Tag Archives: 4 star review

Review – Devil’s Way by Robert Bryndza @RobertBryndza #DevilsWay #NetGalley

Posted on by

.

I want to thank NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Devil’s Way by Robert Bryndza.

You can Preorder or add to your Amazon Wish List HERE and enter the Goodreads giveaway HERE.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Robert Bryndza’s novels have great covers. I love covers that arouse my curiosity, and fit the story inside. So put on your walking shoes and let’s follow the mystery of the missing boy.

The story sounded familiar to me and I wondered if it was taken from the headlines or I saw something on one of my TV show thrillers. If so, Robert Bryndza managed to make the story his on. The mystery grows, taking on a life of its own, becoming muddled in murder. We have suspects, but none of them stand out to me. Of course, I blamed the family first and kept telling myself, don’t get tunnel vision, manipulating the facts to fit my hypothesis.

Devil’s Way is a police procedural that takes us step by step through the mystery with Kate and Tristan. I kept trying to come to my own conclusion, but I do that with every book. Don’t you?

I love water, and so does Kate Marshall. She lived in a house that sits on the top of a cliff looking out over Thurlow Bay, England. Water is her friend, except when she isn’t paying attention and gets caught in a riptide. That is when she meets Jean.

Kate Marshall is a private detective, and ex police officer, working with her friend and partner, Tristan Harper. They’d become close, since she took him on as a research assistant seven years ago. She also owns a caravan park, but that has stories of its own. She has a son, Jake, who is now a college student. His father is a convicted serial killer, and she lost custody of him because of her drinking problem. She has been in AA for thirteen years.

Mysteries and police procedurals are always hard for me to rate. I love thrills, blood and guts, edge of my seat suspense, but then, I also like to have to follow the step by step process of solving a crime. Devil’s Way by Robert Brundza has all the elements we need to follow the investigation to its conclusion, with a twist and turn thrown in for good measure.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Devil’s Way by Robert Bryndza.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

THE TRUTH HIDES IN THE DARK
Kate Marshall’s investigation into a young boy’s disappearance sends her down an unexpectedly twisted path in a riveting thriller by multi-million bestselling author, Robert Bryndza.

When Private Investigator Kate Marshall is rushed to hospital after being pulled into a riptide current in the sea, the near-death experience leaves her shaken. During her recovery, she befriends Jean, an elderly lady on the same ward. Jean tells the harrowing story of how her three-year-old grandson, Charlie, went missing eleven years ago during a camping trip on Dartmoor.

By the time Kate is well enough to go home, she’s agreed to take on the case, but when Kate and her trusty sidekick Tristan start to look at the events of that fateful night, they discover that Jean has a dark past that could have put Charlie in jeopardy.

Was Charlie abducted? Or did he fall into Devil’s Way? A rushing river that vanishes into a gorge close to where they were camping.

When Kate and Tristan discover that a social worker who flagged concerns about Jean and her daughter was found brutally murdered shortly after Charlie vanished, it makes them question everything they thought they knew about the family…

Filled with twists and turns, Devil’s Way is the fourth Kate Marshall novel and the most gripping and satisfying yet!

ABOUT ROBERT BRYNDZA

Robert Bryndza

Robert Bryndza is an international bestselling author, best known for his page-turning crime and thriller novels, which have sold over five million copies.

His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 29 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).

Robert has released a further five novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, the seventh Erika Foster novel, is now available to pre-order and will be published 7th July 2022.

Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands and the third book, Darkness Falls, has just been published.

Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.

You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com

MY REVIEWS FOR ROBERT BRYNDZA

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – O Is For Outbreak – A Horror Anthology @caverstraete

Posted on by

.

Chris Verstraete is participating in the anthology and offered me a copy, so I will be reviewing her story separately.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW for The Rumor That Refused To Die by Chris Verstraete

“Do you mean that story wasn’t true?…It says the policeman died in 1950 after his car fell into a giant sinkhole. I thought newspapers had to print the truth?”

“You be the judge,” her teacher said.

The Rumor That Refused To Die by Chris Verstraete shows how quickly a story changes, from person to person and time to time.. Amanda takes her school assisgnment and runs with it, digging deep, and I love where Chris went with the story. It had me smiling, because I have seen a movie with a creature like this, so it was easy to visualize. What is released to the public is far from the truth, so being prepared is impossible. If you want to know the truth of anything, you must seek it out from many sources, and then you may still never know. After all, who really shot John F Kennedy?

MY REVIEW for the anthology as a whole

O is for Outbreak is a part of a twenty six horror anthology series. It is the fifteenth book, and if the other 14 were anything like this, I am sorry I missed them. Many of the thirteen short stories are pandemic related, so I think most of us can relate to them. Brain eating larva, viruses, insects, government conspiracies, the evil eye, a giant worm, and so much more had goose bumps running up and down my spine. I was caught up in the creepy and didn’t stop until I read the last story. The wonderful thing about an anthology, you can pick it up for a quickie no matter where you are.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of O Is For Outbreak

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

O is for Outbreak is the fifteenth book in an epic series of twenty-six horror anthologies. In this book you will find a selection of thirteen unsettling tales from some of the most talented independent horror authors writing today. From government conspiracies to historic plagues, otherworldly viruses to deadly insects, O is for Outbreak brings a wide selection of pandemic-inspired horror tales that will have you hiding away, face mask in place.

MY REVIEWS FOR CHRIS VERSTRAETE

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

New Release- City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita @IrisYamashita #CityUnderOneRoof #NetGalley

Posted on by

.

I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read Iris Yamashita’s debut novel, City Under One Roof.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love finding new author’s and sharing their debut novels, like Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita.

A blizzard in a small town in Alaska. Oh yeah, I am intrigued from the getgo. THEN, add 205 residents that all live in the same highrise. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

A boot with a foot. A hand. Washed up on shore. I have seen TV shows about the body parts that wash ashore in the Northwest. Really creepy and using this topic to get Cara to the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, with her own reasons for wanting to investigate, begins the mystery and danger that is to follow.

I shiver as she drives through the tunnel. It is one way and switches directions every half hour. I felt a bit claustrophic with her. Two and a half miles. I get creeped out in the drive through car wash. LOL

The highrise used to be an army post, with tunnels because of the weather and to keep from being seen. Of course, kids are going to explore and even though I think I would be creeped out, I would have to explore too.

All towns have secrets, but small towns make it much harder to keep them. Everyone knows everyone. They live and breathe in the same space.

The descriptions of the highrise and the people are richly detailed. It made it easy for me to paint pictures in my mind. I love odd characters and City Under One Roof has its fair share. Are they on the run?

I could hear the wind howling, I could feel the icy cold.

Told, mainly, from three characters point of view: Cara, who is a detective from Anchorage, Alasksa, Amy, who is the teenager that found the body parts, and Lonnie, who came to live in the high rise after leaving a mental institution. She is one of the best characters, her and Denny. And Susie, always hanging out in the hallway.

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita has all the elements I look for in a thriller, a fabulous location and the storm is a bonus, great characters, danger, intrigue and mystery.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A stranded detective tries to solve a murder in a tiny Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single high-rise building, in this gripping debut by an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter.

When a local teenager discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, Cara Kennedy is on the case. A detective from Anchorage, she has her own motives for investigating the possible murder in this isolated place, which can be accessed only by a tunnel.

After a blizzard causes the tunnel to close indefinitely, Cara is stuck among the odd and suspicious residents of the town—all 205 of whom live in the same high-rise building and are as icy as the weather. Cara teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski, but before long the investigation is upended by fearsome gang members from a nearby native village.

Haunted by her past, Cara soon discovers that everyone in this town has something to hide. Will she be able to unravel their secrets before she unravels?”

ABOUT IRIS YAMASHITA

Iris Yamashita

Iris is the Academy Award nominated writer for the movie LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, directed by Clint Eastwood. The film received a Golden Globe award for “Best Foreign Language Film” and was nominated for 4 Oscars®, including Best Original Screenplay. Her debut novel, CITY UNDER ONE ROOF, the first in a mystery series, will be released by Berkley Group in January, 2023.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – A Reservoir Man by L J Ambrosio #ljambrosio

Posted on by

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Non, je ne regrette rien (No I don’t regret anything)

Reading A Reservoir Man by L J Ambrosio was me stepping outside my comfort zone and I am so glad I did. A Reservoir Man has a deeper meaning in the story than just a title for the book.

From the day he was born in 1947, Michael was looked at differently. He had a harelip and all the old wives tales and folklore made his life more difficult than it had to be, but his parents loved him, unconditionally. His innocence makes him a victim to those who prey on the naive. I love that he was able to rise above it. Some people are givers, some people are takers, and Michael is a giver. I love that he is an observer. I, too, like to people watch. We both have an affinity for benches, a great place to watch people from. He was used and abused, yet still kept moving forward. I felt so many emotions while reading A Reservoir Man. The story feels like a true life biography. AND, the ending….brought tears to my eyes. Well done, L J.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Reservoir Man by L J Ambrosio.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.” Twists and turns further pull the reader in to Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity. “Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.” –R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday. “This book is a dream, a gamble, a utopia, even.” — Kalyan Panja, Bookmarkks.

ABOUT L J AMBROSIO

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. He taught at over 7 universities in America. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Protecting Falcon by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

Posted on by

Protecting Falcon by Jane Blythe is Book III of the Prey, but the series is part of something so much bigger. There are many more books and authors putting their own spin on the Operation Alpha World.

About Operation Alpha

Operation Alpha is the fan fiction world for Susan Stoker’s SEAL of Protection, Delta Force Heroes, and Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Worlds. The books all have at least one of Susan’s characters in them. Check it out at Aces Press.

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have read numerous books in the Special Forces: Operation Alpha series and this is my third book in the Prey Security series by Jane Blythe. I have read a lot of Jane’s stories and eagerly crack the cover on every book I get my hands on. Protecting Falcon was no different. In fact, I was even more eager than usual, because I knew Hope was in dire straits and Cam was going to be the one to save her.

Hope is no wimp. She has a quiet strength about her. She had risked her life to help another slave, who happened to be Cam’s sister. He and his team were able to get Raven and her daughter out, but had to leave Hope behind.

Prey Security is owned by Cam and his five siblings. The whole family has a need to make sure Hope is rescued. She went above and beyond anything that could have been asked of her to help Raven and her daughter, Cleo.

Cam is a bit grumpy, like Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men. When he finds Hope, in a cage, wondering if she is alive, I think his heart skips a beat. He is quiet and she is a talker. What’s that saying about opposites attract?

“You’re really here for me?”

As soon as Hope said that my eyes teared up. I can visualize her, looking at him with soft eyes filled with wonder. Such innocence, considering the things that have been done to her by the traffickers and the evil man that revels in her pain and degradation. Little does he know, the things being done to her do not define her.

I knew how she came to be there because of reading Book II in the series, Protecting Raven, but Jane Blythe does fill in the blanks so the story can stand alone, but once you meet Prey Security, I think you may want to get each character’s story.

Jane Blythe kept me dragging myself through the Amazon rain forest, hunted, hurt, tired, hungry, thirsty, and falling for the handsome special forces man that came specifically for Hope. Danger surrounds them and getting out will not be easy.

Of course, they are going to fall in love along the way. Are any of us surprised? I would be let down if they didn’t. After all, this is romantic suspense. We have some fun dialogue and I love to smile while the characters are running for their lives. 🙂

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Protecting Falcon by Jane Blythe.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Sparks fly when opposites attract.

When Hope Delancey showed kindness to another slave, she never expected it to put her in the crosshairs of a dangerous man. After weeks of being held captive she’s rescued by a gruff, grumpy, intimidating soldier who obviously wishes he was anywhere but in Colombia rescuing her. But Hope sees through the cold exterior to the man underneath, a man she could fall in love with, a man who has already told her he has nothing to offer.

Falcon Oswald never again wants the responsibility of someone else’s life resting in his hands. But that’s exactly the position he finds himself in when he agrees to honor the promise he made to his sister to rescue Hope. Now they’re running for their lives through the Amazon rainforest, and as Hope impresses him with her strength over and over again he realizes walking away from this woman might prove impossible, even if its what’s best for her.

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Weepers by Nick Chiarkas @chiarkas

Posted on by

.

Woo Hoo, lucky me. I won Weepers by Nick Chiarkas…and Nunzio’s Way…in a giveaway.

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It was 1951. Angelo and his father were walking the snowy streets in a New York City housing project, when his life was changed forever. His father disappeared and the seven year old boy felt he should have done something. This coming of age story kept getting better and better, the more I read.

The boy already knew the first rule of the jungle: If it moves away from you, it’s food: it it moves toward you, you’re food.

“By the time a boy hits his teens, he’s either prey, predator, or he has mastered his environment…respected by the weak and the predators.”

I can’t imagine growing up in such an environment and I can see why a child’s world can become so brutal so early in their life.

A priest, a Mafia boss, a police detective and Angelo, a gang member form an unlikely union.

Weepers made me think of West Side Story. I can see why it was voted best mystery novel. There is so much I would like to share, but I won’t. The more I read, the more involved I became in the characters lives, and I want you to find out about them for yourself. I immediately went into Nunzio’s Way, and………..well, that’s another story.

I checked out Nick Chiarkas’ bio and saw why the story felt so real to me. Be sure and take a look. He knows what he’s writing about.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

BEST MYSTERY NOVEL – JOHN E. WEAVER EXCELLENT READS AWARD & READERS’ FAVORITE WINNER – YA COMING OF AGE CATEGORY
The 1957 murder of an undercover cop in a New York City housing project has unexpected ties to the unsolved disappearance of a young father walking home in those same projects with his son, Angelo, on Christmas Eve six years before. The only witness to the cop killing is Angelo, now 13, while on his way to seek his own revenge in the early morning hours. The killers know he saw them. A series of gripping events forge a union between a priest, a Mafia boss, a police detective, and Angelo, a gang member. In the end, Weepers shows us that the courage of the underdog despite fear and moral ambiguity will conquer intimidation.

Weepers has received finalist status for the Best Novel of 2016 by the Public Safety Writers Association(PSWA), the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) best mystery/thriller novel of 2015, the Best Young Adult Novel for 2016 by Bookvana, and the Best Crossover (Mystery & Young Adult) for the 2017 Best Books Award.

ABOUT NICK CHIARKAS

Nick Chiarkas grew up in the Al Smith housing projects in the Two Bridges neighborhood on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

When he was in the fourth grade, his mother was told by the principal of PS-1 that, “Nick was unlikely to ever complete high school, so you must steer him toward a simple and secure vocation.” Instead, Nick became a writer, with a few stops along the way: a U.S. Army Paratrooper; a New York City Police Officer; the Deputy Chief Counsel for the President’s Commission on Organized Crime; and the Director of the Wisconsin State Public Defender Agency.

On the way to becoming an author, he picked up a Doctorate from Columbia University; a Law Degree from Temple University; and was a Pickett Fellow at Harvard. How many mothers are told their children are hopeless? How many kids with potential simply

Website / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / Bookbub

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway & Review – The Color Of Trauma by Hollie Smurthwaite @H_Smurthwaite

Posted on by

.

MY REVIEW

The Color of Trauma by Hollie Smurthwaite was an awesome surprise for me. I thought it would be a good fit. The premise had a twist and finding something different is very unusual. Needless to say, it made the book very hard to put down in the wee hours of the morning.

I love that Kiera is not a ‘young adult’, but a mature woman. She has a gift that leaves her with few friends, spending many hours alone, and sex…well, she has a friend that money can buy.

She is a memory surgeon. She does most of her work for free, taking on one or two big paying jobs a year. She couldn’t tell you why she does them, but it does give her clients a little bit of peace. She takes a traumatic experience a person has suffered, erases the facts from their mind yet leaving the memory that something bad did happen, and takes it as her own. She has a driver, no need for a license, because her ‘job’ has triggers that muddles her mind and her actions, making it too dangerous to drive.

Chicago has a serial killer and Dean Matthson is the head detective on the case. He, and others at the precinct, call her and others like her memory munchers. It is an apt description, though it does sound kinda rude. He knows it is frowned on using them for an investigation, but he is going to do it anyway. The clock is ticking and it won’t be long before another life is lost.

I love the character of Kiera. She may come across as weak, but stand back when she gets her hackles up. She can take care herself, doesn’t back down from a fight, and has some spicy language. I love that she finds humor amongst the darkness, in the dialogue. It’s not bad enough that the trauma she takes into her mind, her home life left a lot to be desired. Her scars were invisible, but that doesn’t mean there is no pain, pain that can be debilitating.

If Kiera ever wrote a memoir, which she would never do, she would title it The Color of Trauma Is Pink…The worst memories were always a shade of pink.

I can understand someone’s fear over memory surgeons abilities, but everything good can be used for bad. Some major damage could be done, but so much good could come from it too. It’s that age old question: Just because you can do something, should you?

The attraction is quick, instalove, maybe, but when you feel the spark how do you avoid the fire? It would take a special person for her, but also for him. Dean is a homicide detective. He never knew when he would be called out or when his shift would end. They both have baggage and I am eager to see how they handle it. I feel confident there will be some kind of happy ever after…won’t there?

The psychopath serial killer finds a target and zeroes in on her. He had researched her, reading lots of articles. He thought if he ever wrote a memoir, he would name it The Psychopath And The Empath. I knew this would happen, but that’s okay.

There was one blip that bothered me, but maybe because I saw something similar in one of my favorite TV crime shows. I thought about it for a minute or two and wondered how much time passed during that blip. That could make a huge difference that is not always easy to determine.

I am loving the The Psychic Color series by HollyieSmurthwaite and I can hardly wait to see what she does in Book II, The Color Of Betrayal, Jolene and Cass’ story.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Color Of Trauma by Hollie Smurthwaite.

4 Stars




The Color of Trauma
The Psychic Colors Series
Book One
Hollie Smurthwaite

Genre:  Paranormal Romantic Suspense, PNR
Publisher: Hollie Smurthwaite
Date of Publication:  August 30, 2021
ISBN:978-1737118916
ASIN: B09B2QWV52
Number of pages:  358
Word Count: 95,000 words
Cover Artist: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations

Book Description:

Experiencing another’s past could end her future . . .

Kiera Brayleigh is a memory surgeon. In the ten years since her “gift” manifested, she’s helped dozens of women deal with trauma by removing their horrific memories—burns, rapes, tortures.  It pays well, but she holds those moments, making her a fiery mess. The bizarre request from a Chicago homicide detective is the last thing she needs.

Detective Dean Matthson is burdened with an uncanny ability to get inside the minds of criminals. In a dead-end hunt to capture a serial killer, he risks his hard-earned reputation by doing the unthinkable: recruiting a memory surgeon to probe the mind of a comatose victim.  

Kiera might appreciate the cop’s dimples and his commitment to the job, but only an idiot would agree to experience a rape-murder victim’s last memories. Kiera, it turns out, is that idiot. Dean’s dedication and calming presence challenge Kiera’s distrustful nature, and she finds herself falling for Dean even as he struggles with his own demons. 

Can two broken people find love? 

When the killer discovers Kiera’s on the case, he realizes she is exactly what he needs to relive his kills. Dean and the killer both close in on their targets, and it becomes a race to catch the monster before he catches Kiera.

The Color of Trauma is a thought-provoking paranormal romantic suspense novel with an unconventional heroine, dark themes, and psychological drama.

Amazon      Kobo      BN      Indiebound


“I’m not sure how much Ms. Morten has shared with you, but—”

Kiera lifted a finger; thankfully, her index. “Dr. Patty told us you had questions about memory reading as it might apply to one of your cases. Read memories aren’t admissible in court. You’re wasting your time.”

“I don’t need evidence like that,” Dean said, deciding not to point out that Patty hadn’t graduated yet and wasn’t, technically, a doctor.

“Whew,” the blond he didn’t recognize said. “It’s one of the frustrating things about what we do.” The memory surgeons all winced when she spoke, though the blond didn’t appear to notice.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

She beamed. “Amy Carter.”

“Do you mind telling me what’s your specialty?”

“Bitching and complaining,” Kiera replied in a tight voice.

Amy’s lips compressed, but she didn’t say anything. Was Kiera the group’s bully? Was that how she controlled the narrative? Everyone looked to her, even Patty.

Kiera sighed. “Dr. Schwartz is the expert in the field. Look into his research. Gilfoile and Roberts are hacks, and the rest don’t know shit but still want to capitalize on the memory-surgeon thing.”

He wrote down “Schwartz” in his notebook, surprised at her generosity. “Thank you.”

She stared at him with those blue eyes that didn’t blink enough. “That all?”

“Not quite.”

“Yeah, I figured.” She shook her head. “They don’t fully understand how memory works, so it’s going to be a while before they figure out how we’re able to access people’s memories and how they can be removed and kept in someone else’s mind. We can’t help you with the science stuff.”

“I’m more interested in how it works from a practical standpoint.” He directed his questions at everyone else, but the only one looking directly at him was Kiera. Fine. If he won her over, the others would follow. “I’m trying to ascertain what you can and can’t do.”

“Why?”

No time to finesse. With his attention still on Kiera, he handed Brittany Kolchek’s picture to Ramon and asked him to look and pass it on.

“I’ve never seen her before,” Ramon said. “Is she missing?”

Dean waited until everyone had viewed the photo, because he didn’t want to give them the opportunity to refuse.

Beth looked last, and she studied Brittany for several seconds. “She seems nice.” Then she walked the photo back to him.

“Her name is Brittany Kolchek,” he said. “She’s in a coma.” As a group, they cringed, even Kiera. Good—they cared. “The doctors say she won’t wake.”

“You don’t want information. You want one of us to jump into her memories,” Kiera said, her face as hard as her voice.

“We believe she’s the third victim of a serial killer targeting young women. All three scenes have little physical evidence. This might be our only chance to catch a break.” When nobody spoke or moved, he added, “He’ll kill again.”


About the Author: 

Hollie Smurthwaite is a paranormal romantic suspense author of The Color of Trauma and The Color of Betrayal. The Color of Trauma was the winner of the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project in adult fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and too few pets. In past lives, she’s been a checkout clerk, massage therapist, office manager, recruiter, magazine staff writer, pepper spray hawker, and belly dancer.












a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Sin City Wolf: Hellfire by January Bain @GoddessFish

Posted on by

Hellfire (Sin City Wolf #4) by January Bain

GENRE:   paranormal romance, billionaire werewolf

MY REVIEW

I have not read any of the Sin City Wolf books, but after reading Hellfire by January Bain, I want more. I quickly became immersed in Amara and Dante’s lives. Shay, Amara’s BFF, is a wonderful character and Rainbow, Amara’s parrot has a large personality. I got more than I bargained for in this paranormal romance.

Amara plays life safe and if it wasn’t for her friend, Shay, she may never have any fun. Her mother passed away with ALS, Lou Gherig’s disease, and she has the RPS25 gene. Her steady money comes from journal articles, papers and dissertations she receives through the university. She loves novels about the supernatural world and would love to be able to write paranormal romance stories herself. Maybe one day?

“Too bad vampires aren’t a real thing. Not having to worry about getting sick would be sweet. Can you say fangbanger, Rainbow?”

Shay”s sister is coming into town to take care of their dad while she and Amara go out on the Vegas town to sing Karaoke at the casino. Amara catches the eye of two ‘men’.

I love a character that has challenges to overcome. and Amara has one that she could never have foreseen when she is bitten by the vampire, Pharaoh Akar I. He knew as soon as he saw her, he had to have her for eternity.

Dante has a family meeting he can’t get out of and is lured to the Karaoke contest by a sweet voice he couldn’t resist. He is a part of the most successful werewolf pack of all time, the House of Luceres. He is a doctor, studying DNA, hoping to benefit werewolves.

I think we can all see where this is going, after Dante rescues the distressed maiden from the clutches of the bad guy. Their road to a life together will be filled with danger, from both vampires and werewolves. After all, the two are mortal enemies and do not mix…or do they?

Now I know who assassinated President Kennedy. LOL

Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The story and the characters are so well written, I was drawn into the story, smiling, laughing, worrying and fretting. The action and pacing kept the story flowing smoothly, making me ‘flip the pages’, having to know what will become of them. I am sorry I missed the first three books in the Sin City Wolf series by January Bain. I have added Hunt, Book I, to my wish list and want to know what comes next.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Hellfire by January Bain.

4 Stars

BLURB

Amara St. Clair is just out for a rare night of fun on the Vegas Strip. But when she discovers her fun-loving side in the Glitter Palace casino, a life-altering altercation with a deadly ancient vampire leaves Amara lying unconscious in an alley near the famous casino.
Doctor, geneticist and genealogy expert Dante Luceres, dedicated to research that will keep his fellow werewolves safe and healthy, is attending a mandatory yearly event of the House of Luceres. Coming across Amara, he saves her life, though vampires and werewolves are forbidden from interfering with each other in the supernatural world. There are dire consequences for interfering with another supe’s domain, and he expects that soon both the vampires and the werewolves will be after them, but he can’t leave the beautiful, vivacious little human to suffer alone.
Drawn to each other, the pair must hide from the world. But with everyone against them, including Dante’s clan and an evil vampire hellbent on having Amara for his own, how can they find a path to a shared future…and true happiness?

EXCERPT

“Wait! We’re going the wrong way.”

“My Harley’s out back. Quickest way out of town.”

“I’m wearing a dress. And I’d prefer an Uber or cab. No offense, but I don’t know you.” She jerked her arm to pull away, but I hung on.

“You’re in mortal danger. I’ll figure out the explanation for all this”—I gestured between us—“later when I have access to records and blood testing.”

“Blood tests? What are you talking about? And why does it affect you?”

She exaggerated my hand movements demonstrating the connection between us back in my face. I did note that her hand also trembled, causing an odd emotion to come over me. She was trying to be brave, but it was costing her.

“Are you suggesting that you are not in touch with your obvious physiological responses?”

Anything was possible in this alternative world she’d just had thrust on her. Perhaps she wasn’t aware she had become aroused. Or refused to admit it. It didn’t matter, neither of us would be acting on it in this lifetime.

“You don’t understand. That beast that attacked you? He’s coming back, and he won’t be alone. I have to get you away right now.” I added a sense of urgency to my tone in efforts to persuade her.

She did look around with a more constrained expression, as if the boogey man was going to jump her.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let them take you.”

“Why would they take me? That makes no sense.” She had the cutest way of wrinkling her nose that made it wiggle a bit.

“You look like a movie star.”

“Yeah, right!” Now she gave a grimace as if I were fucking around with her.

“Yes. Marilyn Monroe. Only with dark hair. In a blonde wig, you’d be able to pass for identical twins. Your features, perfectly aligned and symmetrical, are above average in scope and dimension.”

I pointed at her face, as if drawing with my fingers in the air. “The distance between your eyes in one exact eye, the length of your face equals three noses. Space from the lower eyelid to the upper eyelid is the same as space between the upper eyelid and eyebrow. Also demonstrated to perfection. And width of the face across the cheeks is equal to two lengths of the nose. Finally, eyebrows begin on the same line as the corner of the eye nearest to the nose. There you have it, a perfect oval face!” I always appreciated sharing such proof positive.

Instead of thanks for pointing out her perfection, what did I get but a rolling of her eyes before she burst into gales of laughter?

“Is that the line you try on women to get them into bed, by any chance?”

AUTHOR Bio and Links

January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full-blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination.

If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Every Which Fae by Amber Garr #AmberGarr #Fantasy

Posted on by

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love reading paranormal romance and Amber Garr’s Every Which Fae is chock full of magical and supernatural creatures. There will definitely be some romancing going on in a friends to lovers relationship.

Sadie is a fighter and her bite is worse than her bark. She is an investigative reporter with KPWTV, and fights for those who aren’t strong enough to fight for themselves. She has her best friend, Tris, at her side, armed with a camera. They make a great team.

The adventure begins when Sadie finds out she is a halfling, half fae and half human…and her father is missing, her biological father, who she has never met.

Blake comes knocking on her door and before Sadie knows it, he becomes a member of the team. He is Mac’s, the missing father, employee at the porn shop he owns. I liked that touch and it gave me a chuckle or two when Sadie and Tris make their first visit to the shop.

Gallus is a vampire and joins the group as Sadie searches for clues to where her father has been taken. It’s not long before Wylen makes an appearance. He cracks me up and we do have some fun situations arise. He is more than he appears and sticks to Sadie like glue…most of the time. The more she learns, the more determined she is to get to the bottom of things.

I have read some of Amber Garr’s other work and loved it, so picking up Every Which Fae was easy to do. I am curious what the target audience is for Every Which Fae. For me, definitely an adult that loves violence, blood and guts, and hot sexy scenes…HA HA HA…I would rate Every Which Fae a three.

For a teenager, or young adult I would rate it a four. Every Which Way is filled with adventure, intrigue, mystery, danger, romance, humor and snark. The characters are marvelous, each adding a certain something to the story.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Every Which Fae by Amber Garr.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Our dark family secret has finally caught up to me.

For years, I’ve made it my priority to deliver justice and bring down those who prey on the weak. Shifty landlords, deceitful realtors, and dirty politicians cannot hide from me. As an investigative reporter with a special ability for digging up the facts, my life has been good.

Until the evening my mother tells me I’m not human.

My biological father is missing. I’m falling in love with my best friend who is struggling with a crushing reality that could tear us apart. And now, a full-blooded fae with smoldering eyes and a royal attitude has me second-guessing my entire existence.

I never thought the truth could hurt so much. Staying away from a mystery is hard, but am I ready to sacrifice all that makes me human and trust in a world I never knew?

Every Which Fae is a paranormal romance featuring a friends-to-lovers romance, dangerous fae politics, and a halfling caught in the middle of a greater conspiracy. Grab it now and get tangled in the suspense!

ABOUT AMBER GARR

Amber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner, author of the bestselling The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, the award-winning The Water Crisis Chronicles, and the The Second Rising Series. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

Website / Facebook / BookBub

MY AMBER GARR REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Baby Talk, Book III, The Exorcism by Mike Wells @MikeWellsAuthor #Horror

Posted on by

Baby Talk, Book I is FREE, or you can get Books I & II for $4.99

Below is the Kindle cover for Baby Talk Book III by Mike Wells. Below that is the book cover from Goodreads and the audiobook cover. Which do you like best?

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

We open with Neal at the Central State Psychiatric Hospital in Midgeville, Georgia. General Sherman’s troops had camped there during the Civil War, and it has been all downhill since. He is housed with a couple hundred other criminally insane patients, BUT…

Neal knows exactly what’s going on around him, though they think he is catatonic. He is silently plotting and planning his escape. He must find Natasha and stop her.

The courts had given the baby to Susan, a nurse who had saved baby Natasha from her criminally insane father. Her mother had left her in a car with the motor running, and it didn’t end well for her either. Susan is in for a rude awakening…

I thought it was ‘funny’ that Dunwoody, Georgia was mentioned. I lived there for a short time.

Neal recruits Father Meginnis to perform an exorcism, and this is where the book took a twist I didn’t see coming…and I LOVE IT! I had to laugh.

The Baby Talk series by Mike Wells never let me go once I started reading it. Thank goodness, or should I say Mike, because I had all three books. The first is free and I highly recommend dipping your shoes into the fire.

The Baby Talk series had me thinking of Damien in the Omen, Rosemary’s Baby, Chuckie… brace yourself for the an adventure in Hell on earth. And, if Mike wanted to, the series could continue. Is Natasha still talking to you Mike? Whispering in your ear?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Baby Talk, Book II by Mike Wells.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

It’s been six months since Neal Becker was convicted of the murder of his mother-in-law.

He’s been committed to the Central State Psychiatric Hospital for life.

Meanwhile, ‘poor, innocent’ Baby Natasha is in the custody of Susan Matlow, the compassionate nurse who helped ‘rescue’ her from her criminally insane father.

Neal knows what his daughter is. And he knows he only has one chance to stop her from causing more death and destruction.

He has to break out of the asylum, avoid the intensive statewide manhunt, track down Natasha, kidnap her…

…and take her to an exorcist.

ABOUT MIKE WELLS

Email me at mike (at) mikewellsbooks.com or follow me on Twitter (@MikeWellsAuthor) and get a FREE copy of one of my bestselling books. I’m an American author best known for my Lust, Money & Murder series and and written more than 25 other thriller and suspense novels. I also have taught in the Creative Writing program at Oxford. I’m known for my super fast-paced, ‘unputdownable’ books.

Please visit my website/blog at: http://www.mikewellsbooks.com/

And please join me on Twitter and Facebook

MY MIKE WELLS REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!