Sandra Cox's Blog, page 66
January 27, 2022
This Weekend's Read: DIRTY AIR by Joe Congel
Blurb:
Crossing the finish line from the dark side of the track can make it hard to find the winner’s circle.
The adrenaline rush is real. So is the danger.
Stock car or modified. Track or street. One can make you famous… the other can make you dead.
Tony “Razzman” Razzolito is in way over his head as he works to solve the most challenging case of his career. An up-and-coming NASCAR driver is found shot to death in an alley in uptown Charlotte. When the widow of the victim asks Tony and his partner at McHenry Investigative Services to find out why her husband was killed, the Razzman gets a quick education in a sport he knows nothing about.
His investigation soon leads him to the world of illegal street racing where he tangles with a crew led by a maniac that doesn’t like to lose.
Mix in a healthy dose of tension between Tony and a certain Homicide Detective assigned to the case and tempers as well as egos are bound to get in the way.
This is book 3 in the popular Razzman Mystery Crime Files series
Excerpt:
I leaned forward. “Robin,” I said, gently. “I’m not a big NASCAR guy. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d never heard of your husband before yesterday, and I only know the Carter-Swanson name because I’ve seen their car dealerships all over Charlotte.”
She looked at me strangely and then cut her eyes over to Scott. He glanced at me and then said to her, “He’s from New York.”
As if that would somehow explain everything.
“Look,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “I’m a baseball guy. You wanna talk batting stats, power hitters, stolen base leaders, the Yankees, or any other baseball related stuff, I’m your man.” I shook my head. “But, racing? It’s just not my thing. I’ve been to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York more times than I can count, but I’ve never been to the NASCAR Hall of Fame even once… and it’s here in Charlotte!” I sighed. “So, I’m asking you to please treat me like I don’t know anything about the race business… because I don’t.”
The room was silent. I was looking at Robin Trevino. Robin Trevino was looking at Scott. Scott was looking at me. After a minute of awkward silence, Robin Trevino stood up.
“Is there a restroom?” she asked. She was still not looking at me.
Scott stood and opened the door. “Go back down to our reception area, go out the main door to our office into the hallway and turn right. The bathrooms are between our suite and the suite next door to us.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, as she walked past Scott.
I hadn’t moved. I took in a deep breath. As I exhaled, I asked, “Think she’ll be back?”
Scott scowled at me. “Would you?”
“I’m sorry, Scott,” I said. “But it’s not a crime to not be a NASCAR fan.”
“It is if you live in Charlotte.”
I sat there thinking about that for a minute. I’m a pretty good private detective, and I’m reasonably certain that we could help Mrs. Trevino find out who killed her husband. That being said, I understood that I would need to do a lot more research into the world of NASCAR to get a feel for what may have motivated someone to shoot a young, up-and-coming driver. But then again, it just might not have anything to do with racing.
I looked up at Scott, who was still standing at the door. “To be fair, being a race fan is not a requirement for solving this murder. I’m not trying to hurt anybody’s feelings here, but I’m not gonna pretend either—”
Scott cut me off. “—here she comes.” He looked hard at me. “Be nice.”
Robin Trevino re-entered our conference room and took the same seat she was in before her bathroom break.
I tried to speak first. “Mrs. Trevino… Robin… I didn’t mea—”
“You know,” she said, interrupting me. “When I left here a few minutes ago, I had no intention of coming back in here. My first thought was that maybe I was wrong about coming here in the first place.” She paused, and I tried to speak again. She cut me off again. “Please, Mr. Razzolito, let me finish.” I sat quietly. “I mean, I had never heard of anyone that didn’t like NASCAR… or of anyone that didn’t know who my husband was.” She lowered her head and sighed. After a few seconds, she looked up, her eyes finding mine. “For the last three years, Jarrod and I have been on an amazing journey.” She shook her head in disbelief. “I… I guess we got swept up in all of it. Everywhere we went, people knew who we were. Jarrod was the new ‘it guy’ on the circuit, and he and I were both being interviewed all the time.” She shrugged. “We were royalty… it never occurred to me that you didn’t know who he was… who I was.” She lowered her head again and almost whispered. “I guess your reaction stung me.” She was slowly shaking her head back and forth.
Three quirky Foodie Facts about Tony Razzolito:
1. He loves pizza. But since he’s from NY State, he only eats authentic NY-style pies, and never from national chain pizza stores.
2. He’s kind of a beer snob. He drinks craft beers exclusively, with his favorites being the rich, amber style.
3. Although a New Yorker at heart, he’s embraced southern food and loves a good pulled pork sandwich and will put coleslaw on his hotdogs.
Bio:
Joe Congel grew up in Syracuse, NY, and currently lives in beautiful Charlotte, NC. He got his first break in the world of publishing when he illustrated the humorous book, Housetraining Your VCR, A Help Manual for Humans, published by Grapevine Publications back in the early ’90s.
A few years after Housetraining set the world on fire, Joe decided that he was better suited as a writer rather than as an artist, so he began crafting stories that allowed the reader to use their own imagination to add the visuals to the narrative.
Since he’s enjoyed reading murder mysteries and PI detective stories all his life, he felt he had a pretty good grasp on how to create an engaging character in the world of private detecting. DEAD IS FOREVER is the first book in the Razzman Mystery Crime Files series, featuring Tony Razzolito, PI. The book is set in Syracuse, NY, and Charlotte, NC, with upcoming books in the series concentrated more in and around the Charlotte area. Joe is uniquely qualified to write about both areas of the country since he lived in Syracuse for 36 years and Charlotte for the last 25 plus years.
When he’s not writing, you will most likely find him spoiling his three grandchildren.
Buy links:
Amazon:
My Amazon page: Amazon.com: Joe Congel: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
Carter Novels/Indie Book Source: Books by Joe Congel – Indie Book Source
Follow links:
FaceBook: Joe Congel Author | Facebook
Twitter: WWW.Twitter.com/JoeCongelAuthor
Blog: Joe Congel Fiction Stories
January 26, 2022
January 25, 2022
Writerly Wednesday
What's your go-to for:
Mine: Trick.
January 24, 2022
It's Tuesday
Not a lot going on here. What about in your neck of the woods?
Garden:Here's my new BDay stones. (The ones with the writing.)
Critters:
Instead of crossroads, we have cross tails.
And
For those that live in the U. S., have you ordered your free test kits? If not here's the link:
COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests
Got stones? Critters? Tests?
January 20, 2022
This Weekend's Read: FOR THE SOUL
Book Blurb: Memories and fiction fill this collection with humor, heartwarming compassion, and spine-tingling fright from the author's own experiences and her imagination she can barely control. Quilts, children, and dogs have always played a large part in the author's life. Therefore, it is not surprising to find stories of warm quilts wrapped around her tales or tails. A trait the reader discovers in Barbara's writing is that much like life, nothing within the covers of this book will be what one expects.
About Barbara Daniels Dena:
Barbara Daniels Dena is a new independent author of her eclectic book debut of "For the Soul: A Collection of Short Stories," released in August 2021. Almost a memoir, this unique collection of inspiring short stories of 'good ole fashioned living,' along with many past and present memories and life experiences that tug on the heart, warming stories, and fictional tall tails delighting readers worldwide. The book is available for purchase on Amazon Books, Amazon Kindle, and many fine online book sites.
Barbara began writing at an early age as a lover of "Make-Believe." Today, her writing has developed from memories of family experiences, various compilations of events in her life, and her love of animals. She is willing to admit that her vivid imagination plays a role in her stories. The author is an Illinois native who has lived in many places; as Barb says, like a free-spirited "Gypsy," she has lived and worked in Illinois, Washington, Idaho, Georgia, but Ultimately, coming home settling back in the Quad Cities area of Illinois.
Barbara is a proud mother of two grown children. She was a business owner, ran a Temp Agency, then transitioned into her passion for floral design, opened, owned, and ran several floral shops. Her favorite flower is the "Casablanca Lily." Her favorite color is Red, and when she isn't writing, Barbara spends her free time oil painting, enjoys quilting, knitting, and reading.
Her favorite book is "Death Be Not Proud" by John J. Gunther. Her first love is and always will be playing with her fur baby, a little Yorkie named Zoe. She continues to write from her cozy nook as she gazes over a pond full of geese and ducks. On many days it is more gazing than writing.
My fav quirky food is a banana cut in half with creamy peanut butter spread in the middle of the two halves.
Many years ago, I had a business where I delivered balloons in costume.
I taught teenagers how to do a proper interview by dressing like a floozy.
Buy Link: FOR the SOUL https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Barbara-Daniels-Dena-ebook/dp/B09D8SV1S9/
Barbara is offering the e-book for .99 cents through FEB 15th, 2022.
January 19, 2022
Did You Know
Did you know that over five-thousand wild horses, of Spanish decent, used to roam the coast of North Carolina? Now only two hundred and twenty remain. The Colonial Spanish Mustang is the state horse.
January 18, 2022
Writerly Wednesday
Mine: Scatterbrain
January 17, 2022
Tuesday Stuff
I woke Sunday morning to find Izzy had made an uninvited visit, bringing with her snow, sleet, ice and rain. I knew we were in trouble when Frank wouldn't step a paw outside. You're probably thinking, "So? He's a cat." He is, but weather doesn't phase him. It can be snowing or raining, and like the mailman, he'll still be outside making his rounds. Here's Frank this time last year.
Needless, to say when he wasn't having any of it, it made me a tad bit nervous.
Monday. We missed a bullet and didn't suffer any power loss.
Frank ventured out Monday.
Earlier In the Week...
I received a package I had to sign for and I had to be twenty-one. What the? And it was heavy. Needless to say my curiosity was aroused. Had someone sent me garden rocks for my birthday?And if so, why did I have to be twenty-one to open a box of rocks? So I signed, took the package and opened it just enough to see the piece of paper sticking out. It had a Happy Birthday (Yes, I had a birthday between last Friday and today:) message from my daughter and son-in-law and three items all called Zen something. Ah, garden statuary. My curiosity aroused, I decided I didn't really need to wait till my birthday to open it.
No rocks. No statuary, but definitely welcome:) Thanks M and J:)
Since I can't offer you any leftover birthday cake, have a free download (if you are in the U.S. or the U.K.--I think). I would love it if the free downloads and countdowns were offered in Australia and Germany. Sigh. Hopefully one of these days.
Available at Amazon.
AND
Here's the earworm I've had since last (Writerly) Wednesday:) I go dancing around the house like a crazy lady--or writer;)
Wishing you delicious cake, beautiful birds and flowers, and fun earworms to dance to:)
January 13, 2022
This Weekend's Read: SANGUISUGE Book Five
Excerpt -“Young Jacob, sometimes forgiveness is for the best.”
Jacob turned toward Donall. “And sometimes, Lord Valsamis, enemies are dressed as allies.”
Donall glanced curiously at Jacob.
I sighed.
Donall laughed. “Speaking of stories… Did your sister tell you of her appetite?”
I chuckled, realizing Donall was trying to lighten the mood.
Jacob glanced at me curiously. “No, I haven’t heard this story.”
“She can out-feed a fledgling.”
Jacob was wide-eyed as he turned his attention to me.
I blushed as I nodded.
“You most certainly are not feeding enough if this is true.”
I chuckled. “I have drained a few pitchers.”
Jacob left abruptly and then returned holding a tray of five pitchers. Donall burst out into laughter.
Mom brought my plate and studied Jacob. “A little hungry, Jacob?”
I giggled.
“I was just going to challenge Trinity.”
“Oh, uh honey, I’m not sure that is a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Finn told me how Ethan tried the same thing.”
“Lord Valsamis just told me.”
“He told you that Trinity drank most of the seven pitchers that were set before her?”
Jacob shook his head. His expression was one of defeat. He took a pitcher and set it down on the table in front of him and then set the tray in front of me. Donall and Mom laughed.
Blurb- A feud that reaches its boiling point. A war that seems inevitable! Lurking behind the scenes, malicious plots are progressing unbeknownst to everyone! Will Trinity be able to go against fate to prevent a pointless bloodbath and protect the lives of her family?
Trinity is one of very few characters that can both drink blood and eat food. (Mostly meats.)
Fledgling vampires require the most blood to survive, but Trinity has consumed more than one!
Donall once drained an entire herd of cattle!
Buy link- https://books2read.com/u/mvW7aj
Sanguisuge Book 1 https://www.books2read.com/u/49PqBw
Trinity is haunted by a dream. A dream that seems to hold the secret not only to who she is but to who she will become.
Sanguisuge Book 2 https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQjK8
Dreams become reality. Secrets are brought to light. Trinity's life is changing. She questions who she is and what her purpose is. As her life changes, so do her dreams and her alliances. The only thing that seems sure is her bond with Ethan. But is this a bond that will do Trinity more harm than good?
Sanguisuge Book 3 https://books2read.com/u/bowRWp
Humans are being found drained of blood. As incriminating evidence mounts against Ethan's brother, can Ethan and Trinity prove his innocence, or will they find out he is responsible for the murders?
Ethan is reunited with someone from his past that tests the bond between him and Trinity. Can their bond withstand the strain? What will happen to them if the distance becomes too great?
Sanguisuge Book 4 https://books2read.com/u/4jLBZZ
Clan law interferes in what should be a joyous time for Ethan and Trinity. Opinion differences make the family turn against one another as she tries desperately to hold them together. With time against them, they must make a major decision that could prove deadly.
Bio- Sharon is a multi-genre young adult author that dabbles in adult tales from time to time. As a defender of the defenseless, Sharon’s characters take on this persona with strong female leads and males that are protective, perfect, boyfriend material.
January 12, 2022
Did You Know
Did you know, the most common tree in the United States is the red maple?
AND
