The Zombies Are Coming – The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak

Posted on July 22, 2014 by fundinmental

The Harvesting, The Harvesting #1 by Melanie Karsak has a “badass” cover.

After my review, be sure and check out the cover reveal for Book II, The Shadow Aspect and enter the giveaway for a signed copy of this book, the Harvesting.

MY REVIEW

The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak is an apocalyptic, dystopian, paranormal novel that will have you dodging the undead while trying to survive. The characters will have to avoid the zombies as they search for life’s necessities, such as food and clothing. I love it when a book hooks me from the very beginning and The Harvesting did just that. I read the novel from cover to cover in less than five hours and hated to see it end.

Layla works at the Smithsonian. She received a grant and is able to share her love of fencing, along with teaching about ancient weapons and how to use them. She is a warrior and will need all her skills to survive. I liked Melanie’s description of her – a cross between Mad Max and an Eskimo.

I fell in love with her psychic grandma. A tough old bird that knows bad times are coming. I am sad, yet I smile right along with grandma.

Grandma calls Layla home. Layla knew it had to be bad, so she dropped everything and raced to Hamletville. The name alone gives me a spooky and unpleasant feeling.

“Harvesting Grandma?”

“Oh yes, it is definitely harvesting season.”

Layla and her grandma stocked up on food, weapons and other emergency supplies, as if to hunker down for a war. I can see Gram with a Colt 9mm submachine gun blasting away at anything that threatened her or hers.

Oh man, I knew it was gonna be bad, but when grandma disappeared my heart fell. Melanie where did you come up with that awful gruesome idea?

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Yeah right. You would need to kick ass and take names, if you wanted to be around tomorrow. It is the Wild West and the enemy is you and yours. Imagine having to kill your undead husband, wife, child, friend……

The zombies are just what you think they would be and the fight is a gruesome and savage slaughter. The walking dead will not stop, until you stop them. Whether you tear their heads off or rip them apart limb by limb, you must make sure they cannot get up again. Blood, guts and body parts fly.

The Harvesting has everything you could want in a zombie apocalypse novel. Melanie includes a surprise or two that made me cringe and my mouth drop open. What? I wonder how she came up with that? I fear for Layla and what may befall her.

The combination of zombies, the apocalypse and the paranormal creates a story that left me wanting more. It is after the apocalypse, now what?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

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Click on the cover below to get your copy of The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

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Teaser Tuesday #18 – Buckle Your Seatbelt for Avoidable Contact by Tammy Kaehler

Posted on July 22, 2014 by fundinmental

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

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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AVOIDABLE CONTACT by Tammy Kaehler

I am a huge fan of fast cars and racing, so when I saw this colorful cover, it kept saying read me, read me.

So I am.

MY TEASE

(14% on Kindle)

Jack’s strategy was to dive right into double stints for each driver – each stint representing anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes, which was the most we could do non a full tank of fuel.

The exact time was dependent on yellow flags, because if caution flew past the halfway point of a fuel load, we’d pit under yellow. Each driver would do triple stints or more later in the race, especially in the late-night and early-morning hours, but to get our feet wet, we started with about two ours of driving time, give or take those yellow flags.

SYNOPSIS

Racecar driver Kate Reilly is suited up and ready for the start of the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona. But what lies ahead is not just a racing challenge but a harrowing test of her will and nerve off the course.

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Even before the green flag waves over Daytona International Speedway, Kate receives word her boyfriend Stuart is hospitalized nearby in a coma, fighting for his life after a hit-and-run. Stunned by the news, Kate can do nothing better for Stuart than complete her scheduled laps driving her team’s car. But more shocks follow as Daytona’s clock starts ticking. An on-track accident ends tragically. Some of her complicated family is spotted with other teams—why? And an eyewitness claims Stuart was run down deliberately by someone from the race paddock.

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Alternating stints behind the wheel of the team’s Corvette with stretches of quizzing colleagues and searching for clues, Kate circles the police and taps every possible source—friend, foe, and family—to find out who’s after Stuart and why. As the race clock counts down to zero hour, Kate must come to terms with her own fears rising from her past and decide who she’s willing to trust. Only then can she identify who’s willing to kill to keep a secret buried.

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Avoidable Contact by Tammy Kaehler.

What are you reading?

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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Two DARK Reviews in honor of the release of Dark Secrets by Madeline Pryce

Posted on July 21, 2014 by fundinmental

I have read the first book in the Dark Series by Madeline Pryce, Dark Carvings and loved it, so when I was given the opportunity to read, review and participate in the tour for Dark Secrets, I jumped on it. Madeline’s writing makes these novels outstanding paranormal romances that will linger long after the reading is done.

Dark Secrets (Dark #2)

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

ISBN: 9781419991370

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Theme: Vampire/Demon (a few shape shifters thrown in there…)

Length: 85,000 words

MY REVIEW

Spoiler alert: Dark Secrets, Book II in the Dark Series, Ella’s story continues.

Dark Secrets is a fast paced, action packed paranormal romance novel.

Ella had worked for The Shadow Agency as a vampire hunter. She had killed without thought.

Vampires and demons – bad. Humans – good.

Since her death by Lizbeth and her full change from human to vampire, her black and white world has gone gray. Her ability to tell the difference between them was growing dimmer. Now I was the enemy and on trial for my life.

I am the Vampire Queen, since I had killed Lizbeth, the Vampire Queen before me. I inherited all she owned. I now rule vampires and werewolves. The prophecy foretold that the vampire queen and demon son would wreak havoc and destruction and so far Micah and I had fulfilled it. We knew what they were really talking about is the child we were supposed to produce.

Ella and Micah had husband and wife difficulties, just like us mortals. She questioned – does he still want me, does he still love me? Vampires and demons are insecure too.

Madeline’s articulate descriptions of the characters allow me to see them in my mind, as if they are standing before me. Her ability to describe the surroundings and action run through my mind as if they are a scene in a movie.

I was pissed when Madeline made Ella a wuss. How can you take a badass hunter/killer and turn her into an insecure, doubting crybaby?

“…your emotions are all over the place, like you swallowed crazy pills or some shit. You aren’t my Ella. My Ella fights, kicks, punches and screams. She doesn’t cry….”

Pretty much covers my question. I guess if I went from a human, with my job hunting and killing vampires, to becoming a vampire queen with superpowers, I might be afraid and confused. Afraid of what I might do. Afraid I couldn’t control myself and my powers. Now she is forced to make a decision. She must act like a queen or step aside.

When Julian made his move – OMG I was blown away. It can’t be. So not what I anticipated. I am in a hurry to find out Micah’s reaction.

Madeline’s writing has me engrossed from page one. The action begins and never ends. My emotions run from happy and laughing to devastated and stunned. Just when I think I know what is coming, she throws a curve ball that makes me shake my head and say, “Well done, Madeline. You got me there.” I love when an author can add that extra something that leaves a lasting impression on me.

I received a Dark Secrets by Madeline Pryce ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Holy fucking shit. Karma – the bitch – had cashed in my meal ticket and tried to send me to hell.

“If this is about leaving the toilet seat up, I’ll stop bitching about it.” “The toilet seat? What? Jesus fucking Christ . I just threw a fireball at you and you’re talking about the crapper?”

Madeline manages to weave some humor in with the dark and violent.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

BLURB

The worst moment of Micah’s life was when Ella nearly died in his arms. Her miraculous recovery should have been the start of their future. Unfortunately, a new demonic heritage, the Shadow Agency’s corruption and Julian, the vampire who turned Ella, are testing their relationship. Despite hotter-than-ever sex and a variety of new places and positions to explore, Micah begins to wonder if a relationship based on lust can survive for more than a few scorching-hot months.

Ella has forgiven, but not forgotten, the fact that Micah once plunged a dagger through her heart. Everything with Micah is passion, excitement and an uncontrollable desire to explore his body in a variety of very satisfying ways. But as buried secrets, ongoing lies and murderous deceptions pile up, Ella is reminded that she and Micah’s relationship was based on a curse. In order to forge a future together, Ella and Micah will have to face down their personal demons—and prove that love and trust are more than just words.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Buy Links

Amazon US / Amazon Ca / Amazon UK / Amazon AU / BN (Nookie!) / Kobo

Series Reading Order

Dark Cravings (#1 Ella/Micah – 85k)

Dark Innocence (#1.5 Hannah – 45k)

Dark Secrets (#2 Ella/Micah – 85k)

Dark Vengeance (#2.5 Castro – 45k) – release date coming soon!

Dark Promises (#3 Ella/Micah) – Spring 2015

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DARK CRAVINGS, Book I by Madeline Price

My 5 Star Review

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DARK INNOCENCE, Book 1.5 by Madeline Pryce

MY REVIEW

Cover design: Willo

Cover photography: Andrei Vishnyakov/fotolia.com, Artem Efimov/shutterstock.com

Book 1.5 of the Dark Series. Erotic, recommended for adults only.

While reading book I, I became very fond of Hannah. She is such a good person. I am so happy that Madeline felt the same way I did. Hannah’s story needed to be told. I knew it would be full of life – good, bad, tragic and blissful.

Madeline Pryce’s writing, I am sure, will be heating up the pages if not burning the book, or should I say melting my Kindle. I might need to have a fire extinguisher nearby. LOL

Hi Hannah. I am pleased to meet you. I have been waiting, ever so patiently, to read your story.

Hannah is a goodie two shoes and has an eidetic memory. Since being kidnapped and tortured by the vampire queen, Lizbeth, she is full of self disgust. She plays leap frog, jumping from guy to guy, popping pills and drinking booze, anything to escape the memories.

Dante, a shapeshifting six hundred pound lion, had rescued her six weeks ago. He was an Adonis and fifteen years older than her. He is tall and powerful. When he walks into a room, he gives off such intense vibes they demand your attention. The age difference kept them apart, but she could not deny her attraction. He is the only one who could make her feel safe. For now, she will have to settle for being best friends.

Dante is a man I can love. A man who will hold your hair out of the way while puking, after fucking someone else, well, what more can I say?

Hannah had been rescued, but there was still someone left, someone who meant her great harm, Mr. Restricted, her stalker. Who is he? Maybe what is he would be more appropriate.

OMG The car. Who’s that knocking on the window? TERROR Hannah tried to make herself small, curling tightly into the seat. Her eyes dart back and forth, frantically looking around, desperate for help. She flashes back to the pain and torture that haunts her since the kidnapping. She is shaking, calling out to Ella, her sister, for help. Where Hannah is sunshine and flowers, Ella is darkness and death.

“I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.”
“I should’ve been able to block you. I didn’t expect you to get all she-woman on my ass and kick my butt.”

“I broke it?”

The dialogue is quick and witty. At times I felt a chuckle or outright laugh escape as I read along.

“Ella, please tell me that we don’t look that pathetic,” Micah said in self disgust.

“…you’ve already broken the man’s nose – the date can only go uphill from there.”

When Dante said, “This is the worst first date I’ve every had,” I laughed right along with him.

I knew Hannah’s story would be a good one. I love badass Ella, but I knew Hannah had a life changing story. I wanted to see her grow and develop into the strong woman I knew she would become. Madeline Pryce’s writing can be down right gross and disgusting, but it keeps me on my toes. It went from killing and savagery to light and whimsical with witty dialogue and funny moments that kept me engrossed. The novel is smoking hot, but there is so much more going on than just sex. Madeline’s superb writing and storytelling ability always leave me Craving more.

“Oh man, oh man,” I say as I rub my hands together with a wicked grin on my face. Now it’s time to find out what Ella is up to.

I received a Dark Innocence by Madline Pryce ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

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ABOUT MADELINE PRYCE

Madeline Pryce wrote her first novel when she was ten, penned with neon-pink ink in a loose-leaf binder. Captivated by romantic literature, yet intrigued by the paranormal, she continues to develop her own voice, writing the kinds of stories that inspired her as a teen.

Author Links

Blog / Facebook Page / Facebook (I welcome friends!) / Facebook Fan Group / Twitter

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Click on the cover below to pick up your Amazon copy now.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Purr-fect Mating by Sheryl Winters – Release Day Blitz Giveaway

Posted on July 21, 2014 by fundinmental

Happy Book Birthday to Purr-fect Mating by Sheryl Winters!

Purr-fect Mating

Lil Genie Series Novella

Genre: Paranormal / Romance

By Sheryl Winters

Release Date: July 21, 2014

Publisher: Roane Publishing

Keywords: Paranormal, Romance, Shifters

Fhina and Wulfar have a little problem.

On their wedding night, at the stroke of midnight, Wulfar changes into his shifted wolf form and cannot shift back. Not even to communicate with the woman he loves.

Fhina, upon waking the day after their mating, no longer recognizes her mate. Pregnant and confused, she’s convinced herself her mate has run away and left her to live alone. With his dog.

Can the cursed pair find a counter charm before Fhina gives birth? Will Wulfar be able to curb his inclination to run?

Or will their mutual curses break up their love affair before it’s really even started.

Purchase Links:

Roane Publishing /Amazon /Amazon UK / Bookstrand / Smashwords / B & N

Excerpt:

“It’s just…Wulfy’s missing, and I thought—” The words stick in my throat. What if she won’t help? How will I ever find him?

“He’s what?” In the background, I can hear loud thumps and shouting. “I’m getting the duct tape out. I’ll use it this time, I swear it!”

“You will not.” I bite back a giggle.

“I might. You have no idea what I’m putting up with. They spent all week at Mom’s, and she hyped them up on pixie sticks and soda. I’ve exhausted a whole day peeling them off the ceiling. I’m just hoping when it wears off they’ll sleep for a week.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Did you say Wulfy is missing? How long’s he been gone? He’s probably off for a long run. Wolves do that, you know? Remember how Mom used to take off for days, leaving us with Aunt Ginger? Always claiming she was out hunting, when she was really in Vegas gambling?”

“But, I haven’t seen him in days.” I shove the notepad back and forth across the table.

“Did you, uhm…snap at him?”

“No!”

“Well, fess up. What happened?”

“Nothing. I was on the phone with Mom and I uh…” I try to remember the conversation. “I told her about the doggy bowl I got for Wulfy. I even gave him the fancy new dog food I got for him. He scratched at the door and I let him out.”

“You got him a dog bowl?” Bella chokes.

“Well, yes. I thought it was a nice thing to do.”

Honestly, wolves. They never make sense, even in human form. Of course, I gave Wulfy a dog bowl, how else do you show a dog you love them? One can’t go around petting them 24/7.

~~~oOo~~~

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Click on the cover to get your Amazon copy of Purr-fect Mating by Sheryl Winter.

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taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos

Book Blitz and Tour-wide Giveaway

Ecopy of Purr-fect Mating and a $10 Amazon gift card.

Ends 8/15/2014

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Roane Publishing’s marketing department.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Oil, Texas Tea – The Cost of Crude by Inge-Lise Goss Tour & Giveaway

Posted on July 19, 2014 by fundinmental

The Cost of Cruse by Inge-Lise Goss is my favorite genre. I love a good Mystery/Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Crime book.

When I read the blurb, it immediately brought to mind the movie, Silkwood, with Cher, Meryl Streep and cutie Kurt Russell. It is the story of Karen Silkwood, a metallurgy worker at a plutonium processing plant who was purposefully contaminated, psychologically tortured and possibly murdered to prevent her from exposing blatant worker safety violations at the plant.

Granted, The Cost of Crude is not about plutonium but gas and oil, but the similarities make me think this will be a great read.

That drop of RED on the cover raises the hair on my arms and the back of my neck. I am ready to start reading now. LOL

Check out the blurb, excerpt and TWO giveaways and let me know what you think.

BLURB

Gwynn Reznick’s life is shattered when her best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil & Gas Company dies in a car crash. She doubts it was an accident. Her suspicion is confirmed when a private investigator, Ruben Dordi, shows up at her door. His team has discovered a trail of unusual deaths and disappearances among Wilton employees. To make matters worse, Gwynn is under constant surveillance by those responsible for her friend’s death. But that doesn’t deter her from getting involved in the investigation. Danger lurks in every corner of the Wilton Tower. One false move could turn a risky situation into a death trap. As the investigation team digs deeper, they begin to unravel a sinister plot that threatens a catastrophic pipeline disaster. Will they solve the crime before it is too late?

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EXCERPT

Gwynn awoke slowly with tape covering her mouth again, her wrists firmly tied together, and her body aching. She saw the back of man dressed in a Wilton security guard uniform sitting a few feet from her. Glancing down, she saw she was lying on a cot and her blouse had been torn, the rose pin gone. She managed to move her forearms over her bra and found the bug was also missing. The bandage, a tracking device waiting to be activated, was still securely attached to her arm. With her hands and mouth bound, she couldn’t pull it up.

She smelled a musty odor and wondered where they had taken her. Looking around, she saw a high ceiling with rusty metal trusses, several broken insect-infested skylights, and walls covered with masonry and metal siding. Pigeons fluttered around in the large open space, their droppings marked the walls. Old abandoned equipment stood in the center of the room, puddles of water on the cement floor. Off in the distance, she saw large double doors standing ajar with daylight shining through the opening.

The security guard turned around. He was the guard with the deep set eyes who had stared at her when she entered the Wilton Tower.

“You’re finally awake,” he said, rising to his feet. “Now don’t go away while I get Luke.” He gave her a malicious smile as he turned and strode toward the door.

She held onto the side of the cot with her bound hands, raised herself up to a sitting position, and saw the rope tightly wrapped around her ankles. Her feet were bare. She swung her legs over the edge as Cromer walked toward her.

His eyes were locked on her as he yanked the tape off of her mouth. “You’re moving around too freely. Looks like I have to sit down with Todd and criticize his hostage binding technique.”

She sat silently, immobile, staring at him.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to be difficult like your friend, Julie,” he said with a stone, cold, emotionless face..

She took a few deep breaths but remained silent.

“When I questioned Taylor, he was very concerned about his girlfriend, Cindy. She’s also your friend. Will you be as concerned about her as Taylor was?”

Gwynn felt her stomach churning as she continued staring at him.

Cromer picked up a chair, lowered it down next to her, and sat, looking at her intensely. He loosened his necktie, and then pulled a knife from under his sport coat. He ran the side of the blade against his fingers. He leaned forward and caressed her neck with the tip.

Gwynn forced herself not to move as he wielded the knife around her.

“You’re in for a treat; a technique that was used on me in Iraq.” He popped off her buttons with the tip of the blade. “I screamed, bled tears, and begged for death. Like you’ll be doing if you don’t answer my questions.”

She flinched and pressed her lips together.

“I suppose I should be thankful for that experience. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the well-adjusted person I am today.” He pushed the tip into her side.

Gwynn couldn’t prevent a scream from escaping as the blood ran down her blouse.

“That’s just to give you a little taste.” He stood and took off his sport coat, revealing a gun in a holster strapped across his shoulder, ready for the final assault. He hung it over the back of the chair and sat down. “Now that we’ve had some fun, let’s get down to business.” he said, rolling up the sleeves on his blue shirt.

Buy Link: Amazon

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Inge-Lise Goss was born in Denmark, raised in Utah and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah. She is a Certified Public Accountant and audited oil and gas companies for over twenty years. She now lives in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon with her husband and their dog, Bran, where she spends most of her time in her den writing stories dictated by her muse. When she’s not pounding away on the keyboard she can be found reading, rowing, or trying to perfect her golf game.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon Author Page

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To get an Amazon copy, click on the cover below.

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GIVEAWAYS

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos There are two different giveaways available on this tour!

The first giveaway is for five print copies of The Cost of Crude! This giveaway will run until July 30, 2014 and is restricted to USA only entry. Enter through Goodreads!

The second giveaway will run 7/14/14 – 7/28/14. One winner will win a $25 Amazon GC and a signed copy of The Cost of Crude, while two other winners will each win an e-book copy of the book (Open Internationally). Enter through Rafflecopter.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Cover Reveal – Eyes of the Woods by Eden Fierce

Posted on July 18, 2014 by fundinmental

We’re excited to share with you the cover for Debut Author Eden Fierce’s upcoming release, Eyes of the Woods! This cover is gorgeous! Let us know what you think!

Title: Eyes of the Woods

Author: Eden Fierce

Age Group: YA

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Cover Designer: Okay Creations, Sarah Hansen

Description:

Eris Helgren knew her life was about to end. A daughter of the Priory–a generations-old family who protected their territories from nightwalkers–Eris was strong and independent. But on her birthday, her father would announce her betrothal. A year later, she would be forced to marry.
What Eris didn’t know was that the very beings she hunted were watching her, and that being tamed wasn’t what would kill her after all.

In a land where the woods were forbidden and the laws meant life, Eris will have to make a decision that could bring peace between enemies, or war among friends.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eden Fierce was born on August 25, 1999 and lives in Enid, Oklahoma with her parents and two siblings. Eyes of the Woods is her debut novel, although it’s only one of nine novels she has completed. Eden enjoys writing, reading, and high school cheer and volleyball.

Connect with Eden: Facebook | Twitter

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look below or on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Friday 56 #17 – Serial Killer runs AMOK – The Eyes Die Last by Teri Riggs

Posted on July 18, 2014 by fundinmental

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence, or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

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THE EYES DIE LAST by Teri Riggs

I love murder, mystery and suspense, so when I saw Teri Riggs’ novel, The Eyes Die Last, I knew it was a book that was right up my alley. All I have to do now is dodge all the hookers and johns. lol

Be sure and stay tuned for my review on July 31, 2014.

(56% on Kindle)

Nick got a beer out of the bar fridge and sat down on his couch. His muscles were still knotted after seeing the news clip of his altercation with Ms. Mixer and the biased interview Hershey had given. It’s bad enough to be called a murderer on live television, but in an odd way, the idea of the slimy news anchor conferring with Detective O’Brien about the case was more unsettling. He’d never been jealous a day in his life. Was he now? Is this how jealousy felt? What did he have to b jealous about?

The way Ed told the story, he and the detective had spent an entire evening discussing the murders. An evening trying to pin the murders on Nick and doing who knows what else. Was there a relationship between the two of them? Surely the detective wouldn’t be interested in someone like Ed. Would she? Why in the hell would Nick care if she was? He had bigger issued to deal with for now. Like spending some time remembering how to relax.

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SYNOPSIS

The Las Vegas Mayoral race is heating up, and the incumbent doesn’t have a prayer. Wealthy real estate speculator Nick Campenelli, who wants to legalize prostitution in Clark County, and former pastor Louis St. Louis, running on a ‘clean-up-Vegas-by-getting-rid-of-the-whores’ platform, are the front runners.

They’re also front runners on the suspect list for a string of murders. Kennedy O’Brien, four-year detective with cop blood running in her veins, and her partner Wilder “Wild Thing” James, a veteran, are determined to find the man who’s murdering prostitutes who work the wrong side of the street, and they don’t care how important or politically active he is.

The killer is a man with a mission. He stalks the women before he kills them, leaving a “BEFORE” photo on their bodies, and sending an “AFTER” shot to the local news hound. Ed Hershey, an aging newscaster with just the right amount of grey in his hair, is determined to turn this story into a network gig, and his interference, along with the LVTVS legal team, are making Kennedy and Wilder look bad. Campenelli’s good looks and charm, and St. Louis’ vitriolic hatred of prostitutes are muddying the waters too, and now the killer seems to have taken a liking to Kennedy.

So the big question remains. Can she get him before he gets her?

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of The Eyes Die Last by Teri Riggs.

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What are you reading?

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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The World Has Ended – Where are The Cascade Preppers by A R Shaw

Posted on July 17, 2014 by fundinmental

I have watched TV shows about Preppers, so when I saw this, I had to jump on it.

I know this is Book II of Graham’s Resolution, but I’m willing to dive right in.

How about you? Have you watched any of the Doomsday Prepper TV shows?

MY REVIEW

This is book II of Graham’s Resolution and I have not read Book I, The China Pandemic. I felt have read enough of these books, that I could guess a lot of what happened in Book I and it wouldn’t affect me in my ability to read this one.

The Cascade Preppers is an apocalyptic novel that borders on reality. I quickly became familiar with the characters and the back story. I felt their fear and wondered who would live and who would die. I had a good idea of how it would end, plus or minus an event or two, but I had a good time with the gang. I immediately felt Addy would play an important part.

The China pandemic – a flu that wiped out the majority of the population leaving pockets of people that survived the initial onslaught. Some doctors today believe that will be our downfall.

The Preppers (who are clear of the virus) lived on one side of the river and the Carriers (those infected with the virus) on the other. No one knows the long term results, so they stay divided. They do not mix, because of the danger of passing the disease to those uninfected.

Clarisse was their hope of finding a cure. What if they found a vaccine? Would it create immunity and allow them to interact with their neighbors, the Carriers? Even if they found a vaccine, could the virus mutate and bring about the need for another vaccine?

Their doctor is a vet and everyone is thankful for his skills.

Graham and Tala are a couple. She found out she was pregnant. It raised questions some wouldn’t think about – what happens if you are pregnant and a carrier? What will the baby be? Would you have it or abort it? Would do what was needed to keep the majority safe at the sacrifice of the individual.

Would you want to be one of the first to go or one of those left to figure out how to rebuild the world? Would you be one of those people, you know, “Why Me?”

What about relationships? Would you choose what would be beneficial for the group, no matter your own needs and desires?

Inner hidden strengths people never knew they had would rise to the surface. People would learn what is most important in life. They would need to get past all the pettiness and accept people as they are, foibles and all. The need to work together, combining everyone’s strengths may enable all to survive. Rebuilding the world would be done one person at a time.

A lot about the The Cascade Preppers is pretty predictable, but I love these books. I feel they are bordering on the truth of what will be the worlds’ downfall. The writing is detailed and realistic. The shift of POV messed with me here and there, but I did like knowing what each person was doing and thinking through their own eyes.

Next, Sam checked the wind direction by lifting the end of his barrel into the air. The thread tied to the end of this gun barrel floated up and slightly behind them .

Now that is realism. It is descriptions like this that make the story so believable.

I have watched a lot of the Alaskan reality shows on TV and find it reminiscent of what people would need to do to survive an apocalypse. It makes it easier for me to imagine what these characters are going through and visualize their actions. An injury in such a remote area could end your life and that would be the same for the characters here. Damage or scarcity of their food supply could cause them to starve to death.

What would a psychologist think of a nightmare about being chased by a giant safety pin? LOL

I received this ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

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Virtual Book Tour Dates: 7/9/14 – 7/23/14

Genres: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, SciFi

Series: Graham’s Resolution, Book 2

Tour Promo Price: $.99 Countdown Deal: 7/10/14 – 7/17/14

Cover: Keri Knutson

BLURB

What the world dreads most has already happened. Now, there is only survival.

In her dystopian and post-apocalyptic bestselling novel, The China Pandemic, A. R. Shaw created a realistic world after a much too plausible pandemic event. Now, the remaining must not only survive but thrive or risk complete extinction. The story moves forward with…

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The Cascade Preppers

Graham is back in book two of the Graham’s Resolution series. In the tiny town of Cascade, Washington, the members of Graham’s camp endure a severe winter season. Meanwhile, The Prepper community remains dedicated to isolation and maintains their benevolent relationship. Tensions rise when tragedy strikes. The human traits of community and compassion are pitted against instincts to survive. Will they be doomed by their own efforts to coexist? Read the ongoing saga of Graham’s Resolution, Book 2, The Cascade Preppers, for the startling revelation.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

The early winter sky cast in vibrant lavender led to piercing blue north of the horizon. It was as cold as hell is hot, if you can imagine the heat of hell as freezing. Graham pulled in the weighted line, hand over hand. He wrapped the twine from hand to elbow while staring down the murky blue ice hole of the frozen lake. The brown trout came squirming its way up the ice tunnel towards him, till it met its last fate.

Sam reached out and grabbed the greedy guy that currently hung in midair. Tearing the hook from its mouth, he dropped the frigid fish into a pail with its brothers. They went for quantity over size when fishing in the shallow waters beneath the ice, but the chore of getting enough to feed them all had taken a little longer than usual this morning. The sky had already gone from deep plum with a moon encircled in a fine mist to daylight so intense, eye protection and extra layers of fur to contain the fleeting warmth were called for.

Once they’d caught enough for everyone’s breakfast, they silently gathered their gear to make their way back up the trail to camp. Like any two men who’d worked the same routine, they would perform their job without uttering a single word with regards to the task. “Get your nose out of there, Sheriff,” Graham gently warned the dog in a worn, low voice as he caught him peering into the bucket. “You’ll get your share.” He tousled the dog’s head and picked up their morning haul. Sam came up behind him with the other lines after he’d covered the ice holes with spare plywood to keep them from freezing over too much.

“Ready?” Sam asked.

“Yeah.”

They crunched along the reliable crust as their boots echoed in the vast open until they met the trail between the trees. Mark had recently finished clearing the paths from that night’s continuous onslaught of snow.

As they walked up into the clearing, Bang, dressed in his snow gear from head to toe, tossed scraps to the chickens as they scampered all around him eager for their meager delicacies. Sheriff ran up ahead to help out his young friend. Amused that the dog didn’t understand why they kept the birds caged, nor why he wasn’t allowed to visit with them inside the coop, Graham laughed. The hens often ran away and rudely, collectively, scurried to the other end of their enclosure when Sheriff came to greet them each morning.

Graham called out to Bang, “Make sure you give them fresh water.”

“I always do,” Bang replied looking put out by the unnecessary reminder, then his expression changed. “Mark told me to tell you, Ennis isn’t up yet.”

“All right, thanks. I’ll give him a hand.” The two men walked in silence past the front of the cabin. Sam seemed to be pondering something which wasn’t unusual for the man. After spending the entire day with him, other than a nod or an occasional word, he didn’t say much, but Graham always suspected Sam was either thinking ahead or mourning his daughter. Whether he’d ever let another in on his thoughts, was anyone’s guess, so it surprised Graham when he spoke up.

“You know, he won’t see another winter. You might want to be prepared for that, Graham.”

Graham spoke softly. “Yeah, I’ve pretty much figured that out.” “We’re losing him a little each day. He rarely talks, but when he does it’s always warnings. Like, he’s trying to give us as much as he can before he goes.” Graham stopped in mid-stride and scuffed his boot at the ice, sending crystals a few feet forward. “I’m thankful we had him for as long as we did.”

Sam clapped him on the back in understanding. He liked Ennis too. The old man had even shown Sam a thing or two about carving the little wooden figurines he made for Addy, the daughter he could see and hear, but never again touch. If a man taught you something useful in life, he was a keeper in Sam’s book.

Buy Link: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. R. Shaw, born in south Texas, moved to Washington State in the late eighties. Always writing quietly in what little spare time available while participating in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Radio Operator and business owner. Only now embracing a writing passion full time and finding a place in the author’s community, Shaw has found a following of avid readers along the way.

Author Links

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Blog

Click on the cover below to pick up your copy of The Cascade Preppers by A R Shaw.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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A Tag Team Giveaway Event – Stunning New Cover for Apocalyptic Novel – Wormwood by D H Nevins

Posted on July 16, 2014 by fundinmental

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Welcome to my Tag Team Events!

Laura and I are the Tag Team Bloggers.

You can find Laura at fuonlyknew.

We Tag Team an author and publish our posts at the same time.

Whether it’s for a cover reveal, giveaway, review, interview, or something more, the author will be tagged by us and you will be alerted to go to Laura’s blog or mine to see additional content. It’s really fun to see how differently we view the same book and you get an extra chance to win with our giveaways!

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D H Nevins is here today to tell you how excited she is to share the new cover for Wormwood and how it came about.

Welcome, D. It is wonderful to have you here today. Take it away.

The Alternatives

It was exceedingly difficult to select my favourite cover. Every mock-up Derek created was incredible in its own right, and it would be a shame not to share them. So in all their glory, here are the other options he came up with.

The third one—the one with the wing obscuring the girl’s face—is so amazing, I’d very much like to use it as the cover for my sequel, Angel of Shadow.

What do you think?

I think it would be awesome D. I can hardly wait to get my hands on it. ^_^

A New Cover for Wormwood

First of all, before I say anything else, let me introduce Wormwood’s new cover. Oh, and before I do that, I should forewarn you that I’m a tad biased about this…

The New

This beauty took my breath away the moment I saw it. As an author, I couldn’t ask for a better representation of my work. And I’m kind of picky—so that says a lot! The image projects a mood that reflects the feel of my story so perfectly, I knew the cover artist understood Wormwood on multiple levels. But even if we’re just talking aesthetics, well, although I am most definitely biased, I think this is one fantastic-looking cover!

The Old

I originally had a different cover for Wormwood. It was a simple black and white etching by Gustave Doré, depicting a fallen angel reaching towards the heavens. The sheer turmoil apparent through the angel’s expression and pose not only fascinated me, but seemed a perfect depiction of the conflict raging through Tiamat, a half-angel in Wormwood. However, the etching–although classic–was hardly a trendy cover. The story itself was very well-received, but I found that people had trouble getting past the antiquated-looking cover in order to take a chance on reading what was within. My love for the cover, it seemed, was a lonely one!

The Cool How

About a month ago, I was contacted by cover artist extraordinaire, Derek Murphy. He had read Wormwood and subsequently offered to make up a new cover for the book—for free. Surprised, flattered and curious about the vision he had for Wormwood, I heartily agreed.

Then, as you know, the resulting cover blew my expectations out of the water! Its impact was immediate.

Why it Works

The image depicts the book genre clearly. The colour contrast is striking, which catches the eye instantly. Plus, it’s incredibly professional.

It also fits the story.

On a literal note, the protagonist is a strong female, adept with a crossbow, yet still out of her element. However, she would never admit it. I could see this in her stance. Yet the cover holds so much more than a simple literal representation of Wormwood. Derek recreated the feel of the book perfectly. The mixture of light and darkness remind me of a review Wormwood once received which, in part, said, “The lines will be blurred between good and evil, love and hate, truth and lies, and hero and antagonist.” The hazy fusion of sunlight and shadow reflect this beautifully. The unsettled, foreboding skies mirror the mood of this dark, post-apocalyptic story, and the falling feathers are a nice touch. They hint at the half-angels in the story without hitting potential readers over the head with their existence. The fact the feathers are broken and falling is also perfect, but I hesitate to say why… after all, I don’t want to spoil the most exciting parts of the book!

My Thanks

Naturally, I wouldn’t be sharing this with you if it wasn’t for Derek Murphy. His outstanding covers and unprecedented talent can be seen on his website, CreativIndie Covers. Have a look at http://bookcovers.creativindie.com/

And of course, I would like to extend a huge thanks to Sherry Fundin for her generosity in allowing me to ramble on about my new cover here on her blog. Thank you so very much, Sherry!

Thank you D. That is a fascinating story of what teamwork and the generosity of the indie and blogging world can accomplish.

Now for a little video entertainment to round off your eye candy fix.

After this fantastic trailer, which is so descriptive of the world devastation in the book, please continue reading for my review.

My 5 Star Review of Wormwood by D H Nevins

I won this book through fuonlyknew’s blog. I would like to thank Laura and D. H.Nevins for the giveaway.

Right off, the cover grabbed me. I didn’t know what to think of the title, but as you read the book, you will find out what it means.

The writing is excellent. Wormwood starts out fast and holds your attention throughout. The description of the devastation made me able to visualize the world around them. I can’t find the words to describe it myself, but D. H. did a great job of it.

The actions of Tiamat will make you question things yourself. Is God a kind, gentle person, or is he vengeful and vindictive? And what about angels?

As I was reading I kept thinking of Supernatural. I watch the reruns on TV most mornings. This book reminded a lot of how God and the Angels treated humans on the show. If you’ve watched it, you’ll know exactly what I mean. God has his own agenda and the angels will follow it, us humans are along for the ride.

The relationship between Kali and Tiamat, and Tiamat and God, was creative and complex. For me, it raises more questions than answers. I am sure most everyone has asked “Why Me?” more than once.

The biodegradable soap made me chuckle along with Kali. Tiamet was thoughtful, like when he supplied her with toiletries and clothes, but he stood away from her emotionally and physically.

The things that happened to her, could make the strongest person give in to the misery, horror, devastation, desolation, abuse………..

This is an amazing apocalytic/dystopian novel that will take you into another world. The details and descriptions enabled me to visualize the surroundings and characters as they struggle to stay alive long enough to find their destiny. Very well done and I can hardly wait to read the sequel, Angel of Shadow. Happy writing D!

SYNOPSIS

Against a devastated landscape, a legion of one hundred fierce half-angels is hell bent on purging the Earth of all humans. But one of them, the tormented Tiamat, struggles against his mission, and when he rescues a beautiful woman named Kali, he finds the attraction as troubling as it is dangerous. Can Kali trust the one creature who could be responsible for her ultimate demise?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D.H. Nevins was born in Toronto and currently lives in a quiet area of Ontario, surrounded by forests and lakes. By day, she is a personable, friendly school teacher. By night, she silently chuckles as she writes about destroying the world. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, camping, flying around on her motorcycle or dabbling in live theatre.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Wormwood by D H Nevins.

GIVEAWAY

In celebration of the new cover, D H Nevins is giving away 5 ebooks of Wormwood to 5 lucky commenters. Please leave your email address and answer the question:

Which cover would you choose and why?

This is a Tag Team Event sponsored by fundinmental and fuonlyknew. For another chance to win, go HERE.

Giveaway ends July 30, 2014.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kindle Fire, Paypal Cash or Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Posted on July 16, 2014 by fundinmental

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes both values at $229. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7″ Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HDX (US Only – $229 Value)

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

I Am A Reader
Feed Your Reader
Author Claudia Burgoa
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Goddess Girls: Athena the Proud by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
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Buried Under Romance
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A Leisure Moment : A Casual Conversation about our love for Literature
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http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups;

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GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7″ HDX (US Only – $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7″, $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash.

Ends 7/31/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.