Giveaway & Interview – A Fine Year For Murder by Lauren Carr @TheMysteryLadie @iReadBookTours

Posted on February 2, 2017 by fundinmental

Lauren Carr is the bestselling author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime Mysteries, and the brand new series, The Thorny Rose Mysteries. We caught up with the charming mystery writer as she preps to kick off her upcoming virtual book tour for A Fine Year for Murder, the 2th in the Mac Faraday series.

Author Interview with Lauren Carr

Lauren, thank you so much for chatting with us. Right off the bat, I’m curious. Is it hard to break away from your successful Mac Faraday series to work on another one?

Yes and no. Actually, I don’t consider this breaking away so much as taking a break from Mac and the gang at Deep Creek Lake. I’m not leaving Mac Faraday and the gang in Deep Creek Lake or the Lovers in Crime in their small town in West Virginia at all. I’m simply taking my readers on a detour to visit a new and different group of detectives.

As a writer, an occasional detour helps me to step away and marinate on my next Mac Faraday or Lovers in Crime Mystery—think about where I want the characters to go. Now that I am returning to the next Mac Faraday Mystery, I am actually approaching it with a fresher perspective, which adds a special treat for my readers as well.

A Fine Year for Murder, the second Thorny Rose Mystery, was released January 30. The Thorny Rose Mystery series is a different direction for you, isn’t it?

Yes, it is—which makes it exciting for me as the writer and for my readers, as well. As an author, I am always striving to stretch my wings and try new things. I always listen to readers, not just talk about my books, but other authors’ books. It is not uncommon to hear a reader complain about an author’s books starting to all read the same, or for the reader to become bored with an author’s books. Well, that can also happen to the author who is writing the books. Some readers may not like the new direction I go with the Thorny Rose Mysteries. They can take comfort with Mac Faraday and the Lovers in Crime. The rest, they can dive into the mystery and suspense of Murphy and Jessica, the next generation of mystery detectives.

In the first Thorny Rose Mystery, Kill and Run, it was plain to see that the young newlywed couple, Jessica and Murphy, have a far different lifestyle than Mac and Joshua. Can you share some of the differences we will see? Living in Washington DC, will their stories lean toward political suspense?

Jessica and Murphy are much younger, more daring, and without a doubt more impulsive than their fathers. Also, since they are millennials, they lean toward today’s high tech lifestyle—thus, the character of Nigel, their virtual butler.

The setting alone (Washington DC) makes for a different type of criminal element. Since Murphy is a military officer assigned to the Pentagon, then we get to add a political element. As a phantom, he’s often sent on secret assignments. Then, we have Jessica Faraday, a savvy and rich young woman who knows her way around high society, which will prove to be helpful to Murphy.

Behind the scenes, readers get to see the normal adjustments that every newlywed couple must deal with—like where does the peanut butter go (fridge or cupboard) and how many children do they want to have and when.

Yet, personally, I do not want the Thorny Rose Mysteries to be a wholly political suspense mystery series. Wanting to make that clear, I set our detectives in the wine country of southern Virginia for A Fine Year for Murder.

Speaking of setting, how do you decide on the setting for a book? For instance, in choosing Washington DC or Virginia’s wine country, do you already have your story idea in mind before you settle on the location or is it character driven?

Character driven! My books are completely character driven. The decision for Washington DC for the Thorny Rose series came naturally. Murphy Thornton was a recent graduate from the Naval Academy and Jessica wanted to be with him. That meant she had to move to Washington as well. As an author, this worked well for me because I used to work in Washington as an editor for the federal government. My husband had been a navy officer assigned to the Pentagon, so I didn’t need to do that much research.

Yet, for A Fine Year for Murder, the murder case was based on a real cold case that happened in a small town. I had selected this mystery to be Jessica’s case, since Murphy took center stage in Kill and Run. Jessica had grown up in the suburbs of Washington DC, which is not a small town. So, I created the storyline in which she had become involved in the case as a child while visiting distant relatives. That resulted in my taking Jessica and Murphy on a road trip to southern Virginia.

What led to the decision to bring together the two grown children of Mac (Mac Faraday) and Joshua Thornton (Lovers in Crime)? I love the idea, by the way.

Oh, like love, it just sort of happened. I thought long and hard about bringing the two of them together before I made the final decision. Then, it was almost a year after that before I decided found the right book launch them.

Murphy’s character came about in my first mystery book, A Small Case of Murder, a Joshua Thornton Mystery. At that time, he was seventeen years old. I knew then that he would be going to the Naval Academy. When I created the character of Jessica Faraday (readers meet her via phone conversation in Old Loves Die Hard) she was already in college in Williamsburg. When I brought back Joshua for the Lovers in Crime, I realized Murphy and Jessica were about the same age. As their fathers became friends, it became natural for them to grow close. Like my readers, I was very surprised by how quickly they grew together.

Your Mac Faraday series as well as the Lovers in Crime series have both garnered a loyal following. I’m one of them. We will still be seeing their series continue as well, won’t we?

Oh yes! Each series will continue to grow on their own with interconnecting mysteries occasionally. In Kill and Run, the Lovers in Crime actively participate in the mystery. In A Fine Year for Murder, Mac Faraday and the Deep Creek Lake gang make an appearance. Then, this summer, readers are in for a treat as all of my series characters come together for two mysteries in Twofer Murder! This special mystery will be a lot of fun—I promise! As long as readers are clamoring for mysteries, I’ll be writing them.

I, for one, love the direction you are going with this series. Characters grow and change and to keep up with the times makes them feel even more real to me.

Thanks so much for visiting, Lauren, and I look forward to reading more of your work!

Amazon / Goodreads

Book Description:

After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?

Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads

ABOUT LAUREN CARR

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card (Open internationally)

Ends April 22

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Friday 56 #117 – Mind Prey by John Sanford @J_Sandford

Posted on January 27, 2017 by fundinmental

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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.

~~~

A messy bookshelf is the norm around the Fundin household. I just cannot help but pick up another book and another and another…

I have a few of John Sanford’s novels, of which Mind Prey is one. I bought this quite some time ago from the Mobile Public Library. I have also checked out many other books by him and have enjoyed each and every one.

I need to get back to the library and catch up on his latest.

Have you read any of his work?

Amazon / Goodreads

My 56

Then he was on her, slamming her back against the stone wall, ripping at her jacket, at her blouse. She screamed at him, “No, don’t, John…”

(Page 56 in hardcover,1st edition, published in 1995)

Book Beginnings

The storm blew up late in the afternoon, tight, gray clouds hustling over the lake like dirty, balled-up sweat socks spilling from a basket. A chilly wind knocked leaves from the elms, oaks, and maples at the water’s edge. The white phlox and black-eyed susans bowed their heads before it.

GOODREADS BLURB: From the bestselling author of Night Prey and Winter Prey…an all-new Lucas Davenport thriller.

Run for it…It was raining when psychiatrist Andi Manette left the parent-teacher conference with her two young daughters, and she was distracted. She barely noticed the red van parked beside her, barely noticed the van door slide open as they dashed up to the car. The last thing she did notice was the hand reaching out for her and the voice from out of the past — and then the three of them were gone.

Hours later, deputy chief Lucas Davenport stood in the parking lot, a blood-stained shoe in his hand, the ground stained pink around him, and knew that this would be one of the worst cases he’d ever been on. With an urgency born of dread, he presses the attack, while in an isolated farmhouse, Andi Manette does the same, summoning all her skills to battle an obsessed captor. She knows the man who has taken her and her daughters, knows there is a chink in his armor, if only she can find it. But for both her and Davenport, time is already running out.

John Sandford’s novels have always been extraordinary for their harrowing twists, unforgettable characters, and crackling prose. But Mind Prey tops them all. It is the work of a true master.

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Which cover would make you stop and look for more information?

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Giveaway – I Survived Blogfest! Tsunami Crimes by Chrys Fey @ChrysFey

Posted on January 20, 2017 by fundinmental

“This is Chrys Fey reporting for Disaster 5 News. I am in Pensacola where a tsunami hit yesterday morning. I have Sherry Fundin with me, a survivor of the tsunami. Sherry, can you tell our viewers what happened, and how you survived?”

Well, Chrys, it was a gorgeous morning here in the Florida Panhandle. The sun was shining, the surfers were out and everyone was having a great time frolicking in the waves.

The first indication something was amiss was when the sea birds took flight in panic. I could feel a breeze that was different than normal and the hair on my arms and neck stood on end. Tingles ran down my spine…and the water rushed in. And it kept coming. It swept me off my feet, and I was driven down…down…down, being slammed into the pavement. I could feel the flesh being stripped from my body as I struggled to rise to the surface for a much needed breath of air. I frantically searched for anything to grab onto as the water rose…and rose…Just when I thought I couldn’t last any longer, someone reached out and grabbed my hand. I looked up and the most beautiful hazel eyes looked down at me. It was the best day of my life…Mr Wonderful had saved me…

.

I love all the covers for this series and Kim Mendoza has done a mighty fine job with Tsunami Crimes by Chrys Fey.

Amazon / Goodreads

Title: Tsunami Crimes

Series: Disaster Crimes #3

Author: Chrys Fey

Genre: Romantic-Suspense

Page Count: 272

MY REVIEW

I have been following Beth and Donovan’s journey through one catastrophe after another in this fabulous thriller series. They first met in Hurricane Crimes, and had one hell of an adventure in Seismic Crimes and Lightning Crimes.

Now they face the rage of a Tsunami in Oahu, on their honeymoon, no less.

I have fallen for the characters. I watch as they grow and develop into more complex individuals. Beth is strong, independent, loving and giving. Better think twice about messing with her and her man. Donaovan and Thorn are best friends and both are in love with Beth. Their testosterone levels are so high, I think they need to pull them out and measure their ‘meat sword’. LOL Their friendly rivalry makes for some humorous situations. I love a good villain and Jackson Storm fits the bill nicely.

The suspense builds, there is lots of action, and the suspense builds some more. Beth and Donovan are both targets and ya never know where the danger may come from. It lurks around every corner. Where and when will it strike?

Chrys Fey’s descriptive writing makes the story come alive, as if it is a movie playing out in my head. She has the ability to create doubt, even though I know the ending. She keeps the suspense at a fever pitch that goes on and on, never letting up, leaving me feeling wrung dry of my emotions. I finally reach the end and breathe a sigh of relief.

Excellent job, Chrys!

What disaster will be next?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

BLURB: Beth and Donovan have come a long way from Hurricane Sabrina and the San Francisco earthquake. Now they are approaching their wedding day and anxiously waiting to promise each other a lifetime of love. The journey down the aisle isn’t smooth, though, as they receive threats from the followers of the notorious criminal, Jackson Storm. They think they’ll be safe in Hawaii, but distance can’t stop these killers. Not even a tsunami can.

This monstrous wave is the most devastating disaster Beth has ever faced. It leaves her beaten, frightened. Is she a widow on her honeymoon? As she struggles to hold herself together and find Donovan, she’s kidnapped by Jackson’s men.

Fearing her dead, Donovan searches the rubble and shelters with no luck. The thought of her being swept out to sea is almost too much for him to bear, but the reality is much worse. She’s being used as bait to get him to fall into a deadly trap.

If they live through this disaster, they may never be the same again.

DIGITAL LINKS:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

Nook / Kobo / The Wild Rose Press

PRINT LINK:

The Wild Rose Press

99 CENTS: Amazon

And everywhere ebooks are sold.

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Enter Her World…If You Dare – Reunion by Jaye Frances @jayefrancesnews

Posted on January 11, 2017 by fundinmental

Jaye Frances can spin a tale and she continues Jewlel’s dark story in Reunion.

Adult Only.

This series will not be for everyone and it is rare for me to step into the genre, but Jaye Frances hooked me with her writing and not all of her books are erotica, so check them out below. You may be pleasantly surprised and find one that is for you.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Such a beautiful cover for Reunion by Jaye Frances, but I can guarantee you that the story inside is VERY far from simple. Violence, torture, rape and abuse beyond my imagination keep me riveted as I eagerly anticipate Jewel getting her revenge.

“Even in hell, there are rules…”

Reunion is Book II in the World Without Love series and it does need to be read in order.

We pick up where we left off and I was eager to read more of Jewel’s tragic story. Reunion did not start the way I thought it would and I love it when an author can surprise me.

I still concentrated more on the story than the sex, but it seems at this point, she is so lost that she’ll fuck anything that walks. I love figuring out why characters do what they do, so I am trying to figure out Jewel’s motivation. Is it her horrendous experiences making her reach out for human contact that is not about force or torture? Is it about control?

How evil must a person be to take someone to the edge of death for their own pleasure, smiling and enjoying the experience?

I can’t help but blush at the sex…but I do read it all. To me, it is pivotal to the story.

I must give this 5 Stars for scaring the crap out of me! It shows just how easy it is to get into something over our heads because it is hard to believe how EVIL, sadistic and savage people can be. BUT, I believe. Sooooo…be careful of who you trust.

I didn’t see the twist at the end coming and…OH NO…I am left with a huge cliffhanger. No worries, Book III, Redemption is out, so I will not have to wait for the conclusion of Jewel’s story.

To sum it up, I am surprised at how much I LOVE this twisted story. I can hardly wait to find out how she gets her revenge!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Reunion by Jaye Frances.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

In Reunion, Jewel’s story continues as she finds herself stranded in a far-flung corner of the world. Struggling to elude her captors and a network of bounty hunters, she meets her would-be savior, a man who promises to provide protection and comfort. Believing her nightmare has finally come to an end, Jewel begins making plans to return home, where she can start her life over again. But greed raises its ugly head, and the terrifying future she thought she’d evaded becomes a reality. Deceived by the only one she believed she could trust, Jewel is left defenseless against the sadistic abusers who take pleasure in teaching her their own form of discipline. With the dream of rescue and returning home to San Diego even further from her reach, she begins planning her revenge on the men who have stolen her life—and her future.

* * * * * *

Excerpt from Reunion:

A Note From the Author . . .

Reunion is the second book in the “World Without Love” series. The series is a continuing story and meant to be read in sequence, beginning with Book One, Betrayed. Both Betrayed and Book Three, Redemption, are available in Kindle eBook and paperback from Amazon.

The “World Without Love” series contains mature content and is intended for an 18+ audience

Chapter One

It came to me slowly . . . I was no longer in the water.

Although I was fairly certain the mattress underneath me was real, I needed to touch something solid, to confirm this wasn’t another hallucination.

I stopped myself just in time.

Until I was sure of the situation, I would remain dead-still, my eyes closed, listening for the subtle draw of someone’s breath, the crack of a stiff joint, or the rustle of fabric from a shifting leg. My captivity on the Kelsey had taught me the value of concealing both my intentions and actions.

My brain was muddled from the beating I’d taken during the storm, but this much was a safe assumption: Someone had fished me out of the ocean. They had brought me aboard their boat and laid me in this bed. I had no idea how long I’d been here, if the time was measured in hours or days. My appetite should have given me a clue, but I wasn’t hungry. Just tired and sore.

Forcing myself to lie there, feigning sleep, I listened . . .

The throb of diesel engines mixed with the sound of waves sloshing against the hull. Overhead, the constant footfalls from the deck indicated two, maybe three crewmen. In my mind’s eye, I could see them stomping about in their high-topped, neoprene boots, the distinctive heavy thud of thick rubber on grooved teak suggesting this was a working boat, possibly a fishing trawler.

The last time I’d regained consciousness on a strange ship, I awoke in searing pain, shackled to a makeshift rack and half-covered in freezing water. This time, my discomfort was far less severe—the cramp of aching muscles and the sting from a minor laceration on my shoulder.

I counted to sixty. Then again, to be safe. I wouldn’t make the mistake of opening my eyes too soon.

I moved a finger, swiping it across the scratchy cotton sheet. If someone was watching me, they didn’t see it. Maybe I really was alone in the cabin.

I shifted my right arm. I wasn’t bound. Whoever found me didn’t consider me a threat. But I wasn’t ready to make the same assumption about my rescuers. After what I’d been through, no one—at least in this part of the world—would ever again receive the benefit of the doubt. For all I knew there could be someone a few feet away, waiting for me to regain consciousness—someone really good at keeping their presence a secret.

There was no point in continuing to pretend I was asleep. Whether it was now or later, I would soon come face-to-face with the men on this boat. A few minutes, one way or the other, wouldn’t make any difference.

I opened my eyes enough to form a blurry image. Directly overhead, the upper berth of a bunk-bed covered me like the lid of a coffin. A twinge of claustrophobia tightened around my throat. I turned on my side to escape the smothering delusion and propped myself up on one elbow, surveying the space.

I was alone.

Although covered with a blanket, my clothing was gone. I was naked. But that didn’t necessarily indicate sinister intent. My shorts and top had been soaked with sea water, and removing them would have been the first step in raising my core temperature.

Needing a better view of my surroundings, I rolled on to my stomach. The movement forced me to stifle a moan—a reflex from the pain of shifting my weight from one part of my bruised body to another.

The cabin was tiny, not much larger than a handicapped bathroom stall. It made my assumption about the type of vessel even more likely. Small quarters were typical of the fifty to seventy foot class of trawler, where berth space was sacrificed for a larger cargo hold to maximize the volume of fish that could be stored during a single run.

I sat up, searching for clues. The more I could find out about my rescuers, the greater my initial advantage.

The small St. Christopher’s medal hanging from a wall-peg brought a vague sense of relief. It was a real stretch of logic, but I doubted someone who was part of the slaver’s network would be a regular church-goer.

ABOUT JAYE FRANCES

Jaye Frances is the author of “World Without Love,” a suspense thriller series with an erotic edge, including “Betrayed,” “Reunion,” and “Redemption.” Her other books include “The Beach,” a sci-fi supernatural tale about the possibilities—and horror—of wishful thinking, “The Kure,” a paranormal-occult romance novel, “The Possibilities of Amy,” a coming-of-age story of first love, and “Love Travels Forever,” a collection of poignant short stories. When not absorbed with her writing, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and taking pictures-lots of them. Jaye lives on the gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, and several hundred pairs of shoes.

Website / Author Facebook Page / Series Facebook Page / Twitter

GIVEAWAY

Jaye Frances is offering one (1) kindle eBook of Reunion, gifted from Amazon. Entry is easy peasy, just answer the question:

I am a ‘cover girl’ and will grab a book for that reason alone. How about you? What draws you to a book?

Ends 1.17.17

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MY JAYE FRANCES REVIEWS

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FREE Ebook – Lightning Crimes by Chrys Fey @ChrysFey

Posted on January 5, 2017 by fundinmental

FREE SHORT STORY EBOOK!

I am loving this series!

Chrys Fey has self-published her first ebook!

SheI also designed the cover art herself, and made it PERMA-FREE!

Title: Lightning Crimes

Series: Disaster Crimes 2.5
Genre: Romantic-Suspense

NOTE: LIGHTNING CRIMES is a teaser story that takes place between Seismic Crimes and Tsunami Crimes.

BLURB:

A freak lightning storm unleashes its energy on Central Florida. Bolts of lightning crash to the ground. Torrential rain soaks everything within seconds. And the power goes out, casting Beth and Donovan’s apartment into darkness. Beth is already on edge after receiving a menacing phone call several months ago, and this storm doesn’t help with her nerves.

Donovan tries to distract her from Mother Nature’s tantrum, but someone else has other plans. When they find the front door to their apartment wide open, they soon realize that it Isn’t an accident. Someone is in their apartment with them.

What crime can happen as fast as lightning?

DOWNLOAD FOR FREE:

Amazon / Smashwords

Barnes& Noble / Kobo

You can check out my Chry Fey reviews at the links below:

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Mothman is lonely in A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair @MaeClair1

Posted on December 21, 2016 by fundinmental

I love creature features and A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair stars Mothman, plus…

This is the second book in the Point Pleasant series. You can see my review for Book I, A Thousand Yesteryears here.

Check out this gorgeous cover. What does it make you think of?

Doesn’t it have an eerie feel to it?

Amazon / Goodreads

A COLD TOMORROW
Book 2 in the Point Pleasant Series
Genre: Suspense/Mystery
Length: 82,00 Words
Publisher: Kensington Publishing/Lyrical Underground Imprint
Publication Date: December 20, 2016

MY REVIEW

I LOVED the first book, A Thousand Yesteryears, so I was very eager to continue my journey down the road in Point Pleasant to see what happens next in this fantastic creature feature.

The cover alone gives me an eerie feeling, sending shivers up and down my spine as I try to guess at what lies ‘between the covers.’

Katie misses her sister, her best friend, Wendy, who disappeared three days ago. No one knows what has become of her.

One of the things that caught me early was Katie’s aversion to smells in the salon. I too have a problem with them. These smells of reality make it easy for me to feel as if I am there with her.

I love how Mae Clair develops the relationship between Katie and Doreen Sue, her mom. Reads like real life as the work through a not so good past.

The town has not been kind to Katie’s family, treating them like white trash. Maybe they want to think twice before they cast the first stone.

Ryan Flynn is called to Chester Wilson’s farm to investigate star snot and outer space grass. The mystery begins. Then, the cow…

“It’s been a weird day.”

“Weird how?”

Uh…let’s see…cow mutilation, phantom deputy, missing resident. Does that fit the bill?”

Point Pleasant is a hotbed for Mothman and UFO sightings, in real life too. Adds another element of reality for me. Could it be true? Is Mothman real? For the moment, Mothman is silent.

As things become stranger, Katie’s past comes to the forefront, her memories causing her to fear for herself and her son, Sam.

All of a sudden, something sets Mothman off and he is terrorizing the people of Point Pleasant. How would you feel if you were the only one of your kind…people so afraid of you, they shoot first and take names later?

The Mothman, aliens, Men In black, lights in the sky, mutilated animals, people feeling the compulsion to draw…There are mysteries galore that kept me on pins and needles, fearing for the characters I have grown to love.

Oh Yeah! I believe we will have a Book III.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos

5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Where secrets make their home…

Stopping to help a motorist in trouble, Katie Lynch stumbles upon a mystery as elusive as the Mothman legend that haunts her hometown of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Could the coded message she finds herald an extraterrestrial visitor? According to locals, it wouldn’t be the first time. And what sense should she make of her young son’s sudden spate of bizarre drawings—and his claim of a late-night visitation? Determined to uncover the truth, Katie only breaks the surface when a new threat erupts. Suddenly her long-gone ex-boyfriend is back and it’s as if he’s under someone else’s control. Not only is he half-crazed, he’s intent on murder….

As a sergeant in the sheriff’s office of the famously uncanny Point Pleasant, Officer Ryan Flynn has learned to tolerate reports of puzzling paranormal events. But single mom Katie Lynch appears to be in very real danger—and somehow Ryan’s own brother, Caden, is caught up in the madness, too. What the skeptical lawman discovers astounds him—and sends him into action. For stopping whatever evil forces are at play may just keep Katie and Caden alive…..

Buy at Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Google / Kesington Books

You can check out the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant West Virginia HERE.

photo courtesy of angelwing314.deviantart.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

Visit her Website / Twitter /

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
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One Sentence Review – After The Shock by Scott Nicholson @eScottNicholson

Posted on December 10, 2016 by fundinmental

After: The Shock is not my first Scott Nicholson story and it will not be my last.

The cover tells a lot about what’s inside.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I was so caught up in The Shock…An apocalypse brings out the best and worst in some people and Scott can make his characters shine as they step up and grow up after being thrown into turbulent and dangerous times…and I was pissed when it came to an end, leaving me needing the next book, and the next, to find out how it will end.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB: A massive solar storm erases the world’s technological infrastructure and kills billions. While the remaining humans are struggling to adapt and survive, they notice that some among them have…changed.

Rachel Wheeler finds herself alone in the city, where violent survivors known as “Zapheads” roam the streets, killing and destroying. Her only hope is to reach the mountains, where her grandfather, a legendary survivalist, established a compound in preparation for Doomsday.

Other survivors are fleeing the city, but Zapheads aren’t the only danger. Rogue bands of military soldiers want to impose their own order in the crumbling ruins of civilization. When Rachel discovers a 10-year-old boy, she vows to care for him even at the risk of her own life.

And the Zapheads are evolving, developing communal skills even as they lay waste to the society they will eventually replace.

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They Killed Santa in Cowabunga Christmas @aburke59

Posted on December 3, 2016 by fundinmental

Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke hooked me. How can I possibly resist sitting in that lounger, watching Kim and Brien hit the surf and wonder what trouble they will find as they butt into a murder mystery.

Christmas, a tropical beach locale and a dead Santa…Merry Christmas to you.

Cowabunga dudes and dudettes, “Sur’f Up.”

MY REVIEW

Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke has so much going for it…A gorgeous cover, hot surfer dudes and dudettes, Santa, a murder mystery and…

We begin our adventure by jumping the fence around the closed pool at this elite resort and taking a “midnight” swim. I have jumped a fence or two in my time, so I thought this was a good sign.

It’s Christmas, Kim is on her honeymoon with her hot and hunky surfer dude hubby, Brien. Kim was going to learn to surf and she got her very own wettie for Christmas.

They are opposites – He is hard and fast, she is slow and soft. The picture of them, in my head, is my favorite two characters from NCIS Los Angeles, Kensi Blye, Daniela Ruah, and Marty Deeks, Eric Christian Olsen.

Shortly after their pool jumping adventure, a body is found floating in the pool…dead. Oh no, it’s Santa.

We have a double and a triple cross and is there a treasure?

Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke with its easy reading and colorful characters has all the elements for a fun and humorous cozy mystery.

One mystery is solved…but, wait, there’s more on the horizon in Gnarly New Year.

“Cowabunga Christmas – it’s the most epic Christmas anyone could every have. We had one of the most awesome mornings surfing.” From Brien.

3 Stars

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#Kindle Giveaway, Interview & Review – Killer in the Band by Lauren Carr @TheMysteryLadie

Posted on December 1, 2016 by fundinmental

I LOVE Lauren Carr’s romantic mysteries and I am delighted to be able to share Killer in the Band with you today.

There is also an awesome giveaway, so be sure to enter!

INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN CARR

I love learning about authors, their inspiration, their likes and dislikes and those funny little things that give me insight into their personality. I am so happy to have Lauren Carr here, sharing some thoughts about her books and herself. Welcome, Lauren.

Lauren Carr is the bestselling author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime Mysteries, and the Thorny Rose Mysteries. We caught up with the charming mystery writer during her most recent virtual book tour for Killer in the Band, the 3rd in the Lovers in Crime series.

Lauren, thank you so much for chatting with us. Right off the bat, I’m curious. Is it hard to break away from your successful Mac Faraday series to work on a different one?

Yes and no. I love Mac Faraday and the gang in Spencer, Maryland! But that’s not to say that I don’t love Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates. The Lovers in Crime mysteries are set in Chester, West Virginia, the real small town where I grew up. Joshua Thornton was my first protagonist featured in my very first books, A Small Case of Murder and A Reunion to Die For. Returning to Joshua Thornton, Cameron Gates, and their family is very much like going home again.

Killer in the Band focuses a lot on J.J. Thornton, Jr., Joshua’s eldest son. Are you planning to take a new direction with the Lovers in Crime?

No, not at all. Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates are the Lovers in Crime and they always will be. But, like real people, they don’t live in a vacuum. Joshua Thornton does have a family from his previous marriage who are going to insert themselves into Joshua’s marriage and the Lovers in Crime’s cases.

In Killer in the Band, J.J. returns home after graduating from law school and rekindles a romance with his first love, Suellen Russell, a woman twice his age. When it turns out she has information on one of Cameron’s cases, J.J. can’t not get involved.

When you sit down to write a book, a paragraph, or whatever you‘re working on at the moment, do you just sit down in front of the computer, or do you need an outline of some sort? Is there any other prep you need in order to organize your thoughts either before you write or in the process of writing?

I will think about a book, or a part of a book, for a long time before I sit down to write it. I thought about Killer in the Band for a couple of years before I sat down to write even one word.

For new books, I will have everything sorted out in my head, most especially the killer, how he or she did it, and how my protagonist captures them before I sit down to write it. These are the most important elements for me to have. If I don’t have those things sorted out, then I could end up halfway through a book and find that I have no ending, which would be a huge waste of my time.

I will write notes, but only to sort the mystery out in my mind. More than half of the time, I don’t even refer to them once I sit down to write. The process of writing out the notes helps to sort it out.

Who is your greatest inspiration to write? What person makes you believe in yourself, and how?

My mother and my husband. My mother was the first to encourage me to put my imagination on paper. It was easy since I have always been a big reader.

Also, my husband Jack, no matter how many rejections I would receive, always insisted that I keep on going—keep on writing. Even when I had writers block, he was there for me.

Do you have any aspirations to be similar or comparable to another author? Why?

Agatha Christie and Earl Stanley Gardner. They were my first favorite mystery authors, so they will always have a special place in my author’s heart. My complex mysteries have been compared to Agatha Christie and when that happens, it makes my whole day better.

What has been the biggest high since becoming a published author?

Seeing all of my books break through on Amazon to make the top one-hundred in sales in both cozy mysteries and police procedurals. When readers and reviewers began posting fabulous reviews, and even sending e-mails, I knew then that all those years of hard work and learning were worth it.

Has becoming an author changed you, or the way you think about certain things? If so, how?

I am definitely more confident about my writing. Also, I have become more open to other authors’ writing.

I turned down two offers from commercial publishers to independently publish It’s Murder, My Son, and I have never looked back. Before I decided to be an indie author, I was rejected by many literary agents and publishers for a variety of reasons. In a nutshell, they did not think that I could be a commercial success. One literary agent, a big one, told me how talented I was in a two-page letter, ending with a rejection because he did not know how to market me.

I did not fit into a box that they had created. But I have found an audience, and I am a success. Many indie authors, who commercial publishers and literary agents would refuse to talk to, have found audiences without the blessing of commercial publishers or literary agents.

This has made me believe that if you write what you love, even if it is not my cup of tea, or the cup of tea of a New York bigwig, then if you publish and market it correctly, there is an audience out there for you. It’s just a matter of bringing your work to them.

What is your greatest fear about being an author?

Writers block.

From the first word to the moment it became available for purchase, how long did it take you to write and publish Killer in the Band?

That is a very tricky question. I’ve been thinking about the plot for Killer in the Band for a couple of years. I’d say a year ago I sat down to start writing it, right after the release if Kill and Run, which features Joshua Thornton Jr’s twin, Murphy. I was more than halfway through writing the first draft when in March I was completely inspired by the presidential election to write Candidate for Murder. Since that book had such a timely theme, I had to set Killer in the Band aside. I returned to it in June.

I guess to answer your question, I don’t know.

And now, for something completely different…some slightly off-the-wall and possibly irrelevant questions. Feel free to answer as many or as few as you like!

What’s your favorite candy? Ice cream?

Hershey Milk Chocolate Bar King sized for candy. Rocky Road ice cream slathered in Magic Shell for ice cream.

Would the 8-year-old version of yourself kick your ass or praise you for what you’ve done with your life?

Praise me for what I have done, while sighing with relief because during my twenties & thirties, it was touch and go there.

Do you have any talents you haven’t shared with us?

I’m a gourmet cook and love it.

Imagine you’re the sole survivor of a plane crash at sea, and you awake stranded on a deserted and uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Nobody knows you’re there, and you have nothing but the clothes on your back. You’re all alone, and there’s terrifying sounds coming from deep within the jungle. Late that night as you’re starving, a large suitcase washes up on the shore. You open it up. What’s in the suitcase?

A pink handgun with “Pink Lady” engraved on the muzzle, big box of dark chocolate to eat, a cell phone with all of the bars, and working laptop to write about my adventure while waiting for a ship full of handsome sailors to come save me.

What are you working on now?

Each series will continue to grow on their own with interconnecting mysteries occasionally. In January, there will be a new Thorny Rose Mystery, A Fine Year for Murder.

In A Fine Year for Murder, Jessica Faraday and her husband, Murphy Thornton, dive into the cold case murder at a family owned winery.

After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

As long as readers are clamoring for mysteries, I’ll be writing them.

MY REVIEW

OMG. She did it again. Lauren Carr has created another romantic suspense mystery that had me reading, ignoring my hubby and my mother, unable to put it down until the last page was read.

Killer in the Band is A Lovers in Crime Mystery that is chock full of wonderful characters, both human and animal. Her ability to bring them all to life is amazing. I laughed and cried, because she made me do it.

I cannot pick a favorite character. They are all amazing in their own way. It took me a little while to figure out the culprit(s). Even the bad guys have their reasons for doing for what they do and I could empathize with them…for a moment or two. BUT nothing justifies taking a life.

There is more than one mystery that will have to be solved and more than one villain. I felt so bad for both of them and that is when I know I have read a fantastic story.

Lauren does have a way of springing surprises on me that have my jaw hanging open, thinking, I sure didn’t see that one coming.

The animals…I just don’t know what to say. Some people do seem to have a special ability making it seem as if they talk to them. I do not want to spoil anything, but…have you ever looked in your critters eyes and wondered what they are really thinking?

The characters have trust issues that take time to work through, making it read like real life. I want to tell them…to be a go between and explain things, but that is not my place. I am just a spectator in this complicated story.

My emotion were high and low, happy and sad, and I was left with a good feeling when all was said and done.

I WANT MORE!!!!!!!

I received a copy of Killer in the Band from Lauren Carr.

5 Stars

ABOUT KILLER IN THE BAND by Lauren Carr

Summer of Love & Murder

Joshua’s eldest son, Joshua “J.J.” Thornton Jr., has graduated at the top of his class from law school and returns home to spend the summer studying for the bar exam. However, to Joshua’s and Cameron’s shock and dismay, J.J. moves into the main house at Russell Ridge Farm, the largest dairy farm in the Ohio Valley, to rekindle a romance with Suellen Russell, a onetime leader of a rock group who’s twice his age. Quickly, they learn that she has been keeping a deep dark secret.

The move brings long-buried tensions between the father and son to the surface. But when a brutal killer strikes, the Lovers in Crime must set all differences aside to solve the crime before J.J. ends up in the cross hairs of a murderer.

Praise for Lauren Carr’s Mysteries:

“Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!” – Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

“As always, Lauren Carr brings an action-packed story that is almost impossible to put down. Her mystery plots have so many twists and turns that I didn’t know if I was coming or going. And the action just didn’t stop from the very beginning till the very end.” – Melina Mason, Melina’s Book Reviews

Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

ABOUT LAUREN CARR

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Connect with Lauren: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Ghost Whisperer Meet Celeste by Kristine Mason @KristineMason7

Posted on November 28, 2016 by fundinmental

All right. I confess. I am a huge fan of Kristine Mason and I am delighted to share the final story of the Celeste Files: Poisoned.

Like a good ghost story? Like some romance and thrills with your paranormal?

Then you won’t want to miss this stand alone series.

.Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Kristine Mason writes some of the best suspense stories I have ever read, whether paranormal or mystery, and I was amazed…again…at her ability to take a ghostly story and make it read like a horror novel.

Celeste is psychic but she kept pretty quiet about it, helping out whenever she could.

Heavily pregnant, Celeste received a call for her sister, Eden, for help.

The gene had skipped Eden and had caused a rift between her and Celeste, but when events began happening at her new home, she felt Celeste was the one to call.

The house Eden and her husband had bought is haunted.

“You chase murderers for a living, I write about them…It’s fitting that we live in a murder house.”

Celeste thought she could handle the ghosts, stay grounded and in the land of the living.

It seems like she is learning more about her abilities by “living’ through new experiences. Could her over confidence in dealing with situation be her undoing? Would she come out of the trance or push her luck one too many times? And this time, her unborn baby’s life is at stake.

Celeste walked in the ghostly world trying to put the pieces together. She talked to the ghosts, but they were so cryptic it was hard to decipher their meaning.The mysterious deaths and the evil presence that resided in the house did not give up their answers easily.

What was HE after?

Her mantra, “the living are more powerful than the dead,” kept her grounded making her believe she could survive the evil surrounding her and release the ghosts from their torment.

Could her over confidence in dealing with the situation be her undoing? Would she come out of the trance or push her luck one too many times?

I love Celeste’s hubby, John. It took a while for them to work out some of the kinks in their marriage, but he is attentive, loving and funny. I can see him waggling his eyebrows as he offers to shave her bikini line.

I love Kristine Mason’s ability to surprise me and roil my emotions. The level of suspense in her writing kept me on pins and needles, afraid that this time Celeste had bitten off more than she could chew.

The characters come alive on the pages, making me feel their pain and suffering, their fear and anger, their sadness and regret. They are not always series and in danger, they have lives us normal people can relate to, with all the daily issues and problems that arise. They can be funny and happy, loving and giving, even when dealing with murder and danger.

I’m smiling, teary eyed…

I love the television show Ghost Whisperer with Jennifer Love Hewitt and I can see that she has met her match in Celeste.

I never pass on an opportunity to read one of Kristine Mason’s novels and if you are a suspense and thriller lover like me, I think you will feel the same. I am patiently waiting for the movie/TV world to find her.

5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The walls are infected, the foundation is diseased…this house is poisoned.

CORE agent, Hudson Patterson and his wife, Eden, recently moved into a century-old mini-mansion. But their dream home has become a living nightmare—occupied by a malevolent spirit who will only share the residence with them and their daughter…in exchange for their souls.

Psychic Celeste Kain is four weeks away from giving birth. The last thing she wants to deal with is the dead. But when she realizes an evil presence is terrorizing Eden, she will go to any length to help her sister. Especially when she discovers there isn’t just one ghost in Eden’s house, but many other tortured souls trapped within its infected walls.

To put an end to the haunting, Celeste uses her unique gift to connect with the ghostly residents. But the wicked entity who has been feeding off the other spirits’ pain and misery has other plans. It wants Celeste and her unborn child, and imprisons her inside the ghost house. Now powerless, unable to free herself and in labor, Celeste needs to fight to find her way back to her body before the entity can take what it wants…her baby.

ABOUT KRISTINE MASON

Kristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies, C.O.R.E. Shadow, and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next trilogy, C.O.R.E. Above the Law, along with a series of Psychic C.O.R.E. novellas.

Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.

Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!Connect with Kristine on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kristinemasonauthor, Twitter https://twitter.com/KristineMason7 or email her at authorkristinemason@gmail.com. You can also find out more about Kristine’s books at http://www.kristinemason.net

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

MY REVIEWS FOR KRISTINE MASON’S NOVELS

Shadow of Danger / Shadow of Perception / Shadow of Vengeance

Ultimate Kill / Ultimate Fear / Ultimate Prey (review coming soon)

Celeste Files: Unlocked / Unjust / Unforgotten / Poisoned

Perfectly Twisted / Perfectly Toxic / Perfectly Tortured

All covers link to Amazon and I am an affiliate, BUT I cannot help but tell you. Kristine Mason is a master storyteller and I would highly recommend buying the book sets, because you will want to read them all! Except, I have yet to read the Reality TV series.

The Celeste Files of the Psychic CORE series are paranormal and supernatural novels that star Celeste, from the very first book in the CORE Shadow Trilogy, Shadow of Danger. I love the mix of psychics and ghosts, with murder and thrills. Check them out below.