Giveaway/Review-Lucky Phoo by Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon

Posted on August 15, 2013 by fundinmental

I couldn’t resist this book when I saw the cover. It is not a genre I usually review, Children’s Mid-Grade, but Phoo was just so cute I couldn’t resist him. How can you look him in the eye and say no. LOL. What a fun cover!

Lucky Phoo

Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon

Genre: Children’s Mid Grade

Publisher: Imajin Books

Date of Publication: August 1, 2013

Number of pages: 109

Word Count: 43,000

Cover Artist: Ryan Doan

imajinbooks.com, amazon.com, luckyphoo.com and www.staciadeutsch.com

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Seventh grade best friends, Caylie Jiang-Kahn, Lauren Blindell, and Sabrina Robinson have busy middle school lives.

Sabrina wants to make a movie about their friendship, but a stray dog shows up and ruins the day. In frustration, Lauren curses, “Oh Phooey.” The name sticks. The crazy mutt will forever be named Phoo.

Sabrina pieces together bits of the footage she shot. She highlights Phoo’s silly antics and puts the video up on a movie contest website.

The video goes viral and suddenly, Lauren, Caylie, and Sabrina are celebrities at school. When a volunteer at the dog shelter sees the film, she assumes the dog belongs to the girls and calls them to come collect Phoo.

The girls arrange to take turns caring for Phoo until he can be adopted.

While sharing Phoo, Caylie, Sabrina and Lauren begin to notice that if the dog is around, lucky things seem to happen. The moment he’s gone…the luck disappears.

When they all need the dog’s magic at the same time, it’s up to the girls to decide once and for all: Is Phoo truly a lucky dog?

REVIEW BLURBS FOR LUCKY PHOO

“With punchy dialogue and a fast moving pace, LUCKY PHOO takes readers on a wild adventure as three friends try to share fostering duties of a lovable stray dog.” —Marianne Mitchell, author of FIREBUG

“Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon are two very best friends who write books together, which is very lucky for their readers. You’ll want to share LUCKY PHOO with all your friends, too!” —Jennifer J. Stewart, author of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A THIRD WORLD KIND, Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award List; Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award List; Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award List

“LUCKY PHOO is a great story about friendship, love and responsibility–Phoo, the lucky dog who wanders into Sabrina’s, Caylie’s and Lauren’s world is indeed lucky–although maybe not as lucky as these girls whose life he changes.” —Terry Trueman, Printz Honor Author of STUCK IN NEUTRAL

“Okay, full disclosure: I LOVE good, strong, dog stories–Lucky Phoo is precisely one of those!” —Terry Trueman, Printz Honor Author of STUCK IN NEUTRAL

EXCERPT

Mrs. Salinas was ready to go. “So if you girls are sure you can’t take him any longer, I’ll just head on over to the van―” She took a few steps forward then turned back to the girls. “You’re sure you can’t foster him any longer?”

“I can’t,” Sabrina said, her voice tight and sad.

“Not me,” Lauren confirmed.

“I might be able to squeeze out another weekend,” Caylie said, “but we’d be back here on Monday.”

“Right,” Mrs. Salinas said. “And at least this way he has a chance of getting adopted in Fresno.”

She took a few more steps towards the van. The rain, to Lauren, seemed to be coming down harder. The drops blended in with her tears now. And looking at Caylie and Sabrina, Lauren couldn’t tell, but was pretty sure they were crying, too.

Mrs. Salina’s stopped one more time, just at the edge of the parking lot. “It was great having him,” she said. “Wasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Lauren agreed. “Great.”

“We had fun,” Caylie said.

“Fun,” Sabrina repeated the word. “Yeah. We had a good time.”

Mrs. Salinas nodded. “I thought so.” She looked down at the dog, then back at the girls. “Tell me,” she said, her voice soft, drippy like the rain. “Weren’t things better when Phoo was around?”

The remark caught Lauren off-guard. What was Mrs. Salinas talking about?

“I think she’s right,” Lauren said, turning to Caylie and Sabrina. “Things have been going better than usual for me lately.”

“You don’t think he might have some kind of powers?” Sabrina looked over at Mrs. Salinas who was now at the van, loading Phoo inside.

“Well,” Caylie said, considering.

“I think maybe,” Lauren said tentatively. “I saw this show about luck and how―” Lauren stopped herself mid-sentence when she saw Mrs. Salinas push Phoo into an empty carrying cage. His voice joined the choir of barking dogs and was the loudest of them all.

In a sudden move, the girls rushed forward to stop the truck, shouting together, “Mrs. Salinas! Wait!”

MY REVIEW of Lucky Phoo by Rhody Cohon and Stacia Deutsch

Sabrina was directing Caylie and Lauren in her movie – VBF’s (very best friends).

“CUT,” Sabrina yells.

The dirty, mangy looking dog walked into view, peed on a tree, then made himself cozy right in the middle of her shot.

Her three minute movie went viral.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

The book is all about three best friends and the trials and tribulations of growing up.

I am a dog lover, so when I saw the cute cover, I couldn’t resist. Sometimes a book outside my usual genres is a nice change of pace. This book has all the elements of a great read-characters that are realistic, a storyline that is believable and descriptions and details that make me able to visualize things as they are happening. Plenty of humor to make this a very fun read.

The authors do a great job of describing the growing pains of a tween. How mean and cruel twelve year olds can be and how things can seem like the end of the world.

But the authors also show us how creative children are and how they believe their dreams can come true, believe nothing is impossible.

Phoo – is he their lucky charm? Everything seems better when he is around. It seems like he was talking to them and trying to help them.

Fifi – foo foo dog in a bag.

Sabrina – her dad was grooming her to be a world champ tennis player.

Lauren – her mother has cancer – the C word. When most people hear that they think it is a death sentence. As scary as that is for adults, imagine how terrifying it can be for a child.

Caylie – needs a job. Her parents are divorced and she is shuttled back and forth. .

Quotes

“Oh Phooey on you, little picnic party pooper!”

“So long to you, Phoo! That name fits hims perfectly.”

“Everybody needs a little phoo.” Fu means luck in Chinese.

The tour and author provided an Arc for review.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Stacia Deutsch Rhody Cohon wishes she could adopt a million pets! Until her house is big enough she’ll pamper the few she has and help others find the perfect home.

Find Rhody at www.rhodycohon.com.

Stacia Deutsch sits at the keyboard crafting stories all day and then, plays with her own crazy, lucky, dog at night. She and her three kids live in Southern California. You can visit Stacia at www.staciadeutsch.com or on twitter at @staciadeutsch.

Stacia’s Website / Rhody’s Website / Stacia’s Blog / Stacia’s Twitter

Author Facebook Page / Post your pet photos and videos Facebook Page

Stacia’s LinkedIn / Stacia’s Goodreads / Stacia’s Amazon Author Page

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

TOURWIDE GIVEAWAY

Be sure and check out this awesome giveaway for the child in your family or in YOU.

4 bracelets- US Shipping Only

1 full set of 8 titles of Blast to the Past (Blastothepast.com) US Shipping Only

1 set Smurfs Movie Novels- US Shipping Only

4 plush dogs with Lucky Phoo dog tags- US Shipping Only

3 Copies of the Lucky Phoo Ebook for download- international

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Review & Guest Post-Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason

Posted on August 13, 2013 by fundinmental

I saw the cover for Shadow of Perception (Core Trilogy, Book II_ by Kristine Mason and knew I had to participate in the tour. I was also lucky enough to get Shadow of Danger to review, another knock out cover and book you don’t want to miss. To see my 5 STAR Review, go HERE. Even though this is a trilogy, each book stands alone. But once you read one, you will want to read them all.

I have packed a lot into this post and I hope you will take the time to scroll through it all. I have included the blurb, an excerpt from the Bad Guy’s POV, a guest post from Kristine about her favorite character, my Review and a Giveaway. Plus a special little surprise at the end of the post for your musical enjoyment!

BUY LINKS

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

BLURB

What happens when negligent plastic surgeons receive a taste of their own medicine…?

Chicago investigative reporter, Eden Risk, receives an unmarked envelope containing a postcard ordering her to watch the enclosed DVD…or someone else dies. No Police. After Eden watches the DVD, a gruesome, horrifying surgery, she turns to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, for help. Only she hadn’t expected that help to come with a catch. Her former lover, Hudson Patterson, has been assigned to the case.

Hudson would rather have another CORE agent handle the investigation. Two years ago, he’d screwed things up with Eden…bad. And as more DVDs arrive, Eden and Hudson find themselves not only knee-deep in a twisted investigation, but forced to deal with their past, and the love they’d tried to deny.

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

EXCERPT

Bad Guy’s POV

The alarm on his watch beeped, reminding him what he’d already known. His patient would be waking soon, and by the low moan from the other room, he would have to act fast before the bastard regained full consciousness. Sure, he’d strapped the man down, but he didn’t want to miss the look on the shithead’s face when his eyes fluttered open, only to discover he’d just woken up in hell.

As he was about to exit the office, though, shame suddenly clouded his judgment. What he’d spent seven long years preparing for went beyond immoral and had his conscience battling with his anger and need for revenge. Sweat coated his skin and trickled down his back. His heart quickened and his head grew dizzy with the onslaught of a panic attack. Until he glanced at the letter he had framed and hung on the wall. The final contact he would ever have from his beloved daughter. While he’d memorized Eliza’s words, each bold and bubbly stroke of her script, he honed in on one line in particular for encouragement.

Make them listen, Daddy.

Another moan, this time even louder, filtered into the office. His head cleared, his heart slowed to normal, and an eerie calm settled over him.

“They’ll do more than listen, baby,” he whispered, rage suddenly sweeping away any thoughts of immorality or ethics or principles. Screw those things. Screw those quacks who had destroyed his daughter’s life.

Without hesitation he left the office and entered the main section of the thirty-by-fifty steel garage. He hadn’t needed the entire space and had chosen to fulfill his plans in the west corner of the building, where the lighting was best and the bathroom and utility sink were closest. Things would become messy after all.

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

Kristine Mason – My favorite character…

I love flawed characters. I’m not talking about a random scar that makes the sexy, badass hero sexier. I’m talking about the flaws that run deeper than the physical. Give me characters that have internal issues. Maybe they have a learning disability they’re hiding, or they’re struggling with anxiety, fear, trust or rejection. Or maybe a character’s arrogance and how they treat others is their flaw. Regardless, I want these characters to be motivated. I want to be able to get inside their heads and understand why they act the way they do.

I have four kids (11, 10, 7 and 2). Between my family and career, I’m extremely busy. When I have the time to sit down and read I want to be engaged by the characters. I want to fall in love with the hero, be the heroine and, if there is a bad guy, be afraid.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good had come from writing it. I realized my passion, and had found a career that I love.

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.

STALKING LINKS

FACE BOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE

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MY REVIEW of Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason

“There’s no such thing as perfect, only perception.”

“Look at me Daddy.”

He was watching as the images crawled across the screen. Eliza in her cheerleading uniform. Eliza being crowned homecoming queen. Eliza on her first modeling assignment. Eliza DEAD. The note she left said, “Make them listen, Daddy.”

Well, they will listen now he thought, as he dropped off the first DVD to Eden Risk.

Eden is an investigative reporter and he knew she would make it right.

Eden knew she needed help. She contacted CORE,a private criminal investigation agency. Ian and Hudson were watching the DVD.The horror that was taking place was too obscene to comprehend. The violence and mutilation the victim suffered was one of the worst they had seen. When the torture stopped, the doctor looked into the camera.

“Eden, take care of yourself….While I’ve been watching you, someone else has been, too.”

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

The covers and tag lines for The Core Trilogy are so intriguing, I was hooked as soon as I laid eyes on them. I didn’t need anything else to make me want to pick up the books and read them as soon as I could get my hands on them.

After reading Shadow of Danger, the first book in the CORE “Shadow” Trilogy, my expectations are high. There are multiple storylines and Kristine kept the suspense at a very high level.

The violence and torture is very graphic. I was amazed at Kristine’s ability to describe the brutality so vividly. Maybe she should be a profiler. She sure got into the mind of this serial killer.

Eden – a confident and ambitious investigative reporter for , with dark secrets. She had a need to control everything in her life. Obsessive-Compulsive. Stubborn. Sexy. Her pets, Fabio the cat and Brutal the rat dog, are unique and show that under her hard exterior there is a heart.

Hudson – a Marine and a CIA operative, doing Black Ops work. Looked like a kickass biker dude. An air of danger surrounds him. Hmmm, I like that. He could be a GB- Golden Boy- or a DB – Douche Bag.

I am a dog lover and find it adds another element to the story. It makes the characters seem more human and easier to relate to. Kristine did a fantastic job of integrating the animals into the story and giving me some chuckles.

The relationships between the characters smack of reality. They fail to communicate, which causes all sorts of problems and I think we can all relate to that.

QUOTES

“……a front for some eighties big hair band.” “..that explains all those hot groupies folowing me around and throwing their g-strings at me.

“I’ve only seen cats that size at the zoo or in the jungle. What the hell is it? Besides big and ugly.”

“Don’t talk like that, putting her hand over the cats ears.” “He’s sensitive.”

“So sorry if I hurt your widdle feewings.” Then she flipped him the bird.

“Hell is exactly where you are…….Welcome.”

“Slow down, Speed Racer.” I laughed out loud. I remember watching the show all the time.

“..what’s wrong?” “I’ve never owned a week whacker.” “What would you weed whack anyway? The dead plants in your apartment?”

“God this is something out of Hellraiser.”

I love it when an author can integrate humor into such a dark and violent story.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Shadow of Vengeance, Book III of the CORE “Shadow” Trilogy is coming soon.

You will have to read the book to find out why I included The Pina Colada Song.

To pick up Kristine Mason’s books from Amazon, simply click on the cover.

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 at Home and let’s talk.

Review/Guest Post – Shadow of Danger by Kristine Mason

Posted on August 13, 2013 by fundinmental

I saw the cover and stopped dead. Awesome. Tells me some bad stuff is coming. The blurb just reeled me in because I was already hooked. I was off and running from the very first page.

Even though this is a trilogy, each book can stand alone. But once you read one, you will want to read them all. Be sure and stop by tomorrow for my Review of Shadow of Perception, a guest post on Kristine’s favorite character and an awesome tour-wide Giveaway.

Recommended for Adults – violence, strong language and explicit sex scenes.

She awoke, fighting for her life and tears running down her face. She knew the woman was dead. This was not the first time she had felt the evil perpetrated on another as if it were happening to her. It wouldn’t be the last either.

Four nights and four nightmares. Would it ever end?

Roy had four dead women on his hands and needed help. He put in a call to Ian, the head of CORE. Ian knew John Cain was the man for the job and sent him to Wissota Falls.

Celeste had come home to Wissota Falls to take care of her mother, who was dying of cancer, and never left. Wissota Falls is a small town, where everyone knows everyone’s business. Could a serial killer be walking among them?

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

My two favorite things – murder and paranormal – and Kristine blended them into an excellent story. This is a long book and I knew I couldn’t read it in one sitting, but I really wanted to. Hmmm. How much longer can I read before I have to get up and clean the kitchen so my hubby doesn’t know I read all day. LOL

Are there two killers? The suspense of finding out who the killer is kept building. I figured it was between three people………Could it be him, yes. Or him, yes. Or him, yes. I know it has to be one of them, I just can’t figure out which one. I love not knowing and it was really hard to keep from skimming over parts to find the answer.

Celeste – she always put herself last. She was the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back. She had a gift, a paranormal gift that some might say was a curse.

John Cain – criminalist and former FBI agent, now working for CORE. John has a lot of personal baggage. I love a tarnished knight. It adds that little extra story line as they find their way out of the mess they are in.

CORE – Criminal Observance Resolution and Evidence. Ian Scott was the creator of the private agency formed to take down the bad guys.

Sherriff Roy Hauserman was like a father to Celeste. He had a healthy respect for her psychic gift. She knew she could always count on him. “Paul Bunyan without the ax and blue ox.”

I loved when Celeste first met John in the diner – such sizzling hot thoughts. As a rule, I don’t care much for sexually explicit books, but this book was so good it didn’t matter to me and only seemed to add to the story.

When Celeste talks about why she started collecting Gnomes, I laughed out loud.

I love Kristine’s ability to add humor to such a heavy and horrendous story. I know I keep saying I loved this and I loved that, but I did. I am so glad that I decided to participate in the tour for Shadow of Perception, Book II. Otherwise, I would have missed finding another fantastic author. Come back tomorrow for my review of Shadow of Perception and a guest post from the author, along with a Giveaway you don’t want to miss.

I received this book as part of a tour for the second book, Shadow of Perception. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Quotes

“If you loose any more weight, you’ll be nothing but walking boobs.”

John “Please don’t pout.”

Celeste “I’m not pouting……..Did you feel anything when you touched me at the diner?”

“…when you find that woman, no matter the odds, the end result is well worth it.” “What’s that?” “A woman you’d die for, or die without. Take your pick.”

“….thinking of puppies, babies and a frickin’ white picket fence.”

Celeste “Why are you doing this?”

HIM “Because I can.”

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

I am participating in the tour for Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason tomorrow, and she has given me two guest posts to choose from for the tour. SO, lucky you are going to get an insight into why Kristine writes in today’s post.

How I began writing…

I began writing twelve years ago after I quit my job to stay home with my newborn. While I was happy to be at home with my son, I have to admit that boredom set it rather quickly. To fill the time, I read a ton of books. And I’m not exaggerating. I would take a big bag to the library and toss in dozens of books, then read them all within a month. I’d become a serious romance junkie. At the time, I didn’t know which authors wrote what, so I had a hard time finding a certain type of book. I was looking for sexy, edgy, gritty suspense. After a while, I decided that if I couldn’t find what I was looking for, then I’d write it. That first book was something I would work on to kill the time. I wrote when I was in the mood and sometimes would go months without even looking at it. That book took me five years to write. Five years! What’s sad is no one will ever see it. But that’s okay. I had accomplished what many people place on their bucket list. I wrote a book.

Seven years ago, after the birth of my third son, I joined a local Romance Writers of America chapter. I attended my first conference, met published authors, editors and agents. That’s when I was bitten by the writing bug. Instead of looking at writing as a hobby, I began looking at it as my unpaid career. I wrote like crazy, found an awesome critique partner and really began learning the craft of writing. The book that took five years to write…I’ve written ten more since then. Again, not all will see the light of day, but those books helped me grow as a writer.

I truly love creating stories and characters. Writing has become my passion and I’m enjoying the ride!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.

STALKING LINKS

FACE BOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE

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

To pick up Kristine Mason’s books from Amazon, simply click on the cover.

Shadow of Vengeance, Book III of the CORE “Shadow” Trilogy is coming soon.

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.

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

Giveaway and Review for Unraveled by David J Agostine

Posted on August 13, 2013 by fundinmental

Twilight Zone meet David J Agostine

A futuristic, sci-fi, dystopian nightmare. Could it become our reality?

Not for the first time, he thought of eating his gun.

2016. Dalton is a dying town and there is no way out and nowhere to go.

The United States government is broke and there is no work. No one and no where is safe.

He was a scab cop, because he felt someone had to try and save the town from the rioting, looting, gangs, illegals, rape and murder. But, watch your step. The government has secrets it does not want you to know and the price you pay could cause you to be Unraveled.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I love the cover. I keep looking at it, trying to see more. The book reads like an episode of Twilight Zone.

David J Agostine did an great job of taking me step by step through the decline of civilization as we know it. People are desperate. They have already lost everything, so there is nothing else to lose.The atrocities inflicted on the weaker are horrendous and realistic, as there is no one there with the will or the power to put a stop to it. That is, no one except a scab cop. Would you be willing and able to step up?

It has become the Wild West and you will have to protect yourself.

Could it happen today? Could the US have a Civil War? US against US. When you read Unraveled, it will make you wonder why it hasn’t happened already.

Could the reason our current society is still standing be because of the HERD mentality? The fear people live with, of risking what little they have and losing it all, so they blindly follow along, hoping tomorrow will be better?

The haves against the have nots. Isn’t that what is going on right now? Do the haves really believe it is their God given right to say – it’s our way or no way? The saying – History repeats itself – is used for a reason. This is neither the first nor the last time that greed, corruption, arrogance and egotism rises to the top, ignoring those that put them there.

The biggest question is – how far would they go to keep us from rising up?

“Some people are shit and some people are the lily-white paper, and it doesn’t matter one bit because we’re all going down the toilet together.”

Economic vigilantes – love that name.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Image of David Agostine ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David J. Agostine is a practicing fitness trainer and former larceny / fraud investigator. He worked for the past twenty-years managing investigations and security for several large organizations and is author of the highly acclaimed, dark fantasy novel, “Boys of the Great BB War.” Dave grew up in the small town of Cobleskill, NY and currently lives in Averill Park, NY with his beautiful daughter Annalise, who will never get a phone in her room that is not being recorded. “The Conspiracy Diet” is Dave’s first non-fiction title and has already helped over 1000 people achieve their weight loss goals.

STALKING DAVID J AGOSTINE

Goodreads / Amazon / Twitter

To purchase a copy of any of David J Agostine’s books, simply click on the cover below.

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos David J Agostine is offering for the Giveaway 3 ebooks to 3 lucky commenters. International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Do you follow the herd or do you walk your own path?

The Giveaway is over and David Agostine loved your comments so much, that he made EVERYONE a winner. Congratulations and thanks for your fantastic comments!!

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.

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

WINNERS!! Too Dark To Sleep by Dianne Gallagher

Posted on August 12, 2013 by fundinmental

My favorite time of any giveaway is announcing the winners. So without further ado, the winners of Too Dark To Sleep by Dianne Gallagher are:

Signed paperback winners:

Daphne

Kristie

Signed ebook winners:

Laura

Tamara

Congratulations everyone!

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful comments.

To see my Review, go HERE.

To pick up your copy from Amazon, click on the cover below.

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.

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

Cover Reveal – The Heart of the Hunter by Natalie-Nicole Bates

Posted on August 12, 2013 by fundinmental

Heart of the Hunter

Natalie-Nicole Bates

Genre: Romantic Suspense

After a devastating accident, Barret Atkins has accepted a quiet, solitary existence. His life is turned upside down, when he finds the badly injured Kansas Smith, left for dead in a case of mistaken identity. As Kansas begins to recover, Barret must face some deep scars of his own. When the couple begin to fall for each other, their lives spin into a revival of past hurts, jealousies, and betrayals, causing Barret to put a halt to their budding relationship.

Barret’s hesitation causes his best friend-turned vicious rival, Duncan Craig, to pursue a friendship with Kansas. Where will this leave Barret? Can they all hold on long enough to escape Kansas’s attacker, and will they ever conquer their own inner demons intent on keeping them apart?

Connect with Natalie-Nicole Bates:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

To grab an Amazon copy, simply click on the cover below.

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.

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

Launching the Recipe Book Tour for Emergence by Rachel E Fisher

Posted on August 11, 2013 by fundinmental

Launching the Recipe Book Tour for…

On Tour with Prism Book Tours….

Emergence

Eden’s Root Trilogy #3

by Rachel E Fisher

Published April 30, 2013

“I promise you, Sean. We’re going to stop them.”

The pieces on the board are in motion and with both sides gathering strength, each move will be critical. When the Truthers make a play for checkmate, the Seeders are forced to respond. Fi and her companions will face greater challenges and higher stakes than ever before, because this time if they fail, it’s for keeps.

Amazon * Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Seeds of War #2

The mission of Eden must be fulfilled and Eden’s best Seekers are needed. Forming a new group they dub the Seeders, Fi, Asher, and Sean are joined by a new addition as they set out to bring hope and support to the Topsiders in the form of radios and heirloom seeds. Their experiences Topside prepare them for the threat from marauding gangs they call Lobos, but it is a different, less obvious sort of threat that takes them by surprise. As radio broadcasts begin to reconnect Eden and the Topsiders, the Seeders stumble upon mysterious broadcasts from unknown stations. When two of their own new radio stations go silent within days of each other, Fi and her companions realize that something is terribly wrong. Eden finds itself pitted against a growing and unknown force as their very mission lights the flames of war.

Eden’s Root #1

It is 2033, and the world hovers on the edge of explosion as unexplained crop deaths lead to severe global food shortages. In the United States, the Sickness is taking lives slowly, creeping its way into every family. Fi Kelly has already faced the Sickness in her own family, toughening her beyond her years. But a shocking confession from her dying father will push her toughness to its absolute limits. Saddled with an impossible secret and the mission of saving her little sister, Fi sets out to transform herself into the warrior that she must become to survive the coming collapse. Along the way, she will discover that evil can be accidental and that love can be intentional.

To pick up your copy from Amazon, simply click on the cover below.

Rachel E Fisher

I am a wife and entrepreneur living and working in Florida. I am also a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, where I majored in Biology. It was always my assumption that I would end up making research my life. Though it did not work out that way in the end, my passion for Biology remains intact.

I have always loved biology-based science-fiction and the young adult genre. It is in this vein that I offer my work.

www.rachelefisher.com * @edensroot * Facebook * Goodreads

In Rachel Fisher’s dystopian world, natural grown food has turned to poison or died before it can produce fruit. This idea was partly inspired by her own life and the necessity of creating vegan and gluten-free meals.

Find your apron and roll up your sleeves… it’s time to celebrate the Eden’s Root Trilogy.

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To pick up your copy of a Rachel E Fisher novel, simply click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

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

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Puff the Magic Dragon

Posted on August 11, 2013 by fundinmental

I had to laugh at myself, sitting here with tears in my eyes as I watch and listen to this.

It brought back some (good?) memories. I got kicked out of school for three days in Junior High School for smoking in the bathroom. In the school yearbook, under my name, they put Puff The Magic Dragon.

Hope you take a moment, sit back, relax and reminisce.

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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Grand Finale for King by RJ Larson

Posted on August 10, 2013 by fundinmental

Grand Finale!

See the entire tour at a glance…

King

by RJ Larson

Paperback, 352 pages

Published July 1, 2013 by Bethany House

Akabe of Siphra is certain his people are insane.

Why have they made him a king?
What, in the name of peacetime boredom do kings do?

Frustrated by a lengthy silence from his Creator, the Infinite, Akabe decides to prove himself as king by undertaking a monumental task, his own lifelong dream: Rebuild the Infinite’s temple in Siphra.

But Akabe’s impulsive decision sweeps him into a storm of controversy. The Infinite’s enemies join forces in Siphra, and beyond, conspiring to destroy the emerging temple—and to kill their king and his mysterious new queen.

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Bethany House

R.J. Larson is the author of numerous devotionals featured in publications such as Women’s Devotional Bible and Seasons of a Woman’s Heart. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband and their two sons. Prophet marks her debut in the fantasy genre.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Map Puzzle Tour… Follow the tour to reveal the entire map!

22 – Launch! Kien (Judge cover) is the original owner of the map… the scrolling mimics his sword…

23 – ADDLibrarian – Review

My own perceptions of God as portrayed by the Old Testament have been challenged.

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Rose & Beps Blog – “Compass: The Dream” RJ Larson

“…if anyone had told me that I would be writing Inspirational fantasy I would have laughed, shaken my head, and offered them chocolate…”

24 – TheWonderings of One Person – Review

This last book in her series is simply amazing in its passionate pursuit of wholeness through obedience.

25 – TheOther World “Beginnings” RJ Larson

“King’s main character, Akabe of Siphra, first appeared in book one, Prophet, as an honorable rebel-hunter roaming wild in the mountains east of Parne.”

26 – Pieces of Whimsy – “Romance & Action: The Balancing Act”

“This symmetry between lovely gowns, awesome weaponry, and pondering the eternal Word…”

28 – The(Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl

“Mythical-seeming beasts and monsters from Earth’s own ancient legends’

29 – JoJo’sCorner

I give KING by RJ Larson *****5/5 STARS*****

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Christy’s Cozy Corner – Ela’s Griddle Bread

30 – Proud Book Nerd

“Akabe’s task, which threatens to be thankless indeed, is to unify his country, restore peace to his people, and reestablish Siphra’s reputation among neighboring countries.”

31 – KellyP’s Blog

“Belaal’s ruler is a god-king named Bel-Tygeon who believes that his own will supersedes all others, including his Creator, The Infinite.”

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JL Mbewe

Prophet is such an interesting read… the author has created this awesome world that springs to life with great characters from Ela’s little sister Tzana to Kien to the destroyer called Pet.

1 – Worthy 2Read – Reviews of Prophet, Judge & King

Larson creates a believable world inspired by the Old Testament. The narration is rich and the characters are well-developed. The plot is suspenseful, drawing the reader in as Ela grows as the Infinite’s prophet.

2 –
Mommasez…

4 – Backing Books

Can we follow God in faith even when he seems silent to our prayers? This is something that we often struggle with and that Larson approaches in her newest novel, King.

5 – Shannon’sBlog

With likable characters, a fresh world, and a powerful measure of spirituality, King is a fine addition to Christian fantasy.

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Mel’s Shelves Review

This is a well written book with lots of great quotes and thoughts. I found myself stopping a lot to digest the words I had just read. I loved the ending and this is a book that I highly recommend!!

6 – A Year of Jubilee Reviews

7 – Tressa’sWishful Thinking – Review

You can see a lot of similarities or situations based off of different Bible stories. The circumstances and resolutions are not the same though. This is a different world with different characters and other factors,

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A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – What’s Next?

Exiles

Two tribes will close the map’s circle in two spin-offs now underway in my imagination and in my computer. Working titles…

Queen

8 – TellTale Book Reviews

I sincerely hope that R.J. Larson continues writing more of this style of book, either continuing the series or possible writing another one. Fantasy isn’t my top choice in genres but R.J.’s books have been and will continue to be at the top of my wishlist!

9 – Grand
Finale

The map… complete!

Giveaway:

Print copy of Prophet, Judge & King. USA, Canada, UK only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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Welcome To The Neighborhood by Mary Abshire

Posted on August 9, 2013 by fundinmental

Welcome to the Neighborhood
Series: Midnight Gardens book, #1
Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Contemporary / Vampire

Publication Date: August 5, 2013

Available Formats: pdf, epub, mobi

SUMMARY:

Sparks fly under the full moon in paranormal suburbia.

Vampire Alexandria Cartwright believes she’s found the perfect home in paranormal suburbia. An independent young woman and professional financial adviser, Alexi needs help from no man, human or paranormal. Until burglars break into her house and steal her most valuable possession–one which could lead to her demise.

Werewolf Gregory Holmes is instantly attracted to his new neighbor and wants nothing more than to protect her from any who would seek to harm her. Helping Alexi recover her stolen safe seems to be the perfect opportunity to show her how he feels.

Centuries of experience have shown Alexi all men are greedy pigs who only think with the brain below their belt. But as Greg comes to her aid repeatedly, she wonders if he’s the real deal. Can she overcome her loathing for men? Can Greg break through the wall she’s built to show her the meaning of love?

CONTENT WARNING: Language. Violence. Graphic sex

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Lyrical Press Website

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary lives in Indiana and is a lifetime lover of the paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy. When she’s not slaving away at her government job, she is a Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Author. She creates fantastical worlds with vampires, demons, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. Dive into her books and find action, a dash of mystery, and seductive men with passionate hearts.