To Be Or Not To Be: Scales by Pauline Creeden

Posted on June 18, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop for Scales by Pauline Creeden.

I am so excited to share this mer Novella.

I am loving the awesome cover, but I have so much more to share with you. Be sure and read my review and the excerpt we are sharing today.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Cover: Quirky Bird

MY REVIEW

Scales by Pauline Creeden is a mermaid novella and does not stand alone.

I love anything to do with mer people and when I see a book, I will grab it pronto. The cover is beautiful and the title catchy, makes me think I will enjoy Pauline’s writing.

The Reckoning has come for Verona. Will she choose the land or the sea?

I wonder…do mers go to school? Do they learn to read and write? Do they quote Shakespeare?

Pauline’s vivid and detailed description of Verona changing from breathing water to breathing air had me hanging on her every word.

I feel Verona’s sense of accomplishment when she catches her first fish. She has worked hard to learn something I had thought would come easily to her. Pauline does a great job of showing us her growth and development as she struggles to survive.

Verona has made friends with the horses of Chincoteague. When the annual roundup occurrs, she feels like she is losing her furry friends. At least they will be together, she thinks, but she is so alone. I have read about the horses and find it fascinating.

I do not see a lot of mer books, so I am always on the lookout for an original approach to the subject. Pauline’s writing kept my interest throughout the novella.

The novella ends abruptly and I was pissed. LOL Now I have to wait to find out what happens next, but I will be waiting.

I received Scales by Pauline Creeden in return for an honest review.

3 Stars

BLURB

Verona is a bottom feeder. She is the one mer in her clan who is considered the ugliest and least intelligent. Growing up with the constant bullying and abuse wasn’t the worst of what her kind had in store for her. At seventeen years old, she must now endure “The Reckoning.”

The scales will measure her worth to her clan. Will she endure thirty days as a land-walker to gather information and knowledge to appease her clan and return a valued member? Will she wait three years, until she is twenty, and find a mer of her kind to accept her and marry her? Or will she suffer exile for the rest of her life?

Genre: YA

Buy on Amazon Available May 26th

ABOUT PAULINE CREEDEN

Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.

Follow Pauline Creeden: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter

Follow the Tour

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A Marissa Meyer Celebration – Glitches, Cinder and The Queen’s Army

Posted on April 13, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my reviews of 2 novellas and a novel by Marissa Meyers. She is a fantastic writer and I hope you enjoy.

Feel free to leave some comment love for her. ^_^

In this prequel to Cinder, Glitches (a novella), we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….

Even though everyone in the household isn’t happy Cinder is there, Peony welcomes her new sister with open arms. I immediately fell in love with Peony. Peony’s wonder, acceptance and zest for life are endearing. I found humor in Marissa Myer’s writing. I had previously read Cinder and loved it, so I was very happy to read Glitches. As I had thought, it is a wonderful glimpse into how Cinder became who she is today. If you loved Cinder, you will want to read her “bio” and meet her new family, with all the good and bad that entails.

Read this free on Marissa’s Wattpad Page.

3 Stars

CINDER BY MARISSA MYER

The Lunar Chronicles, #1

Click on the cover above for your Amazon copy.

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My Review

I reviewed Cinder back in June of 2012. It was one of my first book reviews ever. I had posted it on Goodreads, but did not have a blog until shortly thereafter.

Cinder, the best mechanic in New Beijing, was working at the market when the Prince stopped in to have his android repaired. Even though she was a cyborg, she felt flustered and lost control of her brain’s net connection. Her human part made it hard to focus. As she studied the android, they agreed to meet the next market day to check on the status of the repair.

Adri, Cinder’s “stepmother”, hated her. Adri’s husband had made them guardians of Cinder, an 11-year old cyborg. Adri owned her and the money she earned. When His Imperial Majesty Emperor Rikan came down with the plague, one of her “stepsisters” implied she ought to volunteer for plague testing. A royal research team had come up with the cyborg draft, choosing a number every morning from the cyborgs of the Eastern Commonwealth, using them to test for an antidote. Cyborg’s were looked at as less than human. When Peony, the only human friend she had, came down with the plague, Adri had had enough. She volunteered Cinder for the draft. After all, she had no feelings, right? How was she going to survive? No one survives plague testing. Would she meet the prince again? What do you think?

Cinder didn’t remember anything before 11 years old . When she got to the research center, Dr. Erland began filling in some of the blanks.

Even though I knew where this was going, I could hardly wait to get there. I didn’t think I was going to be disappointed and I surely wasn’t. I thought it was a unique twist on a known storyline and great fun to read. Numerous times I found myself laughing out loud. I have a love/hate relationship with it being a series. I hate not knowing the end, even though I know it. Know what I mean, lol? I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

5 Stars

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In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.

Is it an honor to serve in the Queen’s army or is it a form of slavery? Will he be able to keep his humanity or lose himself to them. Goosebumps broke out on my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Creepy, scary. Now, I MUST read Scarlet.

Read this free on Marissa’s Wattpad Page.

4 Stars

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Marissa Meyer lives near Seattle with her husband and their three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf…) and will take any excuse to put on a costume. She may or may not be a cyborg.

Follow her blog or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.marissameyer.com.

Blog / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

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You can read the first five chapters FREE for Cinder and Scarlet.

Marissa Meyers also has novel written in Spanish, French and German. Check them out by clicking a cover below.

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Review: When Shadows Fall by Bruce Blake

Posted on February 18, 2015 by fundinmental

I would like to take a moment to introduce you to a new publishing company.

Authors, you may want to take a moment and check them out.

Maybe they will be the fit your need.

Paper Gold Publishing is a royalty-paying publisher with international reach, where the focus is on the author.

Click on the link to see what we do, and help us spread the word. We are now open for submissions.

While I’ve got your attention, I would also like to introduce PGP’s first traditionally published author:

BRUCE BLAKE

When Shadows Fall

A battle between the Gods, with mankind caught in the middle.

Who will prevail?

MY REVIEW

Priestess: Rak’bana

Priest: Ine’resi, her twin brother

The Goddess is angry and rains fire down on the temples. They have no choice but to flee. They must pass on the warning to future generations.

Is it the ultimate betrayal or punishment?

“We are no longer human, Vesi.”

“No, I suppose not. We are closer to Gods, aren’t we? Small gods perhaps.”

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That was in the opening pages. Makes me think there will be much action to come.

I meet Horace, a sailor, who will hold a prominent place in the novel. I couldn’t help but laugh at his thoughts. I love him. He is rude and crude.

…felt pretty good on the whole for a man what been drowned like a bilge rat and ate by an angry god.

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Now, we meet Danya and Teryk, the prince and princess.

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I love the princess. She has a great attitude about life and runs barefoot through the book. She is matter of fact and has no air of superiority.

Trenan is a master swordsman and we are going to spend a lot of time with him. By the time he grew on my, I wanted him at my side, always.

Danya and Teryk find the scroll the Gods had hidden. It holds magic for Teryk and he feels it holds his destiny. I knew what he was going to do…I knew what she would do too. I was surprised she fell for his ruse, but they are both young and naive. I worry about Teryk. I don’t think he’s capable of taking care of himself. He is a lousy swordsman and doesn’t realize how helpless he really is.

In the beginning I was confused. There was so much going on and the back and forth had my head spinning.I find this happens to me sometimes, when the book is divided into ‘episodes’ and I feel like I am reading the introduction.

When Shadows Fall by Bruce Blake hooked me in the beginning, but I think most of the book laid the groundwork for the future books and it took a while for the pieces to begin to fall into place. I have become invested in the characters and wonder what will become of them. What dangers and perils will they need to survive, in order to fulfill the scrolls destiny. And I wonder, who’s destiny is it? With all these questions, I must know the answers.

Oh man, it’s just getting good and I can feel the end approaching.I read along, rating the book in my head. I do that sometimes. It was a three for most of the novel and I had to keep it there, but those darn cliffhangers, and, yes, there is more than one, have me saying, “Where is the next book?”

I anticipate the story getting better and I will find out, in Book II.

I received this ARC in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos

3 Stars

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SYNOPSIS.

A hundred hundred seasons have turned since the Goddess banished the Small Gods to the sky, leaving the land to mankind alone..

For Prince Teryk, life behind the castle walls is boring and uneventful until he stumbles upon an arcane scroll in a long-forgotten chamber. The parchment speaks of Small Gods, the fall of man, and the kingdom’s savior—the firstborn child of the rightful king. It’s his opportunity to prove himself to his father, the king, and assure his place in history. All he needs to do is find the man from across the sea—a man who can’t possibly exist—and save mankind.

But ancient magic has been put in motion by a mysterious cult determined to see the Small Gods reborn. Powerful forces clash, uncaring for the lives of mortals in their struggle to prevent the return of the banished ones, or aid in their rebirth.

Named in a prophecy or not, what chance does a cocky prince who barely understands the task laid before him stand in a battle with the gods?

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Do you have a favorite God or Goddess?

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Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark – Review

Posted on November 1, 2014 by fundinmental

Add ME to your Goodreads reading list now!

MY REVIEW

Marcia Clark is a former LA, CA District Attorney. She was a lead prosecutor in the O J Simpson murder case. How could I possibly turn down an opportunity to read her debut novel. I cannot help but be curious about her writing ability.

Guilt By Association is the first book in the Rachel Knight series.

Rachel is part of Special Trials, an elite unit that prosecutes high profile cases. She deals with the wealthy and politically connected . When her partner dies, she can’t leave it alone.

She breaks the rules and makes no bones about it; whether its carrying an unregistered firearm or ignoring an order to cease and desist investigating a case. Sounds a bit like Brenda on The Closer.

She seems a bit high brow and condescending at times, but I feel that is just the world she lives and works in. Sometimes I liked her and sometimes I didn’t. She’s one of those people that bulls through life, not always aware of how she treats others. She does instill a sense of loyalty in her friends and coworkers.

I got well acquainted with the characters through their work, dinner conversations and nights out.

Marcia Clark includes a lot of small details in her writing. It would make a walk to her office become so vivid, I felt like I was walking with her, like watching a mother scold a child after picking up a gum wrapper off the ground. The down side to that is the story would get dogged down and the pace became slow. I like a lot of action.

Marcia’s legal experience showed in the writing, sometimes it was a bit stiff and dry. At times it was like reading a diary. A little bit of work scaling out some of the minutiae and loosening it up with a bit more action would take it up a notch.

That being said, I didn’t for one minute considered putting it down. I enjoyed the story, with all its twists and turns. I couldn’t figure out the ends of the multiple storylines and how it was going to come together. I wasn’t quitting until I did.

A bit of humor never hurts either.

COW – Criminals with Out Witnesses

Marcia Clark’s debut novel, Guilt By Association, is a mystery with multiple storylines that comes together in a conclusion that left me satisfied. I would recommend her work and look forward to reading more.

I received this book from the publisher, Mulholland Books via Net Galley, in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

Los Angeles D.A. Rachel Knight is a tenacious, wise-cracking, and fiercely intelligent prosecutor in the city’s most elite division. When her colleague, Jake, is found dead at a grisly crime scene, Rachel is shaken to the core. She must take over his toughest case: the assault of a young woman from a prominent family.

But she can’t stop herself from digging deeper into Jake’s death, a decision that exposes a world of power and violence and will have her risking her reputation–and her life–to find the truth.

With her tremendous expertise in the nuances of L.A. courts and crime, and with a vibrant ensemble cast of characters, Marcia Clark combines intimate detail, riotous humor, and visceral action in a debut thriller that marks the launch of a major new figure on the crime-writing scene.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marcia Clark is a former LA, California deputy district attorney, who was the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case. She wrote a bestselling nonfiction book about the trial, Without a Doubt, and is a frequent media commentator and columnist on legal issues. She lives in Los Angeles.

Author links: Website / Goodreads

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Review & Giveaway for White Lady by Jessica Bell

Posted on October 8, 2014 by fundinmental

GUESS THE TRUE STATEMENT & WIN JESSICA BELL’S THRILLER, WHITE LADY! (Statement #68)

To celebrate the release of Jessica Bell’s latest novel, WHITE LADY, she is giving away an e-copy (mobi, ePub, or PDF) to the first person to correctly guess the one true statement in the three statements below. To clarify, two statements are lies, and one is true:

One of Jessica Bell’s idiosyncrasies is that she …

a. hates having water on her face

b. can’t wear the same clothes two days in a row

c. must wash her hands every time she touches a door handle

What do you think? Which one is true? Write your guess in the comments, along with your email address. Comments will close in 48 hours. If no-one guesses correctly within in 48 hours, comments will stay open until someone does.

Want more chances to win? You have until October 31 to visit all the blogs where Jessica will share a different set of true and false statements on each one. Remember, each blog is open to comments for 48 hours only from the time of posting.

If you win, you will be notified by email with instructions on how to download the book.

Click HERE to see the list of blogs.

Add to your GOODREADS TBR list here.

MY REVIEW

White Lady by Jessica Bell is a psychological thriller that starts out slow. It seems as if the people are your normal, run of the mill people, just trying to get through life but, WHOA! I sure did not see that happening! The ending caught me off guard and left me speechless.

We start out with all the issues teenagers have – bullying , weight gain, friends, desertion by a parent……

The more I read, the tension rises. These people are seriously fucked up.

Mia – I used to be hot, now I’m not. She used to be the school slut, but since her mother left she has become a chubette. She has self esteem issues and loathes what she has become.

Nash is Mia’s dad and a teacher at her school.

Celeste is the mother who deserted her and her father.

Sonia is also a teacher at the school.

Mick is her son. His father has deserted their family too. He is way out of control. I thought he needed a slap up side the head.

Kimiko is an exotic beauty, a fellow student.

Who the heck is this Ibraham that everyone’s talking about?

I had a feeling about Sonia, but is anybody sane?

All the characters come together and things that seemed like the usual life and death dramatics in a teen’s life, change to real danger.

I went back and forth with this book. Twenty per cent through, I was ready to quit. I kept reading and by thirty percent it began to capture my attention . By sixty percent I’m hooked. And the ending…WHEW! That is why I try to finish every book I read. I cannot anticipate what secrets are hidden in the pages and I don’t want to miss anything good. 😆

The book changed from the growing pains of teenagers to an adult psychological mystery. The characters are manipulated and the push and pull as they try to find their way takes them down a path that will have severe repercussions.

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

ABOUT THE BOOK

*This novel contains coarse language, violence, and sexual themes.

Sonia yearns for sharp objects and blood. But now that she’s rehabilitating herself as a “normal” mother and mathematics teacher, it’s time to stop dreaming about slicing people’s throats.

While being the wife of Melbourne’s leading drug lord and simultaneously dating his best mate is not ideal, she’s determined to make it work.

It does work. Until Mia, her lover’s daughter, starts exchanging saliva with her son, Mick. They plan to commit a crime behind Sonia’s back. It isn’t long before she finds out and gets involved to protect them.

But is protecting the kids really Sonia’s motive?

Click HERE for purchase links.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Bell, a thirty-something Australian-native contemporary fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter/guitarist, is the Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal and the director of the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca. She makes a living as a writer/editor for English Language Teaching Publishers worldwide, such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, MacMillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

Connect with Jessica online

Click here to get your Amazon affiliate copy for White Lady by Jessica Bell.

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Who Is The Bad Guy – A Death In Vegas by Christopher Meeks Review

Posted on October 2, 2014 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop for A Death in Vegas by Christopher Meeks Premier Virtual Tour.

Publisher: White Whisker Books (August 15, 2014)
Category: Mystery
ISBN: 9781499124551
Tour Date: October, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 176 Pages

Add ME to your GOODREADS reading list.

In A Death in Vegas, the president of BenBugs, a company that specializes in beneficial bugs for organic gardening, discovers a young woman dead in his Las Vegas hotel suite. She had worked as a sexy lady bug at his convention booth—and he had nothing to do with her death. While that’s being investigated, the FBI raids his booth on a money-laundering scam that he knows nothing about, either. Soon, the coroner doesn’t have good news. The police and FBI are against him—and his wife cannot be found. He flees to find the answers.

MY REVIEW

I love the cover and title for A Death In Vegas by Christopher Meeks. It foreshadows this intriguing mystery as Patton stumbles, fumbles and gropes his way through the investigation of the murder of Samantha (Chatterley), looking for his own answers.

How does a bug guy at a convention end up waking in the morning to find a dead girl in his hotel room? The premise is pretty cliché, but the way Patton conducts his own investigation is not. You will want to read A Death In Vegas to find out.

He could feel it, his life was about to change.

That’s putting it mildly. Uh oh. I’m sure this can’t be good. Christopher throws a great twist my way and I find I am only partially right.

My first thought is: Patton Burch deserves the bad I know is coming his way. Will Chris be able to change my mind? In one word, yes.

Patton is a naïve guy that happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He does some pretty dumb things and digs the hole he is in deeper and deeper. One thing leads to another and another.

Who knows what would have happened if Patton didn’t take the path he did. I liked being along for the ride, as Patton follows the trail of clues. He reminds me of the bumbling Columbo, only Patton is not acting.

Sometimes people cannot count on the police to get the correct answer. The authorities can be quick to settle for the easier and more obvious solution to the crime.

A Death In Vegas was a fun mystery and easy to read. I read it in a couple of hours. As I strolled through Vegas with Patton, I recognized the streets and casino hotels. I have never been to the wine country of California, but did enjoy seeing it through Patton’s eyes. The multiple storylines kept me on my toes as I read on trying to figure out who is good and who is bad.

I liked learning about using beneficial bugs for organic gardeners instead of poisons and pesticides.

I recieved a copy of A Death In Vegas in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

Praise for Blood Drama by Christopher Meeks

“What sets this novel apart from other thriller is the development of the characters. Not only is Medina more complex than the stereotypical FBI agent found in many suspense novels, but Nash is a new type of victim. His theater and academic background give him an interesting perspective. This is definitely a suspenseful, can’t-put-it-down thriller. Clear your calendar in order to have time to read this from start to finish!“- Tammy, The Self-Taught Cook

“Blood Drama was highly entertaining and extremely enjoyable. It is a combination black comedy and crime novel. The characters of Ian and Aleece are memorable, quirky, and unique. I reveled in Ian’s quoting David Mamet (or some other playwright or work of literature) to deduce and interpret the information he had to ascertain where the clues were leading them. Meeks is a gifted writer. He has a pleasing way of propelling the action forward while developing his plot and characters. I enjoyed Meeks Love at Absolute Zero quite a bit, but I liked Blood Drama even more. I’m hopeful that Meeks will bring back Ian and Aleece to solve another crime.”- Lori, She Treads Softly

“This is one action packed thriller that you don’t want to put down. The author doesn’t waste time with the trivial, he gets right to the action and stays there. Just when you think things are as bad as they possible could get…wrong!
This was different from most thrillers I read in that it also has a little humor, I absolutely loved that aspect of the book. The characters are well written, they seem like real people, flaws and all. There’s also romance in this book, which gives you a little relief from the gripping adventures. I liked this book very much and so I will be checking to see what other books this author has written.“- Vicky, I’d Rather Be At the Beach

“This story had me hooked just out of pity for the poor guy, but when things turned from bad to worse I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next. This was far from the typical suspense/thriller. Yes, it does follow the MOs you expect in some areas but the characters make it so unique. I loved these characters. They were so unique that I could see them as real. They had their quirks and secrets that revealed their flaws and their vulnerabilities Nothing is really too farfetched. Yes, there is one character you might argue is but I live in a huge city. Trust me, it is not farfetched. Can’t say more or I let a big secret slip which is a no-no in reviews. If you love suspense/thrillers that have some humor, you’ll love this book. Yes, it kept me riveted. You have to read this book. You’ll enjoy it and want more. Plus you’ll learn to appreciate your own days a little bit better.”– Rebecca Graf, A Book Lover’s Library

“Having read and reviewed every book and play written by the gifted Christopher Meeks it was with some trepidation to pick up a novel with a title BLOOD DRAMA packaged by a cover that suggested he’d joined the au courant genre of spy and murder and intrigue army of writers, forsaking his own quirky and deliciously entertaining usual topics of onstage interpersonal relationship scenarios of his previous books. Had he sold out to the bigger market of bestseller yet rapidly transient airport books? Happily, after getting attached to his satisfyingly rather strange hero in the first chapter and the fear that he had abandoned his signature warmth and tasteful dissection of ordinary people, the pages practically turned themselves.
Meeks has the gift to mold characters with such extensive backstories that after only a few pages as each new character is introduced they become part of the surround-sound family into whose story we have wandered.
The book is so rich in feisty humor, in theatrically enacted derring-do as the pursuit of the quartet of bank robbers ensues, some fine psychological insights into these strange but likeable folk from the Southern California setting Meeks knows and lives so well – well, so rich, period, that it begs to be read. Meeks may have daringly (for him) stepped into new territory, but the fact that he continues to remain in the rarefied atmosphere of fine contemporary authors is secure.” Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer

About Christopher Meeks

Christopher Meeks has four novels and two collections of short fiction published. His most recent novel before this was the acclaimed thriller, “Blood Drama.” His novel “The Brightest Moon of the Century” made the list of three book critics’ Ten Best Book of 2009. “Love at Absolute Zero” also made three Best Books lists of 2011, as well as earning a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Finalist award.

He has had stories published in several literary journals, and they have been included in the collections “Months and Seasons” and “The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea.” Mr. Meeks has had three full-length plays mounted in Los Angeles, and one, “Who Lives?” had been nominated for five Ovation Awards, Los Angeles’ top theatre prize.

Mr. Meeks teaches English and fiction writing at Santa Monica College, and Children’s Literature at the Art Center College of Design. To read more of his books visit his website at: www.chrismeeks.com.

Christopher at the Red Room / Facebook / Twitter

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon affiliate cover of A Death In Vegas by Christopher Meeks

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Who Killed Me? Behind You by Carly M Duncan Review

Posted on September 17, 2014 by fundinmental

ADD ME TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR LIST NOW

Title: Behind You
Author: Carly M. Duncan
Publisher:
Pages: 208
Genre: Mystery
Format: Paperback/Audible

Purchase at AMAZON

MY REVIEW

I have to figure out who killed me.

The cover for Behind You by Carly M Duncan is appealing. The red stripe jumps off the cover, making it hard to miss.

The synopsis really made me curious.

I was looking forward to reading Behind You by Carly M Duncan.

Behind you is a psychological thriller that may have you questioning your own family’s secrets.

Who knows what your husband, your wife, your mother, your father……is really thinking?

Heather would envision where the next catastrophe would come from, even though there was never a first, until now.

She has a wild and vivid imagination.

Heather loved to get in the car and drive. That struck home for me. I have always loved to get in the car and hit the road, with no destination in mind. It was the journey that was important to me. I would roll down the window and crank the radio (or tape player – am I dating myself?), singing at the top of my lungs.

Have you ever let yourself free – just let the moment dictate your actions?

I was a bit disappointed, but would recommend reading it, especially if you are a fan of psychological thrillers.

I like novels written with different points of view and this book has a few. At times, I found myself a bit confused.

Perhaps it was the characters – Heather, Steven, Elizabeth, Katherine, Susan and Richard. That is quite a few points of view to follow, but it was important to the story to ‘hear’ their version of the story in their own words.

The ending was a surprise and, to me, that alone makes the book worth reading. It’s not often I am surprised and I like it. 😀

I received a copy of Behind you in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

When a mysterious attack lands Heather in the hospital on the brink of death, her family rushes to her side. Through an inconvenient maze of shadowed memory and family secrets, Heather can trust only herself to discover if her husband, parents, sister or aunt tried to kill her. During the course of their own narratives, each character confesses to their various crimes of passion, envy and ignorance, weaving Heather’s mystery into an untraditional tale about seizing the opportunity to start over.

For More Information

Behind You is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

EXCERPT

I do a bad thing to myself. When contemplating death I always consider my own sadness, devastation and defeat at losing a potential someone. I imagine the pain and the wreckage. I test what it might feel like to experience such heartbreak. I dream up the words I wish I had said and, also, what I might say in their honor.

I never think I’ll be the first to go. If I did I wouldn’t be forced to reflect on my own potential misery. It’s utter torture and I don’t know why I do it. I must be a masochist, though that label should warrant me more invincible, fearless and probably angrier.

Why would I put myself through the imaginary emotional journey of loss? Why force the looming and possibly non-existent future pain? Does the contrast between happiness and sorrow somehow, sickeningly, make me feel more alive? Or do I believe I’m preparing myself for future grief, as though building up a tolerance for pain might save me from myself later?

I do this a lot. I imagine a shattering loss and once I reach a certain level of true despair, I somehow force myself back to reality and mentally slap myself across the face for walking down a path that I didn’t have to wander in the first place. Afterwards, though, the imaginary misery always lingers and I’m left wandering through various realities for the rest of the day, inexplicably inconsolable.

As a twenty-seven year old woman and a Columbia educated social worker, I should have both a natural and learned understanding of the human condition. In my own life, I’ve experienced minor forms of sorrow, and in my career I’ve both caused and mended various types of suffering. I should be able to manage my own head better.

My job isn’t one that you fantasize about having when you’re young and everything seems possible, when you refer casually to dreams in passing conversation and actually believe in the potential that they can become true. I fell into my career as an adoption counselor by mere chance and pure coincidence, the way most of life’s twists and turns grab you. While attending Columbia I did what most good students approaching graduation do and scrambled to find internships anywhere I could. An internship led to certain comforts and certain comforts led to friendships, and certain friendships led to employment opportunities, and, throughout that whole meandering course, life happened. Today, I find myself performing a job I never hoped for in a field I never pursued, both crushing dreams and providing joyful occasions for strangers daily.

Each and every day I meet or speak with families who are either hoping to adopt a child or who must, for some reason, put their own child up for adoption. Sometimes my days are dangerous and sometimes they’re incredibly beautiful, but I suppose it’s like anything else. My days are rewarding, but I wouldn’t say they’re always joyful.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carly M. Duncan is a television producer by day and a writer whenever there is time. Her first short story was published when she was in high school after a writing group prompted her to begin blogging before it was cool. Carly’s debut novel, Marcie, was released in 2013. Though she’ll forever be a California girl at heart, she now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two children and beloved Westie.

Her latest book is Behind You.

Visit Carly M. Duncan’s website.
Connect with Carly on Facebook and Twitter.
More books by Carly M. Duncan.
Contact Carly.

Click on the cover to get your Amazon copy of Behind You by Carly M Duncan.

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FREE Short Story – Raker by Christopher A Gray

Posted on September 15, 2014 by fundinmental

A while back, I hosted a blog tour for Christopher A Gray’s novel Dark Nights.

Since then he has written a short story follow up, RAKER, which is available for FREE on Amazon.

Some of the characters in Dark Nights make an appearance in the short, but RAKER was written as a stand-alone, without you needing to have read the novel first.

However, if you like the short story, you may be intrigued enough to read Dark Nights.

MY REVIEW

Do you like science fiction fantasy?

Do you have five minutes or so to spare?

Pick up this free short story about a technologically advanced android and what happens when an immovable object (the android) comes in contact with a human police force that desires to take him into the station while investigating an altercation.

Plato’s primary mission is to act as bodyguard to Dr. Norman Stravinsky.

The Doctor had sent him on an important mission.

A standard Raker has a handler, but Plato is special. He is as close to sentient as he could be, without being human.

On the return trip, Plato comes across a crime in progress.

What would he do? He is only a machine, but…..

How would you feel about an artificial intelligence that could, more or less, eliminate poverty and religious fanatics?

What would you give up?

Your privacy?

You freedom of choice?

Technology has become such a part of the human world, that most people, whether they realize it or not, have given up their privacy.

Raker is an interesting glimpse into a world where technology makes the world a better place, but at what cost.

How can you convince human beings, that a machine capable of destroying them, can be trusted to ‘make the right choice?’

I really enjoyed this short story and at times I feared for Plato. I related to him as if he was human, not a machine.

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

RAKER
1. noun

Remote Armed Kinesthetic Engagement & Reconnaissance android, used primarily by Fire Departments and Police Departments in the United States. RAKERs are deployed for rescue, bomb disposal, and other tasks which are deemed too dangerous for humans. Some models are being manufactured for the armed forces to serve as offensive battlefield weapons.

Christopher A. Gray’s RAKER follows an incident one evening when Dr. Norman Stravinsky sends his RAKER android out to deliver a sensitive file to a colleague. When it encounters a crime in progress, the android must decide whether to interrupt its primary duties as bodyguard to Stravinsky in order to prevent the crime from continuing. The decision results in a confrontation between itself and the Seattle Police Department.

Click on the Amazon cover to get your FREE copy of Raked, or the novel, Dark Nights, by Christopher A Gray.

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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.

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Monday Mini Review -The Modified by C A Kunz

Posted on August 25, 2014 by fundinmental

Earth is in a war with aliens – the Bringers – and they are losing. To change that, the Magnus Project was created. Kenley and Joey were chosen. Kenley’s father explained it to them this way, “Super soldiers. Basically, you’ll receive a series of implants that I’ve developed which will modify your biological composition leaving you with enhanced abilities. You’ll be changed forever.” Can you imagine your own father asking you to do such a thing? A small band of Magnus Academy trainees will help Kenley lead the fight. She will also have her faithful companion, an android named Galileo, that will stop at nothing to protect her. I feel there is something very special about him and am curious to find out if I am right. Kenley has an attraction to the war hero, Landon Shaw, but feels now is not the time to be starting a romance. I enjoyed The Modified. It lays the groundwork for the trilogy and I feel it will really take off in Book II. I am looking forward to traveling the galaxy with Kenley’s band of soldiers as they strive to save Earth from those determined to destroy it.