Review – Gunmetal Gray (Gray Man #6) by Mark Greaney @MarkGreaneyBook #gunmetalgray

Posted on by

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

Being the Gray Man didn’t mean being in control all the time. Sometimes it meant relinquishing all control, playing the game, and dealing with fucking bullshit, like some asshole standing on the back of your head.

To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always.

Court Gentry is an awesome character. I love an assassin and he is one of the best I have ever come across. He has his own set of ethics and works outside the law. The only complaint I have about him is…why I have I not read the first five books in the series. I LOVE HIM. He is a perfect fit for me.

The nonstop action had me rapidly flipping pages. I won the book some time ago and it is 494 pages of nonstop action. It’s a good thing I knew he couldn’t die, because Mark Greaney puts him through Hell and I found it hard to look away.

I’ll definitely be reading more of the Gray Man’s books.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Mark Greaney, the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan novels, delivers another breakneck thriller following the world’s deadliest assassin the Gray Man.

After five years on the run Court Gentry is back on the inside at the CIA. But his first mission makes him wish he had stayed on the outs when a pair of Chinese agents try to take him down in Hong Kong. Normally the Chinese prefer to stay eyes-only on foreign agents. So why are they on such high alert?

Court’s high stakes hunt for answers takes him across Southeast Asia and leads to his old friend, Donald Fitzroy, who is being held hostage by the Chinese. Fitzroy was contracted to find Fan Jiang, a former member of an ultra-secret computer warfare unit responsible for testing China’s own security systems. And it seems Fan may have been too good at his job because China wants him dead.

The first two kill teams Fitzroy sent to find Fan have disappeared and the Chinese have decided to supervise the next operation. What they don’t know is that Gentry’s mission is to find Fan first and get whatever intel he has to the US.

After that, all he has to do is get out alive…

“I Love the Gray Man.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

“Bourne for the new millenium.”—New York Times bestselling author James Rollins

“Mark Greaney reigns as one of the recognized masters of action and adventure. Back Blast is no exception.”—New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Steve Berry

“Fast-paced [and] tightly written…A great ride.”—New York Times bestselling author Larry Bond

“Punches with bone-busting power…Flesh-and-blood priceless.”—New York Times bestselling author Stephen Templin

“Greaney’s unraveling of the Back Blast mystery is masterly, but it’s the Gray Man’s ability to outthink and outgun…that will keep readers glued to the pages.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[A] high-energy thriller…Clancy fans will have a blast.”—Kirkus Reviews

  • Genre: Action, Adventure, Espionage, Fiction, Mystery, Spy, Suspense, Thriller
  • 494 pages, Hardcover
  • First published February 14, 2017 by Berkley
  • Series: Gray Man #6

ABOUT MARK GREANEY

Mark Greaney has a degree in International Relations and Political Science. In researching The Gray Man series he traveled to ten countries and trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close range combative tactics.

Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM

Email Mark at MarkGreaneyBooks@gmail.com

  • 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’.
    Product images are linked/I am an Amazon affiliate.
    Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Mega Giveaway – Cinematic Destinies by Patricia Leavy @goddessfish

Posted on by


Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of CINEMATIC DESTINIES, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press. How to get yours? It’s easy… just complete the Rafflecopter below and you’ll receive one from the author! Plus, one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card!

So, what’s the book about? Here’s the info:

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, Cinematic Destinies is a feel-good, contemporary romance about a trio of adult children searching for love and beauty in the shadow of their parents’ legendary Hollywood fairy-tale romance.

Legendary actor Finn Forrester and his wife philosopher Ella Sinclair Forrester met on the location shoot for Jean Mercier’s film Celebration. The world has been captivated by their fairy-tale romance since Finn famously proposed on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. As the couple now prepares to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary, they wonder if their children will ever find love.

Eldest daughter Betty is excelling in a medical residency program in New York City—and has convinced herself that distancing herself from emotions is the path to success. Youngest son Albert, a recent college graduate, is trying to find his footing in Boston as he struggles with his identity. Free-spirited Georgia, her mother’s spitting image and an actress following in her father’s footsteps, has been cast in Jean Mercier’s final film, mysteriously titled Beauty. When she arrives on set in Iceland and meets her costar, sparks fly. Is history repeating itself? How has growing up in the shadow of the world’s most iconic love story affected each of the Forrester children?


Reviews

“If you’re a romantic with a brain and a heart, this is your jam . . . I closed the book with a full heart and a goofy grin.” Literary Titan, 5-star review

“Cinematic Destinies is a stunning and poignant celebration of romance, the magic of movies, and life itself. The exotic Icelandic film set, well-drawn characters, and smart writing make this book impossible to put down . . . This is a gorgeous novel.” —Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

“Overall, the writing, the characters, the little nods of sizzle, and the brilliant family dynamic make this book a winner. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“Leavy’s latest must-read novel features a trio of romantic storylines about the quest for love and identity in the shadow of a Hollywood fairy tale . . . Cinematic Destinies is a spellbinding ode to love, art, and what it means to live.” —Mary E. Weems, author of Blackeyed

About the Author:
Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Her most recent novel, Shooting Stars Above, was featured on People “10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.” She has also received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and other organizations. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Destinies-Novel-Carpet-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DWNGNM1Z/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0

Patricia Leavy will award a free digital copy of her upcoming book CINEMATIC DESTINIES to the first 7500 people who enter the Rafflecopter and one lucky entrant will receive a $150 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  • 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’.
  • Product images are linked/I am an Amazon affiliate.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

$10 GC – Among Us by V G Harrison @goddessfish #amongus

Posted on by

AMONG US by V.G. Harrison

GENRE:  SciFi

BLURB

She’s in the most dangerous place in the world.

Prof. Meridia Vail, a member of the Bridgeway Space Station, has escaped the government stronghold and is on a mission among the human population of this “new” Earth. She needs to find scientists, engineers, researchers, anyone who can help her and her crew get back to their derelict space station that has crossed over into a different dimension. The sooner the better, too. The Bridgeway is in a decaying orbit and has the potential to kill millions, if it crash lands on the planet.

Trusting anyone in this New Earth is going to be hard to come by. The authorities have branded her as a maniac who has escaped from a mental hospital. For the past five years, multiple countries have colluded in declaring no survivors from the Bridgeway Space Station incident. When Meridia’s finally able to convince a university professor, Dr. Dana Haden, of who she is, Prof. Vail realizes she’s not home-free yet. She has to convince the entire world who she is and expose the lies nations have been telling their citizens. Will governments be forced to free her crew so they can work the problem…or will they take their chances and nuke the station from orbit to bury their secrets?

EXCERPT

“Wait! Stop!” Dr. Haden grabbed the chair, but wasn’t able to yank it from my grip. She placed herself between me and the window. “What are you doing? Put this thing down.”

“He threatened you,” I replied. “I can break the glass with this and we can make it out on the ledge. I might be able to even carry you in my arms and we jump–”

“Oh my God, no.” She shook her head before smiling and motioning for me to lower the chair. “It’s okay. I swear. He’s a friend. Put the chair down; he won’t hurt us.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She eased the chair out of my hands and placed it back on the floor. A sigh released the tension from her face and shoulders. “You would’ve seriously thrown that thing and tossed me across your shoulder before jumping three stories to your death?”

“Of course. I don’t know if I would’ve come away unscathed, but I would’ve taken the chance, as you’re my only chance to get back to my space station right now.”

“Wow. That’s some friendship.”

“You’re welcome…I think.” I half-smiled.

“I’m not even sure my husband would’ve gone to those depths.” A chuckle seemed to calm her more as she made her way to the door. Her hand motioned for me to relax. “It’s just my colleague, Professor Carlin.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Amazon best-selling author, V.G. Harrison enjoys creating smart heroines who are more comfortable dealing with things like Fine-structure constant and quantum entanglement than the fallout from their conflict. She loves to write stories that leave her audience so engaged they can’t sleep at night, thinking about the possibilities. 

V.G. holds a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering and a Masters in Information Technology. When she’s not writing, she’s an IT manager for software company.

Her ever-growing list of hobbies include astronomy, attending comic cons, keeping an eye on the cryptocurrency and stock markets, hydroponics gardening, hiking, and connecting with her daughter on a cool level. Building Lego sets at night with milk and cookies on the side come in handy for that.

  • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/booksbycoletteandharrison
  • Bluesky: http://www.bluesky.com/vgharrison.bsky.social 
  • Author website: http://www.vgharrison.com
  • Blog: https://www.vgharrison.com/blog-1
  • https://mochamemoirspress.com/product/among-us
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.

  • 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’.
  • Product images are linked/I am an Amazon affiliate.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – The Great Decay by Steven Jenkins #thegreatdecay @Author_Jenkins

Posted on by

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

Zombies are not your friend!

Ruby and her friends find what may be the last zombie on earth, and they make him their friend. They hang out at the cave with him, until…

The group of friends are too young to remember The Great Decay, a zombie apocalypse that nearly wiped out the human race.

Of course, I know what’s coming. I mean, look at that cover. Is there anything good about it?

The towering walls that had been built fifteen years ago during The Great Decay…Are they there to keep the zombies or the humans, in or out?

The short chapters and shifting points of view make The Great Decay an easy, fast paced read.

I’ve read enough zombie stories to be on the lookout for one that I can’t predict who will live and who will die. I want to be surprised. AND, I don’t mind if it’s one that has me wanting to throw my ereader at the wall. In fact, that gets my emotions riled up and makes if even better. Then I know, I have to be on my toes, and so do they.

My thanks go out to Steven Jenkins for the opportunity to share The Great Decay with you.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Stand By Me meets World War Z.”

Like so many towns and cities, the giant walls around Camberwood stand as silent reminders of humanity’s darkest hour—The Great Decay: a zombie invasion that nearly wiped-out mankind.

For seventeen-year-old Ruby and her friends, these walls are nothing more than relics of a history they’re too young to remember, monuments to their parents’ trauma.

Ruby dreams of a better life away from this small, soul-crushing town. Away from her alcoholic mother who still grieves the loss of her husband.

But boredom suddenly lifts when Ruby and her friends discover what seems impossible: a lone, emaciated zombie, perhaps the last of its kind, trapped in an abandoned coal mine. The creature appears docile, almost pitiful—a living artifact begging to be studied. Against all reason, they keep it secret, drawn to this rotting piece of forbidden history.

But their dangerous game of friendship with the undead is about to shatter their safe, uneventful world.

As a new wave of infection erupts within Camberwood’s walls, Ruby faces a devastating realization: she and her friends haven’t just unearthed a scientific curiosity—they’ve unleashed the very nightmare the last generation barely survived.

As the shadows of the past rise again, Ruby must fight to prevent a second Great Decay—or watch everything she loves crumble into ruin.

  • Genre: Fiction, Horror, Zombies

ABOUT STEVEN JENKINS

Born in the small Welsh town of Llanelli, Steven began writing stories at the age of eight. His inspiration came from his love for ‘80s horror movies, and novels by Stephen King and the late Richard Matheson.

During Steven’s teenage years, as well as being a black-belt kickboxer, he became a great lover of writing dark and twisted poems – six of which gained him publications with Poetry Now, Brownstone Books, and Strong Words.

Over the next few years, and after becoming a father and a husband, Steven’s passion drove him towards writing short stories, gaining him further publication with Dark Moon Digest: an American horror magazine. His terrifying tales of the afterlife and zombies gained him positive reviews, particularly his story, Burning Ambition, which also came runner up in a Five-stop-story contest.

Finally, in 2013, after years of hard work (and countless rejection letters), Steven got his debut novel, Fourteen Days, published by Barking Rain Press.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube / Instagram

  • 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’s 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 Spotlight Is On Cayman Conundrum by Stacy Wilder @partnersincr1me

Posted on by

Cayman Conundrum by Stacy Wilder Banner

CAYMAN CONUNDRUM

by Stacy Wilder

June 9 – 20, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Cayman Conundrum by Stacy Wilder

LIZ ADAMS MYSTERY SERIES

 

A honeymoon in paradise turns perilous in this riveting seaside mystery.

A tropical vacation transforms into a web of danger and deception when an author and his manuscript vanish. Is his thriller about money laundering in the Caribbean too close to the truth?

With the stakes high and time ticking, Private Investigator Liz Adams and her new husband, Brad, along with their truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, partner with the local authorities to unravel a multitude of crimes. As they search for clues, the newlyweds explore the delights of the island, including a hunt for buried treasure.

Will they uncover the truth in time, or will the honeymoon end in heartbreak? Set against the backdrop of the stunning island of Grand Cayman, this cozy mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Praise for Cayman Conundrum:

“5 Stars – Must Read… Set on a beautiful tropical island, Cayman Conundrum is full of fun and quirky characters and a mystery with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the last page.”
~ Sarah Hinrichs, Reedsy Discovery

“The characters were well developed and yet offered additional surprises. The storytelling was great moving at a good pace, as was the world setting. It is very well written and keeps you wanting to read on for the next zinger.”
~ Texas Book Nook

“We are headed into cozy season, and this is the perfect cozy mystery read . . . This author tells a story that is entertaining while drawing readers into a love of mystery.”
~ Novel News Network

“CAYMAN CONUNDRUM is the fourth book in Stacy Wilder’s fun and fast-paced cozy series, “Liz Adams Mysteries,” but readers new to the story shouldn’t have any trouble enjoying it as a standalone. (However, the previous books are cozy mystery gold.) Engaging characters, a puzzling and dangerous mystery, and a romance from the past combine for an entertaining and satisfying story.”
~ Karen Siddall

“I’ll admit that sometimes I decide to read a book solely based on its cover. I won’t even read the plot summary. Being the dog lover that I am, when I saw the beautiful black lab on the cover of Stacy Wilder’s Cayman Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery I knew I had to pick it up. I’m here to report that in addition to a great cover, this was an excellent, page-turning mystery. While this was my first Liz Adams Mystery, this read smoothly as a standalone. However, now I want to go back and read the first three books. I need more reading hours in my life to inhale all these great books!”
~ Sarah S Erwin

CAYMAN CONUNDRUM Trailer:

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Wild Hawk Press
Publication Date: June 28, 2024
Number of Pages: 227
ISBN: 9798985426694 (Pbk)
Series: A Liz Adams Mystery, Book 4 (Learn More About These Stand Alone Novels: Amazon & Goodreads)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Chapter One

Secrets Are Hell

While Tim cocooned his body in the blue leather chair behind his desk, his fingers flew over the keyboard. The words flowed from his fingertips onto the computer screen. After he completed the final chapter of his novel, Secrets Are Hell, he leaned back in the seat that was positioned to optimize the view of the Caribbean. As he rubbed his newly acquired goatee, he watched the turquoise waves lap against the pearly sand.

When Tim and his former partner, Brad, sold their company, Multipoint Protection Services, Tim moved to Grand Cayman to pursue his dream of becoming an author. He grinned. His vision was about to come true.

After the identity thefts from his former company, Tim lasered in on the connection between the stolen information used to purchase prescription drugs and the subsequent laundering of the black market proceeds. The thriller was a product of his experiences, research, and imagination.

He recalled the conversation with his informant at the bar. Once the man he only knew as Jax consumed three shots of tequila, he’d spilled secrets about the money laundering business on the island. The man dripped sweat as he spoke, and he warned Tim to be careful with the revelations. Although Tim had fictionalized the facts gathered during his research, he prayed that he’d sufficiently disguised the characters involved in the illicit events.

Satisfied that the first draft was complete, he saved the document onto the flash drive and locked the device in the desk drawer. He stood and stretched his arms overhead before hiding the key underneath a leather-bound edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, one of many in his collection of books in the wall-to-wall bookcase behind him.

Tim raised his eyes toward the planked pine ceiling and contemplated his next steps. When he returned from Brad’s upcoming wedding, he would consult with developmental editors. In the meantime, he’d let the story marinate. His phone pinged, and he turned back to the desk to find a text from his girlfriend, Becky.

Why haven’t you called or messaged me?

His six-month-old puppy, Snooper, barked. He stepped away from his cellphone to let the dog inside. A salty breeze drifted through the opening. As he inhaled the scent, he wondered why he’d ever gotten involved with the former beauty pageant queen. He met her a few months ago when he’d volunteered at the rescue organization where he had adopted Snooper. While he massaged the black and white cocker spaniel mix’s ears, he reflected on that day they’d both tended to the homeless pets.

As Tim handed Becky a bag of cat food, a jolt of adrenaline pulsed through his body. Becky measured the servings and filled the bowls they’d deliver to the felines. While she poured, he admired her flowing raven hair that framed a heart-shaped face. Her almond shaped hazel-colored eyes shimmered with intrigue. After he heard Becky’s deep-throated laugh, he invited her to join him for a cup of coffee after their shift.

A month into the relationship, she began texting him incessantly. If he didn’t reply within an hour, she’d get agitated. He regretted inviting her as his plus one to Brad and Liz’s wedding in Charleston, South Carolina. A sigh escaped his lips. He longed for a soulmate like his friend had discovered in Liz.

Tim was delighted that the couple had chosen Grand Cayman as their honeymoon destination. He smiled in anticipation of the treasure hunt he’d planned as their wedding gift. Snooper wiggled away and bounded toward Tim’s cat, Irish. The feline hissed and halted the puppy in his tracks. Tim chuckled, picked up his phone, and fingered a response.

Been working on the book. Meet up for drinks at five at The Deck? We can talk about travel plans.

Without waiting for a reply, he placed the device down and strode toward the kitchen to feed his pets.

Who knew that today would be the last time he would touch the manuscript?

***

Excerpt from Cayman Conundrum by Stacy Wilder. Copyright 2024 by Stacy Wilder. Reproduced with permission from Stacy Wilder. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Stacy Wilder

Stacy Wilder writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets.

Beyond writing, Stacy is deeply devoted to her faith, family, and her beloved Labradors. She is also enthusiastic about the causes she supports, the beauty of art, the serenity of the beach, and the joy of reading.

She and her husband live in Houston, TX with a totally spoiled Labrador named Eve.

Catch Up With Stacy Wilder:

www.StoryStacy.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub – @wilderstacy
Instagram – @authorstacywilder
Facebook – @wilderstacy

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews for Cayman Conundrum by Stacy Wilder!

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

  • 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’.
  • Product images are linked/I am an Amazon affiliate.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Pearl’s Fight by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #romanticsuspense

Posted on by

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

Jane Blythe is always a must read author for me. I love her romantic suspense novels where enemies become lovers. They go through hell to find their happy ever after…and this time it’s Pearl’s turn.

Pearl is one of four women who were stolen when they were young girls. They were used, abused and tortured. They consider themselves family and Pearl knew that without Ivory, Lacey and Opal, she never would have made it. Pearl had a mission. She had just recovered from a gun shot wound and was determined to find the six little girls that she had left behind.

DEA Special Agent Jesse Masters will have to work with Pearl, who works with Prey Security. He holds them responsible for his brother’s death, so it won’t be an easy alliance.

I had some issues with Pearl’s Fight, but I was already invested in her welfare from prior novels, so I knew I would enjoy it anyway. Jane Blythe always has me ripping through her stories having to know what hell she will put her characters through…and how they will manage to survive. I love her kickass ladies and her hunkalicious men. I am eager to dive into the next book in the series, Lacey’s Fight.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Their anger will either bring them together or destroy what could have been. Pearl Smith is angry at the world. Stolen as a baby and raised under torturous conditions now she uses those same skills to save other innocents, but it doesn’t abate her anger. Nothing does, until a random encounter with a DEA Agent. Now the two are undercover with only each other to rely on, problem is they don’t like each other. DEA Agent Jesse Masters needs answers. A cartel sold his little sister and he lives for one purpose, to find out who she was sold to and if she’s still alive. The last thing he wants is someone from Prey Security getting in his way. He blames the company for what happened to his family and he has no intentions of getting along with their operative. Easier said than done when he can’t stop obsessing over her.

  • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
  • 346 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published July 11, 2023
  • Series: Prey Security: Artemis #2

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

  • 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!

Review – Rejected by M C Frank @mcfrank_author #rejected

Posted on by

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

M C Frank’s books have some eye catching covers and Rejected is no exception.

As Josephine St Claire and her two sisters grow older, her sisters leave the next. Josephine is fine right where she is, but she also knows that her best friend, Theodore Lawrence, will leave her too. She spends a lot of time feeling sorry for herself…and I think she is in denial.

Sometimes what we want is right in front of us, we just aren’t able to see it.

I have been enjoying the Rakes and Ruin series, but Rejected is not one of my favorites. That’s okay, it as still worth the reading to find out more about Josephine and what she wants out of life. 

The POVs switch from her writing letters to her deceased sister, Beth, and current events. Sometimes I felt her despair and other times I just wanted to tell her to get over herself. The pages ooze angst, and I guess, if you think of the times, it may be more realistic than I originally thought. At least Josephine was able to live her life the way she wanted, not being forced into a marriage she didn’t want. Love is messy and it takes her the entire book to figure it out. I’m glad Rejected was a quick read, because it lacked the depth of plot that I love so much, yet I was satisfied with the end result.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Everyone I love will leave me,” Josephine St. Claire whispered to herself.

“Wrong,” an annoying voice said behind her ear. “ I won’t leave you.”

She turned around to behold the unbearably handsome yet immensely irritating face of Theodore Lawrence, Lord Lowry, or ‘Teddy’ to his long-suffering friends.

“You don’t count, Teddy—wait, is your mouth full?”

“Indeed it is,” Teddy replied, with said mouth spitting crumbs of cake. “And, may I ask, why do I not count?”

Josephine sighed. “Because you are my best friend.”

He was wrong; she’d been right. He did leave her. But not before he had ruined everything by kissing her.



Josephine St. Claire prefers to be called ‘Jo’.

Unruly, with more interest in books, writing, and swordfights than in corsets and slippers, she is struggling to find her place in Regency London’s marriage mart. Her one comfort in life, her three sisters and one roguish brother, are slowly slipping away into adulthood, leaving her behind. And she, at nineteen, is horrified by the idea of looming romance and marriage.

At least she still has her best friend, Laurie. Or, as he now likes to be called, ‘Teddy’. She can rely on him not to succumb to any silly romantic ideas.



Theodore Lawrence, Lord Lowry, used to be called ‘Laurie’ when he was a child.

He is not a child any longer. He is about to step into his title and his responsibilities, and leave away the comfort of his early boyhood for good. Orphaned at infancy, he has been blessed with a found the St. Claires. Four sisters and a boy slightly older than him were the ones who saved his life when he was lost and alone. And his friendship with Jo has continued to save him, every day since.

Too bad he is about to utterly wreck it.

Because Laurie has a he has been in love with his best friend for years. And if he doesn’t do something about it soon, he is going to lose his mind.

Laurie is about to propose to Jo.

It is going to be a resounding disaster.

And that, by far, is not the worst thing that’s about to happen.



Rejected is a Jo and Laurie rewriting. This story is not a retelling of the book in its Just of the Jo and Laurie part. We are going to remake their story into a Regency era swoon-fest. And we are going to get it right this time.

Or not.

Bring tissues

……

This short and dark Regency retelling of Jo and Laurie’s story is for everyone who has shipped them so hard, they wished for a better ending. Do you think we might get it with this story?

Rejected is a quick, short read, but don’t let its length fool It’s packed with drama, romance, heat, darkness and light, and it will make you cry and swoon, and then cry again.

This one is for the Jo and Laurie endgame fans.

  • Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Fiction, Regency Romance, Romance
  • 257 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published May 11, 2025
  • Series: Rakes And Ruin

ABOUT M C FRANK

Welcome to the world of M.C. FRANK’s books, where characters aren’t going to have an easy time of it: They will find themselves in icy-cold dystopian worlds where kissing is forbidden (among other things), or in green forests ruled by evil Sheriffs. If they’re in Jane Austen’s England, they have to be running away from a traumatic childhood, or if they are in our contemporary world, they’re scared they’ll die before they have finished high school. That sort of thing.
Don’t worry, though, she knows we all need a little hope and joy in our lives, so there’s a good dose of those as well in everything she writes.
M.C. Frank (writer, reader, designer, physicist and teacher, to name a few) has been living in a world of stories ever since she can remember (that’s before she knew how to write). She started writing them down when she could no longer stand the characters in her head screaming at her to give them life, and while those first scribblings weren’t exactly good (nor were they books, although she insisted on calling them that), they were enough for her to discover her passion in life.
She got her university degree in physics a few years ago (yes, she’s like Sheldon, only a bit crazier!) and is now free to pursue her love of reading and writing, as well her free-lance job as editor-in-chief. She lives with her ‘dude’ in a home filled with candles, laptops and notebooks, where she rearranges her overflowing bookshelves every time she feels stressed.
Which is often, since (as you might have noticed) she doesn’t pick the easiest subjects for her novels.
Learn more about her and her New Adult, Young Adult, scifi, Greek mythology and historical novels at mcfrankauthor.com

  • Website: mcfrankauthor.com
  • Twitter: @mcfrank_author
  • Instagram: @mcfrank_author
  • Tumblr: @litlereddoll
  • Facebook Page: M.C. Frank
  • Goodreads: M.C. Frank
  • Youtube: M.C. Frank

MY M C FRANK 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’.
  • Product images are linked/I am an Amazon affiliate.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

$25 GC – Between The Living And The Dead by Sophie Jupillat Posey @goddessfish

Posted on by

BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

Sophie Jupillat Posey

GENRE:  Young adult paranormal mystery

BLURB:

The dead won’t leave her alone. For Cavilla, it’s one case after another…

Cavilla Ramirez is an average Peruvian teen, tethered to the 1990s rhythm of clarinet rehearsals, dog-eared Agatha Christie novels, and low-stakes schoolyard mysteries. But when a hit-and-run claims her two best friends, her world implodes—and then restructures itself in a seemingly impossible and unnerving way. Her friends aren’t gone. Their ghosts linger, needing her help in solving their murder so that they can cross over. And it’s not just them. Ghosts are everywhere, and somehow, she’s the only one who can see them.

With a protector in the form of a god-turned-cat, Cavilla becomes a reluctant guide between Peru’s realms of the living and the dead. Solving murders and helping the dead find closure becomes her new normal. But every answer she uncovers tugs loose something else: long-buried secrets about her own heritage, secrets her aunt Tia Luz would rather keep six feet under.

And as Cavilla finds out, not all ghosts need guidance. One presence stands apart, watching her… waiting.

And he isn’t asking for help. He wants her – or something she has.

EXCERPT

I knew something was wrong when dusk wasn’t followed by night. It was happening again; my third time this year. The sun just set over the hills, but the light froze, as if a greedy hand had seized it and squeezed it. The motes of ashen light trickled through the violet clouds into my bedroom window. I passed my hand through the dull sunbeam, my brown color paling as it mingled with the dusk. Even my gold leaf bracelet lost its luster and glow. The hoarse calling of Tia Luz Marina for dinner time quieted and softened until her always angry-sounding voice was nothing but a hush.

That time, I held still and breathed slowly, slitting my eyes until my vision doubled. Focus on the intangible, I coaxed myself. The withered light impregnated every corner, every detail of my messy room. It turned into ghosts the coloring books, the woolen dolls, the half-empty bottles of acrylic paint. When it fell on the spirits of my deceased friends, Niko, and Angelica, sitting on the floor by my bed, it brought them further into focus.

The queer dusk light slipped into my short bathroom hallway and vanished. I stared at that dark entryway, convinced there was something more there. For years, I’d been telling Tia Luz Marina

that there were ghosts in the bathroom, but she tossed the notion aside. She said believing in ghosts was a gringa thing. Yet, when I pressed her on ghosts and gods from stories of our Peruvian culture, she shied away.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sophie Jupillat Posey has an enriched passion for writing and music that allows her to captivate audiences with her unique style in poetry, novellas and novels. As she lives her life around the beauty and art and the inspiration from others, Sophie manages to create worlds that her readers will find themselves immersed in. With her passion for the arts, she has also studied music and writing at Rollins College, which can be found as guiding pieces in her works. She is the author of several pieces, including the YA fantasy “The Four Suitors”, the short story sci-fi collection “The Inside Out Worlds: Visions of Strange,” several bilingual children’s books and a poetry chapbook. Having lived in the US for many years, Sophie now calls France her home, bringing more of her passion for the arts in her books.

Book buy links:

https://books.google.fr/books/about/Between_the_Living_and_the_Dead.html?id=S7gI0QEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

  • Website: www.sophiejposey.com
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spjposey/
  • Tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spjposey
  • Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/p/Sophie-Jupillat-Posey-Writer-100063449271165/
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment. The more you comment the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.

  • 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’s 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!

Review Fatal Intrusion by Jeffrey Deaver & Isabella Maldonado @jefferydeaver @isabellambooks

Posted on by
A SERIAL KILLER SPINS A WEB OF DECEPTION

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

I have read numerous novels by Jeffrey Deaver, but this is my first experience with Isabella Maldonado and I was not disappointed. Fatal Intrusion brings together Carmen Sanchez, a Homeland Security agent, and Jake Heron, a security expert. Carmen is by the book, but Jake…not so much. I love the combination.

Jake owes Carmen a favor and she is calling it in. The peripheral characters who surround them are all important players and each has their own talent to contribute to the investigation.

I love a book that draws me in from the opening pages, making it impossible to put the book down and Jeffrey and Isabella make it look easy. I love a feisty, kickass female lead. The tension was high and the pacing furious. Danger oozes off the pages and I rapidly flip them, having to know what comes next…and I sure didn’t anticipate where they took me. I do love a story that twists and turns and keeps me guessing.

I want to thank Thomas & Mercer and MB Communications for the opportunity to read and review Fatal Intrusion by Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

As a wave of murders grips Southern California, an unlikely pair must untangle the mysterious patterns of an elusive killer. A propulsive new series by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Isabella Maldonado.

Carmen Sanchez is a tough Homeland Security agent who plays by the rules. But when her sister is attacked, revealing a connection to a series of murders across Southern California, she realizes a conventional investigation will not be enough to stop the ruthless perpetrator.

With nowhere else to turn, Sanchez enlists the aid of Professor Jake Heron, a brilliant and quirky private security expert who, unlike Sanchez, believes rules are merely suggestions. The two have a troubled past, but he owes her a favor and she’s cashing in. They team up to catch the assailant, who, mystifyingly, has no discernable motive and fits no classic criminal profile. All they have to go on is a distinctive tattoo and a singular obsession that gives this chillingly efficient tactician his nickname: Spider.

Over the next seventy-two hours, Sanchez and Heron find themselves in the midst of a lethal chess match with the killer as they race to stop the carnage. As the victims mount, so do the risks. Because this spider’s web of intrigue is more sinister—and goes far deeper—than anyone could possibly anticipate.

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 434 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published August 6, 2024 by Thomas & Mercer
  • Series: Sanchez & Heron, Book I

ABOUT JEFFREY DEAVER

#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He’s received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.

Website

ABOUT ISABELLA MALDONADO

Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author Isabella Maldonado wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and precinct commander. She uses her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing, which includes the Special Agent Nina Guerrera series, the Special Agent Dani Vega series, the Detective Veranda Cruz series, and the Sanchez and Heron series (co-authored with Jeffery Deaver). Her books are published in 24 languages. For more information, visit www.isabellamaldonado.com.

MY JEFFREY DEAVER & ISABELLA MALDONADO 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’s 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!

$25 GC – Shopping For A Highlander’s Elopement by Julia Kent @xpressotours @jkentauthor

Posted on by

Shopping for a Highlander’s Elopement
Julia Kent
(Shopping for a Highlander, #3)
Publication date: June 10th 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

I didn’t expect to fall for a Scottish footballer so annoyingly sunny you need shades to be around him.

I didn’t expect to say yes to his heart-felt, if loopy, proposal while he lay injured on the pitch, blathering on about banana pudding and sparkly unicorns.

What I definitely didn’t expect?

For our engagement to explode into a paparazzi circus, our mothers to turn into wedding bulldozers, and for our wedding protector’s perfectly reasonable elopement plan to spiral into a road trip escape.

So here we are.

In Love You, Maine, a town that celebrates Valentine’s Day every single day. We’re here to get married. Quietly. No drama. In disguise.

Although good luck hiding a 6’4” ginger Scottish striker wearing a knee brace and a perpetual extrovert smile.

Instead of being subtle and blending in? Our quiet escape is vibrating heart-shaped beds, mirrors on the ceilings, secret identities, interfering mothers, and one suspiciously enthusiastic moose that humps dumpsters.

This was supposed to be a simple wedding. Just me and Hamish. No fuss.

But nothing about us has ever been simple with us.

Still, this is what love is, right? It’s chaos. It’s compromise. It’s crying in a wedding planner’s office, then kissing in a hot spring.

It’s choosing each other again and again, even when everything goes sideways.

No matter what comes next… this is our comeback story, in more ways than one.

And no – that’s not a euphemism. 🙂

Shopping for a Highlander’s Elopement is a romantic comedy that blends the worlds of four bestselling series by New York Times bestselling romantic comedy author Julia Kent:

– Shopping for a Billionaire

– Shopping for a Highlander

– Whatever It Takes

– Love You, Maine

If you love sports romance, surprise proposals, grand gestures, chaotic weddings, Scottish footballers, golden retriever/black cat energy, and characters who love too hard, mess up spectacularly, and always find their way back to each other with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments (and lovingly-used scrunchies) along the way, then this is your book.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

Love isn’t a football game.

It’s a feeling.

A feeling that uses instinct as a tool.

I’m smarter than this. When everything felt off, I should have known that it was off for a reason.

“Jody,” I say softly, “I canna do this.”

“Of course you can. You just have the jitters. Amy’s a wonderful woman and–”

“I dinna mean the proposin’ part. That’s fine. I can do that. I mean doin’ it on the pitch.”

His turn to go green.

“You want to cancel the proposal?”

“Aye. Nae. No’ the proposin’. The doin’ it in public part. I love Amy wi’ all ma body and soul.” I frown. “She’d hate to hear me say it that way. Soul and body.” I wink at Jody. “But it’s really the other way around. Ma body knows more than ma mind.”

“I don’t need to hear every thought that pops into your head, Hamish.”

“I only tell ye the important ones.”

“Like not wanting the big spectacle we arranged for you?”

“I’m tellin’ ye now, aren’t I?”

“We have extra cameramen here for this. Your parents and siblings are in the crowd. Declan and Andrew McCormick are here. We doubled the security.”

“Is this about money? I can pay for all that.”

“It’s not–well, yes, some of it is about the money. But it’s more about publicity and planning. A lot of people put forth a huge effort to make today special for you and Amy.”

“And forty thousand of ma closest fans.”

He closes his eyes and sighs through his nose. “A better time to realize this would have been weeks ago. Not a huge US exhibition game.”

“Ma instincts told me then that this was right. Now ma gut says something else. It all feels off.”

“Your gut.”

I pat my flat stomach. “It’s gotten me this far in life. Good gut.”

He’s right. I know how much work all the coaches, teammates, stadium staff and administrators, sponsors–hell, even the car park attendants–have put into helping me today. I don’t have cold feet, and I love Amy to the moon and back, but something feels wrong.

As Amy says, hinky.

I can’t explain it. If I had words for it, I’d use them. It’s a feeling, and those don’t always line up nice and neat in words that make sense.

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.

From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men’s room toilet (and he isn’t a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).

She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.

She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Amazon / Bookbub / Newsletter


GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

  • 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!