To Be Or Not To Be: Scales by Pauline Creeden

Posted on June 18, 2015 by fundinmental

Welcome to my stop for Scales by Pauline Creeden.

I am so excited to share this mer Novella.

I am loving the awesome cover, but I have so much more to share with you. Be sure and read my review and the excerpt we are sharing today.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Cover: Quirky Bird

MY REVIEW

Scales by Pauline Creeden is a mermaid novella and does not stand alone.

I love anything to do with mer people and when I see a book, I will grab it pronto. The cover is beautiful and the title catchy, makes me think I will enjoy Pauline’s writing.

The Reckoning has come for Verona. Will she choose the land or the sea?

I wonder…do mers go to school? Do they learn to read and write? Do they quote Shakespeare?

Pauline’s vivid and detailed description of Verona changing from breathing water to breathing air had me hanging on her every word.

I feel Verona’s sense of accomplishment when she catches her first fish. She has worked hard to learn something I had thought would come easily to her. Pauline does a great job of showing us her growth and development as she struggles to survive.

Verona has made friends with the horses of Chincoteague. When the annual roundup occurrs, she feels like she is losing her furry friends. At least they will be together, she thinks, but she is so alone. I have read about the horses and find it fascinating.

I do not see a lot of mer books, so I am always on the lookout for an original approach to the subject. Pauline’s writing kept my interest throughout the novella.

The novella ends abruptly and I was pissed. LOL Now I have to wait to find out what happens next, but I will be waiting.

I received Scales by Pauline Creeden in return for an honest review.

3 Stars

BLURB

Verona is a bottom feeder. She is the one mer in her clan who is considered the ugliest and least intelligent. Growing up with the constant bullying and abuse wasn’t the worst of what her kind had in store for her. At seventeen years old, she must now endure “The Reckoning.”

The scales will measure her worth to her clan. Will she endure thirty days as a land-walker to gather information and knowledge to appease her clan and return a valued member? Will she wait three years, until she is twenty, and find a mer of her kind to accept her and marry her? Or will she suffer exile for the rest of her life?

Genre: YA

Buy on Amazon Available May 26th

ABOUT PAULINE CREEDEN

Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.

Follow Pauline Creeden: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter

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Giveaway ~ Fated by Joanne Kershaw

Posted on May 20, 2015 by fundinmental

2015-FatedBookBlitzBanner[1]

Welcome to my stop for Fated by Joanne Kershaw.

Add me to Goodreads now.

FATED (Vanguard Legacy #3)

by Joanne Kershaw

YA Fantasy

Published by Xchyler Publishing on April 25^th, 2015

Defeated but not vanquished, the foes of light have retreated. But victory came at a terrible cost to Elora Walker, with her friends lost and scattered. Eleven months later and just seventeen, she commands her own Vanguard quad but struggles with a past that won’t release her and a future she hesitates to embrace.

The barriers between worlds continues to weaken, Dark Seekers are emboldened, and David still plans to engulf humanity in eternal night. Elora means to end the threat once and for all but dreads the personal consequences. Will saving the world demand the ultimate sacrifice? And who must pay it?

Amazon UK – Amazon US

EXCERPT

I thought that, with this being book three, it might be a good idea to introduce you a little to Elora’s new world and the new cast of characters in her life. The main events of Fated take place almost a year after the conclusion of Reflected, and a lot has changed for Elora. Now an active Vanguard, she is finally living an ‘ordinary’ life—you know, aside from the mind-reading and exceptional speed, strength and senses! Enjoy!

My back slammed into the red brick wall, and a hot breath rushed out of me. Gasping, my eyes flickered shut for a second before I felt myself rise again. Cold, hard hands gripped my neck and lifted me until my face was level with a pair of menacing, soulless black eyes. I didn’t wriggle or squirm, not that I didn’t want to, but the hold the vampire had on my neck was choking the life out of me. Pushing out with my mind, I tried to find my back-up. Where on the Spirits was the rest of my quad?

My quad, however, seemed oddly absent, and I felt my heart beat grow a little more frantic—and probably more delicious-sounding considering my current company. Desperate now, I swung my legs up hard and punched my feet into the centre of the vampire’s chest. A dead thud reverberated through me. He snarled derisively while I pushed against him, trying to force him to release his grip on my throat. One shove, another. The third time, I summoned all of the Vanguard strength I had in me.

I caught the smug creature off-guard—my short stature often led my enemies into a false sense of security. His grasp loosened for a fraction of a second and I twisted away, both of us falling in a tangled heap on the floor while I gasped for breath. I scrambled away, the dirt from the alley pushing up under my fingernails as I skittered backwards. The vampire moved fast, and I was unable to put any real distance between us before his shadow loomed above me.

I cast my eyes towards the shadow, trying to anticipate the creature’s next move. It was not the vampire but my quadmate and commander, Marcus. He held his finger to his lips and I listened inside instead.

“The rest of the quad are behind you, Elora,” came Marcus’ calm, calculating voice. “We need to draw him that way if we’re going to take him alive.” This steady-in-the-face-of-danger attitude was something I had come to expect of Marcus during the last few months, and so I nodded, the panic fading as quickly as it had come.

Marcus slipped back behind a portion of the wall and continued his commands, relying on me to pass them around the quad. This was what I did, after all—human telephone. A sudden lump rose into my throat as the phrase fluttered through my brain, my assigned Vanguard Superior had coined it and he had died a little over six months ago whilst trying to protect me. He was an honourable man. I had trusted him and he had believed in me. It still hurt that he was gone. I had little time to think about it, though; the vampire had hold of my ankle and was slowly lifting me up. The tendons in my ankle popped, straining against my weight. My short, auburn hair slipped from its ponytail as I was lifted completely off the ground.

“They sent a little girl for me?” laughed a dry voice. We had reached the obligatory ‘just before you die’ gloating, and I steeled myself for the usual barrage of taunts and mockery. “Did they really think you would be able to take me down?” the vampire continued. I squirmed a little, making it look good. I knew the others were about to make their move and I was waiting as patiently as I could. “Little girl, I am Ramos. I have been alive probably ten times your lifespan! How dare you think you can kill me?” It was clear that Ramos needed this to be a two-way affair, so I joined in—if only to shut him up.

“Maybe I just look good for my age?” I coughed. It turned out it was difficult to speak when suspended upside down.

Marcus whispered to me that it was probably best not to antagonise the monster any more, but it was a little late for that.

“Good for your . . . ha!” Ramos mocked. “The lack of marks on your uniform show me just how little you are, girl.” The silver flecks on my sleeve were on the sparse side—but I was still new, really, so twelve was pretty good. With a sudden surge, the vampire wrenched me up and around, spinning me so that he once again gripped my neck rather than my ankle. Then he whispered darkly, “I think I will drink you slowly, painfully. Punishment for your arrogance.”

“Now would be a great time to perform your daring rescue!” I urged my quadmates silently. I saw them about the same time as Ramos heard them. They slipped in from three sides and completely surrounded him, like moths to a flame. His grip tightened on my neck for a moment and then he lowered me. Turning slowly, he looked to each of my team in turn. He was no doubt realising that I was the very junior of juniors when it came to Vanguards, and that my quad most definitely were not.

Marcus had his arms folded loosely across his chest. His forearms glistened in the faint orange glow from the distant streetlights. He had many more kills and captures to his name and he was not alone. Simon had an equally glittering past. Finally, Maria, who had been here only six months longer than I, certainly had her fair share.

“Well, well! I see this has become more of a banquet than a snack!” Ramos ran his tongue slowly over his teeth as if to prove his point. All at once, I lashed out with my foot, striking him in the back of the head and nudging him forward. Simon and Maria each grabbed an arm, and Marcus pushed his iron stake firmly through Ramos’ heart. He gasped a chalky breath before disintegrating gently into a fine grey powder. He really never saw it coming, how would he when the signal was invisible?
____________________

Other books in the series
Foretold (Vanguard Legacy #1)
Reflected (Vanguard Legacy #2)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanne_Kershaw[1] Joanne Kershaw lives in Wakefield, England, with her husband, four young children, and an uppity cat named Dipstick. As a teacher of five- to eleven-year-olds, she spends her days playing at being a grownup, then goes home to delve into Young Adult dark romance and being sixteen again. Joanne lives and breathes books, whether reading, writing, or marking them. She wrote her first novel in six weeks. Encouraged to submit her work by a friend and fellow YA novel addict, Joanne now finds herself a signed author at Xchyler Publishing.

Twitter – Facebook

GIVEAWAY

GRAND PRIZE:

$10 Amazon Gift Card + E-copies of the Vanguard Legacy Trilogy

RUNNER-UPS:

E-copies of the Vanguard Legacy Trilogy + swag
E-copy of Foretold

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER HERE

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Review: Kidnap by Sally Ann Melia

Posted on May 13, 2015 by fundinmental

Sally Ann Melia caught me totally off guard with this awesome story of two young boys lives, in Kidnap.

I will be making a note of this series so I will be sure and follow up with her future work.

Add to Goodreads

Cover: Nevena, Sugarbricks

MY REVIEW

I wasn’t sure about this book, but something kept pulling at me. It didn’t take long before I was fully involved in Teo and Guy’s world. I could not put it down and read it through in one sitting.

Teo is a recalcitrant prince, soon to be king and Emperor.

Guy Erma is an orphan who dreams of becoming one of the Dome Elite.

Two boys growing up, so different, yet the same. They have desires and insecurities, egos and jealousy.

When Teo has a nightmare of the tunnels…and finds himself taken there, I immediately tried to figure out who was behind the kidnapping. He just happens to be a pawn in the ‘game’ that is being played for the title of Emperor of Freyne.

The characters had me eating out of their hands and I think they will grow and develop into some exceptional people who think outside the box, making unpopular moves that take their world to a better place.

D’Elen McClain’s writing took me on a space odyssey that included all the things necessary to take me out of this world. We have shapeshifting aliens, telepaths and suicide fighters. Political intrigue, terrorism, plague. Wonderful writing, great world building and so much more.

I love the gorans, giant cats that are ridden like a horse, making me think of the creatures in Star Wars.

The thrill and suspense held my attention throughout and I love that D’Elen showed the good and bad of her characters, making them more believable.

I am curious how she will bring the different worlds together. This may be fiction, but it brings to mind some of the problems of our own world and the question of…will we ever learn to live in harmony with one another?

I want to know more of the story of Teo and Guy. Will Nell play an important part in the future? 🙂

I received this book in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

I don’t want to go… Do I have to go? 13-year-old Prince Teodor of Freyne knows his duty to the memory of his father and his kingdom. Always, he must help those less fortunate than himself. Yet a frightening nightmare fills him with foreboding, but still he must go – into the Dome.13-year-old Guy Erma lives in the shadow of the Dome, he has no father and no mother and his future is uncertain, he must start earning a living when he turns 14. He knows not where he will live or even how he will eat, and his only dream is to enter the military academy – at the heart of the Dome.Two boys as different as any two boys might be. One act of cruelty will throw their lives together, but who dare they trust?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sally Ann Melia The author was born in Wallasey, England, in 1964, and moved to the South of France when she was eleven. She spent her teenage years living in the cosmopolitan city state of Monaco and became immersed in its many languages and cultures. An English girl in a French school, for three hours each week she would sit at the back of the class as her colleagues learnt English. To pass the time, she wrote stories. This led to a lifetime of writing novels, scripts, stories and articles.

In her working life, Sally writes marketing communications and manages large international websites.

In 2010, Sally joined the Hogs Back Writers, a club located on the outskirts of Guildford, and she set about turning an old manuscript into this novel: Guy Erma and the Son of Empire. Sally currently lives in Farnham, and she is married with two children.

Connect with Sally: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

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Giveaway & Review ~ Victim Souls by Andrew Terech

Posted on March 25, 2015 by fundinmental

VictimSoulsTourBanner Welcome to my tour stop for Victim Souls by Andrew Terech. When I saw the cover, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to review and share.

Check out this awesome cover by Brianna Strawn and be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

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Victim Souls by Andrew Terech
Publication date: November 8th 2014
Genres: Horror, Young Adult

MY REVIEW

I love everything about the cover. It says so much in its simplicity, loaded full of what is to come.

A trio, a road trip and the devil nipping at their heels.

Their parents died in a car crash and there was no one left to raise them but a worthless uncle. Is Sam good? Is Johnny bad? Could one or both of them have been saved if given half a chance?

As kids, they had a good time sitting outside the store, watching people come and go. I wanted to mention this, because it reminds me of a time in Mobile, Alabama and a certain convenience store. I used to run in for things like milk and bread and there was always people of one age and type or another hanging around. By tagging my inner me, a book draws me in further and makes me immediately relate to the story.

Sam was ten when Johnny made his first kill, he had to do it to save Sam.

…foot to nuts mistake…hit in the twig and berries. I laughed out loud!!!

When Ash enters the picture, Sam becomes very suspicious. Secrets were being kept and he had no idea the impact they would have on their lives. As they set off on their adventure, evil forces surrounding them have an agenda of their own.

To put it bluntly, this is a fucked up story about three fucked up kids on a spree that I’m hoping will take them down and soon. At times, I have a small amount of empathy for Sam, but I’m still hoping he gets his. At other times, I find myself torn between wanting them all to die or wanting them all to get out of the evil mess they are in.

It is great writing when I want to root for the most heinous, despicable trio there is or so I thought. Is anybody who they really seem to be? If not who or what are they? If you aren’t all bad are you good?

The supernatural genre can be so off the wall, yet I knew the answers were coming and I let the story come to me instead of trying to make it fit into a preconceived notion.

Horror that goes on and on. What keeps someone from giving up? How much can someone take before they surrender? Possession. Undead. Its so hard to describe the rabbit hole Same goes down. I find it hard to believe he can survive. Manipulation. Hallucinations. Creatures that morph into even uglier creatures.

I had this as a B movie running through my head, yelling kill it again, kill it again, they never stay dead. LOL Cut their heads off and burn them to ashes, disperse the ashes into the wind.

Victim Souls by Andrew Terech was a horror story that had me anticipating what was coming next and wondering when it was going to end. I don’t know what else could happen to them and any of them survive. I don’t think there will be a happy every after for the trio, but I am eager to find out what their end will be. A great read that will have you looking over your shoulder and squinting into corners, wondering… is that movement in the shadows?

I received a copy of Victim Souls in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Sometimes, only bad guys can beat the Devil…

.
The plan is simple: get the money and deliver the car. What could possibly go wrong? What can’t?Things start to go south when Sam Drake realizes that his brother Johnny is hiding something, a secret about Sam’s troubled childhood that goes beyond his most feverish nightmares…Then Johnny’s girlfriend, Ash, starts sending Sam the kind of mixed signals that can only lead to big trouble…As the trio of small time crooks falls deeper into an abyss of betrayal and violence, they will discover that the greatest danger they face is not of this world.With everything he believes about himself and the world around him shattered, Sam will become the unlikely champion in a battle with true evil, a fight to save a soul that has already been forfeited to darkness.

His own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew’s a horror fiction writer who is also a massive fan of the genre. He’s been writing short stories and working on his novel for over 5 years. He has several short stories published, as well as some editing credits. He moderates a writing workshop in Phoenix, AZ where he’s been exposed to many different forms of fiction, which have broadened his influences. He aims to write stories that creep out his readers, while offering well-developed, rich characters they can sink their teeth into. He’s also a fan of experimenting with form and structure to create something uniquely my own.Andrew grew up on Long Island in New York, and has lived in Arizona for the past 7 years. His professional background is in psychology where he’s carved out a nice career for himself. However, writing has always been his passion.Currently, he’s hard at work, developing additional content to publish. He hopes to find an audience that loves the genre, and is up for a good scare.

Author links: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Follow the tour by clicking on the banner below:

GIVEAWAY

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

5 signed copies of the Special Edition of Victim Souls that contains the short story that inspired the novel.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Ends April 9th.

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Grand Finale ~ The Cloak by Sarah Jennings – #Giveaway

Posted on March 16, 2015 by fundinmental

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

We’re blitzing the Grand Finale for THE CELTIC TOUR for
The Cloak
By Sarah Jennings

Did you miss any of the tour? If so, go back and check it out now:

Launch

What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book?

Of course, I hope they want to hear more stories, but as for a takeaway it’s my desire that readers are able to connect with Kellan and close the book feeling encouraged.

My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Excerpt

Later that evening, with everyone’s attention on the dying king, Kellan managed to sneak out of her room. Her objective was to find Osma and Master Hewitt and get out before anyone reported her missing. The place was just huge, and she didn’t know where to start.

I Am A Reader – The Deer’s Cry

The McKensie family in The Cloak is depicted as being Spirit-filled. It’s a regular part of their lives, as it was for many in the early church and as it still is for many today. While that specific teaching can quickly become a hot button topic, it truly serves no good purpose to condemn anyone on either side of the fence. Instead, we can most likely all agree to this excerpt from “The Deer’s Cry”, also known as “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”:

Mythical Books – Céad Míle Fáilte: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

Welcome to Errigal! What would a Celtic themed setting be without green hills and a castle? Featured on the cover of The Cloak is Lismore Castle, a beautiful structure in the town of Lismore in County Waterford, Ireland.

Classy Cat Books – Excerpt

Five months flew by in Paris. Kellan didn’t go home for Christmas or to celebrate the new year, choosing instead to immerse herself in the surrounding local festivities. Although she corresponded frequently with Osma and the teacher, writing only of her job and ignoring their attempts at engaging her in conversation about Errigal, she refused to return to the castle and made up all kinds of excuses to back it up.

Mary Terrani – Excerpt

Arriving at the castle, she stepped through the great wooden doors and immediately yanked the cloak off, exposing the blue jeans and black T-shirt she had changed into on the plane, a definite rebellious act to defy Errigal’s traditional dress and thereby match her frame of mind.

My Life Loves and Passion – Review

This was a great book. Kellan is a very amazing main character. . . . Kellan steps up and takes on a responsibility that she doesn’t want. It is a book that young women need to read. Kellan is such a good role model.

Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Excerpt

The fencing instructor was very amused and surprised the king was acting this way toward a lady. What is he thinking trying to enlist a woman into a sword fight? Look at her. She was wearing a blue, fitted bodice gown that reached all the way to the floor. Her dark hair was up in pearled pins, and ringlet curls fell down the nape of her neck. Attending a tea party would be more appropriate.

Zerina Blossom’s Books – Interview & Review

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

The most fulfilling part for me is when Kellan comes home for the last time. I feel good knowing she is finally going to have the happiness she deserves.

“Overall, The Cloak is a sweet clean romance with some interesting twists and good character growth.”

Welcome to Book City – Irish Chocolate Mint Brownies

The next morning Osma tried again, bringing a tray filled with an incredible array of pastries and fruits, beings sure to include some of Kellan’s favorite food that she rarely received growing up, chocolate covered anything.

Christy’s Cozy Corners – Excerpt

Turning around, Ian went to reach out for Kellan’s hand, but she wasn’t there. A feeling of panic overcame him.Where is she? And where are those new bodyguards of hers? He turned back to the crowd to see their uplifted faces staring back at him. They had been hanging on every word, and the silence was immense.

Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima – Visit Errigal with Sarah Jennings

Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:

In The Cloak, characters are essentially living in the past while also living in the present. Walk past Errigal’s borders and the modern world exists in every manner. Stay within, and a society steeped in Medieval traditions and methods still exists. The landscape is characteristic of Ireland with green, rolling hills, villages and marketplaces dotting the countryside, and hot, soothing mineral springs.

Once Upon a YA Book – Meet the Characters

Kellan – Princess and Daughter of the late Princess Seanna McKensie and late Duke Barend. Kellan is the true heiress to the throne of Errigal, if she can be convinced to take her place. Beautiful, wise, and very skilled with a broadsword, she exudes leadership when on listening terms with God. Kellan’s propensity to be headstrong, combined with hidden self-doubt, often lands her in troublesome situations.

Mel’s Shelves – Review

This is a quick read with a good message about prayer and the importance of relying on God. It also shows the difference one person can make when they’re willing to step into the role they were born to fill.

Books and Ashes – Review

If you’re looking for a different kind of fantasy, or want something fantasy-esque but not too heavy then this would be a good read for you!

Addicted Readers – Excerpt

Kellan stood facing the great stone fireplace. Its dancing flames matched the ones in her eyes. After what seemed like forever, her breathing finally began to slow down. The king had been about to say something to her once he heard the duke ride off, but Master Hewitt had stepped forward and held out his hand to stop him. She needed a moment more to settle down.

Paranormal Books – Interview

How did you come up with The Cloak?

Like many Americans, I have a great appreciation for my Irish ancestry and I love Celtic music. I think those things combined with my predisposition for a strong female lead who overcomes difficulties and weaknesses to do great things led to a story that just played out itself.

Mommabears Book Blog – Excerpt

The fallen warrior staggered up, bowed to the princess, and made his leave. She always felt rotten when they walked away, or in some cases, were carried away. At least now she was done for the day. Directing her eyes away from the departing man, Kellan looked ahead to see another suited contender. What is this? She turned and walked over to the teacher.

Pieces of Whimsey – Excerpt

“What are you mumbling about down there, dear sister,” said Slone, “No one here’s going to answer your call for help…not even your honorable king. Where is old lover boy anyway, huh?” Slone just rambled on.

Fictionally; – Excerpt

That night’s sleep was hard to come by. Kellan tossed about with fitful dreams and kept waking up, a few times wet with sweat. It wasn’t nightmares from the war, though she had had plenty of those when she first moved in. It was tranquil scenes from Errigal’s landscape, the faces of Osma and Master Hewitt, and the library walls. Feeling like she was going insane, she finally gave up and got up from bed.

The Cloak
Sarah Jennings
Inspirational YA Romantic Suspense
Paperback and ebook, 194 pages
November 2014

Kellan McKensie, Princess of Errigal, is set on leaving for another world before being thrust into a plan of God’s choosing that includes learning of her past, embracing her future, and finding her forever love.

Among a lost line of beautiful, wise queens and a conquered country still clinging to medieval traditions in today’s world, can Kellan be convinced that now is her time to act? Why should she? To the entire country, she doesn’t even exist. Ever the reluctant leader, Kellan is pressured to use her incredible God-given abilities to bring back the glory of her homeland. To do so, she must fight her own will, overcome fears, and control her temper. It’s a lot to ask of a girl hidden under a cloak her whole life.

Amazon

Sarah Jennings is an American storyteller living in the hills of North Carolina with her husband, four children, and escape artist hound dog. Her stories often revolve around strong willed heroines who find their way with God’s help during their adventures and in the process find their soulmate too. The Cloak is one such story now available in print and ebook format.

Website – Goodreads – Facebook – Twitter – YouTube

Tour-Wide Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card – Open Internationally
Celtic Prize Pack: Paperback of The Cloak and Celtic Music CDs – US Only
2 Paperbacks of The Cloak – US Only
2 ebooks of The Cloak – Open Internationally
Ends March 22nd

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Do You Believe? Review ~ Water So Deep by Nichole Giles

Posted on March 12, 2015 by fundinmental

I love this gorgeous cover and I knew this was going to be a winner.

I was not disappointed.

My question to you – do you believe in mermaids?

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I saw the beautiful cover and knew this would be about mermaids and that I had to have it!

Nichole Giles’ writing had me from the beginning.

Emma knows she only has 412 days, days before she must return to the water, 412 days left to be human, 412 days left before she is completely mermaid, 412 days left before she is to join Merrick, who will take her to Atlantis.

Emma – she was hatched. How funny is that? I never really thought of where mermaids come from, have you? I can’t help but chuckle as I write this. 🙂 I feel she will get what she wants, but I don’t know how. Since the change had begun, she needs both the air and the

Mermaid (c) Sherry Fundin

sea. Her gills are not fully developed, but as the end of her life as she knows it approaches, she requires more and more time in the sea. I love Nichole’s vivid descriptions of Emma’s underwater world, the colors, the coral, and the critters. I would love to swim with the fishes like she does.

Heather is her best friend, but the most important person in her life is her brother, Keith. How would she be able to leave him? Keith is handicapped, yet very observant. He is naive and gullible.

Merrick – how could he love her, he doesn’t even know her. The Sea King has given her to him, but does he have an agenda of his own? He is the Duke of Atlantis and determined to have her, at all costs.

Only two people know her predicament – her grandma and Merrick, until she meets James. No matter how she fights the attraction, it can’t be denied. How will she tell him? How will he take it? I am so eager to find out and I want her to be happy…with James, not Merrick, but how can that be?

James befriends Keith and he is surprised how much he comes to care for the little guy. That just shows us how we need to be open to people and experiences, otherwise we may miss something truly special in our lives. I really like that James does not allow high school peer pressure to dictate his actions. The romance between Emma and James develops slowly, making it realistic, with all its trials and tribulations.

I seem to be reading a lot of young adult books since blogging and have come to love them. Parts are predictable and cliche – two boys fighting over the same girl gets old, but when the writing is good I have to ride the wave with the author, wanting to share the characters experiences. The teenage angst of growing up is a big part of the story and Nichole did a great job of showing how Emma and James overcome their problems, at least, until…the cliffhanger. DRAT! I hate having to wait for the next book, so Nichole, I hope you are writing…and quickly.

I received an ecopy in return for an honest review.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

No one knows what’s happening to her, and she’d like to keep her evolution from human to mermaid a secret, but the truth is getting harder and harder to hide. From her adoptive family, from her friends, and especially from the irresistible James Phelps.

Her time in the ocean is spent dodging a possessive merman, while her time on land is split between caring for her special-needs brother and squeezing in every last possible moment of human life. She soon realizes falling for James is unavoidable when he constantly comes to Emma’s rescue and somehow manages to see through her carefully constructed icy facade to the vulnerability she lives with every day. Everything about James makes Emma yearn for a life on land she just can’t have.

When Emma’s brother disappears on her watch, James is the only person she trusts to help her save him. But even if they can save her brother, nothing can prevent her return to the sea. Whether she likes it or not, Emma is changing—unable to breathe without yielding to the tide—and it’s only a matter of time before she’s forced to surrender forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nichole Giles had early career plans of becoming an actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her husband and children, travel to tropical and exotic destinations, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

Blog / Goodreads / Twitter

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Cover Reveal for Melancholy of Souls by Anne Michaud

Posted on February 3, 2015 by fundinmental

fundinmental is happy to share the cover reveal for Anne Michaud and her new novel, Melancholy of Souls.

I am a ‘Cover Girl’, are you?

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Melancholy of Souls by Anne Michaud
(Girls & Ghosts #2)
Publication date: February 3rd 2015
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

SYNOPSIS.

Dad says we have to do everything to save Mom’s soul, but I’m scared the price will be too high.

Soul Catchers scour the land looking for ghosts to sell on the black market. Amusement parks, mediums, haunted houses and religious cults will pay good money for them, especially when fresh and new. I never really cared about what they did until Mom died and one of those assholes snapped her up.

Just this bright light shooting at her soul…

Now Dad’s mind is set on finding her on the lost souls trafficking circuit, but with each step we take death is only getting closer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne She who likes dark things never grew up. She never stopped listening to gothic, industrial and alternative bands like when she was fifteen. She always loved to read horror and dystopia and fantasy, where doom and gloom drip from the pages.

She, who was supposed to make films, decided to write short stories, novelettes and novels instead. She, who’s had her films listed on festival programs, has been printed in a dozen anthologies and magazines since. She, who always dreamed of making a feature film, is having her novels published.

She who likes dark things prefers night to day, rain to sun, and reading to anything else.

Author links: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

You can check out Girls & Ghosts, Book I below.

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Blood, Milk, and Chocolate by Cameron Jace ~ Giveaway

Posted on January 22, 2015 by fundinmental

BloodMildAndChocolateBlitzBanner

The title, Blood Mike & Chocolate caught my eye.

Are you a fan of fairy tales?

Book & Author Details:

Blood, Milk, and Chocolate by Cameron Jace
(The Grimm Diaries #3)
Publication date: January 19th 2015
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult

SYNOPSIS

I have been accused of being malicious and evil.
I, the Snow White Queen, have a story to tell.
The true story and what has really happened. How it all happened. Why the Brothers Grimm altered the truth, letting you think it was a fairy tale. When and how the tale took place. And above all, why I did what I did. Why you haven’t been told the truth for centuries. The truth about me and the truth about the not-so-innocent Snow White.

Here is my side of the story. You will never look at Snow White the same way again.

Amazon

EXCERPT

The day I was born, a single red apple grew on a juniper tree in our castle’s garden.

A Blood Apple.

It was a rare fruit; the most sought after in Europe at the time. An apple of unmatched sweetness and unearthly ripeness. Some claimed it could cure the sick and enrich the poor, grant children to the sterile, and keep the soul guarded from demonic possessions. Its rarity and taste made it comparable with gold and diamonds, if they were edible. There was a well-known saying: “A Blood Apple a day keeps all Sorrow away.” Few people knew why the word “sorrow” had always been capitalized in this sentence. I learned why many years later.

The single, delicious Blood Apple that grew on my birthday was even rarer. This one was the first to grow in my homeland, Styria, in seven years.

A nameless witch—we did not speak her name—had cursed my homeland in Western Europe many years before. Every time a tree gave birth to an apple, it came out grey, rotten, and infested with worms. No amount of magic or prayers managed to lift up the curse. They said the witch was the mother of all witches, that she was darker than the darkest shades of night. For reasons beyond me, she had cursed us with no intention to relieve us from her wicked omen, ever.

All of this changed the day I blossomed from my mother’s womb into this life. No one knew how it was possible, or why it happened. Everyone said I was going to be a special princess who’d prosper and grow and maybe rule Styria one day.

The servants in our castle drooled at the sight of the single red and ripe apple. They stared at it as if it were the fountain of youth that could quench their thirst and wet their seven-years-long dried souls. Some of the servants sank to their knees and thanked Pomona, the Goddess of Fruits whom no one had ever seen, for her blessings.

But only fools thanked Pomona, for the rest of our land knew it was me who had saved them. I possessed the power to defy “the witch whose name we don’t speak.”

The birth of me, Carmilla Karnstein, daughter of Theodora and Philip II, was a miracle like no other in centuries. I came to this world with a revelation, a sign, and some kind of rapture: the first Blood Apple in seven years.

Little did I know then that it wasn’t a lucky coincidence, that I wasn’t just a fairy tale made up by the poor and wishful peasants of Europe. How would I have known that I was part of the universe’s plan in an eternal feud between good and evil?

The arrival of a beautiful child, the blossoming of apples, and the end of a curse were only a prelude to an epic tale of love and sorrow.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters. I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV – it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY

My giveaway is for one (1) ebook copy of Blood, Milk, and Chocolate. Open internationally. Ends February 13, 2015. The winners prize will be sent out after February 16th.

To enter: leave a comment with your email..

Do you have a favorite fairy tale?

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT). The three first books in the series (eBooks). Ends Jan 29th.

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Giveaway ~ Book Blast for Avenge by Amity Hope

Posted on January 21, 2015 by fundinmental

Tristan Johnson is not an easy guy to get to know. He’s quiet, shy, and borderline elusive. That never stopped Samara Cavanaugh from claiming Tristan as her best friend, her tutor, her longtime crush.

She knows Tristan better than anyone. Sam was the one person that Tristan had allowed himself to get close to. But even Sam wasn’t aware of the secrets her best friend had been keeping.

When Sam’s life was in jeopardy Tristan didn’t hesitate to protect her. Now that he’s gone, Sam will do whatever it takes to get him back.

Buy on Amazon

Samara Cavanaugh has grown up in a world filled with magic users. She’s used to bizarre and peculiar. But when a stranger checks in at The Bella Luna, the bed and breakfast her family owns, the strange occurrences in Granite Falls escalate.

Many people are leery of Levi, their new guest. He claims to be in town doing research but Samara’s friends aren’t so sure that his claim is as innocuous as it appears to be. When two of her classmates disappear, her friends seem convinced Levi had a hand in it.

Those closest to her have been keeping secrets from her. Those secrets put everyone close to her in danger.

Suddenly, her unrequited crush on her best friend, Tristan becomes the least of her troubles.

On Sale for $.99 January 19th -31st Buy on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amity lives in beautiful northern Minnesota with her two sons, two cats and their Rottweiler.

She has a degree in elementary education and worked in that field for ten years before deciding to self-publish.

Her first self-published novel, Twisted, was listed by Amazon as a Top 100 Kids & Teens Kindle Book of 2012. It hit Amazon’s Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance Best Sellers List in several countries. Truths and Dares held the #1 position on Amazon’s Best Sellers in Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance eBooks in the UK.

If she’s not writing, or spending time with her boys, she’s most likely reading

Find Amity on Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Giveaway ends 1/31/15 at 11:59 pm EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Giveaway ~ The Dreamslayer by Jill Cooper

Posted on January 14, 2015 by fundinmental

The epic two book finale starts here. The stakes are higher. And the enemy is one of their own.
It’s all come to this. This moment in time. Everything Natalie Johnson has fought for.

Newly promoted paladin commander Natalie Johnson is about to bring the demonire tracking system online. If she’s successful Meadow’s Creek may finally be safe from bloodsuckers. If not, the egg on her face will be enough to make a gourmet omelet.

But when old friends and foes begin showing up in town under questionable circumstance, it’s clear something new is on the horizon. The murder of a prominent official threatens to cripple the brittle peace Natalie has brought to town.

Alternate realities and timeline jumps all converge revealing truths, deceptions and worst of all, roads not taken. Natalie must face her worst fears, her biggest regrets, and most of all a deep longing that nothing will ever be the same again.

Meanwhile a long sought after ally brings them all to the brink of madness. And his betrayal? Could be the biggest heartbreak of them all.

In the tradition of young adult vampire fiction such as Twilight and Buffy the Vampire slayer, comes The Dream Slayer.

Buy on Amazon

The 2nd part in the epic finale starts here.

Once [SPOILER] believed in her and now, one last time, Natalie will put everything to the test to bring him back.

But with half of Natalie’s team in critical condition, the fight won’t be easy. WOMP’s order to shoot [CENSORED] on sight to protect their vast empire of secrets will pit Natalie against the organization she’s been faithful to since she first heard the word paladin.

Now that relationship will be put to the test.

Natalie will find a way to restore his soul, no matter the risks. No matter the stakes. Even if it means revealing her identity and location to her mortal enemy. And the end?

Well, it might just prove to be the very beginning.

In the tradition of young adult vampire fiction such as Twilight and Buffy the Vampire slayer, comes The Dream Slayer.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author:

I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I’ll say I don’t want to write like everyone else. I don’t want to craft stories you’ve read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you’ve ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad.

If you do, then I’ll have succeeded. If not, I’ll keep trying.