Saturday Shorts – Midnight Burning by Karissa Laurel (@KarissaLaurel )

Posted on January 9, 2016 by fundinmental

Karissa Laurel’s cover for the novel, Midnight Burning, is fantastic and I was so happy when I won a signed paperback copy.

A cover can make the difference between picking up a book or passing it over for another.

I am a “cover girl” and proud of it!

Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think.

Cover: Streetlight Graphics

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Midnight Burning is Book I of Solina Mundy’s paranormal/fantasy journey into the death of her brother, Mani.

She travels from a small town in North Carolina to Alaska and back again, seeking answers.

I love her new friend, Skylar, and think she will become a big part of Solina’s life. She’s an ex-Marine and backs down from no one.

The characters have distinct personalities and they shine through in the dialogue.

The dialogue is witty and snarky and I love it.

I love covers, especially when they foreshadow the upcoming story and this is a beauty. The eyes draw me in, looking for…

Midnight Burning by Karissa Laurel was not what I was expecting. The paranormal and myths and legends collide. It is sometimes hard to tell if their talents are a gift or a curse.

The story is predictable and there is a triangle. I would recommend the book and I am looking forward to more of Solina’s story in Book II.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Solina Mundy lives a quiet life, running the family bakery in her small North Carolina hometown. But one night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that Mani is dead. Driven to learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex-Marine, is the only one willing to help her.

As Solina and Skyla delve into the mystery surrounding Mani’s death, Solina is stunned to learn that her own life is tied to Mani’s friends, his death, and the fate of the entire world. If she can’t learn to control her newfound gifts and keep her friends safe, a long-lost dominion over mortals will rise again, and everything she knows will fall into darkness.

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CHARITY BOOK BLITZ for THE DARK DOZEN: STORIES FOR SCARBOROUGH ( @BPICPromos )

Posted on December 19, 2015 by fundinmental

The Dark Dozen: Stories for Scarborough

by Travis Luedke, C.N. Lesley, Danielle DeVor, Maer Wilson, Steven Ramirez, Jody A. Kessler, Louann Carroll, Ross G. Homer, M. Joseph Murphy, Robert P. Wills, Karenne Griffin, and Allan B. Anderson

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction

Release Date: December 2, 2015

***SPECIAL NOTE: SAVE A LIFE, BUY A BOOK***

This fund-raising anthology of Horror and Sci-Fi short stories was created to benefit Altoine Scarborough, a man in desperate need of a heart transplant. The stories, cover art, formatting, editing and compilation were all donated. Every penny of the royalties we receive will go to Al’s GOFUNDME project. (MW)

Vampires to ghosts to monsters—and futures we won’t want to see come true—fill this collection of dark stories that are sure to give you chills. This stellar, fan-favorite group, which includes award-winning and best-selling authors, brings a unique voice to some familiar and not-so-familiar creatures. Join Travis Luedke, C.N. Lesley, Danielle DeVor, Maer Wilson, Steven Ramirez, Jody A. Kessler, Louann Carroll, Ross G, Homer, M. Joseph Murphy, Robert P. Wills, Karenne Griffin, and Allan B. Anderson for a trip into the Darkness.

BROWN THE RECLUSE by Steven Ramirez – Ted Brown is a man slipping away from reality. Long estranged from his family and living in Seattle, he works at a job he no longer values and lately appears to be losing his memory. But when he discovers a spider in his apartment, that’s when things get really interesting.

THE RAID by Maer Wilson – Gamers are often loyal to their teammates. When Aelan and her friends tackle an evil dragon, that loyalty goes far beyond what anyone expects.

THE BONES by Danielle DeVor – Sometimes, things leave a residue, like the smell left behind when toast is burned. When a medical student brings a skeleton home to study, her child’s life will never be the same.

THE WHISPERING by Karenne Griffin – The small village of Gorland is horrified as their children kill themselves in what appear to be suicide pacts. But there is much more going on and only one child has the key.

THE DIARY OF A MADMAN by Robert P. Wills – Just because others don’t see the ghosts, doesn’t mean they aren’t real.

THE CALL: AN ANGEL FALLS NOVELLA by Jody A. Kessler – Professional shaman and cranky, anti-social ghost hunter, Chris Abeyta, finds spirits and helps them cross over to the afterlife. In his latest case, he and Juliana Crowson find the ghost of a girl trapped by time and a heart-wrenching tale of a camping trip gone terribly wrong.

THE FOUNDLINGS: JENNY’S TALE by Louann Carroll – Technology meets morality when Jenny loses her only friend. Terrified and alone she must choose between reentering the world or living the rest of her life in the dark.

MUMANS by Ross G. Homer – He found love in the most unlikely place. But could he keep the love he found?

A TALE OF TWO QUEENS AND A FROZEN HEART by Allan B. Anderson – Reily, an experienced troubleshooter, is hired to find two teams who have gone missing in a frozen wasteland. But even his skills may not be enough to survive what he discovers.

THE VAMPIRE AND THE VALIANT WARRIOR by M. Joseph Murphy – A noble thief in search of ancient treasure stumbles upon the den of a sadistic vampire.

HELL IS NEVER FULL by C.N. Lesley – When the seed of hate is sown it puts forth shoots of malice that bear flowers of evil. Time has no meaning for revenge.

DREAMS OF NIGHTLIFE LAS VEGAS by Travis Luedke – An author has an unexpected encounter with one of his most dangerous – and sexy – creations.

For more information about Al’s situation or to donate directly to his GoFundMe project, please check out these links below:

Any support to help save Al’s life will be deeply appreciated.
Al’s GOFUNDME Page – https://www.gofundme.com/l1911s
Al’s Facebook Page – WE HEART AL – https://www.facebook.com/We-Heart-Al-611995988938764/
Amazon – THE DARK DOZEN – http://goo.gl/H8lsPo

To read more about Al’s story and how this anthology came about, visit Maer Wilson’s website.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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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#Month9Books Friday Reveal: Facsimile by Vicki L Weavil

Posted on December 4, 2015 by fundinmental

M9B-Friday-Reveal-Bannernew

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing the cover for

Facsimile by Vicki L. Weavil

an upcoming Month9Books Title!

Author, Vicki L. Weavil, also shares her thoughts on the cover.

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

I love this cover because it reflects the book so well. The image of a girl standing alone on a desolate world is a perfect depiction of my protagonist, Ann, as well as her “sand over stone” world, Eco. But it’s also symbolic, because although Ann isn’t really alone, she often feels isolated on her frontier planet. The addition of the image of the Earth is also appropriately symbolic. Ann can’t actually see the Earth from Eco, but since her goal is to live on Earth it’s always on her mind, so the inclusion of the Earth image is a wonderful metaphor for her hopes and dreams.

For a ticket to Earth, seventeen-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is willing to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Especially since all she’s required to do is escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann‘s determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants.

Ann’s willing to sacrifice friendship and love for a new life on Earth. But when an entire species is placed in jeopardy by her actions, she must make a choice – fulfill the dream that’s always sustained her, or save the planet she’s never considered home.

Facsimile (Facsimile #1)
by Vicki L. Weavil
Publication Date: March 8, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books

Available for Pre-order:
Amazon | B&N

About-the-Author

Vicki Weavil 11

Vicki L. Weavil is represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel. Her Young Adult Fantasy, CROWN OF ICE — a dark YA retelling of H.C. Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” — is published by Month9Books. Two companion books to CROWN OF ICE — SCEPTER OF FIRE and ORB OF LIGHT — will be published in 2016 and 2017.
Her YA SciFi — FACSIMILE — will be published by Month9Books in 2016, with a sequel, DERIVATION, to follow.
A new YA Fantasy, THE DIAMOND THIMBLE, will be published by Month9Books in 2018.
She also writes adult SciFi.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumbler

Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win.
Title will be sent upon its release.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Lies Ripped Open by Steve McHugh

Posted on November 25, 2015 by fundinmental

NBTM_TourBanner_LiesRippedOpen

Welcome to my stop for Lied Ripped Open by Steve McHugh.

I love learning about characters and how authors came up with them, so let me introduce you to Steve McHugh. Welcome Steve.

Characters – sometimes my emphasis is on the story, but lately I have found the characters are speaking pretty loud. Where do you get your inspiration for the characters you write about?

Inspiration for characters can come from anywhere; a video game, another book, TV, real life. At some point I’ll see or hear something, and Ill know it’ll work as character, or a trait, or maybe just a single line or way of saying something. And from there that character will develop into something more.

Mostly my characters develop over time, over the course of thinking and writing the book. I find it easier to let them change and grow naturally, that way their behavior is more organic, more natural. Forcing something to happen because I as the writer want it to, doesn’t mean it’ll work for the characters in question, and balancing those things—what I want and what they want—isn’t always easy. Sometimes you have to forgo the easy thing to do the thing that works best, which in the long run works better for the book and characters.

That means sometimes I’ll be writing a book, and suddenly a new character will appear, someone I had no intention of using, but who fits within the narrative of the book, and they sort of force themselves into the story. It happens with every book, without question, and in my eyes it’s part of the fun of writing. I have to trust in myself not to make anyone do anything out of character, at least not without reason, and I can be hard work to ensure that one character doesn’t behave in a way that would go against their normal personality, but it usually doesn’t take me long to realize my error and go change things.

Character creation, and making those characters come to life off the page for the reader, is one of the harder, but more rewarding parts of being a writer. Yes, I have several dozen voices in my head (although usually only one or two at a time) all making sure I don’t write anything that goes against the order, but anything else would be dull.

Steve McHugh is the author of the popular Hellequin Chronicles. The fifth book, Lies Ripped Open, was out on 25th August 2015. He lives in Southampton on the south coast of England with his wife and three young daughters. When not writing or spending time with his kids, he enjoys watching movies, reading books and comics, and playing video games.

I really enjoyed learning more about you and what inspires you, Steve. Thanks so much for joining us today!

Add me to Goodreads now.

Lies Ripped Open by Steve McHugh

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BLURB

Over a hundred years have passed since a group of violent killers went on the rampage, murdering innocent victims for fun. But even back then, sorcerer Nate Garrett, aka Hellequin, knew there was more to it than simple savage pleasure—souls were being stolen.

Nate’s discovery of the souls’ use, and of those supporting the group’s plan, made him question everything he believed.

Now the group Nate thought long dead is back. Violent, angry, and hell-bent on revenge, they have Hellequin firmly in their sights. And if he won’t come willingly, they’ll take those closest to him first.

The battle begins again.

BUY LINKS: Amazon / B&N

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EXCERPT

I walked over to the second agent, whose back was toward me as he stood a little further into the park, and placed my hand on his shoulder. “That’s enough,” I repeated, but he spun around and all of the breath left my body at once, followed immediately by pain as it exploded across my torso. I glanced down as a shimmering blade of ice was pulled free from my chest. It was covered in my blood. I dropped to my knees and watched as the magical weapon vanished from view. The pain forced me to abandon my night vision, and the darkness once again took control.

The overwhelming thought that bounced around my head was that neither of the SOA agents had been sorcerers. My attacker crouched beside me. “They interrupted me and my prey got away,” his accent was from East London, but sounded slightly different from many of those living in the city. As if he’d been away from here for a long time, and had not quite remembered how the accent was meant to sound.

I glanced up at him, still unable to breathe; the blade had punctured a lung. It wouldn’t kill me, but it would be a few hours until I was back to normal, and without my night vision I could have been staring into Merlin’s own face and I’d never have known.

The man got back to his feet and kicked me onto my back. “I should make sure you remember your time here, but I’m sure your comrades over there will be able to do that better than I could.”

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ABOUT STEVE MCHUGH

AuthorPhoto_LiesRippedOpen Steve’s been writing from an early age, his first completed story was done in an English lesson. Unfortunately, after the teacher read it, he had to have a chat with the head of the year about the violent content and bad language. The follow up ‘One boy and his frog’ was less concerning to his teachers and got him an A.

It wasn’t for another decade that he would start work on a full-length novel that was publishable, the results of which was the action-packed Urban Fantasy, Crimes Against Magic.

Steve McHugh lives in Southampton on the south coast of England with his wife and three young daughters. When not writing or spending time with his kids, he enjoys watching movies, reading books and comics, and playing video games.

Facebook / Twitter / Website

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GIVEAWAY

Steve McHugh will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn host.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER HERE

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE.

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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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Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

The Artwork of Guy Erma by Sally Ann Melia Review

Posted on November 15, 2015 by fundinmental

The Artwork of Guy Erma and the Son of Empire is an illustrated compilation of the world and characters in the Guy Erma trilogy, created by a collaboration of SF&F Artists.

Add to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Artwork of Guy Erma is a wonderful collaboration bringing Sally Melia’s visions to life. The chapters are divided into a illustrations for the dome and the individual characters. Freyne is a world that was brought forth from Sally’s imagination, so to see it visually come to life on the pages was fun and interesting. Not everything matched my preconceived notions.

I drew many of my visions from Star Wars and other movie and TV shows I have watched.

The 1st chapter is about the Dome. My vision was pretty accurate, but it was hard to imagine how huge it was. This chapter helped put it into perspective.

Teodor of Freyne and Goran Rider – His clothing fits what I had in mind as I read the book, along the lines of a jockey. The uniform is white. And the Goran…

I love the Goran and the illustration is like I pictured the critter. To be with Teodor in the story, riding the Goran into battle was exciting.

Guy Erma, Blade Fighter. His uniform is black. The illustrations convey action and allows me to see his movements and how he wields his blades.

Karl Valvanchi, what can I say about Karl Valvanchi. I looked into his eyes when he used his telekinetic powers. He reminds me of Carlisle in Twilight. He has an air of sophistication.

Nells Valvanchi is a shapeshifter. I like that her hair matches her outfits. She looks like any teenage girl you would meet today.

Chart Sayat is the head of the Dome Elite, a politician going through all the machinations to be reelected. He looks the part, smug and arrogant.

The cyborgs are just as wicked as I imagined and I sure wouldn’t want to meet up with one.

The wonderful covers for Guy Erma create a brand that is easily recognizable and look great on anybody’s bookshelf.

I have never reviewed an illustrated book before, but I have read the trilogy and loved it, so to meet the cast of characters and the scene of the adventure, I was happy to follow along. Not all of the characters fit my preconceived vision, but that is okay. That is why this was so much fun to read. I loved seeing what I had right and what I had wrong.

I found it interesting how the team collaborated and brought Sally’s imagination to the printed page. The Artwork of Guy Erma is a part of the Guy Erma series I was happy to add to my collection.

3 Stars

Connect with Sally: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

Follow the links below for my reviews of the Guy Erma series:

Kidnap by Sally Ann Melia

Hunter by Sally Ann Melia

Exile by Sally Ann Melia

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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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She’s a Dreamweaver – Night Shade by Helen Harper

Posted on November 2, 2015 by fundinmental

“I have special coping mechanisms for the times I need to open the front door. They’re even often successful…”

Zoe Lydon knows there’s often nothing logical or rational about fear. It doesn’t change the fact that she’s too terrified to step outside her own house, however.

What Zoe doesn’t realise is that she’s also a dreamweaver – able to access other people’s subconscious minds. When she finds herself in the Dreamlands and up against its sinister Mayor, she’ll need to use all of her wits – and overcome all of her fears – if she’s ever going to come out alive.

This is a new contemporary series by Helen Harper, the author of Bloodfire.

Buy on Amazon UK | Amazon US

ABOUT HELEN HARPER

After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!

Find Helen Harper on Goodreads and check out more about Helen on her website.

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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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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FREE Zombies – Mutation Z by Marilyn Peake @marilynpeake

Posted on October 30, 2015 by fundinmental

I am so happy to have Marilyn Peak here with her Mutation Z zombie novellas.

Book III has just come out, so you are in the catbird’s seat.

Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies is FREE

Goodreads / Amazon

Cover Art: Mike Tabor

MY REVIEW

The first book I read from Marilyn Peake was The Fisherman’s Son, a middle grade fantasy. I was so surprised to find that she does adult horror, Mutation Z zombie horror, as a matter of fact. Her writing is so good, it doesn’t matter what genre she writes, I will be reading.

The Mutation Z series is a post apocalyptic look at life after zombies.

Emma Johnson is a spoiled, rich kid who sets off the adventure of a lifetime, as a volunteer nurse in Africa. The Ebola crisis is so much more than she could have ever imagined.

Dr. Gustavo Tovar is the tour guide for the new recruits. She picked up bad vibes from him, but shook them off. He stressed the necessity of never wandering off on their own. With such a highly infectious disease, they must proceed with extreme caution.

Well, hell, we all know they are going to fuck up and fuck up in a big way.

Something struck me wrong from the very beginning. The creep factor was running on high.

This conspiracy, horror novella scared the bejesus out of me. It started out fast and never let up. Every time I turned around, something was there to creep me out. I mean, think about it, a highly infectious disease is lurking, just waiting for you to make a mistake. A conspiracy is operating behind closed doors and when Emma stumbles in there is no turning back. I love this series and would highly recommend it to all horror lovers.

If Zombies are your thing, Mutation Z, Book I is free on Amazon.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

From Goodreads: First book in a series.

Ebola, one of the most feared of the hemorrhagic diseases, has begun spreading across the borders of West African countries. The CDC and the World Health Organization have admitted they are losing control over the disease. Some hint at a possible worldwide pandemic. At exactly this point in time, Emma Johnson graduates from nursing school. She takes a job in an Ebola treatment camp inside Liberia, West Africa. The camp is state-of-the-art. It’s run by the CDC and the World Health Organization, and protected by the U.S. military. Emma uncovers a secret about this facility: medical experimentation is being conducted along with treatment. Whether or not Emma can ever escape the camp, she’s determined to get the story out. She has intimate knowledge of a biological horror being secretly unleashed upon the world. NOVELETTE. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies is the first book in a series. In the next book, the zombie virus will cross geographical boundaries and go increasingly out of control.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies is free and I received Book II in return for an honest review.

SPOILER ALERT

Emma is now part of the experiment to create a zombie army. It wasn’t bad enough for her in Book I, now she has traveled to the furthest reaches of HELL and knows it.

In NYC, journalist Hunter Morgan smells a rat when Chen-Zamora Pharmaceuticals gets an exclusive government contract to develop the Ebola vaccine. I mean, wouldn’t they want competition? Why an exclusive contract? Corruption? Conspiracy? Greed? And why was he given such easy access to a crime scene?

The scene with Hunter and his daughter is so sweet. Marilyn Peake has an ability to make her characters come to life, human and zombie alike.

Hunter gets more involved and could be making the biggest mistake of his life or becoming the savior of the planet.

Imagine being aware of turning into a zombie, aware of your shambling walk, bumping and jostling each other, your skin falling off in sheets, and the worst of all…

Can a shred of humanity remain?

Mutation Z is gross, horrific, outrageous, infuriating, corrupting…heads are cracked open, entrails pulled from shredded abdomens, body after body, young and old alike.

I am so into Mutation Z, I am wringing my hands with an evil grin on my face as Marilyn Peake tells me Mutation Z: Protecting Your Own, Book III, has just come out and I can have a copy for review. YAY!!!!

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

From Goodreads: Second book in the series.

Eviscerated bodies are found along both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Military security is stepped up on both sides of the border. However, journalists are given free rein to explore the devastation. As more and more bodies are found, people begin to panic. Meanwhile in The Liberia Treatment and Research Camp of West Africa, Emma Johnson and Chibueze Koroma continue to receive experimental doses of Mutation Z. They also begin to remember the horrific things they’ve done. As journalist Hunter Morgan’s investigation leads him to that same Camp, his own little girl falls sick with fever. NOVELLA. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Mutation Z: Closing the Borders is the second book in the Mutation Z series. In the next book, Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own, guerrilla warfare breaks out between armed militias and those perceived as protecting the zombies.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

The story continues and gets more horrific with every page.

The monsters are not only zombies, but humanity when it lets fear take over.

In the opening scene, I breathed a sigh of relief when I felt the Dixon family dodged a bullet.

Well…

Hunter Morgan, the journalist striving to expose the truth of the zombies, has an emergency of his own.

The disease does not care if you are young or old, good or bad.

It is spreading and Hunter smells the RATS. His suspicions are growing and so are mine.

As the story develops, Marilyn Peake breaks my heart. Not everyone can live, I know that! But, damn it, why…

Fear can make people do things they never anticipated.

Zealots, hunters, and their victims. Who is good and who is bad?

I think stories like Mutation Z are food for thought. I always wonder what I would do if my life were threatened and I had to take action. Would I? Would you? And would it be the right kind of action. Would fear drive me? Would I sacrifice others for my own?

The Mutation Z series is a must read for horror and dystopian lovers everywhere. The story grows better and better with each novella.

I received a copy of Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own by Marilyn Peake in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

From Goodreads: Third book in the series.

Guerrilla warfare breaks out between armed militias and those perceived as protecting the zombies. Journalist Hunter Morgan becomes the target of Clay Dixon, the organizer of a militia in a Texas border town, when he advocates for protecting the zombies until a cure is found. The journalist has strong motivation for his beliefs: his daughter is suspected of having the disease caused by Mutation Z. This book ends with a devastating confrontation. NOVELETTE. GENRES: Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction, Conspiracy Fiction, Horror.

Mutation Z: Protecting Our Own is the third book in the Mutation Z series. In the next book, Mutation Z: Drones Overhead, the people working in Dr. Rojas’s house to find a cure for Mutation Z hide from the U.S. government spying on them with helicopters and drones that constantly fly overhead.

ABOUT MARILYN PEAKE

From Goodreads:

Marilyn Peake is the author of both novels and short stories. Her publications have received excellent reviews. Marilyn’s one of the contributing authors in BOOK: THE SEQUEL, published by The Perseus Books Group, with one of her entries included in serialization at THE DAILY BEAST. In addition, Marilyn has served as Editor of a number of anthologies. Her short stories have been published in seven anthologies and on the literary blog, GLASS CASES.

Awards: Silver Award, two Honorable Mentions and eight Finalist placements in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards, two Winner and two Finalist placements in the EPPIE Awards, Winner of the Dream Realm Awards, and eight Top Ten Finisher Awards in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll.

Stalk Marilyn Peake: Website / Twitter

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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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s… Sharcano by Jose Prendes Review

Posted on October 10, 2015 by fundinmental

Flying flaming sharks star in this funfilled apocalyptic thriller, Sharcano by Jose Prendes

I love this cover. Talk about ACTION! I see a lot of it.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

OMG! As soon as I saw this cover, I knew I had to have Sharcano by Jose Prendes, so I bought my very own copy. This has been the first book I bought this year.

I read Jose Prendes’ bio and it reads as if it is a short story and great for some laughs.

It all started with the amazing find of an 83′ megalodon beached, mauled and burnt.

I can see it all now. Coming soon to a theater near you…It’s lava sharks!

As soon as Mick Cathcart hears of it, he dumps his daughter at his exes and it’s off on the adventure of a lifetime. He thinks he is God’s gift to women, arrogant and self absorbed.

When Father MacKenzie hung himself in desolation, Father Cox stepped in, determined to change the outcome Father MacKenzie had foreseen.

Reading about Bao and his terrifying and sad, yet uplifting, trial by water was so detailed and realistic, my emotions ran AMOK, highs and lows and back again. He is such a kind hearted and loving child who is put to the test, his losses and sorrow mount. I kept thinking, please Jose, don’t leave him out there alone. His sacrifices deserve a reward.

We have Buck and Trigg, just a couple of good old boys out looking for Sasquatch. They are quite the characters and seem to pop up at just the right time. I can’t help but laugh at them, even though things don’t look so good to me, they don’t seem to understand how up a tree they are.

Volcanoes are popping up from the sea floor, spewing lava worldwide and it is alive.

I can see them, forming in the lava, jumping, flying, determined to find…US!

A plague, the Hell Virus, begins to spread. Humans are facing extinction.

The action is easy to visualize after watching all those Sharnadoes.

Funny, witty, sad, hopeful, uplifting.

The characters don’t all make it to the end, sometimes sacrificing themselves to save others. They grabbed at me, pulling me for and against them. I didn’t always like them, but they all had their contribution to make.

There is a twist that sets it apart from the B movies I love so much…spirituality.

I was hem hawing and telling myself, yeah I know that, then WTF, then, yeah I know that, then WTF.

Jose Prendes did a great job pushing my buttons at the end of Sharcano. I loved this novel and am looking forward to the next one.

5 Stars

ABOUT JOSE PRENDES (From Goodreads)

Jose Prendes, international man of mystery, was found swaddled in a basket among the reeds at the mouth of the Amazon. Raised by local shamans, Jose learned the magic of language and decided to dedicate his skills to the betterment of all mankind. He trekked to America at the age of 12, on foot no less, and made his home in Florida for a few years. After discovering a cure for the common cold, and losing it among his comic book collection, Prendes decided to abandon Florida for sunny Los Angeles.

Upon arriving in the city of angels, he was made the leader of a small group of cinephiles who believed he was the second coming of Shakespeare. Wielding immense power, and a ridiculously awesome dvd collection, Prendes continues his struggle to save the world from the coming peanut butter and jelly apocalypse.

Stalk him: Goodreads / Twitter

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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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Friday 56 #57 & BB #33 – Stephen KING of Horror

Posted on October 2, 2015 by fundinmental

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

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2015-09-30 23.17.21

As you can see, I am a huge fan of Stephen King, who some would call the master of horror.

I found it hard to choose my favorite one, so I put them through random.org and it chose #26, The Gunslinger, The Dark Tower I, by Stephen King.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY FRIDAY 56

“You’ll be leaving in the morning,” she said dully.

“I should. I think he’s left a trap for me here.”

(page 56 of paperback, Signet, published in 1989)

MY BOOK BEGINNINGS

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

GOODREADS BLURB

This heroic fantasy is set in a world of ominous landscape and macabre menace that is a dark mirror of our own. A spellbinding tale of good versus evil, it features one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations – The Gunslinger, a haunting figure who embodies the qualities of a lone hero through the ages, from ancient myth to frontier western legend.

This is the cover for the paperback I have, which was printed by Signet in July, 1989. The cost was $4.95.

Which cover do you like best?

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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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

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Skull and Crossbones (c) Sherry J Fundin

Giveaway & Review for The Key of Amatahns by Elisabeth Wheatley

Posted on September 30, 2015 by fundinmental

In a land where those with magic are esteemed and revered, Janir guards a secret that would send her to the headsman’s block at a word. As one of the reviled Argetallams, she has the power to destroy enchantments and steal others’ magic—an ability that has caused bloodshed for generations.

Raised as the illegitimate daughter of an influential lord, she was determined to turn her back on her heritage, but when her power manifests, leaving a nobleman dead, she has no choice but to flee her adoptive home. In exile with the help of a fearless young enchanter and an elf sworn to protect her, she finds herself entangled in a quest to hide an ancient artifact from the kingdom’s enemies.

But they are not the only ones after the relic and soon their paths cross with a rival from Janir’s distant childhood. With no hope of help or rescue, the fate of nations will depend on a fifteen year old girl and her mastery of powers she doesn’t understand.

Download off Amazon for $0.99 for a limited time!

MY REVIEW

The Key of Amatahn by Elisabeth Wheatley is her debut novel, and part of a trilogy. I have read her Fanged novellas and they blew me away, so I asked her for a copy of The Key of Amatahns. I am excited to embark on another adventure with this amazingly talented young author.

Janir and her mother were sent away from Adasha, but they never made it to their destination. Janir was saved by an elf and Amandius took her in. She is now a member of the Caersynn household, even though she is the daughter of the ruler of Argetallam.

The Argetallam are the Invincible. They feared and detested by all, because of their ruthlessness and powerful magic.

Lucan, Janir’s brother hated her. She is older, therefore would inherit the role of leader. He is mean, jealous, arrogant and self serving. I don’t think he would make a very good ruler. Lucan would do anything to find the Key and the Temple.

An unfortunate incident and she is on the run again, this time into the forest on her own. She meets up with Karile who appears to be a bumbling enchanter.

Saoven, an elf, is sent by Amandius to protect her and the three of them bond together to hunt for The Key To Amatahn.

The Key could lead to the world’s end if it were to fall into the wrong hands.

Once they have the Key, the pace picks up as they are chased through the woods, dodging evil and magic at every turn.

We have elves, wargs, mazag, dragons, enchanters… A cornucopia of magical creatures. And, of course, some mortals.

It took me a while to get into the swing of this fantasy adventure. As I figured out the different characters and the fantasy world Elisabeth Wheatley built. The characters became friends of mine and I cheered them on in their race to find the Key and the Temple it will unlock. I enjoyed the journey and would recommend The Key of Amatahn by Elisabeth Wheatley to all you fantasy lovers out there.

Janir, and Karile’s journey was a long, ugly, torturous one and it will not end here. The Key of Amatahn by Elisabeth Wheatley does not end with a cliffhanger, but leaves the story open for more fantasy adventure.

I received a copy of The Key of Amatahn by Elisbeth Wheatley in return for an honest and unbiased review.

3 Stars

About the Author

Elisabeth Wheatley began what would be her first novel at eleven and hasn’t stopped writing since. When she’s not daydreaming of elves, vampires, and/or hot guys in armor, she can be found wasting time on the internet, fangirling over her latest obsession, and pretending to be a functional citizen.

Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for a signed copy of THE KEY OF AMATAHNS

Click here to see my reviews for Fanged Princess and Fanged Outcast.

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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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!