Review – Clay by Tony Bertauski #tonybertauski #clay

Posted on May 28, 2026 by fundinmental

Tony Bertauski is an author I have been reading and following for some time now. I am always excited to get my hands on one of his books.

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have read numerous novels by Tony Bertauski, and loved them. His writing is offbeat and otherworldly. However, for some reason, I am having difficulty getting into this one.

Clay, a psychological thriller contains horror of the science fiction and human kind.

Teenagers are the same, no matter what generation, selfish, lackadaisical.

The science development between body and min has surpassed any of my expectations. Are they human or robots? Could that be a question in our future? BE careful what you create, it may make you extinct.

A world of…imagine…you can control everything about yourself, your looks, your feelings, your environment, total control of your body and mind. Are we too imperfect, too self centered and self destructive?

A frightening look at an alternate world where science rules. Stories like this capture me… conspiracy, human meddling with nature has severe repercussions. I try to wrap my head around his fake world,, chilling creepy. Makes me think kof us..in real life. Raises all kinds of moral and ethical questions.

I did not read the first book and I was quite confused through the beginning. My enjoyment of the story was affected so I highly recommend reading book one first.

I let my mind go and went where the words too me. it did not end like I thought it would. Did have me questioning what was real. Great ending. I don’t know how Tony dreams up his wild storylines, so unique, imaginative and original.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 3 Star

GOODREADS BLURB

Jamie wants to be a halfskin.

Her life has become dull and pointless. If she had more biomites, the synthetic stems cells that promise hope and healing, she could take control of her life. But Jamie’s body is already 49.9% biomites. The rest is clay—her God-given organic cells. Anymore biomites and she becomes a halfskin. And halfskins are shutdown.

But there is a way.

Black market biomites, called nixes, can’t be detected by the government. She’d have to sacrifice her clay, but nixes can make her halfskin without anyone knowing. But first, she has to find them.

Nix Richards can help. He’s the first halfskin to escape the government and Jamie has something he wants. He’ll need her to help him find a fabricator to build a human body. He’ll betray anyone to get it, even those closest to him.

This psychological thriller will keep them second-guessing every move while they elude Marcus Anderson and the governing agency that seeks to rid the world of biomites. But in the end, they’ll all discover just how deep the betrayal goes.

ABOUT TONY BERTAUSKI

Get my books FREE. Tell me where to send them at http://bertauski.com

My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?

I’ve written textbooks on landscape design, but that was straightforward, informational writing; the kind of stuff that helps most people get to sleep. I’ve also been writing a gardening column with a humorous slant. That takes a little more finesse, but still informational for the most part.

I’m a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I’d rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That’s the sort of stuff I wanted to write, not the assigned reading we used to get in high school. I wanted to create stories that kept you up late.

Fiction, GOOD fiction, is hard to write. Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it’s only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.

MY TONY BERTAUSKI REVIEWS

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Review – A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper #jordanharper #aviolentmasterpiece #netgalley

Posted on May 22, 2026 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper has a cover to die for. I love it, but not so with the characters ‘between the pages’. At first, it seems none of them have any redeeming characteristics, but no one is all bad. It just takes the right situation for the good to surface.

There’s a live streaming nightcrawler, that can’t stoop low enough for his subscribers. Which is worse? The one chasing down the story, or the one that can’t wait to read about someone else’s downfall.

How about a street lawyer that helps those least fortunate. Can he keep his life ‘clean’?

How about a woman who works for an underground concierge company? Nothing is out of bounds.

Does this shine a spotlight on what our society is becoming? Too many of the situations have a ring of truth to them. I do love walking on the dark side, as long as it is only a story, and this is about as dark as it can get. Filled with nonstop action, leaving me feeling like I need to take a shower.

My thanks go out to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper.

GOODREADS BLURB

This epic crime novel tells a story of Los Angeles power brokers and those at the edge—and a single shattering incident that threatens to bring it all crashing down.

Los Angeles, right now. America with its back up against the wall. This Frankenstein’s monster of crimes and lurid dreams sewn together into something like a city.

A city ready to explode: A Hollywood pedophile is arrested, and is ready to tear down the city to get his freedom. A young woman goes missing — and men in black rubber gloves who look like cops clean out her apartment in the middle of the night. And the serial killer known as the LA Ripper is on the loose, leaving tragic/graphic/brutal crime scenes in his wake. Three people trying to keep their heads above the dirty water will find themselves coming together to unite these strands into one enormous, unspeakable crime …

JAKE DEAL is a gonzo live-streaming nightcrawler, beaming the city’s chaos straight to his audience of blood-hungry subscribers, giving them the view from the top of the mushroom cloud — until a job he can’t refuse drags him back into his old life of Hollywood glamour, drugs, sex and sleaze. Armed with cameras and hidden mics, he’ll infiltrate private clubs, gather high-class dirt — and stumble onto a conspiracy woven into the center of LA’s most powerful men, who call themselves “The Kids in the Candy Store.”

DOUG GIBSON is a street lawyer, who fights for his clients against the army of cops, prosecutors and judges – he is the knife they bring to the gunfight. But when he’s hired by a Hollywood pedophile ready to sell out his friends for a chance for freedom, he’ll take on a fight bigger than he could have imagined. And when his client “commits suicide” in prison, Gibson will have to stop being a weapon – and become a warrior.

KARA DELGADO works for an underground private concierge company – a make-a-wish foundation for the terminally rich. She scores drugs, makes connections, and plans multi-million dollar sex parties. She has learned the secret truth of this world: there are no rules, only prices. Her best friend Phoebe has gone missing, and Kara’s the only person who knows that Phoebe’s place was wiped clean of evidence by men in black rubber gloves. But when she begins to unravel the mystery of what happened to Phoebe, and its connection to the killer known as the LA Ripper, it will drag her into the dark heart of the city.

As Jake, Doug and Kara all investigate these crimes, they’ll encounter ketamine-addled sitcom stars, bloody riots, homeless gangsters, a killer cop on death row, secret vaults in Beverly Hills, tech-bro orgies, medical cannibals, true crime junkies, private security wet-work teams, reality shows, street takeovers, car chases, coyotes, a sadistic Tarzan, and a three day, fifty million dollar wedding, before everything is revealed and they must each make their choice about how to fight back in this violent world before the bloody, blazing conclusion.

Genre: Adult, Crime Noir, Fiction, Mystery, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2026 by Mulholland Books

ABOUT JORDAN HARPER

Jordan Harper is the Edgar-Award winning author of SHE RIDES SHOTGUN, THE LAST KING OF CALIFORNIA, EVERYBODY KNOWS and the short story collection LOVE AND OTHER WOUNDS. He lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a writer and producer for television.

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$20 GC – Off Season by Clive Fleury @goddessfish #clivefleury #ofseason

Posted on May 11, 2026 by fundinmental

OFF SEASON by Clive Fleury

GENRE: Mystery

MY REVIEW

We begin with Detective Ramesh Ryan leaving Sydney in disgrace. He worked in the Organized Crime Unit and is now on his way to the small town of Barton. It seems murder follows him and for a small town, Barton has an influx of dead bodies.

Detective Ramesh Ryan is a fastidious man and Clive Fleury’s description of him brings Ramesh to life on the pages. There are many characters and, at times, I thought I would need a glossary to follow them all. That leads to many suspects and many of them have no redeeming qualities.

The mystery and danger followed Detective Ramesh Ryan to Barton. At first, he wasn’t aware of just how dangerous his life had become. The pace picked up as the story unfolded. The mystery kept me guessing, but I was never on the edge of my seat.

BLURB

Detective Ramesh Ryan’s career with Sydney’s prestigious Organized Crime Unit is on the up, until he loses a court case against the city’s most powerful drug dealer. In disgrace, the detective is relocated to the tiny Australian beach town of Barton.

It is off season in Barton—when its few criminals usually take a well-earned rest. But not this year! With the detective’s arrival, the town suddenly becomes murder central. Two bodies are discovered in the space of days, both victims of drug overdoses. Then a mysterious foot is found washed up on the beach, and memories are awoken of an unsolved cold case of the teenager who disappeared fifteen years ago. Add to this a blossoming romance, along with a contract taken out on Ryan’s life, and it’s clear that the detective has jumped out of the Sydney frying pan into the Barton fire.

What follows is an action-packed adventure, thrilling at every turn—where truth and lies are almost impossible to separate, and unexpected twists are the order of the day.

EXCERPT

As the night drew on, the rain poured down ever heavier, and the waves grew bigger and stronger. They tossed the twenty-foot boat from side to side and up and down. The skipper had never been out in weather like this before. Nor had his friend. He was now clutching tight to the underside of his seat, his face green, his breathing labored.

“Almost there,” the skipper yelled, though, in truth, neither had decided where there was. They just needed to be a reasonable distance from the shore.

“This is fine,” his friend shouted back. “Let’s do it.”

The skipper cut the engine. “You take the helm.”

His friend tried to stand but fell back as the boat rocked violently. He shook his head. “I can’t.”

Standing and releasing the wheel, the skipper leaned over, yanking the man to his feet. “Hold on,” he said, placing his friend’s hands on his shoulders and guiding him onto the captain’s seat. “Now, take it.”

His friend lurched forward, catching the spinning wheel and clutching it tightly.

“Don’t let go,” the skipper ordered.

Leaning into the buffeting wind, the skipper set off for the stern. He reached the waterproof covering, stooped, and pulled the wrapping away. He tasted vomit rising in his mouth as he peered over at the lifeless body. Swallowing hard, he composed himself. “What was that song?” the man thought. “Always look on the bright side of life.” He grabbed the dead man’s arms and yanked the corpse forward. He was much stronger and heavier than the corpse so he could slide it along the sodden wooden deck. Then, wrapping his arms around the dead man’s ribs, he heaved it up, balancing it on the side of the boat. One more push, and it would be over. He stood, winded, and peered back through the rain up to the bow. Good, his friend was still holding tight to the wheel.

The skipper wrapped his arms around the corpse. Its head, which had been leaning back, lurched forward, knocking into his stomach. He tried to think of something else besides the cold dead eyes that were staring up at him. What about how lucky they had been? No one had seen them when they had set out. He smiled. So there it was. The bright side!

“Time to do this, ” he thought. Grabbing the cadaver’s legs tight, he tipped them forward, at the same time pushing hard. In one fluid movement, the corpse cleared the side of the boat, dropping into the churning ocean. It disappeared almost immediately, leaving no trace.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently ‘All Or None’, the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.

‘All Or None’ sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnit’s, crime thrillers, and cop and detective stories will love this novel.

Clive’s other books include ‘Off Season’ – book one in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; ‘Kill Code’ – a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world facing climate change; ‘Scary Lizzy’ – a novel about an eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost – and the teen action adventure book; ‘The Boy Next Door ‘ – a story of what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems. He also co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four’ – a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.

Website: https://clivefleurywriter.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/clivefleury

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087136850713

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Review – No Passengers by Elainie La Force #elainielaforce #nopassengers

Posted on April 1, 2026 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Innocent until proven guilty? Not so with Anastasia Pestova.

No Passengers by Elainie La Force is a fast paced fugitive thriller novella and I raced through the pages. There was a sense of urgency as Anastasia went on the run.

No Passengers is the introduction to the Displaced series and sets the tone. I do love conspiracies and trying to unravel the intricacies before the author exposes the villains. Because the novella is so short, it’s hard to get lost in the plot with a quick read like No Passengers, though I did ‘enjoy’ my time with Anastasia and would consider spending more time with the series.

GOODREADS BLURB

Twenty hours to disappear. One mistake could be fatal.

Anastasia Pestova is a quiet teller at the Bank of Moscow, in a city that doesn’t notice if she breathes. But when millions of rubles vanish through her terminal, she is suddenly the centre of a money laundering conspiracy.

A frantic tip-off offers a harrowing lifeline. But to take it, Anastasia must shed her identity and slip through a dragnet of watchful eyes.

With authorities watching the gates and her passport flagged at every checkpoint, she has less than twenty hours to do the impossible. One mistake, and it will be her last. And even if she succeeds, her ordeal is only beginning.

Note to Readers: No Passengers is the entry book for the series DISPLACED, introducing Anastasia Pestova before her life changes forever. It is an 18,000-word escape on-the-run thriller, designed to be devoured in one sitting.
This edition now includes an additional sequel short story.

Genre: Fiction, Novella, Suspense, Thriller
83 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
Series: Displaced #1

ABOUT ELAINIE LA FORCE

Elainie La Force is a St. Lucian author whose love for storytelling began at six years old. Her mother, an elementary school teacher, nurtured her imagination early by constantly gifting her fiction books.

Elainie wrote her first short story in first grade; a hilarious confession about how she stole fish from her mother’s pan. The story was pinned to the school board for months and became a running joke among teachers. Using her mother’s teaching supplies at home, she stapled blank sheets together to create her own “toy” books as a child.

As an isolated teenager, writing became both escape and exploration. She filled notebooks with short stories, children’s tales, poetry, and eventually songs. At fifteen, she achieved her first publication with a poem titled “Where We Come From,” featured in a youth magazine subsidiary of The Voice newspaper. Though she later pursued business studies and began working in accounting, her creativity never disappeared.

In her early twenties, she stepped into music, sharing original songs online and collaborating locally, eventually earning songwriter recognition and hearing her work on radio. But despite experimenting with songwriting and co-production, prose remained her first love.

After nearly a decade away from fiction, she returned to her novels in 2023 with renewed clarity. In 2026, she released the novella No Passengers on Amazon Kindle, an “accidental” fugitive escape story born from a simple question about how her protagonist became who she was. Within two days of release, the novella hit two Amazon Best Sellers lists in New Releases.

Today, she balances a multifaceted life as an occasional songwriter and a full-time accountant pursuing her ACCA/Master’s degree, while steadily completing and publishing the stories she once kept to herself. She intends to publish about fifty books in her lifetime, both novellas and full length novels. She describes her writing process as instinctive and free-flowing, guided by the narrative rather than confining herself to genre and excessive plotting.

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Review – Heiress Of Nowhere by Stacy Lee @staceyleeauthor #heiressofnowhere #netgalley

Posted on March 18, 2026 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It’s 1918. We’re on Orcas Island in Washington state with Lucy Nowhere. We have a seal head here, a seal head there, and a human head that adds to the mystery. There are so many suspects, I need a murder board to flush out the killer. I love when an author throws red herrings into the mystery. It makes my mind work overtime trying to find the killer myself, before the author does the reveal.

I love the connection Lucy had with the orcas. Many townfolk thought they were to blame for the seal heads and murders.

When Lucy’s benefactor dies, she finds she has inherited the island. Is she in danger? She has two romantic interests that are keeping their eye on her.

All things considered, I did enjoy my time on Orcas Island and feel you might too.

My thanks go out to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Heiress To Nowhere.

GOODREADS BLURB

An orphan races to uncover a killer—who may have come from the sea—when she and her beloved orcas fall under suspicion in this “atmospheric…beguiling” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) historical gothic mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl, Stacey Lee.

1918. Orcas Island, Washington.

Lucy Nowhere has spent her eighteen years working on the vast estate of the eccentric shipbuilder who took her in after she washed ashore in a green canoe as a baby. But she has long wished for a life off the island, and in a matter of days, she is set to leave for college—and, for the first time, choose her own future.

Then she finds her employer’s severed head on the beach. Rumors swirl that a mischievous spirit and its minions, the sea wolves, have struck again. Lucy doesn’t believe in myths. She knows that a human—a human murderer—killed him. And when she is unexpectedly named heiress to the estate, she understands the next target is her.

Her closest friend, the estate’s vigilant young guard, begs her to escape while she can. But Lucy knows the only way she can discover who she is, and free the island of its curse, is to find the real killer—before she becomes the next victim.

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Gothic, Mystery
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 17, 2026 by Sarah Barley Books / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

ABOUT STACY LEE

Stacey Lee is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of historical and contemporary young adult fiction, including THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL, Reese’s Book Club Late Summer 2021 YA pick, and her most recent, LUCK OF THE TITANIC which received five starred reviews. A native of southern California and fourth-generation Chinese American, she is a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement and writes stories for all kids (even the ones who look like adults). Find her
@staceyleeauthor on Instagram and Twitter, and @staceylee.author on Facebook.

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Review – I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig #ferguscraig #netgalley #ImNottheOnlyMurdererinMyRetirementHome

Posted on February 19, 2026 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

With a title like I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig, I had to pause and check it out further. A serial killer is moving in…even better. A little humor served up with murder is always wicked good fun.

Carol is a serial killer, convicted of killing seven people. Now, she’s being released from prison and heading toward the retirement home. Her murdering days are over, even though she is surrounded by so many murder weapons. How ironic. She also discovers there are plenty of criminal investigators that she will be living with. It looks like she will be on the other side of the coin, when there is a murder at her retirement home. Because her secret is exposed and so many are pointing their fingers at her, she begins her own investigation into the death.

I enjoyed my time at the retirement home. It’s not often that I can laugh with a serial killer and watch as they try to solve a crime, instead of commit one. It’s fun to meet intriguing characters that keep the easy to read story flowing smoothly. There’s even a little romance to be had.

GOODREADS BLURB

After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home…until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn’t do it this time….

Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.

Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong…without killing anyone, for once.

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Mystery
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 17, 2026 by Berkley

ABOUT FERGUS CRAIG

Fergus Craig is a multi-award winning writer, actor and comedian. Fergus has written two parody novels based on his character Detective Roger LeCarre. The second, Murder At Crime Manor, was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction. His third novel, I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home, is out in February 2026.

He is a big fan of Newcastle United, pubs, desserts and lying awake at night worrying about things he has zero control over.

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Review – The Last Nuclear War by Hazem Abdelmowla #hazemabdelmowla #thelastnuclearwar

Posted on February 13, 2026 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

When I grabbed Hazem Abdelmowla’s Future Novels series, I had a different thought in mind. The books are heavy on the science of things, and I kinda got lost in The Last Nuclear War and not in a good way. I had met and became interested in Mousa, the main character in The Viruses Enigma. He struggles with social justice, corruption, influence and money.

The year is 2110 and viral pandemics had ravaged the world. Energy sources that you and I know, no longer exist. So…here we are…

Because he is so smart, there are those that want to use him. As I follow his life, I am more curious about him than the war that seems to be looming on the horizon. I am curious how his story will end and I kept flipping the pages for that reason.

For those who like to carry the weight on their shoulders while reading sciency novels, this may be right up your alley. For me, it was too heavy, but I am glad I read to the end.

The Last Nuclear War will definitely pose questions that are difficult to answer. My thanks go out to Hazem Abdelmowla for the opportunity to read and share his books.

GOODREADS BLURB

You wonder why war? But what if you are the war! What will you choose? What will you do for the sake of this world?
In the future, after decades of surviving devastating viral pandemics, the world has become very different from what we know. Energy sources no longer exist like before. The world has become like a compass where its parts are looking for nuclear influence. A smart child named Mousa was born. He had difficulty understanding the world around him. Why is he treated differently in school? Why doesn’t he feel social justice? What happened to corrupt the world like this? What is happening between the parties of the world? What is the role of influence and money? The questions were getting more complex at every point in his life. But he didn’t know that the path of answers was destined to ask him for choices that could determine the fate of the last future nuclear war.

Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2024
Series: Future Novels #2

ABOUT HAZEM ABDELMOWLA

A dental surgeon, an entrepreneur and a writer who simply dreams of a better world.

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Short & Not Sweet – Gifts Between Us by C C Adams @MrAdamsWrites #giftsbetweenus

Posted on December 5, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The cover for Gifts Between Us by C C Adams is simple, yet effective. It sure caught my eye and the title made me curious. Of all the places the story could go, I was surprised at the blurb…and curious. I had to know what the low down was. The story is pretty gross. Not like vampires sucking your blood, or werewolves tearing you apart, but more like zombies, though Michael dines on something other than brains. Gifts Between Us by C C Adams was a quick read, and I read it within a couple of hours. It’s worth the read, and even though it didn’t bowl me over, I would still recommend it.

GOODREADS BLURB

Elderly Londoner Augustus has lived a long, miserable life. Having driven his few remaining loved ones away years ago, he now whiles away his time drinking rum and hoping for the end.

One night his death wish is nearly granted by a mugger, but a local youth called Michael intervenes. Much to the old man’s horror (and fascination) Michael promptly begins to devour the mugger’s body.

Slowly, Augustus and his mysterious saviour form an unlikely friendship, one built on sharing the gifts of trust, camaraderie, and acceptance.

And one last a secret. It is the cause of Michael’s cannibalistic nature. And, perhaps, a reason for Augustus to go on living…

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Novella
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2025 by French Press Publishing

ABOUT C C ADAMS

London native C.C. Adams is the horror/dark fiction author behind books such as But Worse Will Come, Misery And Other Lines, and Downwind, Alice. His work appears in publications such as Weirdbook Magazine, DeadSteam, and Corona Books of Horror Stories.

A member of the Horror Writers Association, he still lives in the capital. He lifts weights, cooks – and looks for the perfect quote to set off the next dark delicacy.

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Review – A Devil In the Wilderness by Warren Rainer #warrenrainer #adevilinthewilderness

Posted on November 20, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The title and cover lured me into A Devil In The Wilderness by Warren Rainer. I have been reading more Christian suspense and as long as it blends into the story, I’m fine with it. With Megan feeling insecure about her choices in life, she can use a boost to her self confidence.

All too often, the monsters that enter our lives walk on two feet, and Megan has two of them in her life. That’s why, when her life is in danger in the wilderness, I bounced between the two men in her life that wish her harm. Will I figure it out before the author tells me?

I can usually let an author take me where they will, but I had some issues with A Devil In The Wilderness. I thought Megan was too quick to go on a backpacking trip with someone she hardly knows. Of course, book time is different from real time, so maybe they knew each other better than I thought.

I couldn’t get invested with the characters., though once the danger rose and the action increased, I did get more involved in the story. I think A Devil In The Wilderness may be a good fit for others, but me, I want more depth, I want to be sitting on the edge of my seat, I want the characters screaming at me to save them. 🙂

GOODREADS BLURB

A YOUNG WOMAN’S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL FROM THE WILD AND HER PAST.

In a bold leap toward self-discovery and adventure, Megan Burgan embraces Tyler Russell’s invitation for a wilderness backpacking trip, igniting a spark of hope and possibility within her. However, what begins as an exhilarating journey through nature’s breathtaking landscapes quickly transforms into a harrowing struggle for survival.

Alone and besieged by the haunting shadows of her past, Megan must summon every ounce of her strength, resilience, and ingenuity to fight for survival in an unforgiving and treacherous wilderness while confronting the demon that threatens her very life. This is not just a fight against the elements but a profound quest for redemption and empowerment as Megan discovers the indomitable spirit that lies within her, capable of overcoming even the darkest of challenges.

Genre: Suspense, Thriller
324 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 2025 by Luminare Press

ABOUT WARREN RAINER

Warren C. Rainer grew up in small town in Eastern Washington State with experiences ranging from agriculture to mining and also working with his dad building homes. Always intrigued by writing and story telling he started an in house family newspaper when he was in grade school. As an adult he continued to write fiction for his two daughters and his wife. As a professional sales executive he wrote multiple business plans, marketing analysis, product strategies and other sales and marketing documents. He continues to write and enjoy other pursuits such as reading, backpacking, woodworking, spending time with his grandchildren and traveling with his wife.

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The Prince Of Hell Goes To College – My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich @caledietrich

Posted on November 11, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich is exactly what I thought it would be. A fun romp through Owen’s first semester of college with the Prince Of Hell as his roommate. I love the colorful cover, which is what made me pause and consider reading the book.

I love the whole exchange program between Hell and Earth. Definitely a different take on the Prince of Hell. That and he’s also gay.

It’s not bad enough that he rooms with Zarmenus, who he thinks is sizzling hot, but dream up a plan to fake a romance to help Zarmenus to clean up his devilish acts and Owen to get his dream internship.

I enjoyed my visit to Point College and Zamenus and Owen. We had some laughs, some teenage angst and some coming of age moments. By taking a chance, Owen has some life changing experiences. Isn’t that what college is for? To expand your horizons?

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to share my thoughts on My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich.

GOODREADS BLURB

“A hilarious and charming descent into love, fake dating, and actual Hell. I couldn’t stop grinning.” – Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys

A swoon-worthy YA rom com about an ambitious college student whose plans get derailed when he discovers his roommate is the prince of hell.

Owen is not going to college to have fun. Nothing is going to stop him from achieving his study hard, get a good job, and set himself up for the rest of his life. The last thing he needs is to have a loud, obnoxious, and infuriatingly hot roommate. Especially since said roommate just so happens to be the prince of hell.

Prince Zarmenus has come to Point University for the first-ever Earth/hell exchange program, and he’s determined to make the most of it. Which may or may not include wild parties, bringing in random boys to his and Owen’s room, and accidentally setting Owen’s furniture on fire. Sparks fly (literally) as Owen and Zar clash, but Zar’s actions threaten to not only ruin Owen’s peaceful college life, but demon-human relations as well. To clean up his image, he asks Owen to be his fake boyfriend and teach him how to be a better human in exchange for an internship that will secure Owen’s future. That, and Zar will consider being a better roommate.

A deal is struck, and the two start pretending to be in a relationship where they each have agendas of their own. Only Owen has a secret—dating his mortal enemy, even if it’s fake, is the most fun he’s ever had.

Charming and fun, My Roommate from Hell is a rom com with a magical twist. Think just one bed, but that bed is in hell, surrounded by fire and brimstone.

Genre: Demons, Fiction, Queer, LGBQ+, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 11, 2025 by Wednesday Books

ABOUT CALE DIETRICH

Cale Dietrich is a YA devotee, lifelong gamer, and tragic pop punk enthusiast. He was born in Perth, grew up on the Gold Coast, and now lives in Brisbane, Australia. His debut novel, The Love Interest, was named a 2018 Rainbow List Selection. He can be found on Twitter.

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