Blinked

by Zari Reede

It’s 1975 in the Big Easy where Mardi Gras floats and strangely dressed people are in abundance. Mindy Nichols, an agent of the Inner Space Monitoring Alliance Team “ISMAT,” is about to set the Crescent City on its ear. This special government team protects Earth from the Blink phenomena that connect our world to the Realm of Ortharos. An energy portal indiscriminately exchanges beings between both worlds, Blinking insane Other Realm Beings (ORBs) in as Earthlings Blink out, causing worry and angst over missing loved ones who sometimes never reappear. ISMAT’s long-standing protocol, to exterminate all ORBs for the safety of mankind, is challenged one fateful night when Mindy wakes up to find her husband, Jim, missing; a huge, naked Cyclops in her bed; an OCD brownie cleaning her kitchen; and six purple imps swinging from a chandelier. The last time ORBs roamed the Earth unchecked, a great war ensued, and Mindy knows things are about to get ugly…

344 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2017

About the author

Writers extraordinaire, domestic goddesses, lovers of all furry things…
Zari Reede is a writing team consisting of Zoe Tasia and Minette Lauren. Both have an addiction to collaborative writing that rivals Oreo Double Stuffed cookies with fine champagne. Writing solo for years, they decided to engage in a writing exercise to strengthen their skills and enlighten their creative minds. It turned out to be a great venture and is still going strong today. Zoe lives in Houston, has two cats, two boys, and a priceless husband, who supports all her rebel dreams. Minette Lauren also enjoys living in Texas, has five dogs, two god-dogs, three turtles and a wonderful husband that thinks all things she writes are golden… even if it is horse hockey. They are lucky in life, enjoying every day they can write and dream.

Reviews

[Jacqueline Seewald · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this humorous fantasy, the authors offer their readers a novel set in alternate universes. Mindy Nichols is a special agent with the Inner Space Monitoring Alliance (ISMAT) which is dedicated to destroying creatures from another dimension who “blink” to earth via an energy portal. Mindy goes to bed with her husband Jim only to wake up with a blinked Cyclops (one-eyed monster) in Jim’s place. She shoots the creature. However, along with it have come the Brownie Winnalea, a dwarf, and five purple imps who scatter. Meanwhile, Mindy’s husband Jim, a history professor at Tulane University, has been transported to Ortharos. Winnalea teaches Mindy in the ways of magic while Jim becomes embroiled in the affairs of the residents of Ortharos.

The shifting first person viewpoints provide interesting contrasts. This is an original novel, a cleverly creative work of fantasy. I particularly recommend it to readers who enjoy reading speculative fiction.

[Zari Reede · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Minette Lauren writing this, I disclose that I am one of the Authors of this book. It was a challenge for me to write Blinked, because I have a background in writing romance, and though I read everything, this is not your typical story. I think the challenge of writing this adventure is what makes it great. We don't follow any other ideas that I am aware of. The story is set in 1975, which is a zany quirk all on its own. I just love the characters, and thought telling it through the eyes of four chosen views was a wonderful way to entertain the reader. My favorite scene is the one we used for the teaser, but there are so many scenes to make you giggle and be surprised. It is an energetic, humorous page turner that I can not wait to talk about with readers!

[Minette Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a review, but a note from one of the authors. This book was a challenge for me, but so much fun to write. It's a hilarious adventure story that will entertain everyone. The Mardi Gras humor was my favorite part, and I just love Punzel and Reggie. My years in Louisiana lent some creative background to our adventure. This fantasy includes everything but the kitchen sink. I hope readers enjoy every page.

[Leonardus Rougoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the novel very much. It took me out of the hum drum of daily living and transported me to a realm of the unnatural. The theme of connected realms and crossing between then got me thinking about this and kept me entertained for hours.
Mindy is a delightful character and her adventures were attention grabbing. I would recommend this story to anyone who has an imagination and is looking for a good read.
Leonardus

[GeoV · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun page turner full of twists and surprises. Mixing romance with comedy and adventure while adding a bunch of characters we think we know - add a sprinkling of fantasy land and a mix of Mardi Gras extravaganza ... the result is a really funny very well written book that will keep you longing for more. Time flies by in the blink of an eye as you read this book. And then you are left thinking “where is the sequel”? Kudos to Zari Reede for engaging us in this fun adventure.