the gun pointed at the fallen man’s head.

“Why?” said Victor. “Why!”

“They left me alone with Painter and Marr…” said Lady Chris and in a rage added, “I’m not strong enough to take on them both, okay? I’m sorry! I had to look out for me. For us!”

“You should have been stronger,” said Victor.

Lady Chris spat out blood and began to sob. “Do you think they’ll forgive me?” he said and Victor shot him in the head.

“We have to go!” I said to Victor.

Victor didn’t listen and stood there, transfixed by the body as the car with the darkened windows sped towards us, the machine gun barrels still out. I grabbed Victor’s collar and dragged him out of the lot. It was hell trying to cross the street with so much traffic. But we did it slowly.

Out in the open, I hoped those crazy birds would just drive away. But when we were in the middle of Santa Monica Boulevard, they did the opposite.

They plowed into Victor, tossing him aside like a doll; I had been tossed along with him, but he got the worst of it. The idiot hadn’t bothered to move, like he wanted the thing to hit him.

I got up and dragged Victor to the sidewalk. The silver car stirred up traffic by driving on the wrong side of the street and then circling around.

It aimed towards me. I got in a shooter’s stance and pointed the pistol at the silver car. Its tires spun in place and drew smoke as it accelerated forward. Other cars crashed into one another trying to dodge it, some successfully, some not.

I squeezed the trigger. The shot went through its windshield, leaving a nice hole there.

The Thunderbolt bullet hadn’t slowed it down.

But I didn’t move.

The night sky opened up and a long finger of lightning shot down, targeting the bullet in the silver car. Natural lightning would just roll off the vehicle because of the metal frame, but this was Divine lightning with one purpose: To destroy. There was a glorious explosion as lightning struck the silver car, shattering its darkened windows, flipping it over.

Author Bio:

Louis Corsair is an eight-year veteran of the United States Army. Currently living in Los Angeles, California, he spends his time reading books, going on walks, writing, and enjoying the occasional visit to the beach–while trying to earn an honest buck. As a Los Angeles writer, he feels the weight of famous Los Angeles novelists, like Raymond Chandler, John Fante, Nina Revoyr, among others.

Website / Goodreads


GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:
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  • 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!

Books From The Backlog – Free Falling by Susan Kiernan Lewis #susankiernanlewis #booksfromthebacklog

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Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Free Falling

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

A fun family vacation turns into an apocalyptic nightmare in Free Falling when a couple and their young son find themselves trapped in the Irish countryside during an international crisis. With all contact outside the country gone, all electricity and all non horse-powered vehicles useless and desperate bands of outlaws roaming the Emerald Isle, the time has come for one soft American family to reach deep within for a reserve of brains and courage to survive.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.69  ·  2,636 ratings  · 301 reviews

I added Free Falling by Susan Kiernan Lewis to my TBR on 1.14.13. I love reading apocalyptic/dystopian books and I have read a lot of books that take place in Ireland. It seems like a perfect setting for eerie stories. I look forward to spending some time on vacation. LOL

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Early Review – Some Truth Can Be Distorted by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Preorder HERE and Some Truth Can Be Distorted by Jane Blythe will be delivered to your KIndle on August 2,2021.

Woo Hoo. We are back in River’s End, where the serial killers run free…until someone catches them, and romance is in the air. Some Truth Can Be Distorted by Jane Blythe is the fourth book in the series, but no worries, they can stand alone.

Some Truth Can Be Distorted (River's End Rescues, #4)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

YAY, back in River’s End with some hunkalicious males and the women who love them…And right from the beginning Jane Blythe ripped my heart out!

After two years, Renee is at a standstill in her life and River’s End calls to her. I hurt for her…and when she runs into Will, my heart breaks all over again for her.

Will was a Navy Seal, now working as an undercover cop. He felt the time was right to propose to Renee, his lawyer girlfriend. He was excited to be home, but when he pulled up to the house, like Renee, his spidey senses started tingling. He had waited too long. It was too late.

Some Truth Can Be Distorted by Jane Blythe has all the feels for a romantic suspense novel. Even though Renee is alive after being raped, all the emotional baggage come into play, fear, shame, humliation, loss. The facts don’t matter, it is all about the feelings…and Will would make HIM pay.

Will had left Renee to find HIM, and now, ten months later, she is alone. Will had walked away and she doesn’t want him any more. He had abandoned her and destroyed her trust. Will she give him a second chance?

When Renee meets the ladies, Meadow, Maggie, Poppy and Sydney, we all got a smile. They accept her with no questions asked. I want Renee to have all the things that make life complete and I have a feeling these ladies will play a part. After all, River’s End is a small town where everyone knows your name.

Jane Blythe can sure pen a novel filled with Despair and devastation, hope and loss, and…Will…OMG…I love him! He is persistent, patient, passionate, powerful.

How many bad things can happen to a good person? With Jane Blythe there is no hard and fast rule. She is able to create a sense of danger and anticipation of something bad happening lingers on every page. I know something evil is coming, just not how or when. She surprises me over and over again with her excellent and creative writing, characters that come alive, making me, at times, race through the pages and other times covering the words with my hand so I don’t get even a glimpse of what is coming

Some Truth Can Be Distorted and the River’s End seris by Jane Blythe is a perfect fit for me and I am LOVING them!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Some Truth Can Be Distorted by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Perception is truth.

Renee Miller sacrificed over and over again in her relationship with Will Black, and then when she needed him the most he wasn’t there for her. Now she’s back in River’s End and Will is determined to win her back, only she’s not the same person she was when they were together. Her world has been tilted on its axis and she has no idea how to right it.

Will knows that he messed up when he didn’t give Renee what she needed, instead doing what he thought was best, but he is desperate for a second chance. This time he is determined to put her first, show her with words and actions how much he loves her. When Renee’s life is threatened and it becomes clear someone is targeting her he now faces two threats to reclaiming the woman he adores, a killer and her lack of trust in him.

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!

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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Giveaway – The Enemy in my Bed by L K Shaw @XpressoTours

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The Enemy in My Bed
L.K. Shaw
(Brooklyn Kings, #2)
Publication date: July 27th 2021
Genres: Adult, Mafia, Romance

Pierce

The Russians have taken far too much from me. So I’ll take something of theirs. Except, I never expected my captive to be a woman. She could be the key to destroying them entirely. I’ll do whatever it takes to get revenge. Even seduce the enemy.

Soon I discover she may not be my enemy after all.

Mila

For nearly my entire life I’ve been held prisoner by darkness and pain. And just when I think freedom is within my reach, it’s stolen by yet another man determined to break me. First with rage. Then with tenderness.

I’m helpless to resist his touch, even knowing that, in the end, all that waits for me is death.

Author’s Note: There is no cheating in this book.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

“If you won’t talk about what happened last night, then why don’t you tell me how you got these?”

I stiffen and try to move away at the feel of Pierce’s fingers tracing the scars along my back. He only tightens his grip around my waist. With every question, it’s as though he’s flaying me alive. Perhaps that’s his intent.

“They were given to me by a man named Maksim.” I give in, because I don’t have it in me to fight. Not tonight. He’s chipped away at too much.

Pierce continues touching each one, as though memorizing them. “That didn’t answer my question. I want to know how you got them.”

I close my eyes against the painful memories. He isn’t going to let this go. “I got them by fighting back. By refusing to beg. I got them as a reminder. So I never forget who I am, which is no one. I got them because I was weak.”

“Mila,” Pierce growls into my ear.

“Nothing beyond that matters. Why make me pick at a scab that’s long been healed over? All that will do is add another scar to the ones already there. Don’t I have enough?”

He lets out a sigh. “What if I want to get rid of your scars?”

I shake my head. “Don’t be naive. Scars as deep as these, you can’t just get rid of, no matter how hard you try. They’re permanently etched into my skin.”

“Look at me,” Pierce commands.

Because it’s pointless to resist, I roll onto my other side and face him, but keep my eyes on the crown on his chest. He pinches my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tips my head up, so I have no choice but to meet his gaze.

“I’m not talking about the scars on your back. I’m talking about the ones here.” Pierce releases his hold and places his hand over my heart.

My eyes burn with unshed tears, and it’s hard to swallow. “Those might be even harder to erase.”


Author Bio:

LK Shaw is the bestselling author of the sexy, sinful suspense. She resides in South Carolina with her high maintenance beagle mix dog, Miss P. An avid reader since childhood, she became hooked on historical romance novels in high school. She now reads, and loves, all romance sub-genres, with dark romance and romantic suspense being her favorite. LK enjoys traveling and chocolate. Her books feature hot alpha heroes and the strong women they love.

Want a FREE short story? Be sure to sign up for her newsletter and download your copy of A Birthday Spanking, a short story set in the Doms of Club Eden world! http://bit.ly/LKShawNewsletter

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