Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 11
July 12, 2025
Review: HOW TO DRAW A SECRET by Cindy Chang
Filled with cute and colorfulillustrations, this graphic novel tells the story of a young artist with theassignment of what family means to her. Some of the text was hard to read, butthe pictures told the story pretty well.
The death of her grandma sends herand her family to Taiwan for a funeral. Foreign whispering has Cindy wonderingabout a family secret. What secret? Finding out that your dad cheated on yourmom and had a son? Wow, no one could’ve been prepared for that one. Cindyrealized that her family was a total lie! The family arguments were prettyintense, and all her feelings were drawn in her sketchbook. Soon, Cindyrealized that families aren’t perfect and that they can be different.
A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: LOVE ME TENDER by Terry Moore
A look at Francine and Katchoo’spast. Loved the funny expressions. Francine gives when she’s being measured upat the gym. Guess she wanted to work out. Good illustrations! A nice ode to thefriendship.
Rating:3 stars
Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: I DREAM OF YOU by Terry Moore
Something’s bothering Katchoo, butwe don’t know what. I wish I could’ve understood more of what was going on.What was with all the violence? I mean, the girl’s a real a-kicker, but geez!Nice art work with good angles. A pretty nice read.
Rating:3 stars
Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: IT’S A GOOD LIFE by Terry Moore
Good illustrations, but not surewhat’s going on in them. We still have that confusion on love and sexuality. Anokay read.
Rating:3 stars
July 11, 2025
Blog Tour: THE PRICE OF TRUTH by Michele Clarizio
Book Details:
Book Title: THE PRICE OF TRUTH by Michele Clarizio
Category: YA Adult Fiction (18 +), 397 pages
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Publisher: Michele Clarizio
Release date: June 18, 2025
Content Rating: PG-13 + M: Language, implied rape scene, kidnapping, violence and a character's dad committed suicide, but it's only reference since it happened in the past.Book Description:
Seventeen-year-old Karis Russo is no stranger to pain. Still reeling from her father’s death, she’s weighted down by grief she can’t seem to outrun. But nothing prepares her for the night that upends her life once again.
After attending the grand opening of The Aragon Luxury Resort and Spa, Karis wakes up bloody and bruised with no memory of what happened. Determined to find the truth, she embarks on a relentless quest for answers.
Her investigation takes a surprising turn when she learns Mason Whitman, practically Duncan High “royalty”, has harbored a crush on her for years. His charm and their undeniable chemistry throw her into a tailspin. Caught between piecing together the night she lost and embracing the possibility of love she never saw coming, Karis convinces herself she can juggle both worlds.
But the deeper she digs into the mystery of that fateful night, the darker the truth becomes. As shocking betrayals surface and long-buried secrets claw their way to the light, Karis realizes the price of truth may cost more than she’s willing to pay. Buy the Book:
Amazon
add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
The Price of Truth is Michele Clarizio’s first book in the Chasing Peace series. Michele is a near-native of Denver, Colorado, where she’s fortunate to have her adult children, Mackenzie and Matthew, nearby.
For more information and to stay informed about the next Chasing Peace novel, please visit MicheleClarizio.com and be sure to join her email list.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram Enter the Giveaway: THE PRICE OF TRUTH Book Tour Giveaway
July 10, 2025
Blog Tour: WORDS TO THINK. OR TO SING. by Intensia
Words to Think. or to Sing.
Intensia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Modern Poetry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Haveyou ever wondered how your favorite songs really began?
Notwith the words, not with the melody, but with a feeling.
Becominga vision, becoming lines, becoming a complete piece of sonorous truth meant tobe shared to unite people who resonate with it.
Amystical, fascinating process you can now be part of.
INTENSIA,a new heartfelt, poetic singer songwriter likely to belong with your favoritepop music companions, is turning the traditional release model upside down,inviting you to look into her soul and mind before anyone else.
Beamong the first to witness this spark before her distinctive voice echoesthrough the world. This unique approach offers an unprecedented glimpse intoevolving art, so you can feel and enjoy the essence of her songs before theyare even complete.
Diveinto this curated collection of lyric excerpts and emotional snapshots from popsongs in progress. Each piece stands on its own as a modern, poetic message,paired with brief reflections about the meaning or emotions behind the words.
Itis more than something to read. It is a space to pause, reflect, and connect,with room for your thoughts and reflections too. Write what moves you, what youfeel, what you dream. This book and its songs to be are meant to accompany youwherever you go.
Foreven more space to express yourself, the companion notebook PLACE TO THINK. ORTO WRITE. (ISBN 978-3-911445-02-3) is available as a dedicated space.
WORDSTO THINK. OR TO SING. out 26 June 2025 on Amazon. Paperback (ISBN978-3-911445-00-9), eBook (ISBN 978-3-911445-01-6).
JoinINTENSIA’s free Intense Inside Club at www.intensia.music and discover thisspecial music developing experience as it unfolds, where connection begins assongs come to life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptTwo:
V A N I S H
Those words are hidingin the rain
even vanishing, thememories remain
those words are hidingin the light
even vanishing, I hopeyou are all right
Don't you need someoneto take you by the hand?
don't you need someoneto help you understand?
don't you need someoneto stay until the end?
LIGHT AND RAIN NEVERHAPPEN IN VAIN.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
FromMunich’s vibrant core, Intensia is sparking a poetic, tuneful movement with aunique glimpse into her evolving pop songs-to-be book, “WORDS TO THINK. OR TOSING.”. It combines lyric snippets with heartfelt reflections, inviting readersto discover her art in progress in a new and unexpected way.
INTENSIA’sstory began in childhood with a simple radio cassette recorder, a portal to amesmerizing world where her voice became a powerful way to explore emotions andtransform them into melodies.
Herlyrics delve into self-reflection, personal growth, relationships, andempowerment. Themes that reflect the vision of her boutique flagship label,Intensia Music International, which is also dedicated to inspiring others toexplore their creative side.
Witha high art, down-to-earth attitude, INTENSIA stands for emotional pop tunesthat feel like after a meaningful conversation with a good friend. Step intoher world at www.intensia.music and you will find a new sonorous companion forlife.
ArtistWebsite: http://www.intensia.music
PublisherWebsite/Music Label: http://www.intensia.international
AuthorAmazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09HZ6HCH9/about
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24676392.INTENSIA
Bookbuy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9RR5TK9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Intensiawill be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: WORDS TO THINK. OR TO SING by Intensia
Words to Think. or to Sing.
Intensia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Modern Poetry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Haveyou ever wondered how your favorite songs really began?
Notwith the words, not with the melody, but with a feeling.
Becominga vision, becoming lines, becoming a complete piece of sonorous truth meant tobe shared to unite people who resonate with it.
Amystical, fascinating process you can now be part of.
INTENSIA,a new heartfelt, poetic singer songwriter likely to belong with your favoritepop music companions, is turning the traditional release model upside down,inviting you to look into her soul and mind before anyone else.
Beamong the first to witness this spark before her distinctive voice echoesthrough the world. This unique approach offers an unprecedented glimpse intoevolving art, so you can feel and enjoy the essence of her songs before theyare even complete.
Diveinto this curated collection of lyric excerpts and emotional snapshots from popsongs in progress. Each piece stands on its own as a modern, poetic message,paired with brief reflections about the meaning or emotions behind the words.
Itis more than something to read. It is a space to pause, reflect, and connect,with room for your thoughts and reflections too. Write what moves you, what youfeel, what you dream. This book and its songs to be are meant to accompany youwherever you go.
Foreven more space to express yourself, the companion notebook PLACE TO THINK. ORTO WRITE. (ISBN 978-3-911445-02-3) is available as a dedicated space.
WORDSTO THINK. OR TO SING. out 26 June 2025 on Amazon. Paperback (ISBN978-3-911445-00-9), eBook (ISBN 978-3-911445-01-6).
JoinINTENSIA’s free Intense Inside Club at www.intensia.music and discover thisspecial music developing experience as it unfolds, where connection begins assongs come to life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptTwo:
V A N I S H
Those words are hidingin the rain
even vanishing, thememories remain
those words are hidingin the light
even vanishing, I hopeyou are all right
Don't you need someoneto take you by the hand?
don't you need someoneto help you understand?
don't you need someoneto stay until the end?
LIGHT AND RAIN NEVERHAPPEN IN VAIN.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
FromMunich’s vibrant core, Intensia is sparking a poetic, tuneful movement with aunique glimpse into her evolving pop songs-to-be book, “WORDS TO THINK. OR TOSING.”. It combines lyric snippets with heartfelt reflections, inviting readersto discover her art in progress in a new and unexpected way.
INTENSIA’sstory began in childhood with a simple radio cassette recorder, a portal to amesmerizing world where her voice became a powerful way to explore emotions andtransform them into melodies.
Herlyrics delve into self-reflection, personal growth, relationships, andempowerment. Themes that reflect the vision of her boutique flagship label,Intensia Music International, which is also dedicated to inspiring others toexplore their creative side.
Witha high art, down-to-earth attitude, INTENSIA stands for emotional pop tunesthat feel like after a meaningful conversation with a good friend. Step intoher world at www.intensia.music and you will find a new sonorous companion forlife.
ArtistWebsite: http://www.intensia.music
PublisherWebsite/Music Label: http://www.intensia.international
AuthorAmazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09HZ6HCH9/about
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24676392.INTENSIA
Bookbuy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9RR5TK9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Intensiawill be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 8, 2025
Excerpt: BOARDROOM ASSASSIN by R.L. Hare
Title: Boardroom Assassin
Author: R.L. Hare
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Excerpt from Chapter 4 – Trigger Point
This wasn’t the first time that Rick had let his mind escape into this fantasy world. With the endless monotony and boredom of his corporate lifestyle, Rick had been thinking more and more about his fantasy of committing the perfect murder. He was sure that everyone had thought about it from time to time, but he had thought about it so much lately that he was convinced that he could do it and get away with it. He was also convinced that this could be something that added to the excitement that his life was so sorely missing! His fantasy had escalated past the point of a normal person having abnormal thoughts. He had taken it to another level and had begun to form the basic outline of a plan in his mind. But it was not until this very minute that he finally decided that he was going to go through with it. I’m going to do it, he decided, I just need to formalize a plan.
Oh sure, the rough sketches are there. First, it needs to be in a different city, one that he knows well but that he visits infrequently. That’s not difficult to come by, what with his travel schedule. Second, he needs to plant evidence to send the investigation off in random directions. He’d read enough novels and seen enough episodes of CSI to have more than just a basic understanding of forensic science and to understand the patterns that killers tend to follow. Collecting various pieces of evidence to plant at the scene was something that he would start doing immediately. Little bits and specs of trace evidence that he could use to throw the investigators off the track. Some carpet fibers from a rental car. He’d seen a movie once where the killer had planted a baboon's hair at the scene. Perhaps he’d visit a zoo and pick up some hairs from various species, or perhaps capture some cat hair off of Debbie’s blouse, after all, it was always covered in it. Yes, he would spend a month or two capturing and cataloging trace evidence as if he were a crime scene investigator himself, placing it into small plastic bags and meticulously labeling every bit of it. He’d make sure that the trace he left at a scene was from no fewer than 4 different cities throughout the country.
"Boardroom Assassin takes an old concept - the perfect crime - and gives it an intriguing twist through the creation of a unique character in Rick Frown." - Readers' Favorite
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Boardroom-Assassin-R-L-Hare-ebook/dp/B0FF3N5SQ4/
July 7, 2025
Blog Tour: MAD SEASON: ELLES GARITY'S STORY by Gregory Armstrong
MAD SEASON: ELLES GARITY'S STORY
Gregory Armstrong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Literary Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Fifteenyears ago, Elles Garity’s world came crashing down, in more ways than one. Nowin her mid-twenties, long since removed from the small island town that shegrew up in and never dealing with the pain of her loss, life is calling herback home. In the affirmant of recent unfortunate events Elles finds herself ata turning point once more. This time though, she’ll be forced to confront bothher unresolved grief and the people and places she left behind. It won’t beeasy. Along the way Elles will learn the truth behind a new friend’s darkconnection to her tragic past and be the last to uncover unthinkable familysecrets that will unravel everything she ever knew about the family she thoughtshe lost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
Now, I wasquestioning all of it. I didn’t deal with things well. I didn’t allow anyone tohelp me deal with things. My life, the road I was on, the lane I had shiftedinto when I took the wheel, to put it quite figuratively, looked dark anddismal. I was solely responsible for switching my life into cruise controlbefore ever giving myself a chance to learn to drive the damn car.
All thesethings ran through my head. I didn’t speak to Loyal about any of it. Wherewould I start? How could she possibly understand my position? Not that I gaveher a fighting chance. Time sort of stood still as I sat there frozen, empty. Istarted this. I made this mess. I had no fucking clue how to fix it. I closedmy eyes for a while, and when I opened them, it hit me like a slap to the head.The answer was staring me in the face. Where it all went wrong is where itneeded to begin again.
“Grace, I’mworried about you.”
She had neversaid those words to me before. Ironic, though, how it came across, how I tookit—her spotting the wreckage and expressing concern to the very person who wasentangled in the heap. Out of upheaval, I took solace in a clouded idea touproot myself once more. I emerged partially from my funk, oddly enough,
with a waywardsmile and slightly brighter outlook. I turned to Loyal, sincere. “Everyone mustthink I’m horrible.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Bornin Westerly, Rhode Island, and a Connecticut native all my life, my familyeventually moved to Norwich in 1977, where I grew up. I attended and graduatedfrom Norwich Free Academy in 1991. It was there, in my final two years, where Iacquired a passion for writing. At the time, the school provided a writingcenter, a classroom filled with computers, designated as a creative writingoutlet for the students, and overseen by the now accomplished author WallyLamb. Here, we were free to use our time working on our own projects,developing, learning, and sharpening our writing skills. Each class, we wouldgather in a circle to show and share our work with Mr. Lamb and the rest of theclass by either reading or having our material read aloud, and hearing feedbackfrom our peers.
Mr.Lamb’s writing center instilled a desire in me to one day write a book andbecome an author, just as he was doing, putting the final touches on his debutnovel, She’s Come Undone. Unfortunately, for me, that is when that dream ofmine became a struggle that would last decades. At the age of three, Icontracted meningitis, which caused me to go completely blind and left mehospitalized for several weeks. Despite doctors believing my vision would neverreturn, it did, slowly and to a certain degree, although my optic nerve hadsustained too much damage and I was declared legally blind.
Growingup was a struggle. Socially, I was quiet, shy, uncomfortable knowing I wasdifferent from all of the other kids, because of my physical limitations andlack in self-confidence. Reading was also a challenge. Even though I soon gotmy first pair of glasses, which made my vision clearer, being able to see theprint on a page was still a major issue. For those reasons, I have never beenmuch of a reader, and how does someone who doesn’t read, who doesn’t study theart of literature through books, because it was a strenuous activity on myeyes, learn how to write?
Thefact that I found myself stuck, without the necessary tools and unsure of myown talents and abilities to be a quality writer, all the other insecurities ofmy childhood at play, I gave it up for a time. My active imagination forstorytelling did not. As I got older, and into my teenage years I startedlistening to more music to fill a void. The more I listened, the more I beganto broaden my tastes in artists, groups and genres, and the more I heardstories in the songs. Music, along with television and movies, were combiningto strengthen my inspiration to be an aspiring author.
Onesuch movie, which mirrored many of my own self-imposed hurdles, was Eddie andthe Cruisers. The character of Eddie Wilson, lead singer of a fictional rockand roll band, was consumed by the notion that his music was never good enough,that if they were going to be a band, they had to be great, if they were goingto release an album, it had to be great as well. I had obviously grown-uplearning and hearing about the great authors and novelists of all time, thegreat classic books. I had always put that pressure on myself, the same wayEddie Wilson did. I was convinced that I didn’t know how to write, and even ifI did, would it be good enough? I had been told, taught by teachers and others,that there were rules to the writing game, including creating a story outline,character development, a whole assortment of proper steps to follow andprocesses before the writing even began.
Overthe years, I started a novel a time or two, hating it, and giving up again. Imet my future wife, got married, started a family, and quit my average job tobecome a stay-at-home dad. Through all of it, thirty-plus years, thatever-present need to write gnawing at me, the urge still there, my vividimagination still running wild—I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I had to let thatcreativity out and give it a real and focused purpose. With the rough idea of aplot in mind, I sat down at the computer and finally let all of thoseinsecurities go. With a shot of determination and a relaxed mind, I slowly butsurely discovered my own writing style, and found my storytelling voice. Tohell with all the rules, the unrealistic expectations I placed upon myself, theresult—a deeply, emotionally charged story of tragedy, personal reflection, andredemption, that is Mad Season.
https://gregoryarmstrongbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561749654997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
GregoryArmstrong will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawnwinner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blast: THEIRS UNTIL ALWAYS by Mae K Knight
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mae K. Knight will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Adam:
Men like me don’t get happy endings.
When my demons talk to me, I talk back.
I heeded their call when they demanded my parents’ death.
I even listened when they ordered my own.
And they nearly won.
Until her.
One night changed my life. Then I lost it all. I lost her.
Now, I’ll do anything to get my sunshine back.
But can a sinner like me be willing to share after learning I’m not the only one craving her light?
Jordyn:
When a man shows you his red flags, run.
But running from Adam is easier said than done.
When he re-enters my life, my world implodes with the secrets he’s keeping.
Can I forgive him and learn to live in his shadows? To be the light he thinks I am?
Or will his darkness consume me?
Abel:
Witnessing your twin nearly die, hardens something in you.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Adam breathing.
As kids, he’d protected me, even though that was my job as the older brother.
Now, it’s my turn to protect him.
You can run little sunshine, but you won’t get far.
If Jordyn’s what my brother needs to keep his demons at bay, then I’ll claim her for us.
She’ll be ours, always.
Read an Excerpt
I hum a tune under my breath, slightly dancing in place as I move forward in the line, wiggling my body back and forth.
Caffeine makes me happy.
And I enjoy the excuse to get out of the house, to feel like an actual human being instead of a robot answering calls and dealing with insurance prior authorization claims—my work-from-home job. It pays decently, but I still pinch pennies, and these little treats are worth every dime.
For mental health.
Nodding to myself in agreement, I smile when it’s my turn at the counter, spitting out my order by memory alone without needing to look at the menu. I’m reaching down for my purse when a familiar pair of tattooed fingers enter my line of sight, tapping a card to the terminal before I’ve a chance to grasp my wallet.
Whirling around, I gape up at Adam, soaking in the sharp angles of his face, piercing aqua eyes, and aristocratic nose. Metal glints in the light, a piercing on the edge of his bottom lip and three hoops through the upper helix of his left ear, leaving the right undecorated.
I’ve missed him so much I could kiss him.
I don’t, though, blinking and taking a step back upon realizing we’re holding up the line.
He places a hand on my hip, guiding me away from the counter to the area where completed orders get placed. Stunned, I let him.
“W-what are you doing here?” I mumble then mentally say fuck it, reaching a hand out to grasp his bicep.
About the Author Mae K. Knight is a self-published author based in Louisiana, who enjoys writing “trauma boys” as her readers coined them, BIPOC FMCs that look like her and fast, smutty stories that leave you craving for more. When not writing, she’s reading monster romances penned by her fellow indie authors, studying for her nursing degree, or lifting heavy weights in the gym to feel like a bad bitch on a competition platform.
If you want to read more of her work, check out her website: https://maeknight.carrd.co, buy signed paperbacks directly from her: https://mackandmae.shop or go directly to her Amazon page for her KU titles: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mae-K.-Knight/author/B0D3674KWR.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560507610143
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49729390.Mae_K_Knight
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@maek.knight
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maek_knight
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