Giveaway – Those Who Walk in Darkness @AuthorJLavene

Posted on March 17, 2016 by fundinmental

I am excited to have Joyce and Jim Lavene on fundinmental today, sharing

Those Who Walk in Darkness.

Scroll through my review before entering the giveaway.

Those Who Walk In Darkness
(Jacks Jackson Mystery Book 1)
Historical Mystery
Print Length: 266 pages
Publisher: J. Lavene (March 8, 2016)
ASIN: B01AS8NN6Q

MY REVIEW

Westerns aren’t big on my hit list, but anything by the Lavenes and you can count me in. Those Who Walk in Darkness by Jim and Joyce Lavene is a step back in time, to the Wild West days of the Pinkertons. Beware, you’ll need a quick draw to survive.

Jacks is Julia. After her fiance died at her feet, she went to Allan Pinkerton. He said he would help her find the killer and hired her on the spot. Only two people know she is female, Allan Pinkerton, her boss, and Lil. Lil is a madame who recognized her femininity and felt a need to “mother” her. I can only imagine how hard it would be to change ALL your mannerisms. Cutting the hair and binding the breasts would be simple, but learning to walk, talk and act like a man would be much more difficult. She would have to be ever vigilant.

Jacks can take care of herself. She’s a cigar smoking, whiskey drinking, quick draw and is doing just fine, until Hume Boyd and Running Wolf. She preferred to work alone, but that would not be the case this time.

Now…what can I say about Hume. I can picture him, looking so young you wonder if he can even pick up a gun, naive, sweet and innocent and too eager for his own good.

I have a bad feeling about Boyd, but a good one about Running Wolf. With a name like that, I think we have some paranormal and mystical machinations coming up and I am looking forward to them. Jacks keeps denying the appearance of the raven, but we shall see.

The mystery unfolds and I am delighted to be teased…it can’t be him…too obvious, but he’s not a nice guy and that’s putting it mildly. So, what’s his beef? Okay, then how about…it could be him, and I waver back and forth. The big question is “Why?”

The characters are well developed and the mystery prolonged. I know something is coming…very soon. Even though I am expecting it, it’s still a shock when it happens. I jerk and gasp, laughing at myself for being caught off guard.

I have a love/hate feeling for the ending. The Lavene’s wrap this novel up in a neat package, but Jacks story lives on. There is no happy ever after and I will be more than glad to go on the next adventure to find out…who is the real Jacks.

This was a surprising 5 stars for me. When I began reading I was rating it a bit low, but it kept getting better and better. Fantastic writing and I would highly recommend Those Who Walk in Darkness by the Lavene’s for a great combination of multiple genres.

I received a copy of Those Who Walk in Darkness by Joyce and Jim Lavene in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

Synopsis

Three years ago, Julia Jackson was a well to do young woman from Boston whose fiancé, Jonathon, was killed right before her eyes. Obsessed with finding the killer, a man whose face she saw only in a flash as he walked up and shot Jonathon, she leaves her family and her life behind. She starts a new life as ‘Jacks’ Jackson—a cigar smoking, dead eye, female Pinkerton agent…pretending to be a man.

Now Allan Pinkerton needs Jacks to find the man who kidnapped the wife and son of a railroad official, David Boyd. Their only clues are the severed finger from the man’s wife, complete with wedding ring, and a map of the Qualla boundary, the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina.

Jacks doesn’t like the way the whole thing sounds from the beginning. David Boyd isn’t important enough to target for sherry fundina kidnapping. And why travel so far with two hostages?

But Pinkerton tells her that he believes the man responsible for the kidnapping worked with Jonathon’s murderer in a train robbery five years ago. Jacks agrees to go after the kidnapper with hopes of catching him before he can reach his home grounds.

Pinkerton insists that Jacks bring three men with her—Boyd, her new partner, and a Cherokee guide named Running Wolf, who’s always watching her, like he’s trying to figure it out.

Can Jacks catch the kidnapper with her secret—and her life—intact?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

Webpage – www.joyceandjimlavene.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
Amazon – http://amazon.com/author/jlavene
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene
Purchase Link Amazon

Tour Participants

March 8 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 9 – A. Holland Reads – INTERVIEW
March 10 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GUEST POST
March 11 – Author Annette Drake’s Blog – INTERVIEW
March 12 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 14 – Book Babble – REVIEW
March 15 – Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf – REVIEW
March 16 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
March 17 – fundinmental – REVIEW
March 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT
March 21 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW
March 22 – Community Bookstop – CHARACTER GUEST POST

GIVEAWAY

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

My Adventures – 2016 St Patty’s Road Trip

Posted on March 17, 2016 by fundinmental

Mr Wonderful and I were off on our 2016 St Patty’s Road Trip, heading to New Orleans and Louisiana, for the St Patty’s Parade in Metarie.

This time, I was on my toes and as we passed the lot for movie props, I was able to get a few shots out the car window. It’s not every day I see a UFO and the odd assortment of vehicles, from buses to police cars.

We lived in Mobile, Alabama, back in the 90’s and Mr Wonderful belonged to a Mardi Gras association, the Pharoahs. We would jump on a bus and a bunch of us would head to New Orleans for the St Patty’s Parade, so we are familiar with the event. But it is New Orleans, so you never know what you might come across…

It starts out with walking groups. This parade is different from all the Mardi Gras parades. They allow you to walk in the street and approach the guys with flowers and beads, trading a smooch for a trinket…

The day was gorgeous, blue skies, lots of sunshine, floats and beads. The St Patty’s parade also differs from Mardi Gras parades by the stuff they toss. It’s not just beads and toys, but vegetables, everything you need for an Irish stew except for the meat. They toss heads of cabbage, onions, carrots and lemons. Ya gotta keep your eyes peeled because they can take you out.

The parade goes on for hours and after five of them, we were ready to move on, so it was off to Biloxi. We did some sight seeing, heading to the Pass Christian area, driving the coastline. It was windy and the sand drifted and piled up like the snow up north. The Gulf Coast area has still not completely recovered from Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Katrina and I myself doubt if some of the people will ever come back. Me…I just cannot stay away.

I mean…look at that view. Even on a bad day, the sun shines through the clouds. Good food, good views and good company. So, if you are ever in the area, stop by for a cocktail at the beach. You won’t regret it.

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Release Day Blitz Giveaway for Ashes in the Sky @chapterxchapter @JenniferMEaton

Posted on March 16, 2016 by fundinmental

AshesInTheSkyRDB

Happy Release Day to

Ashes in the Sky (Fire in the Woods #2)
by Jennifer M. Eaton!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday,Jennifer!

After inadvertently saving the world, eighteen-year-old Jessica Martinez is ready to put adventure behind her and settle back into the familiar routine of high school.

Though when she’s offered an opportunity to photograph the inside of an alien space ship, Jess jumps at the chance. After all, she’d be crazy to turn something like that down, right?

Spending time with David on the ship has definite advantages and the two seem to pick up right where they left off. But when Jess discovers a plot to sabotage David’s efforts to establish a new home for his people on another planet, neither David’s advanced tech nor Jess’s smarts will be able to save them.

ASHES IN THE SKY is an action-packed, romantic Sci Fi adventure that will leave readers screaming for more.

Ashes in the Sky (Fire in the Woods #2) by Jennifer M. Eaton
Publication Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

OTHER BOOK(S) IN THE SERIES:

When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.

But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?

Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.

Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.

As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.

About-the-Author2

Jennifer M. Eaton

Jennifer M. Eaton hails from the eastern shore of the North American Continent on planet Earth. Yes, regrettably, she is human, but please don’t hold that against her. While not traipsing through the galaxy looking for specimens for her space moth collection, she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband and three energetic offspring. (And a poodle who runs the spaceport when she’s not around.)

During infrequent excursions to her home planet of Earth, Jennifer enjoys long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but great adventures are always a short shuttle ride away.

Who knows where we’ll end up next?

giveaway2

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
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@JadieJones1 excels in Moonlit Trilogy – All Three Reviews

Posted on March 16, 2016 by fundinmental

Jadie Jone’s debut novel, Moonlit, has a beautiful and fantastic cover. Gorgeous.

I can almost feel the power radiating from these amazing animals.

That alone made me want to read the book.

But…I have more.

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The cover made me choose this book. It is so beautiful. I love the horses. Wildwood, the horse farm in Shenandoah Valley, made me think of Bonanza. Does that date me?

I was amazed by everything in this book. I loved it. It took me places that I haven’t been before and didn’t see coming. It was riveting from beginning to end. I can hardly believe this is Jadie Jones’ debut novel.

This novel has everything and more that you would want in a paranormal story. It was very well written and the characters come alive on the pages. Watch out for the twists and turns and be careful of who you trust.

Even after being warned, Tanzy takes her nightly ride on Hopewell. When someone tells you don’t go in the woods, then don’t. It is not going to end well. I always laugh when I come across this example in the books I read. Don’t open the door. Don’t go down in the basement……….

I was crushed when I realized I wouldn’t find out what happened to Tanzy until the next book. I hope Jadie Jones is a fast writer because I can hardly wait to get my hands on Book II.

5 STARS

You can find my original review here, written June 6, 2013.

SYNOPSIS

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

Amazon * WiDo Publishing * Barnes & Noble

I read Moonlit for a tour, but I loved this book so much and I had to know what happens, so I broke down and bought Windswept and Wildwood. I rarely buy books any more. I either get them free, or borrow them from friends, family or the library.

Read on to see if the trilogy holds up to my 5 star rating for Moonlit.

Windwept, Moonlit II by Jadie Jones

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Windwept, Book II of the Moonlit trilogy, picks up where Moonlit left off.

We have action and intrigue from the beginning.

Tansy has changed, but she is still determined to save Lucas at all cost. Is he still alive? How far would you go to save soeone you love?

Tansy has been set up and is running for her life. She has been betrayed and is confused, not knowing who she can trust. Jaycee is still by her side. Can she be trusted? Is she meant to fulfill the prophecy?

Imagine, if you will, an Unseen world, existing side by side with ours, unknown by us. What if the veil was dropped and both worlds shown, allowing the evil to come through?

I know her road is a long and treacherous one and I am very excited to be traveling it with her. As I walk with Tansy, my questions are being answered. No decision will satisfy all her desires and I wonder if they will satisfy mine. Do I agree with her thoughts of what is to be done? Well, my question…which is the right one?

Love and sacrifice, friendship and betrayal. I have been anticipating this wonderful world created with fantastic characters and I was not disappointed.

5 Stars

Wildwood, Moonlit III by Jadie Jones

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Wildwood, Book III of the Moonlit trilogy picks up where Windswept left off.

I am excited to be back with familiar characters and saddened at the thought of their story coming to an end. I loved every step I took with them and will not spoil anything for your.

I have loved every gorgeous cover of the magnificent horses.

War makes strange bedfellows and that has been proven to be true here and heroism comes in some of the most surprising packages.

Twists and turns, love and sacrifice, hope and love kept me “turning the pages” of my Kindle. I knew some of what was coming, but was not able to figure out the exact ending.

I am so happy I broke down and purchased the books I needed to finish the trilogy. I would highly recommend the Moonlit trilogy!

5 Stars

ABOUT JADIE JONES

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.

She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she’s not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Wordless Wednesday #7 – What Am I

Posted on March 16, 2016 by fundinmental

Wordless Wednesday #7 is an opportunity to share your photos or photos you love.

What do you see?

This photo was from last weeks Wordless Wednesday.

I see different things in different squares on the floor. In this one, I see mountains with a river running along their edge and a valley on the other side. Do you see the river (the darker strip meandering along the lighter one)?

Now, for this weeks photo…

What Am I?

To see all my Giveaways, go 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, I’ll drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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Teaser Tuesday #63 – The Body Market DV Berkom @dvberkom

Posted on March 15, 2016 by fundinmental

.
TeaserTuesdays-ADailyRhythm3 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of adailyrhythm.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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DV Berkom writes some amazing novels and Leine Basso, a retired assassin is my favorite character. This is a stand alone series.

In this novel…Everything’s For Sale…including women.

Add me to Goodreads now

MY TEASE

Monday morning she was so going to ream Josh’s ass for wanting to go to that party.

Josh is dead, Elise.

(page 26 in paperback)

Fabulous giveaway at the link below:

OMG – They took her – The Body Market DV Berkom @dvberkom

GOODREADS BLURB

A retired assassin is called in when a celebration south of the border turns into a nightmare.

Former assassin Leine Basso is hired by a wealthy Beverly Hills power couple to find their missing daughter, Elise, last seen partying with her boyfriend at a club in Tijuana. At first, police believe the two teenagers are the victims of a carjacking. But when Leine finds their missing vehicle with the boyfriend’s mutilated body inside, and the local cartel warns her away, she knows if Elise isn’t already dead, she will be soon, or worse.

In the lethal world of organized crime, there’s always a worse.

As Leine races to uncover the reason behind Elise Bennett’s disappearance, she must also battle the powerful interests fighting to keep her from the truth.

Fabulous Giveaway at the link below:

OMG – They took her – The Body Market DV Berkom @dvberkom

To see all my Giveaways, go 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’.

Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Monday Mini Review – Blindsighted by @SlaughterKarin

Posted on March 14, 2016 by fundinmental

Karin Slaughter is a thriller and suspense writer that I have been reading for years and Blindsighted amazed and thrilled me beyond my expectations.

Blindsighted is the first book of her new The Grant County Thriller Series. I look forward to reading many more.

MY REVIEW

Blindsighted begins in a small Georgia town when a college professor is found murdered.

WOW! The level of violence and depravity of the villain filled me with anger and disgust, yet the writing drew me in…deeper and deeper.

I love Sara, but her character is predictable, whereas Lena captivated me with her independence, strength and inability to let her defenses down and let people close. Sara is a pediatrician and and coroner. I love the “Bones” aspect, there is room for more than one.

The flawed, realistic characters are ones I want to meet…again and again.

The mystery and suspense builds, making it hard to put the book down…

Blindsighted is the first book of her new The Grant County Thriller Series. I look forward to reading many more.

5 Stars

To see all my Giveaways, go 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’.
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Sherry’s Shelves #73 – Rain Rain Go Away

Posted on March 13, 2016 by fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #73 is my weekly update from March 6 – March 12, 2016.

I read and reviewed some wonderful books and have some great giveaways going on, so be sure and scroll to the end of the post to check them out!

Sunday Post #201 Countdown to Spring..

Stacking The Shelves {200}

Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews
Bought, Borrowed & Bagged is hosted by TalkSupe
**all images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
**The small amount helps keep my blog running**

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It’s Daylight Savings Time…Time to move ahead.

The rain held off for a while this week, so I did some trimming, preparing the yard for mowing. I had sent the mowers off for summer servicing, thinking I would get them back in time to mow and put down some kind of fertilizer, weed and feed, or something, before the rain. The repair center had issues getting the parts in, so the raindrops are falling on my overgrown and weedy lawn. I think, here in the south, the grass goes dormant, but the weeds thrive, no matter what. 😆

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FREE (at time of posting, look for the “0”)

A stand alone dragon novella.

NEW TO fundinmental

The Amber Isle is best described as being ‘Indiana Jones in an epic fantasy setting with more sarcasm.’ I love Indiana Jones, so there is no way I would miss this checking out this novella.

FOR REVIEW

I am super excited to have the next Leine Basso thriller, A Killing Truth by DV Berkom. I currently have my a fab giveaway going for The Body Market by DV and a guest post for Writing a Killer as Your Main Character, so drop by HERE to enter, if you want a chance for a suspense/thriller with a kickass heroine. A Killing Truth is a prequel to the stand alone Leine Basso series and I have itchy fingers wanting to get started and find out more about this ex assassin.

I have read and reviewed The Zombie Game by Glenn Shepard, so I was very happy to get the next book, The Ebola Game, to review in mid April. I have not read the first book in the series and that does not seem to have affected my reading enjoyment, though I will try to get to it…sometime.

LAST WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves #72
Review – Monday Mini – A ray of hope in Mutation Z: Drones Overhead by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake
Teaser Tuesday #62 – Europa: Awakenings by P R Garcia
Giveaway – Kindle Giveaway – Mosaics: A Collection of Independent Women
Review – Ghostly Evil surrounds Celeste by Kristine Mason
Wordless Wednesday #6 – What Am I
Giveaway – OMG – They took her – The Body Market @dvberkom with Guest Post
Friday 56 #75 & BB #51 – In Contempt by Christopher Darden
Giveaway – Hidden Chamber of Death Giveaway @iReadBookTours
Review – Saturday Shorts Review – Water & Fire @DemelzaCarlton

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THIS WEEK ON fundinmental

Sherry’s Shelves
Monday Mini Review – Blingsighted by Karin Slaughter
Teaser Tuesday – The Body Marke
Book Blitz – Ashes in the Sky by Jennifer M Eaton
Wordless Wednesday
Review – Those Who Walk in Darkness – Joyce & Jim Lavene
Friday 56 & BB – Deep Water S V Date
Breaking the Story by Ashley Farley

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Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

What are you reading?

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To see all my Giveaways, go 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’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Saturday Shorts Review – Water & Fire @DemelzaCarlton

Posted on March 12, 2016 by fundinmental

Water & Fire is a prequel novella to the Ocean’s Gift series by Demelza Carlton. My introduction to the series was through a tour for Ocean’s Gift and I am happy to read Belinda’s story and get to know her better.

MY REVIEW

Recommended for Adults.

What do Belinda, Aidan and Lin have in common?

Belinda is a midwife at the Albany Regional Hospital in Australia. She handles things in a calm, matter of fact manner, not allowing anyone to know…

Lin delivers more than TLC at the hospital and I couldn’t help laughing when Belinda caught her bedhopping all over the hospital.

Aidan is an intern and…

The Nannup Tiger is a native species of Australia, thought to be extinct.

Fact or fiction? Fact, but..

I believe we’ll find out…

Water and Fire is a fun and romantic paranormal story that had me smiling and…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination. The reading is easy and the writing whimsical. At times the heat builds and the story turns sweet and sexy.

I love a good mermaid story and I read Ocean’s Gift before Water and Fire, so I had already met Belinda. I was happy to get more insight into her character.

Demelza shares hints of so much more sprinkled throughout Water and Fire, enticing me, the reader, to want to know more.

4 Stars

My 5 Star Review for Ocean’s Gift

Ocean’s Gift made me teary eyed as I was left with the most awful cliffhanger imaginable…for a mermaid story. Alone…in the sea…

Hidden Chamber of Death Giveaway @iReadBookTours

Posted on March 11, 2016 by fundinmental

Hidden Chamber of Death by Hawk MacKinney is Book I of the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. I love murder, mystery and suspense, so let’s see if we can solve this one.

I love to learn more about authors than what is listed in their bio and Hawk MacKinney is here today to share some of his thoughts. Welcome, Hawk.

What is your next project?

The Cairnes of Sainctuarie Series sci-fi… Volume 3

The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series…Book 2/Book 3

The 3 manuscripts are in edit. Try to keep 3-5 manuscripts going at the same time. Lets me edit one while the others are on the shelf.

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you?

Funny in hindsight…at the time definitely NOT…early-teens…where one knows all the answers before learning one doesn’t even know the questions. Title this Halters and Bits. We raised horses and mules, mainly Quarter Horses…for rounding up/herding cows, calves, colts, heifers/heffers, & assorted yearlings. It was fall, corn cribbed; hay baled; fields ploughed & harrowed…which proved a good thing. My job…corral those brought from the pastures…among our colts—one young colt-stallion. Bareback was an okay-ride…NOT with the gaps down, a rope halter, no bit, and fence gates to the feed stalls wide open. It was plowed cornfield; the stallion decided he wanted me OFF; top of his stall would strike me right about my waist. He went to a full-out gallop. I bailed. Spit dirt clods, corn & corn shucks for a good 10 minutes. Never rode that sucker again without a bridle and spurs.

What is (your) writing schedule?

Up early before the crack of doom, 4-4:30a. Break for lunch, 3-4 hrs afternoon, another break, a couple of hrs. Turn in by 9:30-10p and loose my fantasies to resolve any conundrum dropped into the plot, or have a character I like do the unexpected. ALWAYS keep a note pad by my nightlight

What do you do for fun when not writing?

Read historical non-fiction or the latest quantum revelations out of CERN…there’s some outstanding quantum physics writers that have a gift few ‘scientist-researchers’ possess…their writing is understood by the person in the street.

Have you a favorite actor?

Ingrid Bergman, Katherine Hepburn, Ava Gardner…I’m dating myself, but these actresses don’t need paparazzi or media blitz of so-called stars. They let their craft speak for them…most certainly not available to cast as the young widow of a SEAL

Critters do have a mind of their own and sometimes let us know it. LOL Glad you made it through in one piece. Quantum physics? You lost me, but to know there are scientists out there wanting to reach a lay person, like me, and telling it in words that even I can understand is a great thing. Thanks so much, Hawk, for sharing bits of yourself. 🙂

Be sure and enter the great giveaway at the end of the post.

MY REVIEW

Don’t let the cover for Hidden Chamber of Death by Hawk MacKinney fool you. This story is darker than you think.

A death brings ex-Navy seal, Craige Ingram, and Terri, a recent widow and bank examiner, together. Embezzlement puts Terri smack dab into the middle of danger. Craige will come to the rescue, which is what I expect from a hero. 🙂 Craige is a great guy. He takes you as you are, no bigotry, no judgments.

A grizzly murder and a psycho serial killer always catch my attention. I find out early who the killer is but there is more going on than murder. A death starts an inquiry into the bank records that someone desperately wants to keep quiet.

A bit of romance, a psycho serial killer, greed, embezzlement…it’s all good to me.

I’m not sure what it was about the writing, but it seemed a bit slow and I stumbled off and on…BUT, the ending makes it all worth it, so read on. I will be looking for the next adventure into the Vault of Secrets.

3 STARS

I received a copy of Hidden Chamber of Death by Hawk MacKinney in return for an honest review.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Hidden Chamber of Death is a compelling tale of intrigue, murder, deception and suspense that leads retired Navy SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram in search of the connection between seemingly random murders and a banking conspiracy.

Working with the local homicide investigator, who just happens to be a former Navy buddy, Craige Ingram’s attempts to protect a lonely widow and solve the case before another person dies are only thwarted by a psychotic killer whose motivation is based on pure depraved pleasure. In this first book of the MOCCASIN HOLLOW MYSTERY SERIES, the instincts and skills Ingram and his buddy acquired as Navy SEALS are tested to their limits.

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ABOUT HAWK MACKINNEY

Internationally acclaimed author and public speaker, Hawk MacKinney began writing mysteries for his school newspapers. Following graduation, he served in the US Navy for over 20 years. While serving as a Navy Commander, he also had a career as a full-time faculty member at several major state medical facilities. He earned two postgraduate degrees with studies in languages and history. He has taught postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel.

In addition to professional articles and texts on fetal and adult anatomy, Hawk has authored several novels that have received national and international recognition.Moccasin Trace, a historical novel, was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award. This was followed by the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. In a change of direction, October of 2012 saw the release of Hawk’s first science fiction novel, The Bleikovat Event, in The Cairns of Sainctuarie series. Volume II, The Missing Planets, was released in 2014 with Volume III in the works.

Hawk’s latest project focuses on The Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Hidden Chamber of Death is Book 1 in the series.

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