Review – Dead West (The Endings #3) by Linda L Richards @lindalrichards #deadwest

Posted on July 18, 2025 by fundinmental

MY REVIEW

I have read a couple of books in the Endings series by Linda L Richards and loved them, so when I found I had Dead West hanging around from a free book day, I had to read it. I love assassins and I think she is one of the most mysterious assassins I have met in a while. It doesn’t matter what her name is because it is as fictional as her life story, but I like the twist Linda L Richards incorporates into her story.

I have read another book recently that dealt with the wild horses out west and the struggles they have to survive in the political climate. I love horses and so much of the problems in Dead West ring true.

It doesn’t take much and she is ready to switch sides. How can she get out of killing Cameron Walker, a rancher in Arizona. He’s a good man and she is torn between what she has been paid to do and what she feels is right. If she reneges on the deal, it could mean the end of her.

We have a lot of twists and turns in Dead West. The mystery is not easy to figure out and I was surprised when I learned who the biggest villain was. As we approach the end, I wonder how she will make herself and everyone else happy. Dead West is one of my favorite books in the Endings series.

There are book club questions at the end of the book and they prove thought provoking whether you are part of a book club or an individual, like me. I love a book that makes me think and sticks with me after the reading.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Rule #1 of being a hired never get to know your target . . . and definitely don’ t fall in love with them

Taking lives has taken its toll. Her moral justifications have faltered. Do any of the the people she has killed — some of them heinous, but all of them human — deserve to die?

Her next target is Cameron Walker, a rancher in Arizona. When she arrives at his remote desert estate to carry out her orders, she discovers that he is a kind and beautiful man. After a lengthy tour of the ranch, not only has she not killed him, she’s wondering who might want him dead.

She procrastinates long enough that a vibe grows between them. At the same time, she learns that he’s passionate about wild horses and has been fighting a losing political battle to save the mustangs that live on protected land near his property. He’s even received death threats from those who oppose him.

She finds herself trying to protect the man she was sent to kill, following a trail that leads from the desert, to the Phoenix cognoscenti, to the highest offices in Washington, DC. Along the way she encounters kidnappers and killers, horse thieves and even human traffickers. Hopefully she can figure out who ordered the hit before they hire someone else to execute the assignment.

Perfect for fans of Dean Koontz and Tana French

While the novels in The Endings Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is as:

Endings
Exit Strategy
Dead West

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2023 by Oceanview Publishing

ABOUT LINDA L RICHARDS

Linda L. Richards is the award-winning author of over a dozen books. The founder and publisher of January Magazine and a contributing editor to the crime fiction blog The Rap Sheet, she is best known for her strong female protagonists in the thriller genre. Richards is from Vancouver, Canada and currently makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona. New for 2024: INSENSIBLE LOSS, the fourth book in the Endings series featuring a reluctant hit woman struggling towards the light. Linda’s 2021 novel, the first in this series, ENDINGS, was recently optioned by a major studio for series production. Richards is an accomplished horsewoman and an avid tennis player, and is on the National Board of Sisters in Crime.

Catch Up With Linda L. Richards:
LindaLRichards.com
Goodreads – @lindalrichards
BookBub – @linda1841
Instagram – @lindalrichards
Threads – @lindalrichards
Twitter/X – @lindalrichards
Facebook – @lindalrichardsauthor

MY LINDA L RICHARDS REVIEWS

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Giveaway – Finding Home by Corinne Joy Brown Ginny McDonald

Posted on August 4, 2020 by fundinmental

Book Details:

Book Title: FINDING HOME by Corinne Joy Brown and Ginny McDonald
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 130 pages
Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: Loose Cayuse Productions
Release date: June 2019
Format available for review: print, and PDF
Will send print books out: USA and Canada
Tour dates: August 3 to 21, 2020
Content Rating: G. There are no expletives, sex scenes or bad language anywhere.

“Born in the flatlands of Rock Springs, Wyoming, newborn mustang Pahaska tells the heart-wrenching story of her separation from her mother and the wild horse herd she was born into. Captured by strangers, her entire world has disintegrated. Penned in the filthy, manure-filled confines of a horse hauler’s trailer, her life is changed forever. Finding Home, a 2020 Spur Finalist for Juvenile Fiction, is a brilliantly written story about the adoption of the mustang “Curly Girl” by a teen who has always dreamed of having her own horse. Ginny McDonald’s illustrations convey fine detail and emotion in the images of the horses, bringing each one to life. This heart-warming tale will appeal to those with a love for animals.” – Joni Franks, RoundUp Magazine, Western Writers of America

“This beautifully written and illustrated book will appeal to any animal loving young reader. Differences (equine and otherwise) are applauded, working through complicated human relationships, a philosophical, well balanced approach to difficult issues (wild horse roundups), and positive animal training techniques are included in this educational, riveting new book!” – Nancy Sachs, Director Platte Valley Pony Club

“To see the world through the eyes of a newborn filly as she grows into adulthood, or an excited young girl in search of her first horse, is a treasure found in Corinne Joy Brown’s novel Finding Home, a story of loss and recovery told in a brilliant way. The illustrations by Ginny McDonald help to refine the wonderful writing which places the reader squarely in the experience of Curly Girl and Jesse, her adopter. Finding Home is a wonderful story for our time, in consideration of the wild horses whose freedom is threatened across the West and the people who adopt the captured ones into loving homes.” – James A. Holmes CEO and Executive Director, Cherokee Ranch and Castle Foundation

Book Description:

For every girl or boy who owns a horse, or wished they did, “Finding Home” brings all the drama and beauty of America’s wild horses to the middle-grade reader.
A coming-of-age story and a tale about friendship, trust and understanding, both horse and owner have powerful lessons to learn. Together, young Jesse Nolan from Colorado and her wild mustang, Curly Girl, rounded up in Wyoming, discover what it means to rely on oneself, as well as those who love you most.

Buy the Book: Finding Home Amazon ~ B&N

Meet the Authors:

Ginny McDonald is an award-winning, professional Colorado illustrator and a longtime advocate for wild horses. She is the adopter of an American Curly mare, and more recently, a second mustang named “Lil Bit”. Ginny’s skill in the use of Prismacolor pencils brings this story to life with rich detail and heartfelt emotion.

Denver native Corinne Joy Brown is a multi-published, award-winning Colorado author, magazine editor and freelance writer focused on the West .” Recent publications include “Young Rider”, “Cowboys & Indians,” and “Working Ranch.” She’s also been a horse owner most of her life. Corinne is committed to teaching the next generation about the power of horses to teach and heal. “Finding Home” is her eighth book.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Facebook

Tour Schedule:

Aug 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 3 – Corinne Rodrigues | Booksnista – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 4 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 4 – Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post / author interview / giveaway
Aug 5 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 5 – My Journey Back – book review / author interview / giveaway
Aug 6 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – book review
Aug 7 –T’s Stuff – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Aug 7 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Aug 10 – Reading Authors Nework – book review / giveaway
Aug 11 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Aug 11 – Priya’s Lit Blog – book review / giveaway
Aug 12 – Older & Smarter? – book review
Aug 12 – Read and Review – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 13 – A Mama’s Corner Of the World – book review / giveaway
Aug 13 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 14 – Rosepoint Publishing – book review / giveaway
Aug 14 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 17 – authors.ace – book review
Aug 18 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Aug 18 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
Aug 19 – Krisha’s Cozy Corner – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 19 – Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Aug 20 – My Reading Journey – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 20 – Pen Possessed – book review / giveaway
Aug 21 – Svetlanas reads and views – book review

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wild Horses and a Legacy of Evil by Sharon Buchbinder @sbuchbinder

Posted on December 1, 2017 by fundinmental

Legacy of Evil by Sharon Buchbinder is the second book of the Hotel LaBelle series.

Both books will stand alone.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

Legacy of Evil is Book II, but it can stand alone.

Emma Horserider is an ex marine, and her name is so appropriate because of her bond with animals, especially the wild horses she loves so much. She has a telepathic connection to them. She is a dog and horse whisperer.

The Native American mysticism crosses boundaries with the military and a bike riding hunk who goes by the name of Brandon Winchester.

Terrorism…enter Homeland Security in the form of Brandon Winchester. Emma’s brother, Bert Blackfeather, is his boss and sends him to help her, after a herd of wild horses is attacked and she almost loses her life. Brandon is a remote viewer in the Anomaly Defense Division, think of the old CIA Paranormal experiments. He also has a telepathic connection to his cat, Gaucho.

Sparks fly. I really enjoy the fun and flirty dialogue between them.

Dear God, how she loved an inked up wild man on a bike.

The wild cast of characters quickly won over my heart. I laughed with them, feared for them, and hoped they would make it through the danger okay. I love the warrior women. Strong female characters appeal to me and Sharon Buchbinder gives us some doozies. The supporting cast is just as interesting.

“You’re a Twerp whisperer Steph. Thanks for defusing the little hand grenade.”

I love her outrageous cousin, Stephanie. I wonder…will she have a story of her own? What do you say Sharon?

When it becomes too dangerous for her to stay home, she moves, temporarily, to Hotel LaBelle. To get the full story on Lucius Stewart, Tallulah Thompson and her pug, Franny you will want to read The Haunting of Hotel LaBelle.

Like fighting like, the upcoming battle hits close to home for both of them and Bronco’s past will come full circle.

Full of so much goodness, so many of the things I love, danger, suspense, humor and sadness, lives lost and lives saved.

The seriousness of the story still leaves time for humorous writing that keeps the pace flowing smoothly. Legacy of Evil is wrapped up in a happy ever after ending, yet left the story open for more…and I want it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Legacy of Evil by Sharon Buchbinder.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

When a wild mustang is shot in Montana, renowned horse whisperer and telepath, Emma Horserider, is called in to calm the herd and find out what happened. Once on scene she is almost killed by a bullet-spewing drone, and calls her black ops brother for back-up.

Emma’s help roars into her life covered in tattoos and riding a Harley. Remote viewer Bronco Winchester takes the assignment because he is ordered to, but he wonders what type of assistance, his boss’s sister needs. That is until he sees Emma, a valiant Warrior Woman proud of her Crow heritage.

Posing as a married couple, Emma and Bronco go undercover to infiltrate and stop a hate group. Both are anxious enough without the now growing attachment they feel for one another. When the lives of many are on the line, they are not sure if they will live or die—let alone have a chance at love.

ABOUT SHARON BUCHBINDER

After working in health care delivery for years, Sharon Buchbinder became an association executive, a health care researcher, and an academic in higher education. She had it all–a terrific, supportive husband, an amazing son and a wonderful job. But that itch to write (some call it an obsession) kept beckoning her to “come on back” to writing fiction. Thanks to the kindness of family, friends, critique partners, and beta readers, she is published in non-fiction, as well as contemporary, erotic, paranormal ,and romantic suspense. When not attempting to make students, colleagues, and babies laugh, she can be found herding cats, waiting on a large gray dog, fishing, dining with good friends, or writing.