ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??? Tailgating Yumminess!

Posted on August 28, 2013 by fundinmental

FOOTBALL FOOD…THE KICKOFF!

MMMMMMMM!! Deliciousness.

Football season is here again and on Mid-Week Mixers that means fun food for tailgating – whether you do it from the back of your SUV or sitting in front of a sofa. And this year Naomi Blackburn has got a great lineup of favorites starting with the always popular Little Smokies. So from now through the end of September stop back every Wednesday and get your game food on so you’ll be ready for Thursday night in front of the TV or Sunday at the stadium. Have fun!

And remember for more fun food recipes visit Naomi at http://thepubandgrubforum.blogspot.com/

MID-WEEK MIXERS by Naomi Blackburn

Brown Sugar Smokies with Brown Sugar Sauce

Adapted: Allrecipes.com

These are must haves in the Blackburn home. These bad boys are so simple to make they are unbelievable. Partner with the sauce and you have a great entertainment appetizer.

Basically, the Brown Sugar Smokies are bacon wrapped mini sausages that are wrapped in a quarter slice of bacon and coated with brown sugar. The sauce also has 3 simple ingredients of mayo, brown sugar and bottled bbq sauce. Yep, it really is that simple!

So, here we go!:

Sausages:

Ingredients:

1 pound bacon
1 (16 ounce) package little smokie sausages
1 cup brown sugar, or to taste

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2) Cut bacon into thirds and wrap each strip around a little sausage.
3) Place the wrapped sausages on wooden skewers, several to a skewer.
4) Arrange the skewers on a baking sheet and sprinkle them liberally with brown sugar.
5) Bake about 30 minutes or until bacon is crisp and the brown sugar melted.

Sauce:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup barbeque sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

1) Stir together mayonnaise, barbeque sauce, and brown sugar in a small bowl until the brown sugar has dissolved. Chill while smokies bake!

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.

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Cover Reveal for The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros – NYTBS Author

Posted on August 28, 2013 by fundinmental

Title: The Darkest Joy

Author: Marata Eros

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Expected release: February 18, 2014

Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense

Age Group: New Adult

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SYNOPSIS

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor’s guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there’s only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain.

Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving… into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.

As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She’s determined to be the master of her own destiny… until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan so dark, so final… it threatens their love and their very lives.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

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.

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Giveaway Tour of Pelican Bay By Jesse Giles Christiansen

Posted on August 27, 2013 by fundinmental

The cover is awesome. I love everything about it. The Captain’s old eyes make me wonder what he is thinking. The font tells me there is much more than a mystery coming at me. The lightening means there is a storm coming and I wonder who will be left standing when it is over. The colors help lend an aura of menace to the overall fantastic package.

BE SURE and watch the trailer. If my description of the cover didn’t help draw you in and make you want to read the book, the creepy trailer will.

Book Details:
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Published by: Imajin Books
Release Date: (July 20, 2013)
Number of Pages: ~300

SYNOPSIS

Some things are better left alone…

After Ethan Hodges discovers an undersea cemetery just off the beach of Pelican Bay, South Carolina, he seeks answers from a grandfatherly fisherman named Captain Shelby. The captain wants the past to remain buried, and he warns Ethan to stay away. But Ethan doesn’t listen.

Ethan’s best friend and secret love interest, Morgan Olinsworth, joins in the investigation, unearthing intriguing secrets about the mysterious fisherman. When Captain Shelby is suspected of murder and disappears, a manhunt ensues, revealing a truth that unnerves everyone in Pelican Bay.

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MY REVIEW

Ethan was intrigued by the stones jutting above the water. He had to see them for himself.

It was an underwater graveyard.

Ethan talked his friend, Morgan into diving with him to see if they could find any names on the stones.

Morgan was a librarian, so when they found a name, she began to investigate.

Their search took them in an unexpected and dangerous direction.

Did Captain Shelby have all the answers?

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I saw the beautiful and intriguing cover and the title and knew I would have to be a part of the tour. I love legends of the sea.

Pelican Bay is a ghost story that has a gothic feel to it. The writing made me think of the term “waxing poetic”. At first it annoyed me and I thought, do I even want to read this? But I read on and am glad I did. The book subtly sneaks up on me and the need to know the answers grasps me and won’t let me go. It went from – I don’t think I can get past the first chapter to – hey, this isn’t so bad to – I can’t put it down until I know…

As I got into Ethan’s story, I could visualize the grizzled, old sea Captain and the water that was the lifeblood of Pelican Bay.

“In Pelican Bay, the sea was the Hand of God.”

It is also a love story. Ethan Hodges has been in love with Morgan as long as he can remember, but she won’t even discuss their relationship. She won’t even look him in the eye. It seemed pretty pathetic to me.

The characters are unique and my feelings about them bounced back and forth, like a tennis ball, throughout the book.

Instead of a grown man, Ethan seemed like a love struck teenager. I really didn’t like him pining for Morgan’s unrequited love, following her around like a puppy dog begging for a pat on the head. Even the characters tell him to man up. LOL But, I did love his adventurous spirit.

And Morgan? I thought she was a nutcase. But, yes, another but, she does get caught up in Ethan’s desire to find out about the Captain and the graveyard.

Now, the old sea Captain, Shelby, I loved him. I knew there was more to him than meets the eye. Maybe that is what intrigued me about him. Was he just an old sea captain? Was he even a man? Was he a god?

Nereus – Greek god know as “the old man of the sea.”

Jesse’s vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was there. I could smell the water and feel the salt spray misting on my skin. I could feel the sand shifting under me as I sat on the beach, watching the waves. I have always loved doing that. I find it very soothing and I lose track of time, as wave after wave rolls in. I love listening to the sound of the waves pounding on the seashore, watching the water recede back to where it came from.

I love body surfing, with or without a board, rushing through the water on the top of the wave. Turning around and paddling back out to do it again and again.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review for Great Escapes Book Tours. Thank you Jesse and Great Escapes for the opportunity to read and review the book. I look forward to reading more of Jesse Giles Christiansen’s work.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jesse Giles Christiansen is an American author who writes compelling literary fiction that weaves the real with the surreal. He attended Florida State University where he received his B.A. in English literature. His newest novel, “Pelican Bay,” focuses on a very old fisherman, Captain Shelby, and the mysterious happenings linked to him surrounding a nosy, sea-battered beach town (release date: July 20th, 2013, Imajin Books). One of his literary goals is to write at least fifty novels, and he reminds himself always of something that Ray Bradbury once said: “You fail only if you stop writing.”

AUTHOR LINKS
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Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

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TOUR SCHEDULE

August 26 – readalot – Review & Giveaway
August 27 – fundinmental – Review & Giveaway
August 28 – Books4Tomorrow – Interview & Giveaway
August 29 – SavingFor6 – Review
August 30 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Interview & Giveaway
August 31 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – Review & Giveaway
September 1 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Interview & Giveaway
September 2 – Must Read Faster – Review
September 3 – THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK – Review
September 4 – Musings and Ramblings – Interview & Giveaway
September 5 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review & Giveaway
September 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review & Interview

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos Jesse Giles Christionsen is offering for the Giveaway 1 (one) ebook to 1 (one) lucky commenter. International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

What do you think of the cover?

GIVEAWAY IS OVER AND THE WINNER IS – Sandy. Congratulations!!!

To purchase your copy of Pelican Bay, simply click on the cover below.

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.

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

Tens Characters List – Keeper of Reign by Emma Right Giveaway

Posted on August 26, 2013 by fundinmental

I wanted to participate in this tour because of the beautiful cover. Then I read about the story and thought, how cool, I love elves and fairies.

Keeper of Reign

Books written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it?
For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema.
Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn’t get himself killed first.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

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Ten things you didn’t know about the Elfies and the characters in Reign.

Did you know that:

1. Jules was supposed to be named Jewels because his parents had thought they were going to have a girl? So, he actually hates his own name…poor guy.

2. In some ways you can say there are many Whisperers living in our society, in this day and age. Scary, right? Whisperer is the nay-sayer, the fear giver and rumor mongerer, the Doubt Monster. He comes to you in your dreams and in many guises…listen… had that negative thought? Ahh! Whisperer might just be next to you.

3.Tippy’s real name is Toepee because she has such large toes.

4.Tst Tst, the girl with the unpronounceable name, loves big words because she hasn’t found a word as difficult to pronounce as her own name.

5.When Ralston sleeps in the forest it’s hard to tell him apart from the forest elements about him–he’s such a sound sleeper and he blends with his sleeping environment.

6. The Elfies only eat natural food they cull from the forest, and they hardly eat meat except for fish and other fish products but what they really relish is frog’s meat–except the frog is bigger than they are, so it’s like the stone age people trying to catch a mammoth.

7.Honey is one of the Elfies’ staple which is probably why they are so healthy as honey has natural anti-bacterial properties. Is it any wonder they hardly fall sick? And they eat all the different herb, too.

8.One bee tree can feed an entire Elfie nation for a whole year–there are benefits to being small.

9.The Elfies have Books of Remembrances where they keep all sorts of momentos and pictures, sort of like a cross between a scrap-book and a photo album and a memory box.

10.A long time ago when the Elfies were first created they actually had the ability to fly, but through disuse and having forgotten they could actually soar like eagles, the Elfies of today can just walk and run, and most are even afraid of heights, like Jules.

Author Emma Right

Emma Right is a happy wife and homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, two bunnies and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and His Word deeply, and when she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one.

Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.

Facebook * Twitter * Website * Pinterest

Tour Schedule

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/5/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

To pick up your Amazon copy, simply click on the cover below.
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.

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Monday Mini – Taking The Fall by Margaret Chatwin

Posted on August 26, 2013 by fundinmental

Okay, I admit it. I sell myself out when it comes to covers. I saw this cover in a giveaway and knew I had to enter. YAY! I won this signed, first edition paperback of Taking The Fall by Margaret Chatwin on the tiffanylovesbooks blog quite a while ago, actually September 24, 2012. I would like to again send my thanks to Margaret and Tiffany. It may take me a while, but I WILL read and review every book I have won.

I love it. An employee that does their job too well. So well, in fact, that it places her life in danger. Enter a man who will betray her. A cabin in the woods. I knew what would happen, but this is a great story about life and the ability to pick yourself up after you have been knocked down. The tension Margaret Chatwin created by very successfully twisting and drawing out the conclusion made me read this cover to cover, unable to stop.

“Your first name should be Independent. Independent Hill.”

Fear is only an emotion. What you do with it will define you.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

To pick up a copy of Margaret Chatwin books, simply click on the cover below.

My Win Announcement on tiffanylovesbooks

Taking The Fall by Margaret Chatwin giveaway on tiffanylovesbooks

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.

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Giveaway Tour – In Shadows Of Magic by Alison F Prince

Posted on August 25, 2013 by fundinmental

Did you miss any of this tour? See it all at-a-glance and catch up on anything you missed!! Plus… enter to WIN every day! It’s the GRAND FINALE!!!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours…

In Shadows of Magic

by Alison F Prince

Published July 11, 2013 by Astraea Press

Mandy McKinney lives the charmed life. She is beautiful, athletic, popular, dating the hottest jock in school, and certainly doesn’t have any time for her loser twin sister. But Mandy also has a secret. When the truth is unveiled, her world is twisted upside down, and her very life is at stake.

Mandy’s twin sister, Brianna, has never had any success in the dating department. When Brianna finally meets the guy of her dreams, it turns out that he has secrets of his own. Dangerous secrets. Just her luck.

The twins are about to be swept away into a world of beauty and power beyond their wildest imaginations where nothing is what is seems, danger is lurking in the shadows, and their only chance of survival is finding themselves, and each other, once again.

Excerpt * Astreae Press * Goodreads

Alison F. Prince lives in Hoboken, NJ where she works as a school psychologist (M.A. Marist College), author, and jeweler. She is the author of In Shadows of Magic, a new YA novel out from Astraea Press (2013).

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlisonPrince13

Tumblr: http://alisonfprince.tumblr.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7172856.Alison_F_Prince

In Shadows of Magic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InShadowsofMagic

WordPress: http://alisonfprinceauthor.wordpress.com/

The Bea-YOU-tiful Tour

7-8 Multi-blog LAUNCH – Breaking News!!

9 – Mortal Moments – Set Goals, Work Hard & Be Proud of Your Accomplishments

10 – All That’s Written – Don’t Let Others Bring You Downplus… an Interview!

“My original title was “Imbalance of Power” which I loved…”

11 – Rose & Beps – Develop Your Own Style

– Intriguing Reads – Date Who You Want

12- Mel’s Shelves – Admit to Your Mistakes

– Moon Shine Art Spot – Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

13 – Kindle and Me – Review

I love that the girls figure out that magic doesn’t necessarily make life any better. You don’t know if people like you because of magic or for who you are.

15 –
Mythical Books – Choose True Friends

16 – One a Day YA – Be Brave

17 – Sun Mountain Reviews – Have Your Own Interests

18 – (Mis)Adventures of a

Twenty-Something Year Old Girl – Review

I think the title is a great pick for this book. Magic is the reason all these problems began, and magic could possibly be what saves them all.

19 –
Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – Review

This book was a fun, quick read that sets the stage for future novels exploring more of Supertopia, vampires, shifters, etc. Oh, and that last line? Oooooooh.

20 –
Tressa’s Wishful Endings – Be a Genuine Friend

21 – Grand
Finale

Tour-Wide Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card from Alison

10 eCopies of In Shadows of Magic by Alison F Prince from Astaea Press.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

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

Giveaway Tour – Keeper of Reign by Emma Right

Posted on August 24, 2013 by fundinmental

I wanted to participate in this tour because of the beautiful cover. Then I read about the story and thought, how cool, I love elves and fairies.

Keeper of Reign

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Emma Right

Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.

Facebook * Twitter * Website * Pinterest

Tour Schedule

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/6/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To pick up your Amazon copy, simply click on the cover below.
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.

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

Green Berets and Chasing The Lost by Bob Mayer

Posted on August 23, 2013 by fundinmental

I got a new twitter follower. I went to follow him back and I found a book of his is free, Chasing The Lost by Bob Mayer. To grab a copy or find out more about Bob Mayer, go HERE or scroll down and click on the cover. He is a former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author.

One thing led to another and before I knew what I was doing, I was on You Tube.

This tribute broke my heart. It brought tears to my eyes as I realized there was no way I could ever relate to the role these warriors play in defending, not just our country but many others.

Do you remember this song? Do you have anyone in the service? Thank you to all the special people who have chosen to place their life on the line for the universal US. To them it doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor, black or white, Catholic or Methodist……………………

Now for the book that led me publish this post.

To grab your copy from Amazon or to learn more about Bob Mayer, go HERE or click on the cover.

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.

Sneak Peak – Daughter of Nothing by Eric Kent Edstrom

Posted on August 23, 2013 by fundinmental

I have read most of Eric Kent Edstrom’s books and love his vivid imagination. He has the ability to develop out-of-this-world characters and places I can’t begin to dream up on my own. Feel free to check out the Review links below to see what I mean.

This is the beautiful cover for his new book. The sneak peak is all I have to share, but keep tuned. I will be revealing more. What do you think lies between the pages?

I love the feral looking shark pin. Even though I am a Gemini, I feel at one with the water. I do believe I was a mermaid in a former life.

NOW, should I be afraid to go in the water?

Daughter of Nothing Cover

The novel, which launches Eric Kent Edstrom’s new YA science fiction series The Scion Chronicles, will be out at the end of September/early October.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric is an author, songwriter, husband, father, and guitarist. He is the author of YA SF series The Undermountain Saga, which includes Undermountain, Afterlife, and Starkiller.Eric loves working out with kettlebells and eating pretty much anything with peanut butter.

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To Stalk Eric Kent Edstrom, follow the links below:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook

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To get your copy of Eric Kent Edstrom’s books, simply click on the cover below.