Tag Archives: 4 star review

Review – Worlds Apart by Carmen Webster Buxton @CarmenWBuxton #sciencefiction

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I fell in love with Carmen Webster Buxton’s Wakanreo Science Fiction Series, so I am very eager to go on another adventure with her. Carmen….take me away….

Worlds Apart (ThreeCon)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have read some of Carmen Webster Buxton’s work, of which her Wakanreo series was my favorite, so far. She builds worlds that are easy to visualize with her creative writing and her characters quickly draw me into their lives, as I struggle right along with them.

We start out with a wild west gunfight, but it’s out on the plain, not at the OK Corral. Out of the sky comes a flash…and Praxiteles’ life is changed forever.

Praxiteles is a Mercouri, an unsophisticated man who lives a primitive life on the plains. The Mercouri are language refuges, colonists who left the city instead of giving up their language. Praxiteles is naive, loyal, trustworthy, and committed to the debts he owes.

I love watching him grow and learn, adjusting to his new circumstances, his new world.

I got lost in the fabulous world Carmen Webster Buxton created with her ability to show me through words the planets and characters. I lived and loved as Praxiteles and Rishi lived and loved. The peripheral characters were as interesting and vital to the story as the principles. I am looking forward to spending more time in their world and am curious to see what will happen next.

Love can conquer all in their world, but it wasn’t easy getting there.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Worlds Apart by Carmen Webster Buxton.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

“Meet cute” is one thing, but “meet dangerous” is something else. Praxiteles Mercouri’s people live a low-tech, nomadic existence on the plains of the planet Celadon. When they are attacked by well-armed merciless marauders, they are saved from annihilation by the timely intervention of a visitor to Celadon, the very wealthy Rishi Trahn. In the ensuing celebration, Rishi overdoes the potent local wine. A sense of duty makes Prax agree to her request that he go with her to her world, Stone cold sober the next morning, Rishi is appalled at her own actions. But while she feels terrible for taking Prax away from his people, she doesn’t feel bad enough to send him back. Now if they can just get past his gratitude and her scruples.

ABOUT CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON

Carmen Webster Buxton

Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.

Carmen was born in Hawaii and experienced a peripatetic childhood, as her father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo. She writes science fiction (often including a romance, and mostly set in the far future), and the occasional fantasy.

Carmen has published many books:

WAKANREO SERIES
Alien Bonds
Alien Vows
Alien Skies

HAVEN SERIES
The Sixth Discipline
No Safe Haven

THREECON SERIES (can be read in any order)
The Nostalgia Gambit
Saronna’s Gift
Shades of Empire
Tribes
Worlds Apart

ALTERNATE HISTORY
King of Trees

YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION
Turnabout
Drifters

FANTASY
Where Magic Rules
Bag of Tricks
Hidden Magic

THE NAMELESS WORLD SAGA (coming in 2021)
The North Edge of Nowhere
Oaths and Promises

Carmen often blogs about ereaders, digital publishing, writing, and speculative fiction. Visit her blog to see what’s coming out next! To ask questions or to provide feedback on her books, send email to carmen.webster.buxton (at) gmail.com.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

MY CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON REVIEWS

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Shark’s Story – Saving Logan by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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TODAY IS RELEASE DAY! Be one of the 1st to get your copy.

Woo Hoo…If the tent is rockin’, don’t come a knockin’.

Saving Logan (Saving SEALs, #4)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Shark”s story…I have been waiting for it. For some reason, this character really caught my attention in the previous novels. He is the perfect example of the strong, silent type. Action starts from the opening pages and never lets up. My favorite….so far.

Logan hopped a ride on the chopper, to join his team in Afghanistan, after his mother’s funeral. He is a pro at keeping his feelings to himself, but Claire picks up a vibe from him. Could he be the one after her? What, if any, are his intentions? She is gorgeous, but it is not her looks that get Logan’s attention. He can sense the fear radiating off her. He feels the need to know more. After all, he is a protector.

His Seal team mates, and the women who love them, are his friends, his family, but there is something about Claire that draws him in. He uses his size and gruffness to create distance from people and convey a sense of menace. It doesn’t take a lot of effort on his part. It seems to come naturally.

I love how he got his nickname in school….Shark. Should I tell you? Can you guess? Hint: what do sharks do? Cruise around and…

When the helicopter went down, Claire’s badass side came out. I am impressed, and surprised, and I love it. Her and Logan are the only two who survive and neither one trusts the other. They need to figure it out…and soon. They would have to work together to survive long enough to be rescued. Logan knew his Seal team would come looking, they just had to last long enough for the team to find them.

Claire Bear…walls collapsing…feelings coming out….taking over…BUT, it’s all in or nothing with Logan. He tries to use his ‘shark face’ on her, but she can see right through it. We do have some of the back and forth angst, the push and pull, but they have only known each other for days, not weeks or years. Still, the intense situation can put things in perspective.

When Logan and his team were sitting around a scrounged up barrel that created a makeshift fire pit, I immediately thought of a Seal Team TV episode. From them on, it was easy to visualize the action, making the suspense and thrills even more intense.

Terrorists, HIM, the traitor…I don’t understand their ideology and motivations. Does HE truly believe, or does he want revenge for some slight he feels?

Shark’s story was worth the wait. AND, with Jane Blythe’s tease about Chaos coming home and finding a woman in his bed, she has me eager for the next Seal team story. This was my favorite, no bones about it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Saving Logan by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

They’ll have to trust each other if they want to survive.

When Claire Barrett decided to dedicate her life to helping those who serve in the military deal with the horrors they experience, the last thing she expected was that she would wind up lost in the middle of Afghanistan. The only other surviver of the helicopter crash is a sexy SEAL with dark, empty eyes. She isn’t sure that she can trust him, but if she wants to survive she doesn’t have a choice.

Logan “Shark” Kirk knows that Claire is afraid of him, and that she’s keeping secrets. He has to wonder if she knows why their helicopter was shot down. As she fights alongside him, his respect for her grows, along with it feelings he’s completely unprepared for. Things between them heat up, but with Claire in the sights of a terrorist cell, their fight for survival has only just begun.

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

Jane has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series, Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.

When she’s not writing Jane loves to read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies. She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears. She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway & Review – Our Moon Festival by Yobe Qiu @byyobeqiu @iReadBookTours

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Join us for this tour from September 7 to September 27
 

MY REVIEW

Our Moon Festival is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that shares a glimpse into the moon festival in Japanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese cultures. The oversize book is easy to share while reading with your children. Multicultural families make everyone feel welcome. The little ones (and us older ones) will get a glimpse into other cultures and may even be curious enough to want to know more. Isn’t that what all us book lovers want, more readers?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Our Moon Festival by Yobe Qiu.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars
Book Details:
 
Book Title:  Our Moon Festival by Yobe Qiu
Category:  Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7),  30 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book 
Publisher:  Yobe Qiu LLC
Release date:  January 2020
Content Rating:  G
 
Book Description:
 
“Our Moon Festival” is a beautifully illustrated children’s book celebrating the unique ways the Japanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese communities celebrate the Moon Festival. The story highlights different families and their traditions as they observe Zhong Qiu Jie, Tết Trung Thu, and Tsukimi!
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
 
Yobe is an educator, entrepreneur and mom who lives in NYC. As an educator, she focused on teaching families to embrace love, diversity and different cultures. Through the years working in the classrooms and closely with other educators, she noticed the lack of multi-cultural resources that represented children of color. That is when Yobe decided to create multicultural children stories that feature Asian children, families and cultures! Yobe loves spending time with her daughter, reading to children and taking long walks during the day!

Connect with the Author:  Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
 
Tour Schedule: 

Sep 7 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Sep 7 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / giveaway
Sep 7 – Kam’s Place – book review
Sep 8 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Sep 8 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Sep 9 – I’m Into Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 10 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / giveaway
Sep 13 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Sep 14 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Sep 14 – The Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife – book review / giveaway
Sep 15 – Chit Chat with Charity – book review / giveaway
Sep 15 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Sep 16 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 16 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Sep 17 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review / giveaway
Sep 20 – Fictional Vixen – book review
Sep 21 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Sep 21 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 22 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – book spotlight 
Sep 22 – The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Sep 23 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Sep 23 – Laura’s Interests – book review / giveaway
Sep 24 – Westveil Publishing – book review / giveaway
Sep 27 – The Phantom Paragrapher – book review
 
Enter the Giveaway:

OUR MOON FESTIVAL Book Tour Giveaway


 

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Review For New Release – City of Prey by Blake Pierce #BlakePierce

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City of Prey (Ava Gold Mystery #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have read quite a few of Blake Pierce’s first in a series novels that he offers for free. He writes some wonderful mystery, suspense, thriller fiction, and I am happy to be here to share City of Prey with you. The simplicity of the cover still manages to give me a creepy feeling, a sense of foreboding.

Blake Pierce quickly got my attention. My spidey senses were tingling as soon as HE walked in the door.

Let’s step back in time…the 1920s in New York City, to be precise. Women had their place…at home, in the kitchen. Not so for Ava Gold. At her husband’s funeral, when the captain asked if there was anything he could do for her, she blurted out, “…I’d like a job.”

Ava’s father had been a boxer, until he broke his hand. He’s a trainer…and he taught Ava, so beware. This may be the 1920s and women were thought to be helpless, but not Ava. Once she starts working, he helps her with her ten year old son. She doesn’t realize it, but he has the utmost respect for her.

I could rant and rave about how the women were treated, but I want you to feel the same frustration and disgust that I felt at the stupidity of it all. Of course, I believe so much of this still goes on today, so it should be easy to imagine.

Ava has to deal with racism and sexism and understands neither. She loves Jazz and singing. She’s not afraid of Harlem and ignores those that frown at her independence. She is a natural investigator, whether because of her husband’s insight while discussing police business with her, or her own abilities to think like the criminal she is chasing. Investigating was not as sophisticated in the 1920s, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t those who stand above the rest, not willing to accept the easy way out. Piece by piece she puts the puzzle together to catch him.

I had a few issues with City of Prey, but overall they were minor. I loved the character of Ava and those who surrounded her had their place. History shows, it takes characters like these, willing to step outside the box and push the boundaries, to help us all progress.

City of Prey by Blake Pierce touches on racism, prohibition, and women’s rights.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of City of Prey by Blake Pierce.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In the rough streets of 1920s New York City, 34 year-old Ava Gold, a widower and single mom, claws her way up to become the first female homicide detective in her NYPD precinct. She is as tough as they come, and willing to hold her own in a man’s world.

But when a psychotic serial killer unleashes a rampage, murdering young women across the city, Ava will have to search the dark canals of the twisted killer’s mind if she has any hope of hunting him down. With psychological profiling still in its infancy, and mocked by most, Ava will be even more alone as she follows her instinct, and hunts him down in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Just when it seems the stakes couldn’t be higher, Ava comes to an awful realization: she herself may be the next target.

Amidst the speakeasies, jazz clubs, mafia-run prohibition rings, horrific mental asylums and dangerous back alleys of the city, can Ava achieve what all the men cannot: enter the sick mind of a killer, and stop him before more women die?

A heart-pounding suspense thriller filled with shocking twists, the authentic and atmospheric AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES is a riveting page-turner, endearing us to a strong and brilliant character that will capture your heart and keep you reading late into the night.

Books #2 and #3 in the series—CITY OF FEAR and CITY OF BONES—are now also available.

ABOUT BLAKE PIERCE

Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising thirteen books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising two books (and counting); of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); of the new ADELE SHARP mystery series; and of the new EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series.

ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery–Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery–Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery–Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery–Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige–Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery–Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller–Book One), and IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery–Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

MY BLAKE PIERCE REVIEWS

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Library Review – Into The Water by Paula Hawkins #Librarylove @PaulaHWrites

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I grabbed Into The Water by Paula Hawkins from the library and I am so glad I did. It was a 2017 Goodreads Choice winner. I actually wrote this review last year and saved it for a ‘rainy day’.

Into the Water

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins touches a lot of serious, sensitive topics, and she handles them so well. Her portrayal of what secrets and misunderstandings bring about could be a warning to us all. Secrets do not stay buried.

I feel for all the lives forever changed.

I had some confusion switching to so many points of view, especially early on. My head was spinning, there is soooo much happening, so many angles, but Paula Hawkins wraps the story up nicely.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon The Girl on the Train returns with Into the Water, her addictive new novel of psychological suspense.

A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.

Left behind is a lonely fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother’s sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she vowed she’d never return.

With the same propulsive writing and acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, twisting, deeply satisfying read that hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, as well as the devastating ways that the past can reach a long arm into the present.

Beware a calm surface—you never know what lies beneath.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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New Release – Midlife Psychic by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold @HibbertStiles

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Carolyn Arnold writes some of the best police procedurals I have ever read. Midlife Psychic is her first foray into the paranormal world, but I have no doubt it will be an entertaining read, because of her ability to pen a wonderful story.

Isn’t this a fun cover?

Midlife Psychic

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have read a lot of Carolyn Arnold’s work and I am excited to delve into the psychic world with her first paranormal story, Midlife Psychic. I love that the female character is older and it is a refreshing change from the young adult novels I love so much. Along with hot flashes, come psychic visions.

Carolyn Arnold writes wonderful mysteries and police procedurals, so I am excited to begin this journey with her…AND…of course, we have to start with something that I am already afraid of…a plane crash.

Erin Stone is a Catholic, so anything to do with the paranormal smacks of Satan worship. She cannot talk to any family about this, but thank goodness her best friend, Trisha, has a very open mind and believes in all kinds of new age things, like the power of intuition, the laws of attraction and lucid dreaming. I love that Erin and Trisha have such different upbringings and beliefs, yet are best friends.

She is a 911 operator for the Toronto Police Services. Her parents had died in a plane crash 28 years earlier and as the anniversary of the date approaches, her brother talks her into going to the memorial, where she runs into the NTSB agent who investigated their parents crash. For some reason, she finds it easy to talk to him, and she does need help to investigate her dream and the plane crash. A little attraction makes it easier. Karma at work?

We are just cruising along, doing some talking, some investigating, maybe falling in love…until…about 60% and Carolyn Arnold takes it up a notch. Danger rears it ugly head.

There is a religious tone to the story and if you don’t believe in visions, clairvoyance, lucid dreaming and psychics, here is the chance to walk a mile in Erin’s shoes and learn how she comes to accept that a fact is a fact, a truth a truth.

Be sure and catch Carolyn Arnold’s inspiration for writing Midlife Psychic and her acknowledgments and find out how much of her personal life she shares.

I bounced a bit on the rating, but the when Carolyn Arnold added danger to the mix, it gave me that extra bit I was looking for. The ending seemed a bit off to me, but I can’t quite put my finger on why? Did I want more details? Did I want a different ending? I don’t know. If you get a chance to read Midlife Psychic, I would love to know you thoughts. Maybe it is just me wanting…MORE.

I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of Midlife Psychic by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Hot flashes in my forties? Expected. Waking up psychic? Not in my wildest dreams.

My name is Erin Stone. I’m forty-three with a daughter away at college and a successful career as a communications officer with the 911 dispatch center for the Toronto Police Service. My life had just returned to new normal after my divorce and everything was going along smoothly. Then BOOM! Turns out the universe had other plans for me.

I dreamed of a plane crash—only it wasn’t just a dream. The crash happened in real life. Eighty-three dead. A vision, plain and simple. Not exactly. My family certainly wouldn’t understand. And me…psychic? I’d dabbled in new-age spirituality in the past but never plunged into the deep end. Now I’m in over my head.

Why was I given this vision, and does it hold clues as to what caused the crash? My best friend Trish is convinced it does, and a handsome stranger with the National Transportation Safety Board is willing to partner with me to solve the mystery. But if I’m going to embrace the vision as telling of newfound psychic abilities, I will need to keep my paranormal gift a secret from my daughter, brother, and aunt. Little good that might do them though.

Someone out there has their own secrets and is willing to go to great lengths to protect them. Now the very gift I was given has put the lives of my loved ones at risk. Will my psychic abilities be strong enough to save them?

This work of paranormal women’s fiction features a strong-willed heroine in her forties with enough baggage to check some, along with a heavy dose of magic and a splash of romance.

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Carolyn Arnold

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:  Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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  • 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 – Saving Owen by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Jane Blythe’s covers for the Saving Seals series is filled with eye candy. What do you think?

Saving Owen (Saving SEALs, #3)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Owen was at a loss. His wife, Maya, had died of cancer. Why was it her, instead of him? After all, he is a Navy Seal and puts his life on the line every time he goes on a mission.

He was heading to his apartment when he saw an open door. He entered to rescue the maiden, Evie, from being raped. She reminded him of Maya, so even though they lived in the same building, he was determined to put distance between them.

Of course, it’s romantic suspense, so it isn”t hard to figure out they will get together. The thing is, Jane Blythe throws twists and turns willy nilly, so we can never be sure how they will get there. And so…

Owen comes home from a mission to find Evie packed and ready to go. She is leaving him. His past came back to smack him in the face and it was too late to come clean. She had always felt like second best. Now, she felt used, was crushed, and, until the cartel came knocking at her door, she wanted nothing to do with him.

She becomes a threat to the Perez Cartel and the entire Seal team knows just how deadly they can be. They have dealt with them before. The cartel is deadly, dealing in kidnapping, torture, trafficking and murder, to keep the drugs running.

Every move they make to hide and protect her, they are found. How can he keep her safe and have a chance at winning her back?

The suspense builds and even though I have a good idea how it will end…wink, wink…the nonstop action and danger was one wild ride. I am tired and ready for bed, but I have to know…

…and Jane Blythe has me wanting to hear Shark’s story. He deserves a happy ever after too. What do I see when I reach the end? It is like Jane read my mind. Shark’s story is next in line. Hoorah.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Saving Owen by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

His secrets ruined their marriage, can she trust him now to keep her safe?

Evangeline “Evie” Walter always looks for the good in people, a trait that usually ends up with her being used and hurt, just like it did in her marriage to Navy SEAL Owen. But when she finds herself in the sights of a ruthless cartel she doesn’t see any other choice but to risk getting hurt again by turning to the only people she trusts to keep her safe; Owen’s SEAL team.

Owen “Fox” LeGrand was grieving his wife when he met Evie, he saved her life and friendship grew between them before they fell in love. Then he ruined it. He’s waited two years for a chance to make things right but he never expected that opportunity to come because Evie’s life is in danger. Now getting her to trust him again has taken on a whole new importance, because if he can’t fix what he broke then Evie could wind up dead.

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

Jane has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series, Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.

When she’s not writing Jane loves to read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies. She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears. She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!

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!

Eco Thriller Dragon Gold by Kristie Clark #KristieClark

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Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt and the dragon that protects it?

Dragon Gold (Order of the Dolphin, #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Order of the Dolphin series by Kristie Clark keeps getting better in Dragon Gold. I do recommend reading them in order, beginning with Killing Dragons, but Kristie Clark includes all the updates if you were inclined to read it as a stand alone.

Eva is in charge of dolphin research at the Roatan Institute for Marine Science in Honduras. She talks to dolphins and has been creating a vocabulary to enable them to communicate.

Thomas is head of the Sternberg Center for Cancer Cures in Kansas city, Kansas, creating innovative gene therapy. On his last trip to Roatan, his lab tech, Ivan, had found an enzyme in the toxic red tide. Thomas and Eva are both passionate about their work. but how can they have a relationship with so much distance between them.

I love anything to do with water, so to dive with the dolphins, hunt with them for lionfish, and learn of the world underneath, even in a fictional way, is very interesting and entertaining to me.

Action and danger enter the story and Eva’s life early on. She has friends that will come to her aid in Julian’s deadly game. All the characters play pivotal roles, even if they are not the stars.

An extreme sense of urgency lingers on the pages, and I feel it almost as much as Eva, but she must keep her cool, make a plan…and wait for Thomas. He was a Navy Seal working with dolphins, and she can use all the help she can get.

Kristie Clark’s blend of fact and fiction brings her world to life, making me want to jump in with both feet. She explains her research and facts at the end of each novel and I love it. Getting lost in her tropical paradise gave me many hours of reading enjoyment.

The first book, Killing Dragons, took Kristie Clark ten years to write, but like the pacing of Dragon Gold, she wrote this one in a month. Guess these characters had a lot to say to her.

There is so much between the cover of Dragon Gold…a touch of ecology, giving back to the world that gives us life, cancer research, Naval bits and pieces, fish farming, genetic engineering, kidnapping and murder, and Kristie Clark ties it all together in an amazeballs package.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dragon Gold by Kristie Clark.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A dragon will kill any who dare to take its gold.

After her dangerous adventures earlier in the year, everything is finally going well for Dr. Eva Paz. Her breakthroughs in dolphin communication are changing the world. Her discoveries could save the reef she loves. And now her mother has found love again.

But then a madman returns to claim what’s his. Eva’s old nemesis, Julian Gulliver, kidnaps Eva’s mother, and he demands an exorbitant ransom.

It’s money Eva doesn’t have.

What she does have are friends who are willing to do anything to help, including ex-Navy SEAL—and ex-boyfriend—Dr. Thomas Sternberg. But Eva’s greatest asset may be her dolphins: Taffy, Finn, Cleo, and Chico.

Together, they need to mount a rescue effort. Yet things are even more desperate than they imagine, for Julian isn’t the only menace terrorizing Roatan.

Join Eva as she works with Thomas and her dolphins to rescue her mother and save the reef from a man who would destroy them all.

For fans of Michael Crichton, Dragon Gold is book two in Kristie Clark’s Order of the Dolphin Series.

ABOUT KRISTIE CLARK

Kristie Clark

KRISTIE CLARK, a pediatrician, lives on the High Plains with her husband, sons, border collies, and a cat named Bonsai. An avid scuba diver, she holds a Roatan Marine Park Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing License.

You can see more about Kristie on her WEBSITE.

MY KRISTIE CLARK REVIEWS

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Review & Giveaway for The Academy Saga by C J Daly @iReadBookTours @theacademysaga

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Join us for this tour from July 12 to August 6!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Academy Saga by C.J. Daly
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  500 pages
Genre: Suspense Romance
Publisher:  BrandyLight Ink
Release date:   September 2019
Content Rating:  PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
 
“Unique, intense, and suspenseful. A story with compelling characters that pull you into the author’s world and keep you reading from beginning to end. Intriguing start to a new series.” –New York Times Best Selling Author Jami Brumfield 

“CJ has created an unforgettable story about a young woman caught up in a world of lies and deception. The Academy Saga is a page-turning read with a twist you may not see coming.” —Tony Jones, Executive Producer of My All American

“Wow wow wow! This book has it all. It’s extremely well written, the characters are amazing and the story is so intriguing that it pulls you in from the very first page. There’s tension, mystery chemistry and of course romance. I loved it! I would highly recommend this page turner!” — RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @abbi_reads_xx

Book Description:

Readers’ Favorite Suspense Romance

Kate Connelly should be careful what she wishes for.

Just seventeen, she already feels like she’s suffocating. Since her mother’s death, her father’s basically checked out, so she’s stuck raising her brothers by herself out in the New Mexico scrub. All Kate wants is a little distraction from the same-ole, same-ole that is her life.

When two mysterious guys show up at the diner where she works, she thinks her wish has come true, until they start giving her a hard time. Like her life isn’t hard enough. Something about them niggles her, but she brushes it off. She’s never going to see them again anyway . . . right?

Then they appear in an alley one night to either rescue or kidnap her (she’s still not sure which) before disappearing like figments of her imagination.

Kate decides to put the bizarre encounters out of her mind. She has bigger problems to worry about: like that elite military academy that’s been pursuing her gifted little brother. When one of their cadets shows up at her high school, he creates instant pandemonium. And just happens to be one of those mysterious guys. Coincidence? Mama said there’s no such thing. And to always trust her instinct. But that might be kind of hard, because every time she’s around Cadet Peter Davenport, her gut starts flip-flopping on her. And her heart.

Can Kate keep it together long enough to stop Cadet Davenport’s mission? She’s about to find out. And—once again—how neatly life can be split into before and after. 

 BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Walmart
add to Goodreads

Continue the Saga:

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Academy Saga: Cadet-in-Training by C.J. Daly
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  441 pages
Genre: Suspense Romance
Publisher:  BrandyLight Ink
Content Rating:  PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes. 

 

MY REVIEW

After reading Book I, I could hardly wait to begin Cadet In Training by C J Daly. which picks up where Academy Saga left off.

They use sweet little Mikey to keep Kate in check, but I have a feeling about her. When or how it will change, I don’t know, but she is the mama grizzly bear when it comes to her family and I don’t see her backing down. She is naive, innocent, too trusting, easily manipulated, headstrong, determined, devoted to Mikey.

The Academy is not like an military academy I have ever heard of, and, like her, I am very suspicious of what they are really up to. Pete has been gone for a some time, and Ranger is her trainer. He is a cruel taskmaster…and there is a story there.

“…when I slowed down to breathe, the air smelled foul.” I feel the same way as Kate.

She is independent and Ranger does everything he can to break her. She fought like a hellcat, but she knew she had to change.

Mikey, I love the way C J writes this character. Her fabulous writing makes me smile. I can hear his words and see his actions.

I love Ranger. He walks that like of bad/good and adds a level of excitement for me that Pete can never do. He is intriguing as I try to figure out who he realllllly is. Would not have a dull moment with him.

The greater good…whenver I hear that I feel someone is about to be sacrificed. A life with purpose…or a slave to whatever the Academy deems. AND IT IS FOR LIFE!

Much of the books deals with school, learning and training, but the second half ramps up, hooking me for Book III

The epilogue…WHAT…WHAT…It blew my mind. I didn’t see that coming…and I am sooooo curious how it will play out.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Cadet In Training by C J Daly.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

>“Absolutely ADDICTING!  CJ Daly does it again and delivers a story YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN! Edge of your seat GREATNESS! I was completely hooked into this story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The Cadet in Training was such a phenomenal escape. With characters that fly off the pages, you become immersed! CJ Daly has stunning story telling skills! I’m still sitting here, like what did I just read and why is it over! Agh! I can’t wait for book 3!!!  #theacademysaga is going down as one my absolute favorites! #TeamPete! All the stars! I’m ready to read this one again!” RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @elizabeth.ness.56

Book Description:

Another Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR Suspense Romance. Begin the journey today.

Kate’s destiny has been determined for her.

Hidden out in the country for most her life, Kate Connelly suddenly wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed, in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her crime? Being “gifted.” And it’s Officer “Ranger” Nealson’s job to make her adhere to The Academy’s agenda for her. Even though he’s the one who drugged and dragged her in. Kate’s hate for Ranger, and his academy, is at an all-time high. Ranger has his work cut out for him . . . and Kate does too. She has to fight through the rigors of the Cadet-in-Training program, and quickly. If not, she’ll lose the one privilege she’s been given at The Academy—access to her precious little brother.

And until she graduates from the CIT program, Officer Nealson is banned from Missions. When General Weston finally offers a juicy recon to Ranger, he wants to jump at the chance to prove himself again. After all, catching bad guys is his thing. Almost all pros for doing it. One con—Cadet Connelly has to ride along.

The hardened officer finds he’s slowly been growing a soft spot for his mentee. But he’s determined not to end up like his father, and former Elite Cadet Pete Davenport—throwing away their career for a girl (not even a woman). And Kate has lingering feelings for Pete, who risked his life to warn her, and conflicting feelings for Ranger. She has to set both aside to focus on completing her first mission.

When the dust settles, old alliances are broken and new ones are formed. But one thing remains the same: Kate’s destiny has been determined for her by The Academy. Ready or not . . . she’s set for Missions. Will one of the former elite cadets step in to help change her fate, or will she be left to fight the Academy’s agenda alone?

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
B&N ~ Walmart
add to Goodreads

 

Meet the Author:

CJ Daly grew up on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. When she was supposed to be helping her six siblings with chores on the family ranch, she was really sneaking behind dusty haystacks to read. And dreaming about becoming a writer.

After graduating high school, CJ moved to Big D, where she quickly put herself through college while trying to rid herself of her country accent. She had better luck with college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in English literature. After teaching a few years and pausing to have back-to-back boys, she began writing in earnest.

A few years later, “The Academy Saga” was born. It instantly earned a Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval and became an Amazon best seller.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodread

Tour Schedule:
 

July 12 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
July 12 – The World As I See It – book review of the Academy Saga
July 12 – Nikki’s Bookstagram – book spotlight
July 13 – fundinmental – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 14 – Booking With Janelle – book review of The Academy Saga
July 15 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 15 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 16 – BookishKelly2020 – book spotlight
July 16 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
July 19 – Books Lattes and Tiaras – book review of The Academy Saga  
July 20 – Splashes of Joy – book review of The Academy Saga / author interview / giveaway
July 20 – @twilight_reader – book review of The Academy Saga
July 21 – Pause for Tales – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 21 – Booking With Janelle – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
July 21 – Books Lattes and Tiaras – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
July 22 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 22 – I Read What You Write – book spotlight / guest post / author interview / giveaway
July 23 – Wottaread – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 23 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
July 26 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 26 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / giveaway
July 27 – Splashes of Joy – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / author interview / giveaway
July 27 – Lissdoeslife – book review of The Academy Saga
July 28 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
July 28 – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of The Academy Saga
July 29 – Pick a Good Book – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 29 – Lissdoeslife – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
July 30 – @twilight_reader – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
Aug 2 – @londonairylibrary – book review of The Academy Saga
Aug 3 – fundinmental – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / giveaway
Aug 4 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of The Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training / giveaway
Aug 5 – I’m Into Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 5 – Books for Books – book review The Academy Saga
Aug 6 – The World As I See It – book review of the Academy Saga II: Cadet-in-Training
Aug 6 – The Eclectic Review – book review of The Academy Saga / giveaway
 

 Enter the Giveaway:

  

THE ACADEMY SAGA Book Tour Giveaway

 


 

 

Review – Deadly Business by Anita Dickason @anita_dickason

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This cover got my attention…how about yours?

Deadly Business

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Anita Dickason draws on her 22 years in law enforcement to create her wonderful novels, and the depth and detail she writes into them give me hours of reading pleasure.

When the call came in, Jennie Layton raced to Texas…to her grandmother.

Jennie’s parents had died in a car accident when she was ten years old. Her grandmother took her home…to the ranch.

Murder, attempted murder, cattle rustling, greed…with twists and turns that kept me saying, “I didn’t see that coming.”

Deadly Business by Anita Dickason is a modern day wild west story, with characters and scenarios that read all too real. Fact and fiction is blended seamlessly, with a pace that made it impossible to put down. The depth and detail had me lost, worrying and fretting.

I read a Texas Rangers series by Jon Land, and Anita Dickason’s inclusion of the Special Texas Rangers and U S Marshalls made me feel right at home.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A Texas Multi-Billion Dollar Lure!

Following a tactical raid at an Oklahoma farm, a phone call sends U.S. Deputy Marshal Piper McKay rushing back to the East Texas cattle ranch where she grew up.

Her grandmother, Jennie Layton, is near death from a crushed skull. When local authorities claim the cause of the injury was an accident, Piper isn’t convinced.

Who wants Jennie dead? Is the reason connected to a dubious contract Piper finds in Jennie’s desk?

Piper realizes her grandmother isn’t the only one in danger when she barely escapes a deadly attack. Thrust into the middle of a high-stakes, high-risk shell game, Piper has become the target.

The case takes a bizarre turn when Piper unknowingly crosses paths with a Special Ranger. If he can’t derail her investigation, it could cost him his life.

With millions of dollars on the line, nothing will stop a ring of cold-blooded killers, including the murders of a U.S. Marshal and a Special Ranger.

ABOUT ANITA DICKASON

Anita Dickason

Code Name: Trackers: The elite of the elite. FBI agents, each with a secret, an extra edge, that defies reason and logic.

Characters with unexpected skills—that extra edge for overcoming danger and adversity—have always intrigued Anita. Adding an infatuation with ancient myths and legends of Native American Indians, and Scottish and Irish folklore creates the backdrop for her characters.

Anita is a retired Dallas Police Officer. During—what she refers to as an extraordinary career—Anita served as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics officer, advanced accident investigator, and SWAT entry/sniper.

Upon retirement, she became involved in a research project that dealt with the death of a witness to the Kennedy assassination. The research led to her first book, JFK Assassination Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy, that details the results of her reconstruction of a 1966 motor vehicle accident that killed Lee Bowers, Jr., a key witness to the assassination.

Once the Bowers book was written, Anita reached the same point many authors ultimately face: I’ve written it, now what do I do? Answering that question has become another career, one she has wholeheartedly embraced. The publishing field is in a constant state of flux, offering unlimited possibilities for an author, but also endless landmines.

Anita started a new company, Mystic Circle Books & Designs LLC, offering cover design and manuscript services. In addition to her works as an author, she enjoys helping other authors see their dream become a reality.

Website / Twitter

MY ANITA DICKASON 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’.
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