My favorite time of any giveaway is announcing the winners. So without further ado, the winner of The Awakening by Mary Abshire is:
bev
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful, warm and touching comments. I hope you will continue to follow fundinmental.
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Revamp by Beck Sherman
Three days of darkness, then all hell breaks loose.
My name is Emma Spade and this is my story.
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Finals were a killer, but now I was off to Los Angeles to check out graduate schools. All I had to do was turn in my term paper, and I was running late. I tore over to Professor Winnie’s office. When I went in, I was shocked. He looked half dead. I asked if he was okay and he asked me if they’d come. I asked him who? “Them”, he said. “Death.”
I awoke from the nightmare and was afraid to open my eyes. I could feel something was wrong and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what. I knew it to be true before I saw it – I was alone on the plane. I realized we had landed, but why didn’t anyone wake me?
Everyone knows LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world – so, where was everyone? Luggage was left sitting everywhere I looked, with clothes spilling out. It looked like the bags had walked in by themselves and started to unpack. Was it terrorists?
I heard a ringing phone and ran to answer it. There had to be a person on the other end of the line. It quit, right as I got there. How many times has that happened to you? How can the quiet be so loud?
I had so many questions running through my mind, as I tried to make sense of what was happening, or should I say, not happening, around me. When things are bad, of course there is no cell service, but I was able to call my boyfriend, Sullivan, from a pay phone. He hadn’t seen any TV, but had heard nothing about anything going on in LA.
I heard the approach of heavy footsteps and hung up the phone. Five men came up to me. I was six feet tall and still had to look up at them. The leader, I named him Burns, asked me if I was traveling alone. I told him yes and was led to a room that looked more like a jail cell.
Burns introduced the man sitting at the table as Mr. Meyers. He began asking me questions. He told me because he liked me (yeah, right, he didn’t even know me) he was going to tell me the truth – it was bio-terrorism. Of course, I knew it was a lie. I didn’t know what the truth was, so I lied right back. I lied about everything.
Before I knew it, he pulled out a gun and shot me with a dart. He pulled on a pair of gloves, smacked me around, grabbed my hair and drug me into a room with an exam table. There was blood all over everything. He came at me again. I grabbed his balls, squeezing as hard as I could, and gouged at his eyes until they popped out of his head. Blood and gore was oozing down his face and over my hands. I tipped over the table and grabbed the biggest scalpel I could find. But he didn’t move.
Even though I couldn’t walk, my legs were useless, I was able to crawl out the window and fall into the parking garage. But now what? I couldn’t walk, couldn’t use my legs at all.
I awoke in the morning, after hiding out in a car all night, and I was able to walk. I snuck out of the parking garage and found a cab with the keys in it. I began driving down the empty road, there were only crows in sight. I ran out of gas at LaBrea and Venice, but this was my first trip to LA, so I still didn’t know where I was.
I entered the house, hoping to wash off the blood and guts that were covering me. Maybe even find some help. I heard something in the closet. The question was, should I jerk it open or do it slow?
It was a dog. I was afraid to move, afraid it might rip my throat out. Instead, it licked my face. I could see it was starving, its ribs showing. I named him Schizo. I stepped on and broke what looked like a handmade cross, Schizo grabbed it and ran for the door. He was telling me it was time to go. Schizo was acting like Cujo – it was a good thing I listened to him. Little did I know, he had saved my life.
I ran into Cooper and I didn’t know whether to be glad or not, but Schizo seemed to like him. So that had to be good, right? We spent the night in a church and in the morning headed out to find others “like us”.
I told him I had to call my mom, he said that they were all dead and I’d better to get used to it. I had no idea why he said it, but would soon find out.
Cooper Knox: He was at home, because his father had leukemia and he had decided not not go to med school. He needed to keep the business running to be able to afford the treatment his father needed.
Rojas was picking him up and taking him to work while his car was in the shop. On the way he noticed traffic was much lighter than usual.They had heard on the radio that there was a flu epidemic. But Rojas said that his Grandma was pretty sure it was the end of the world, because the blackout had let the darkness in.
They got out of the car at the work-site, there were a lot of crows flying overhead. It creeped them out. It began to rain, so they decided to call it a day and headed home. He arrived and walked into a nightmare he never could have imagined. He grabbed his girlfriend Mel and ran out of the house. A van pulled up and the people inside told us to get in. After some hesitation we did. It didn’t seem like we really had much of a choice. They found out Mel had been bitten and before he could do anything, they opened the door and kicked her out.
After I met Scott, he told me to forget everything I knew – because it was all wrong. As he told me about the UVF, and himself, we headed to the “base”.
Scott had been recruited in the CIA and moved to LA where he met his wife, Mary. When the blackout came, he had to tell Mary their son was taken because of him. Scott had been an assassin, but was promoted to handler and his boss, Mr. Frank proceeded to tell him about his father and Project Sunset. It was the Company’s best kept secret.
We had arrived at Sleepy Storage, our new home.
Ever since I got here, I thought to expect the worse. I had no idea how bad it was going to get.
5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
It really surprised me that I could rate a vampire book so high but I just can’t say enough about it.
Both covers are eye-catching. Colorful and simple. The title was short and catchy. I like things that are simple, yet relate to the story.
The writing was outstanding and the details extensive. I haven’t read anything like this before. It was very novel and unique to me. I couldn’t quit reading. It was hard to stay awake, but I just had to know what would happen to Emma. The last quarter of the book just flew by for me.
It was war, but not like any war every fought before. I really had no idea where the book was going. The whole thing was a great surprise.
How could you wrap your head around it, if it was happening to you? What would be going through your mind? Your mind would struggle to make sense of the insensible.
The characters were well defined. Their personalities, feelings and emotion were well developed making me able to feel for them and care about them. I wanted good things to happen for them, but then I would think – hey, wait a minute, you can’t do that.
I laughed when she talked about the stuff in her luggage getting frisky and producing offspring.
The end was…………….well, you’re going to have to read it for yourself, but it will leave you saying, WHAT? It sure did me.
Beck Sherman gave me this book because Laura (at fuonlyknew) and I approached her about doing a tag-team and working together to promote her book. We both like it so much, we wanted to share it with as many others as we could reach.
Giveaway: Beck Sherman has been gracious enough to offer up 3 ebooks for this giveaway. It is International and, as always, easy to enter. Ends September 30,2012.
Just, leave a comment with your email address.
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Be sure and tweet it out to share with your friends and followers, not required.
As always, it is very much appreciated, but not required, if you follow me on twitter and my blog.
To have another chance to win, copy and paste fuonlyknew.
About the Author
Beck Sherman was born and raised in Massachusetts. Beck attended Syracuse University undergrad, has a master’s degree in photojournalism from the University of Westminster, London, and when not writing, enjoys exploring abandoned insane asylums and photo-documenting the things that go bump in the night, when they’re kind enough to pose.
To order, simply click on the cover.
After this fantastic trailer, which is so descriptive of the world devastation in the book, please continue reading for my review.
Wormwood by D H Nevins
MY REVIEW
I was walking along Cedar Creek Trail, my usual route. All of a sudden, the wind blew like an omen of doom, the ground felt like a roller coaster under my feet and as rocks fell around me, I ran, trying to find a safe place to hide. As I reached the cliff, the ground there was stable, but I looked down and saw lava, smoke, and ash.Total destruction.
As I reached the fire pit I would sit around with the campers I brought as a guide, I saw it was still alive, telling me someone was there. As I looked around, I saw him – Tiamat.
I remembered the first time we met. I had taken a corporate group out hiking the trails in Pinecrest National Park. Of course, there had to be one moron in the group, that would be Brian, constantly hitting on me. So when we came to the stream for the last team challenge, I removed one of the rocks. Petty? Perhaps. Gotta get your revenge where you can find it. After we crossed the stream, wet but no worse for wear, I told them about water and fire safety and that they would have to fend for themselves for food. Everyone was to be ready to go in the morning. I would be just across the stream from them, but only call me if it’s an emergency. I cleaned myself up and headed to Lookout Peak to watch the sunset. Someone was already there. It was Tiamat.
Before she could stop herself, she asked, “What have you done?” “It’s not what I have done. It’s what I must do.” There was something about him, an aura of sadness and danger.
I hit my head and blacked out. I didn’t remember what happened. How did I get up here to Lookout Peak? I looked around at the total devastation and I remembered Tiamat, standing as if he was God, as if he was the one making it happen.
I found him, buried in sand and unconscious. He had pushed me out of the way and taken the hit, but where were the boulders? Why was there all this sand?
It had been ten years since I had seen. He looked the same. I tried to reach out to touch him, and he quickly jerked away. Why wouldn’t he let me touch him? At times I swear he wanted to reach out and touch me, then he would run away.
I asked him about the boulders. He told me he’d show me how he did it, but he couldn’t tell me how. It wasn’t his story to tell. Why was he so cryptic about everything? Acting like there is this big, huge secret he has to keep.
He told me to remember ten years back and what he had told me, it hadn’t changed. When I asked if he was good or evil, he told me he thought he was good, but people would probably consider his actions evil. I asked what good would come from destroying the forest, he told me it wasn’t just the forest. It was everywhere, the whole world.
Why had he saved her, why not just let her die? Was there a reason he had to save her, even though he was torn about it? He was asking himself these questions. Maybe God has his own plan and Tiamat wasn’t clued in on it.
Judgment Day? Every moment I thought, why is he keeping me alive? When will he kill me?
What was left of the world? What about survivors? Was he human, alien, demon or angel?
Has God forsaken us? Is he punishing us? What would you think? Do angels have feelings? Can angels be evil?
5 STARS – WOULD BUY IT FOR THEM (LOL)
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I won this book through fuonlyknew’s blog. I would like to thank Laura and D. H.Nevins for the giveaway. Laura still talks about the book, though she read it a while ago, so I had to move it up on my list to see what she was raving about.
Right off, the cover grabbed me. I didn’t know what to think of the title, but as you read the book, you will find out what it means.
The writing was very good. Starts out fast and holds your attention throughout. The description of the devastation made me able to visualize the world around them. I can’t find the words to describe it myself, but D. H. did a great job of it.
The actions of Tiamat will make you question things yourself. Is God a kind, gentle person, or is he vengeful and vindictive? And what about angels?
I was torn between a 4 or 5 rating, then I remembered, as I was reading I kept thinking of Supernatural. I watch the reruns on TV most mornings. This book reminded a lot of how God and the Angels treated humans on the show. If you’ve watched it, you’ll know exactly what I mean. God has his own agenda and the angels will follow it, us humans are along for the ride.
The relationship between Kali and Tiamat, and Tiamat and God, was creative and complex. Raises more questions than answers. I am sure most everyone has asked “Why Me?” more than once.
The biodegradable soap made me chuckle along with Kali. He was thoughtful, like when he supplied her with toiletries and clothes, but stood away from her emotionally and physically.
The things that happened to her, could make the strongest person give in to the misery, horror, devastation, desolation, abuse………..
Giveaway: D.H.Nevins is offering 5 ebooks for this giveaway. It is international and easy to enter. Just leave a comment and your email address.
Giveaway is over.
About the Author
D.H. Nevins was born in Toronto and currently lives in a quiet area of Ontario, surrounded by forests and lakes. By day, she is a personable, friendly school teacher. By night, she silently chuckles as she writes about destroying the world. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, camping, flying around on her motorcycle or dabbling in live theatre.
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
Click on the cover to get your Amazon copy of Wormwood by D H Nevins.
Just a quick announcement letting everyone know that M. L. Woolley is hard at work putting the finishing touches on Book II of the Dark Passage series – Underworld. Here is the awesome cover.
We are all eagerly awaiting the opportunity to read the book.
For an excerpt and more information on M. L. Woolley, visit her at Goodreads at the link below.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14713558-underworld
My Review of Dark Passage: Chosen: http://wp.me/p2uiv4-73
International Giveaway of one signed First Edition paperback copy of the mystery thriller, Tiger Paw by Charles A Cornell. This is 1 of only 35 printed prior to small revisions for the Second Edition.
For a second chance to win another copy, see the author’s giveaway contest at www.CharlesACornell.com
Nominated in 2012 for Best Indie Thriller by the Kindle Book Review and Best Thriller by the Florida Writers Association, Tiger Paw is cloaked in mystery, psychological suspense and international intrigue. A story of people who have sold their souls in exchange for wealth and power. A story of greed, deception, and revenge. And a story of one man’s struggle to triumph against the greatest evil he has ever faced.
In Tiger Paw, FBI profiler Scott Forrester hunts an assassin belonging to a demonic East Indian cult that is wreaking havoc on Wall Street, murdering corrupt CEOs at the center of a billionaire’s stock scam. Firmly in the assassin’s crosshairs, Scott Forrester is forced underground to stop the killing spree. But will he survive the deal he must make with the Devil to thwart the cult’s plans?
Giveaway ends October 31, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Deeper Evil by Vickie McKeehan
Spoiler alert: If you haven’t read Just Evil, there will be some information included in this review that will give away some of the plot. I have tried to keep it to a minimum, because even though it’s a trilogy, I feel the books could be stand alone. Each book covers the life of one of the women. And if I only read one of the books and not the others, I would still feel that I was glad I to have read it.
He was parked outside the Book and Bean in San Madrid, right back where he started. He knew Baylee Scott was running the store this morning and that she was alone with Sarah, her baby daughter. When he got up, he had a feeling that something was going to happen. He knew to pay attention when his gut was talking to him.
He is a mystery within the mystery.
It had all started with the death of Noah’s parents back in 1969.
Frank Geller still had to account for his part in the murder. Jessica, Eva and Sumner had already paid the ultimate price.
Now that Kit and Jake Boston are a couple, and both of them are murder suspects, Baylee figured most of the customers were there to see Kit.
Since Kit’s kidnapping, the media had flipped their verdict from guilty to innocent. Kit had been saved by the stranger and he had left his calling card, a gold cowboy.
Baylee was afraid that with all that had happened to Kit, it would bring the media attention back to her. She had done her best to keep a low profile.
Collin had been crazy enough to kidnap Kit, what would Connor, his brother do if he knew Baylee was still in town?
Baylee had left town when she found out she was pregnant with Sarah. She had been staying with a friend of hers in Denver, until she found out her father was dying of cancer. She had told no one, not even Kit and Quinn why she had left. Since being back, she had rented a guest cottage from Gloria in Agora Hills, hoping Connor wouldn’t find her, even worse find out about Sarah.
Dylan Burke, VP of Billing-Pro Software, was on his way to drop off some computer equipment to Jake, who was the CEO and his best friend. They had been hiding out at Kit’s house since the kidnapping. Dylan had an ulterior motive, Baylee Scott. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since he’d first met her. He was daydreaming as he drove and didn’t notice he’d passed through town. He turned back and stopped outside the Book and Bean.
When he entered the store, he saw Sarah first and watched as she tried to reach her toy. When Baylee saw him, he told her he was running an errand for Jake and just stopped by for some of her delicious chocolate cake.
They had a good laugh when she told him the media left because of an anonymous phone call, telling them a mega superstar had to be rescued when he tried to surf off Malibu, and was rushed to the hospital. Who could possibly have called it in? She hadn’t grown up in Hollywood without learning something.
Baylee held Sarah as she cut the cake and Dylan offered to take the baby. When she asked him if he knew what he was doing, he said “What’s to handle….First you pick up them up by their legs, swing them around a couple times….” Had me cracking up. I like that even though the plot was heavy there was plenty of humor to be found.
All of a sudden her face turned white and she told him to take Sarah and leave immediately. He didn’t ask questions, just did what she said. As he walked by the store window he looked in, only to see Connor Boyd. Dylan quickly called Jake and told him to get here as soon as possible. Baylee needed help. As Jake and Kit drove to the store, Dylan was talking to him on his cell phone, telling him how terrified Baylee was that Connor would see Sarah and that’s why he had to leave her alone with him.
Baylee had known this moment would come. Collin had come by the store before and recognized her, so she had known it was only a matter of time before he told Connor. He had told her to never tell anyone about their being together, even if it was only once.
When Jake and Kit came in, Connor quickly started telling the story that he was there to explain to Kit how she should feel grateful that Collin rescued her. How everyone had it wrong, Collin wasn’t the bad guy. Yeah, right.
Baylee knew it was time for her to explain what was going on, why she had left. Kit thought Baylee had an affair with Connor and jumped on her, saying how evil all three of Boyd brothers were, and how they had tried to keep Quinn from Cade. So how could she do it Baylee went on to tell her what really happened.
Connor had drugged her, raped her and left her alone in the hotel room. He had called her later saying what a great time he’d had. After finding herself pregnant and with weeks of threatening phone calls from Connor, she left town without telling anyone anything. The Boyd’s had so much power, they could do whatever they wanted and not have to pay the price, so to try and fight them would be useless.
It was Dylan’s idea for Baylee and Sarah to stay with him. They would pretend they were a couple and make people believe Sarah belonged to him. They admitted to each other they had feelings, but agreed to take it slow.
Frank Geller had just returned from his honeymoon, this was his fifth marriage. There had been three funerals while he was gone, his two sisters and Connor’s father. Connor brought up to Frank, that of the four original partners in the law firm, he
was the only one left. The vendetta that took them out wouldn’t be over until he got his. When Connor brought up the subject of the gun, Frank said for all they knew the gun was long gone, the gun that was used in the murder that got them the money to start the Boyd’s law firm.
They didn’t know they were overheard, but Trevor Dane had bugged the house. There was only one more person left that was responsible for killing Noah’s, his mentor, parents back in 1969, Frank Geller.
No one knew that Noah had lived through his imprisonment by the Viet Cong. Trevor was the only one who knew Noah’s story and when Noah found out he had cancer, he knew he’d never be able to make them pay, but Trevor could. He would avenge him because he knew the evil was deeper than Noah had known.
5+ STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The cover is awesome. I always love trees, especially so with this series because of how the plot keeps 
branching out, yet still comes back to the root of the story – the murder of Noah’s parents and the three women whose lives it affected. A complex and twisted plot. The branches weave around the women, engulfing them and all those whose lives they touch.
I just couldn’t put it down. Made myself because my eyes were starting to cross. I have tried to ration the books, there is one more, Ending Evil. I love the characters so much, I am going to hate when it is over. I feel like they are my friends, and I will miss them dearly.
The friendship of the girls is something to strive for. More than once I was on the verge of tears for all the terrible things done to them and still being done, through no fault of their own. A friendship like theirs is to be treasured. It lasts for a lifetime. How many friends are there for you, no matter what?
Characters were so real, you will love them or hate them, but they will make you feel emotions that will stay with you long after the story is over. I’m not a huge fan of romance, but the love and care the characters had for each other was so real, that I could only hope that they would find the one, their soul mate. I wanted them to be happy and have the dream we all want, someone who loves us unconditionally, by our side through thick and thin.
When Reece gave Jake and Dylan the finger I laughed out loud. So realistic, I could picture it in my mind, like a film unrolling.
I loved when Dylan said he was a regular Magnum PI, I used to watch that show all the time. It help’s me to relate to the character by defining his personality.
A masterpiece work of suspense, mystery, thriller and romance.
About the Author
Just Evil was given Coffee Time Romance and More’s highest rating plus a CTRR award.
Vickie created her first character when she was four years old and came up with her imaginary friend, Marty. Together the two battled, they slayed, they conquered. She and Marty managed to get into plenty of trouble and usually had to come up with a clever way out of it. From the Marty experience a fertile imagination was born.
Today she’s graduated to more grownup characters. And after spending years sitting in a cubicle, writing boring corporate communiques all the while day-dreaming about stories beyond those dreary walls, she finally decided to let her mind run free.
The Evil Trilogy sprang from that.
Though she was born and bred in Texas, she now lives in her adopted home state of California, near the ocean she loves.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5389410.Vickie_McKeehan
https://www.facebook.com/VickieMcKeehan
To order any of they books listed above, simply click on the cover of the book desired.
Cowboys and Scumbags by Eric Michael Moberg
When I got the call to report to Human Resources, I thought great, my transfer. “Denied.”
The Chief wanted me out there on a horse, busting scumbags in Golden Gate Park. Because I was black, gay and a cop, they thought I was perfect for the job. Maybe for them.
Being from Oklahoma, everyone thought I was a Cowboy. I hated horses, I wanted to be in a car. Even more, I wanted to be a judge.
I lived with Grandma and we argued like a couple of eight year olds.
Grandma talked to her teddy bear – Luke. She would sit topless (had had a mastectomy), eating pistachios and watching TV. She would arouse herself with her own sexual descriptions, then call Lars, her boyfriend, who is supposedly in the Swedish Mafia to come over for some nooky.
When she said my sister, Maisha, was coming to live with us, I thought great, that’s all I need. She is a real prima donna rapper, and ballerina.
Weasel, my neighbor, had his daughter over for visitation. She wanted to make cookies, but Weasel was out of sugar and the grocery store didn’t open until nine o’clock. So he went next door to borrow a cup.
Grandma answered the door with a gun, because she saw it was the drug dealer from next door. She shot first, nine times, and never asked a question.
Who is the guy in the red cowboy boots? Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others
I won this book in a Goodreads First Read Giveaway. I would like to thank Eric for signing it for me. I like the cover, but it was the title that drew me in.
I debated between a two and three rating, but because I found myself laughing so much and being able to visualize scenes as they were happening, I gave it a three. When I looked at is as comedic, it took on a Three Stooges kind of flavor.
This is a fun romp through the mind of a gay, black cop, who wants to be somewhere else and be someone else. It is a quick read, with plenty of laughter.
I could just picture the texting of his sister, who apparently thinks the world revolves around her. She was so self-centered, she never gave anyone else a thought, unless she felt they could do something for her.
The Grandma is so far out there, I don’t know if she even exists on planet earth. I could just picture her, sitting in her chair, talking to “Luke” instead of Marcus, as if he wasn’t even there. Eating her pistachios, topless. I’m sitting here smiling as I think of it.
The characters twisted the facts of the plot to read the way they wanted it to, all the while Marcus is just along for the ride.
If you’ve got a couple of hours, or a couple of minutes here, a couple of minutes there, this one is for you. Light, easy reading. Some editing errors, but didn’t interrupt the flow of reading.
These are only some of the books by Eric Michael Moberg. To order, simply click on the cover below
