Review ~ The Chase by Janet Evanovich

Posted on January 15, 2015 by fundinmental

I have read most of Janet Evanovich’s books and was so happy to be able to pick this up through Netgalley.

Her partnership with Lee Goldberg has brought about the Fox and O’Hare mystery series.

How can it miss, with two New York Times Bestselling Authors?

THE CHASE by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Series: Fox and O’Hare, Book II

Publisher: Bantam (November 4, 2014)

MY REVIEW

I have read many books by Janet Evanovich, but this is my first foray into the Fox and O’Hare series with Lee Goldberg.

I love mysteries/suspense/thrillers, so this action packed, roller coaster ride is right up my alley and did not disappoint. There is danger and laughter that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is a true patriot. She believes in apple pie and the U S of A. She has spent five years of her life chasing Nicholas Fox. When she does manage to catch him, she does not get to put him in prison. Instead, she ends up working with him chasing down other criminals.

Nicholas Fox is an international thief, with a twist. He is the tenth man on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Nick has the heart of a conman, he just can’t seem to help himself. He reminded me of Robert Wagner in It Takes A Thief. Bad, hot and irresistible. He will be teaming up with Kate.

The peripheral characters are unique and quirky, especially her father. I found myself loving them all, well, almost. Who would be your “hero”?

You’ll travel around the world and back again in search of a rare stolen Chinese artifact, as Nick and Kate do their own little dance. I can’t help but think they will end up together, but as yet, Janet and Lee are keeping them apart.

Their snarky banter is fun and highly entertaining. I love the mix of humor and mystery.

The story goes so much deeper than protagonist and antagonist. The sexual innuendo is so thick at times, you can cut it with a knife.

This is a quick, light read with romance and thrills that will keep you reading long into the night.

Cinch up your seat belt because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling authors of The Heist, return in this action-packed, exciting adventure featuring master con artist Nicolas Fox and die-hard FBI agent Kate O’Hare. And this time around, things go from hot to nuclear when government secrets are on the line.

Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad.

A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O’Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / G+ / You Tube

New York Times Bestselling author Lee Goldberg is a two-time Edgar Award and two-time Shamus Award nominee whose many TV writing and/or producing credits include “Martial Law,” “SeaQuest,” “Diagnosis Murder,””Hunter,” “Spenser: For Hire,” “Nero Wolfe,” “Missing.” “Monk” and “The Glades.” He’s also the author of the Fox & O’Hare series with Janet Evanovich (The Heist, The Chase, The Job), “The Walk,” “Watch Me Die,” “King City,” the “Dead Man” series, as well as the “Diagnosis Murder” and “Monk” series of original mystery novels.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook / G+ / Pinterest / You Tube

Click on the cover to get your Amazon* copy now.

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Teaser Tuesday #32 – Gone Before Goodbye by Nora Leduc

Posted on January 13, 2015 by fundinmental

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Thank goodness the cold snap has ended. We are having a slight rain off and on, but the temp is back up in the 60s and for that I am grateful. I hope you are staying warm and enjoying a good book. 😀

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A CINDERELLA STORY

A note for all you football lovers out there.

We are the 1st National Champions of the playoff era!

YAY! for the Big Ten. We are tired of everyone knocking us.

Well done OHIO STATE!

Ohio State 42 vs Oregon 20

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GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Nora Leduc

I will be sharing this during the tour on Monday, January 26. 2015, so come on by, check out my review and enter the giveaway.

Is it a stalker, a serial killer…

MY TEASE

Teagan dropped her gaze. “I keep thinking she’s out there in trouble, not far away, and crying for me to save her. If only we can figure out where.” She raised her gaze. Misery swam in her eyes. “Why can’t I locate her, if I hear her calling me?”

(31% on Kindle)

SYNOPSIS

The police are stumped. Was she a runaway careening toward disaster or the victim of a predator preying on teenage girls?When rebellious seventeen-year-old Lisa Grant vanishes from her New Hampshire home, her guardian, Teagan Raynes, becomes ensnared in the frantic hunt to find her. Search dogs lose the girl’s scent at Pretty Park, where another teenager disappeared three months ago. Law enforcement fears a stalker is using the park to abduct young girls. Desperate, Teagan, reluctantly puts her faith in the lead detective, the notorious Noah Cassidy.Noah Cassidy’s reputation and job are on the line. Rumors that he attempted to kill the man found guilty of destroying his family in a boating accident have tainted him. To prove his worth, Noah devotes every minute to the case and realizes he’s up against a cunning adversary. Worse, he finds himself distracted by feelings for the attractive, gutsy Teagan. To erase her doubts about him, he must earn back his reputation and let go of his past. He knows what he has to do. He must bring Lisa home and take down the monster who is hunting the girls of Pretty Park before it’s too late.You can pick up your Amazon copy by clicking on the cover.

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WHAT ARE YOU READING?

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New Release ~ Body Market by DV Berkom with Excerpt & Book Trailer

Posted on December 22, 2014 by fundinmental

DV Berkom has a new novel available, Body Market, A Leine Basso thriller.

If you like a strong female protagonist, this series is for you.

Leine Basso kicks ass and takes names.

Will yours be one of them?

Check out the awesome cover!!

SYNOPSIS

A retired assassin is called in when a celebration south of the border turns into a nightmare.

Former assassin Leine Basso is hired by a wealthy Beverly Hills power couple to find their missing daughter, Elise, last seen partying with her boyfriend at a club in Tijuana. At first, police believe the two teenagers are the victims of a carjacking. But when Leine finds their missing vehicle with the boyfriend’s mutilated body inside, and the local cartel warns her away, she knows if Elise isn’t already dead, she will be soon, or worse.

In the lethal world of organized crime, there’s always a worse.

As Leine races to uncover the reason behind Elise Bennett’s disappearance, she must also battle the powerful interests fighting to keep her from the truth.

CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME BOOK TRAILER

I love hot, fast cars and this one is talking loud and clear to me.

EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1

LEINE BASSO CROUCHED in the shadows next to the hulking metal shipping container. The odor of oil mixed with hydraulic fluid and diesel clashed with the briny sea air. Bright spotlights pierced the darkness casting a harsh yellow hue over the container yard. Leine checked her watch: eleven o’clock. Only three hours before the China Blue Star was scheduled to leave port for Hong Kong.

Three hours to find one shipping container in a massive sea of identical containers.

Lou paid off the security guard, which gave Leine only a short window to find the container before he released the dogs.

She adjusted the fit of the pack, tightening the straps so it molded to her body. She’d pared down the equipment as much as she could, but it was never enough.

C’mon, Lou. Give me some good news.

She closed her eyes and imagined the young face in the photograph. A lead from the trafficker’s hard drive had led her to a seaport currently run by cartel thugs on the west coast of Mexico. She hoped she wasn’t too late.

Three hours.

“Leine.” Lou’s voice came over the wireless earpiece.

“I’m here,” she replied.

“Left, three aisles, number fourteen-thirty-four-twelve.”

“Got it.” Gun drawn and keeping to the shadows, Leine moved along first one aisle, then another, searching for shipping container 143412.

There it is.

Stacked three high, the 40 foot-long steel boxes loomed above her. The one she was looking for was stacked 40 feet in the air on top of two other boxes. She moved to the end of the bottom container and reached for a handhold. Before she could grab the next one, someone seized her pack and yanked her off, slamming her back-first into the pavement. Her nine millimeter skittered across the asphalt, disappearing in the darkness between two containers. The impact took her breath away, the pain from a recent rib injury spiking through her like a spear.

Leine rolled, narrowly missing a kick to the face. She grabbed her attacker’s foot and gave it a vicious twist. The assailant corkscrewed and landed on his side with a grunt.

Ignoring the deep ache in her side and with adrenaline fueling her, she sprang to her feet and kicked the gun from his hand.

The weapon pinged off the side of the container and bounced into the shadows, out of sight. Before she could get clear, he scissored his legs and caught her at the knees. She sprawled forward.

This time she couldn’t ignore the pain.

Winded, she slid a knife free from the sheath attached to her leg. She pushed off the ground, rolling to a crouch as her opponent climbed to his feet, a knife in his hand. He lunged forward. Leine parried with a thrust to his throat. At the last second, he ducked.

They circled each other like roosters in a cockfight, both acutely aware of the weapon in their opponent’s grip. Leine feinted left and rushed forward, scoring a direct hit on the man’s shoulder, slicing through the black fabric of his shirt and drawing blood. He pivoted and came at her from the side but she rotated her torso, narrowly missing a slash to her kidney. She turned to face him as he came at her again. At the last second she stepped wide, allowing him to slip past her. Using his own momentum, she shoved him forward. He stumbled a few steps, recovered, and spun to face her.

Leine swept her arm forward in an arc and released the knife. The blade buried itself in his eye socket, a scream dying in his throat as his hand flew reflexively to his face. He collapsed to the ground as he exhaled his last breath.

“Leine. What’s going on? Are you okay?” Usually unflappable, the sharpness in Lou’s voice betrayed his concern, even over the radio.

“I’m fine.” Her hand supporting her now-throbbing rib, she leaned over the body with a grimace and extracted the knife, wiping the blade on the dead man’s shirt. The tattoos on his forearm suggested cartel affiliation. Leine doubted he was working alone. “Just some unexpected company.”

“Did you find the container?”

Leine scanned the metal boxes above her.

“Got it.”

“I don’t have to tell you to be careful, right?”

“No, but it’s nice to know you care.”

Leine grabbed the man’s legs and gritted her teeth as she dragged the body into the dark gap between containers. She removed his transmitter, turned off the voice activation, and slid on the earpiece. She didn’t want the next gunman to come along and sound the alarm before she had a chance to subdue him. After she retrieved the weapons she checked to see that the body couldn’t be observed from the aisle. Satisfied, she walked back to container 143412.

With a quick glance to be sure the fight hadn’t attracted company, she latched onto a vertical handle at the end of the first container, wedged her toe onto a hinge, and began to climb.

As she was preparing to hoist herself up and over the top of the container, she heard movement below her and froze.

“Where are you?” the voice muttered in Spanish, clear enough for Leine to hear through the transmitter.

She craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of the man below her. Compact in bearing and dressed in black like the man she’d just killed, instead of a knife he carried a modified sub machine gun.

“Answer me,” he snapped into his earpiece. When he received no reply, the man stepped over the smear of blood left by his compatriot. It looked like he might continue on when he abruptly stopped. Leine held her breath. If he glanced down, he’d notice the blood. With her left foot wedged onto the barest of toeholds and gripping the top of the container with her left hand, Leine slid her gun out of its holster, ready to fire—something she was loath to do since the sound would bring others.

The man pivoted 180 degrees, scanning the area, his gun in front of him. Leine ignored the muscles screaming in her left hand as the metal cut into her flesh.

He stood still for another moment, observing his surroundings. After a few seconds, he touched his earpiece.

“He’s not here.” The person at the other end acknowledged the transmission. “I’ll keep looking,” the gunman said as he moved out of Leine’s line of sight.

She released her breath in a quiet sigh and slid the gun back into her shoulder holster. With her right hand now free, she grabbed onto the top of the container, relieving her left hand. She waited a couple of beats to make sure the gunman was clear and then pulled herself up and over.

The higher vantage point worked well to monitor the yard. When the other gunman had traveled far enough that he wouldn’t hear her, Leine shrugged out of her pack and set it aside. She stretched flat onto her belly and put her ear to the container. There was no discernible movement inside.

That didn’t mean much.

“I’m on the roof,” she said in a low voice.

“Hear anything?” Lou asked.

“No.”

Leine unzipped the main compartment of the bag and pulled out a battery pack and a mini plasma cutter and placed them on the roof beside her. Next, she reached into another compartment for a fiber optic night vision camera and a collapsible light hood.

She deployed the hood and marked the area to be cut, then flipped the plasma cutter’s switch to on and adjusted the amps. Angling the tip as she cut, the small hole took only a few minutes. Turning off the cutter, she stowed it back inside the pack along with the hood.

Alert for movement on the ground below her, she activated the camera and fed the probe through the hole, watching the video feed on the small LCD monitor as she did. At first, all she could make out were the metal ribs of the container. She fed the line further into the dark interior and a moment later the camera swept past an object. Leine pulled up on the scope to get a better look. The object moved. Two tiny light circles appeared and blinked off and on.

As she angled the camera for a better view, she realized she was looking at a dark-haired girl huddled in the corner, her eyes glowing dots in the camera’s lens. Leine pulled back for a wider shot. Dozens of bodies came into focus, placed side by side on the floor of the container with no room between them. Most were lying prone—except for the young girl.

“I’ve got something,” Leine said into the mic.

Lou let out a sigh as though he’d been holding his breath.

Another girl, this one with light-colored hair, sat up and looked first at the girl in the corner and then at the camera.
Leine’s heart beat faster. From what she could tell, she matched the picture.

Amy.

“Is she there?” Lou’s clipped tone gave away his anxiety.

“Yeah. I think so. And she’s not alone.”

Leine relaxed her shoulders, relief flooding through her.

“Let’s get them out of here, Lou.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Image of D.V. Berkom DV Berkom is a slave to the voices in her head. As the author of two popular thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating resilient, kick-*ss female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

Raised in the Midwest, she received her BA in political science from the University of Minnesota and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Many, many cross-country moves (and several years) later, she now lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with the love of her life, Mark, an ex-chef-turned contractor, and writes every chance she gets.

For more information, please visit her website at www.dvberkom.com.

Facebook / Twitter / Blog / Pinterest / Amazon US / Amazon UK/ Newsletter

Author Pages

Amazon / Smashwords / Barnes & Noble / itunes / Kobo

The Kate Jones Thriller Series, Vol. 1 box set (includes the 1st four novellas in the series) is now available for $3.99,

(The Kate Jones Thriller Series, Vol. 2 includes Cruising for Death (#5), Yucatan Dead, and A One Way Ticket To Dead, is now available for $8.99 (bought separately they would be 12.99)

Check out all these beautiful covers for the Kate Jones thrillers by DV Berkom.

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Guilt by Association by Marcia Clark – Review

Posted on November 1, 2014 by fundinmental

Add ME to your Goodreads reading list now!

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A bit of humor never hurts either.

COW – Criminals with Out Witnesses

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

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

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

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

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

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

Author links: Website / Goodreads

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

Posted on October 2, 2014 by fundinmental

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

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

Add ME to your GOODREADS reading list.

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

MY REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

Praise for Blood Drama by Christopher Meeks

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

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

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

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

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

About Christopher Meeks

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

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

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

Christopher at the Red Room / Facebook / Twitter

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

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Who Killed Me? Behind You by Carly M Duncan Review

Posted on September 17, 2014 by fundinmental

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

Purchase at AMAZON

MY REVIEW

I have to figure out who killed me.

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

The synopsis really made me curious.

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

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

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

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

She has a wild and vivid imagination.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

SYNOPSIS

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

For More Information

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

EXCERPT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

Her latest book is Behind You.

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

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

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FREE Thriller – Jackpot by Susan Fleet

Posted on September 1, 2014 by fundinmental

Jackpot by Susan Fleet is a prequel for the Frank Renzi series. Each novel can stand alone.

Jackpot tells how and why Frank made the move from Boston to New Orleans, a story no thriller lover will want to miss.

Jackpot is free September 1 – 5, 2014.

To see my review: Is Winning the Lottery a Curse or a Blessing – Jackpot by Susan Fleet.

To see my reviews for the other Renzi novels, scroll to the end or the post.

To get your copy, click on the cover or HERE.

Jackpot, #4 in the Frank Renzi series.

A serial killer murders lottery winners. Nigel wants to be the next Boston Pops conductor. A compulsive gambler, he’s deeply in debt. When he wins the lottery, he thinks his problems are over, but they’re just beginning. Don’t miss the exciting showdown between Frank Renzi and the killer. “The coolest detective in literature today!” — Feathered Quill Book Reviews

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To see my 5 STAR Review of Natalie’s Revenge, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Absolution, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Diva, go HERE.

To get your copy of Jackpot, or any other Susan Fleet book, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look below or on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Cover Reveal for 10 Full Length Killer Romance Novels

Posted on September 1, 2014 by fundinmental

~~COVER REVEAL~~

Killer Romances

10 Dark, Deadly, and Delicious Novels

I am so excited to be a part of this tour. I hope you enjoy all the authors and be sure to enter the Kindle giveaway at the end of the post.

Cover art done byhttp://www.bellamediamanagement.com/

Ten of today’s hottest romantic suspense authors have joined forces to bring you an amazing boxed set of ten full-length novels–all for one low price! Romance, mystery, and thrills abound in these dark, deadly, and delicious tales of lethally sexy heroes and the women who bring them to their knees. Love bad boys? We’ve got ’em. Love good guys? We’ve got them too! There’s something for everyone who picks up this red-hot bundle. Ready to dive in?

~~AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 15, 2014~~

Add to Goodreads!

Here are some buy links for you:

Apple iBooks / All Romance Ebooks / Kobo / Barnes & Noble

~~TEN THRILLING NOVELS IN ONE SET~~

Dana Delamar REVENGE (Blood and Honor, #1)

Website: http://www.danadelamar.com/

Amazon Bestselling Author Tallulah Grace Cliffs of Starsdale

Website: http://www.tallulahgrace.com/

Bestselling Author Sandy Loyd Deadly Misconceptions

Website www.sandyloyd.com

Kristine Mason Shadow of Perception (Book 2 CORE Shadow Trilogy)

Website: www.kristinemason.net

USA Today Bestselling Author Dale Mayer Haunted by Death (By Death Series Book 2)

Website: http://dalemayer.com/

USA Today Bestselling Author Nina Pierce Blind Her With Bliss, Book 1 of the Dangerous Affairs Series

Website: http://www.ninapierce.com

Chantel Rhondeau Love & Deception (Agents in Love – Book 1)

Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com

Amazon Bestselling Author K.T. Roberts The Last Witness

Website: http://www.carolynhughey.com/

Award-winning Author H.D. Thomson Shrouded in Darkness – Book 1

Website: http://www.hdthomson.com/

Award-winning Author Susan Vaughan Primal Obsession

Website: www.susanvaughan.com

Check out our talented cover artist!

http://www.bellamediamanagement.com/

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos

~~JOIN IN THE FUN AT OUR FACEBOOK PARTY~~

Join the KILLER ROMANCES authors for their LAUNCH DAY PARTY! The authors and a slew of their sassy friends will be celebrating the release, September 15th, 16th, and 17th, 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM (EASTERN TIME).

One lucky winner will receive a KINDLE FIRE. Prizes Galore, Q&A, Authors, Readers, Books, and FUN! So what are you waiting for? Come join us and have a blast!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1492594170978938

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Winner of Avoidable Contact by Tammy Kaehler

Posted on August 23, 2014 by fundinmental

My favorite time of any giveaway is announcing the winners. So without further ado, the winner of Avoidable Contact by Tammy Kaehler is:

Anna Simpson

Congratulations and happy reading. I hope you enjoy Avoidable Contact by Tammy Kaehler as much as I did!

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful comments. I hope you will continue to follow fundinmental.

To see the review and giveaway page for Avoidable Contact, go HERE.

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To pick up your copy of Avoidable Contact, or to learn more about Tammy Kaehler, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look below or on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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A Darkness Enters the Bayou – Bayou Blues by M M Shelley

Posted on August 11, 2014 by fundinmental

Just the title of Bayou Blues makes me want to read this M M Shelley young adult, urban fantasy novel.

The tale takes place in New Orleans. I have walked the streets many times.

New Orleans speaks to me of mystery and fantasy, so this is a book I want on my reading list. How about you?

Bayou Blues

A New Orleans Mystery, Book Two

by M. M. Shelley

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Urban

Date of Publication: June 2014

ISBN: 978-1500255053 / ISBN: 150025505X /ASIN: B00L7YLU0W

Number of pages: 322 / Word Count: 52,500

Cover Artist: Michelle Marquez

Available at Smashwords and Amazon

SYNOPSIS

Sixteen year old orphan, Ava Lopez, has returned to New Orleans, Louisiana, just as a dark entity has taken residence in the bayou.

Not only does Ava have to discover who or what is taking its victims from the Quarter, and leaving their remains in the Bayou. She will also have to maneuver her way around a new school and deal with a new bodyguard.

Ava will have to uncover the mystery before she becomes its next victim.

Excerpt: Prologue

It had been at least three years since he had left New Orleans, Louisiana and Auguste Cheval still wasn’t sure if he had made the right decision in returning. It didn’t feel right, yet he no longer had the option to stay away. His father had skipped out on him again leaving him no choice but to live with his uncle Prosper Cheval.

Uncle Prosper was absolutely crazy. He refused to live in town preferring instead to live out in the Bayou. Auguste had to make the long trek from town to his uncle’s shack each and every day, to and from his high school. Auguste attended Ben Franklin, in part thanks to his social worker, who for some reason or another seemed focused on making sure he stayed the course. His social worker Phillips believed that Auguste had the grades and the drive to excel at school; a school where nearly everyone excelled at one thing or another.

The only issue Auguste had was that a normal life could never be in the cards for him, but he wasn’t about to tell his social worker Phillips just why that was. How could he even begin to explain it?

As Auguste headed deeper into the Bayou he ventured down a narrow pathway that was nearly completely covered over with knee high marshway cordgrass. Auguste had taken the long way home as he was in no hurry to return. His uncle Prosper probably wouldn’t be there, more than likely he was out checking on his traps.

A slight sound came from his left. Something heavy was pushing through the marshway cordgrass, but Auguste couldn’t see what it was. So he waited. He didn’t want to move any further until he could see it clearly. In the light of the fading sun, Auguste held his breath as he waited to identify what moved in the cordgrass. In spite of the fact that the sun had reached the horizon, the air remained hot and humid enough to cause his clothes to stick to his body.

A man in his early forties rolled out of the cordgrass falling right in Auguste’s pathway. The man rolled until he was on his hands and knees, he lifted his head high up in the air, his chin tilted skyward and his eyes closed. He smelled the dry stillness in the air. His eyes opened and he quickly shifted toward Auguste. His eyes locked in on Auguste and his head made a rather sharp movement almost like a wolf finding the scent of his prey.

As the man’s eyes focused sharply on Auguste, a deep low growl escaped his throat. The eerie sound was so disturbing that it caused Auguste to feel ill. As the man leaned onto his back legs ready to pounce on Auguste, a wolf jumped out of the marshway cordgrass and latched onto the man’s throat, dragging him onto the ground and ripping at his flesh.

He tried to fight back, sinking his teeth into the wolf’s coat, but to no avail as the wolf tore fiercely away at him. The man screamed out in pain against the assault. Sudden silence signaled that the man had given up the fight. His body grew limp as his life began to ebb, leaving him unable to endure anymore.

The wolf turned and shifted toward Auguste, it took a step towards him with a giant paw. The wolf had an unearthly presence as its paws were large and sunk into the earth with each heavy step. Its head was slightly larger than the rest of the body giving it a disproportionate appearance. The wolf’s green eyes looked like they had seen centuries of war and chaos and were filled with a sadness that tore at Auguste’s heart. In spite of his feelings, Auguste found the hint of darkness lurking beneath the wolf’s demeanor disturbing. It was a darkness that wouldn’t think twice about attacking Auguste and harming him, just as it had killed the man without hesitation.

Auguste held out his arm as if to prevent it from coming any closer. As he did so, the fading sunlight illuminated the scar that ran from the outside of Auguste’s elbow to the inside of his middle forearm. The wolf sniffed at him before taking another step; then, as quickly as it had appeared, it turned and ran back into the cordgrass leaving behind the lifeless body of the man it had just killed for sport.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.M. Shelley is a storyteller, wordsmith and dreamer. She has traveled the world extensively in search of the magic which is often overlooked in everyday life. M.M. Shelley is a native of southern California, and a student of mythology from which she gets much inspiration.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Click on the cover below to get your copy of Bayou Blues by M M