Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 112

Review: THE STOLEN TWIN by Michelle Wacek

A college student who hadn’t seenher twin sister since she was seven and then spots her at a Halloween party.Was Kit hallucinating that she saw her sister, Cat, who was warning her?

After you get past that weirdfairy dream in the beginning, it seems to be interesting with this vanishingtwin suddenly reappearing. But the diary narrative of this girl was so long andslow—so unbelievably daunting. Everything was described in such short, poeticstatements, but the story wasn’t really moving forward. It seemed like thestory was standing still and the long chapters didn’t help any either.

I expected so much more from thisand all I got was a sad disappointment.

 

Rating:2 stars

Review: THE WIFE LIE by Anya Mora

Penny—wife, daughter, and motherof two—thought that she had the good life. But one terrifying moment changeseverything. She feels lost without her husband, the love of her life and herwhole world evidently. 

This story starts off rather well,but it does take a while to get going to the good parts. For a while, Penny isdenial about her husband’s death. By chapter 6, we find out that another womanwas also married to the husband. Oh, intrigue.

The question was: where was wife#3?

This had an interesting premise,but the whole thing really wasn’t as good as I thought it be.

All in all, an okay read.

 

Rating:3 stars

Blog Tour: TINY GREEN UNICORNS by Renée James

TINY GREEN UNICORNS

by Renée James

 

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GENRE:  Children's

 

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BLURB:

 

Haveyou ever seen a green unicorn?

 

Tinygreen unicorns are really, really small. They might be the tiniest unicorns ofall.

 

Theyare here every day, and if you keep searching for magic, you might even findone yourself today.

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

 

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 Review: 

Have you ever seen a greenunicorn?

Follow a little girl in her searchfor one in this delightful, little tale. See how she searches far and wide inthe most unusual places. With illustrations so cute and funny, story is wildlyimaginative and fun.

A nice read!

Rating:4 stars

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Renée James is a multifaceted talent with an extensivecommunications and media background. She is creative to the core and treasuresher family and friends. Her children are her greatest inspiration, as they areconstant reminders to never stop searching for magic.

 

 

 

CONNECT WITH Renée James

 

WEBSITE: https://reneejamesbooks.com/

 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/reneejamesbooks

 

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/reneejamesbooks/

 

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21279212.Ren_e_James

 

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS TO TINY GREEN UNICORNS:

 

AMAZON - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228884705

 

BARNES & NOBLE - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tiny-green-unicorns-ren-e-james/1143242754

 

ABEBOOKS - https://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9780228884705

 

BOOKTOPIA - https://www.booktopia.com.au/tiny-green-unicorns-ren-e-james/book/9780228884705.html

 

 

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY 

 

RenéeJames will award a $15 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn winner viarafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: CHAINED REACTION by Shiloh Love

 

Chained Reaction

by Shiloh Love

 

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GENRE: Contemporary RomanticSuspense

 

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BLURB:

 

Love is just a link away.

 

Onebad mistake sparks a chain reaction of terror for two innocent people.

 

Whena registered nurse is blackmailed into helping two coworkers commit a crime,she never expects to find love. With her career on the line, the last thingCamille needs is romantic entanglement that will most likely lead to heartbreakif a secret from her past goes public. She just wants to end the nightmare andreturn to her job.

 

Lightsout for billionaire Trenton Shade upon helping a lady in distress. He wakeshours later chained to an antique barber chair in the middle of nowhere. Thenurse caring for him seems too kind to be an abductor. Her cohorts on the otherhand, paint quite a different scenario. Plummeted into a dangerous situation,he reaches out to the only possible helping hand.

 

Cantwo victims of evil intent escape the clutches of a crazed pair of women drivenby greed? Even if Camille and Shade make it out alive, will the bond formedduring captivity lead to a future together?

 

Thereare some wounds even the most powerful love cannot heal.

 

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EXCERPT

 

Time dragged on. No windows, fans or air conditioning. Sweattrickled down his face and back, soaking his shirt. His hair felt wet. He triedto move every so often to ease the agony of his body pinned yet again to animmovable object. But mostly, he remained still with eyes closed to conserve energy.

 

Now and then, he’d open his eyes to steal a look around.Joan sat subdued. Missy appeared tired yet was holding her own. Dale seemededgy, constantly checking the time then watching the door.

 

Who the hell are they waiting for? Shade leaned his headback against the steel pole and tried to keep his thoughts under control,struggling to not imagine the worst for Camille.

 

Suddenly, after two hours, everyone leapt to attention atthe sound of approaching footsteps. Shade opened his eyes but didn’t bother tolift his head until one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen strolledthrough the door.

 

She stood tall for a female with a slender build and finelychiseled features. Long straight black hair trailed down her back, held off herface by a wide fabric headband wrapped over the top of her head then down pasther ears and underneath the back of her long mane. She was dark complected, buthe couldn’t discern her ethnicity.

 

“Malika, it’s an honor to see you again,” Dale bowedslightly at the waist upon greeting her.

 

Her gaze swept the room. She made direct visual contact withShade. He stared back into big dark eyes.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Shiloh Love isa fan of happily ever after. Her novels are too!

 

Shiloh enjoyscreating romance, paranormal romance, and romantic suspense stories with agritty flair. Her stories are her own, and she typically writes outside thebox. She’s always been a leader not a follower. Writing is her mental filterand how she processes the world around her, a fictional place where she cancontrol the outcome at her comfort level with justice and happy endings. Herimagination is her greatest strength as it carries her away from daily stress.

 

As a survivorof hardship and chronic disease, she takes one day at a time and treasures thesimple things in life. Shiloh is a Christian, loves animals, and practicesbeing kind and generous every day. When not immersed in new stories, she enjoyswatching movies, Motocross and Supercross, playing Yahtzee with her fiancé, andhanging out with her loyal 24/7 companion and trained service dog. She’s not afan of sitcoms as they don’t offer enough mental stimulation. Losing herself inan intense story gives her brain the workout it needs to manage OCD, anxiety,depression, and stress.

 

Herachievements thus far include The Golden Wings Award for her debut novel TheSatellite, the UK Nobel Pin and Editor’s Choice Award for her poem The LonelyMan, numerous 5 Star Reviews from Fallen Angels Reviews, Coffee Time Romance,InD’tale Magazine, and Goodreads for retired and current novels. Her novelForever in Darkness was a RONE Awards Finalist. Chained Reaction received the5-star Crowned Heart from InD’tale Magazine.

 

Her quote is,“Writing is the only time I’m truly free.” She’s happiest when her intriguingcharacters come to life and steal her away into their worlds where anything ispossible.

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chained-Reaction-Shiloh-Love-ebook/dp/B0C77FC4DG

 

Barnes andNoble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chained-reaction-shiloh-love/1138008774

 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/chained-reaction-9

 

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1403777

 

Website: http://www.susanzoebella.com   

 

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSusanZoe

 

https://www.instagram.com/authorsusanzoebella

 

https://twitter.com/AuthorSusanZoe

 

 

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GIVEAWAY 

The author will be awarding a Kindle toa randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: THE PATH OF CHAOS by Tom Haward

 

THE PATH OF CHAOS

by Tom Haward

 

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GENRE:   DystopianAlternate History

 

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BLURB:

 

Itis the year 2030, and the Roman Empire never fell. Emperor Nero II rules halfthe world, but half the world is not enough for the unpredictable Emperor.

 

Britanniais a Roman outpost. London Bridge is lined with crucified bodies. The streetsare patrolled by soldiers in high-speed, horseless chariots. Nero viewsBritannia as a vital but fractious asset for his planned invasion of theRepublic of Indigenous America.

 

BoatmanKing was born out of rage. A rage that propels him to try and destroy theEmpire. He’s not alone: he leads clandestine rebels fighting to drive theEmpire from Britannia. These rebels are his weapon, which he hopes will obliterateNero and the entire Empire.

 

Rebellion,though, comes at a steep price. Olivia, Boatman’s wife, is caught and crucifiedon London Bridge by Nero’s son, Maximus, who is intent on flushing Boatman fromhiding.

 

Instead,Maximus draws Maverick ‘The Beast’ Kirabo, Boatman’s fearsomesecond-in-command, a champion gladiator who now fights for Rome’s dismay, nottheir entertainment.

 

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Excerpt One:

 

“Soldier Gallusand Soldier Marius, I need you to accompany me to my home.” Both soldierssaluted and followed Faust to his chariot. Faust climbed on and sat down at therear. Gallus remained standing whilst Marius fired the engine. The bulletproofglass roof closed over the soldiers’ heads and sealed the chariot. They spedoff away from London Bridge going south to Augustus Park where Faust’s housewas situated.

 

Within fifteenminutes Faust was striding through his front door, gun drawn and Gallus andMarius flanking. The town house had three floors, six bedrooms in total and anairy, open-plan ground floor. Each soldier took a floor and searched. Theyquickly cleared the rooms, finding no-one present and nothing out of theordinary to report.

 

They convenedin the kitchen, and Faust holstered his gun.

 

“Maybe we beatthem to it?” said Marius.

 

Faust gruntedand didn’t bother to respond. He knew something wasn’t right in the house butcould quite place it. He needed to walk through and check it off. He’d onlysearched the ground floor but something didn’t make sense.

 

“I need youboth to stand guard outside. Anyone so much as approaches the housesuspiciously I want you to shoot them. If anyone is allowed access to the housewithout my permission, I will crucify you both upside down. Understand?”

 

Both men noddedand saluted and left the house to take sentry out the front.

 

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Please describe a pivotal scene in yourbook and why it's important.

 

The Path of Chaos revolves around many different charactersperception of power and what makes that power so important. For some it’s simplyto have power for power’s sake; for others it’s so appear important in spite oftheir inadequacies; for one person in the novel power is a gateway to escape.

 

That’s where Titus comes in. Titus is the Commander ofBritannia, that is, he’s the General overseeing Roman occupation of thecountry. He hates London though. He believed his posting was going to propelhim to something much greater in the Empire but instead he feels trapped by aplace he sees as dreary and uninspiring. With this in mind, Titus decided tobetray the Empire and seek to escape. Culmination of events makes Titus believe his life might be disposableanyway, so he decides to pre-empt any potential problems that might come hisway.

 

This moment in the book is important because it acts as acatalyst for other events but also highlights the chaos which whirls around thelives of most of the characters. Men and women who almost gravitate towardchaos and, in turn, create more chaos in their paths. Titus is the highestranking soldier in Britannia but feels the weight of his vulnerability when inthe presence of Emperor Nero II and this is, to me, really important tounderstanding the volatility of the world I have created, because it’s verysimilar to the world we currently inhabit.

 

Even though The Path of Chaos is filled with live streamedcrucifixions and guns and swords, the constant struggle for power that can soeasily be taken away is reminiscent of governments around the world. Titusbelieves he’s the most powerful man in Britannia but that appears to crumble inmoments for him and I feel that’s a key message in the book. 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Tom was born in Essex and at 4 months old he and his identicaltwin were adopted into an oyster farming family. Tom now runs the business asgeneration eight of Haward oyster farmers. He has a fiancée, baby daughter and a cockapoo.

 

Tom has an MA in Creative Writing and has loved telling storiessince he was a child, whether verbally or through prose.

 

The Path of Chaos is his debut novel. He is also working on a sixepisode comedy screenplay and tweets passionately about his family’s industryand the challenges it faces.

 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5350971.Tom_Haward

https://m.facebook.com/tomhawardauthor/

https://cinnabarmothliterarycollections.com/contributing_authors/tom-haward/

https://tomhaward.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/HawardTom

https://www.instagram.com/hawardtom/

https://www.amazon.com/Path-Chaos-Tom-Haward-ebook/dp/B0BVG8H9MY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Theauthor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: A VOICE OUT OF POVERTY by Jillian Haslam

 

A Voice Out of Poverty

by Jillian Haslam

 

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GENRE: Memoir

 

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BLURB:

 

A woman’s ascent from devastating poverty and childhood trauma tointernational standing as a prominent advocate for the poor and helpless.

 

Asa young girl, Jillian Haslam saved a life. Herself tiny and aching frommalnutrition, she stood for hours at a tea shop, begging for a ladle of milk totry and prevent her newborn sister from dying of starvation.

 

Fromthe slums of Calcutta to the executive floors of a global bank, A Voice out ofPoverty offers an unflinching look at one woman’s journey from destitution tosuccess.

 

Throughout,Haslam demonstrates an inexhaustible drive to rise above adversity and findbeacons of positivity in impossible circumstances. But her rise doesn’t stop atthe top; she returns to her roots again and again to extend a hand to thoseleft in the impoverished communities that she so narrowly escaped.

 

Britishby ancestry and born in India after its independence, Haslam and her family suffereddegradation and prejudice. They were forced to live on the streets, flee dangerin the middle of the night, and face persistent abuse and starvation.

 

Thistreacherous environment is the backdrop of an unlikely story of resilience andan unshakable family bond. From squalor and powerlessness, Haslam findscountless moments of grace, community, gratitude, and love.

 

AVoice out of Poverty is a raw and inspiring memoir that shows how beauty can befound in improbable places, and how “success” is not just the act of making itthrough. Rather, it is the act of reaching back to bring others with you.

 

 

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Excerpt One:

 

A bristly, grey rat jutted its head through a wide crack inthe peeling stucco wall, its long tail draped behind and hidden. It squintedits beady eyes and sniffed the air, as a light drizzle started to dampen theground.

 

A few feet away, an older homeless woman, sitting under aprecarious building canopy, shifted her eyes towards the rat, without movingher head. A stray dog nestled next to her, one of three gathered snuggly aroundher, bared its teeth, and growled at the rodent, without rising.

 

The woman swiveled her head in the rat’s direction andshooed it away with a claw-like hand slicing the air. The rat withdrew,vanishing inside the wall. The dog returned its head to rest on its paws andclosed its eyes.

 

The drizzle turned into a light rain.

 

My mother and I took in the rat scene side by side as weambled down the street. My eyes remained riveted on the homeless woman. Iwondered if she had a family or young children like me. Then, the noisy“pop-pop” of a Vespa flew near my eyes and broke my concentration, causing meto pull my head back abruptly. I gripped my mother’s hand as tightly as Icould.

 

The rain was now steady but not enough to flood the crowdedstreets or inhibit the pace of the fast-moving foot and vehicle traffic. Ilooked up to see an old man pulling a rickshaw coming towards us. I stared athim. His emaciated body looked as if his skin could peel off in thin layers,like a stale onion. He stared at me, sharing his single black tooth. I held mystare.

 

The rickshaw puller veered off the line of his path, forcinga dilapidated scooter that packed an entire family to swerve near us. Thescooter splashed mud onto my legs and dress, and I started to cry. My onlyproper dress was drenched with filth. I now would have to undress to underclotheswhile it got washed. My mother stopped and crouched in front of me. I didn’thide my disgust.

 

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 GUEST POST

BLOG #4           If I’d never heard of me, would I read “A Voice Out ofPoverty”?   620 words

 

Hey there, folks! Today, I want tochat about my first book, "A Voice Out of Poverty," and whether I'dpick it up if I stumbled upon it without knowing anything about the author. So,let's dive in and see if it's a read I'd recommend!

First things first, the cover of"A Voice Out of Poverty" is pretty eye-catching. It's got thisvibrant mix of colors, with a young girl standing against a bustling citybackdrop. It immediately gives off a sense of hope and resilience, and I'm allabout that. Kudos to the book designer for nailing it!

As I flip open the book, I'm metwith a heartfelt introduction that sets the stage for the stories that follow.It's like an appetizer that makes you excited for the main course. The chaptersare divided into different stages of my life, starting from my childhood in alow-income neighborhood to my journey of overcoming obstacles and breaking freefrom the cycle of poverty.

Reading through these pages, Ican't help but feel a sense of vulnerability and authenticity. Each story islike a glimpse into my soul, sharing not only the hardships I faced but alsothe triumphs and lessons I learned along the way. I'm not gonna lie; it's arollercoaster of emotions. There are moments that will make you cry, laugh, andreflect on your own life.

The writing style in "A VoiceOut of Poverty" is conversational and relatable. I've always believed thatstories should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background oreducation. So, I've tried my best to keep the language simple anddown-to-earth. It's almost like we're having a chat over a cup of tea. No fancyjargon or complex sentence structures here—just raw, genuine storytelling.

Now, let's talk about the themesexplored in the book. Poverty is undoubtedly at the forefront, but it's notjust a pity party. I wanted to shed light on the systemic issues thatperpetuate poverty, but also showcase the resilience and strength ofindividuals who defy the odds. It's about hope, dreams, and the power ofdetermination. Throughout the book, I sprinkle in some practical advice andresources for those who may find themselves in similar situations, because Ibelieve in empowering others through knowledge.

Another aspect that stands out in"A Voice Out of Poverty" is the diversity of voices. It's not just mystory; it's a collective narrative of the people I've met along the way. Ishare their struggles, their dreams, and how their lives intersected with mine.By amplifying these voices, I hope to challenge stereotypes and encourageempathy.

As I reach the end of the book, Ifind myself feeling inspired and motivated. It's a reminder that no matterwhere you come from or what obstacles you face, you have the power to shapeyour own destiny. I share my successes and failures with the hope that it willresonate with readers and encourage them to pursue their own dreams fearlessly.

So, would I read "A Voice Outof Poverty" if I had never heard of me? Absolutely! Even if I say somyself. It's a captivating journey filled with real stories, heart, and a doseof inspiration. It's a book that celebrates the human spirit and reminds usthat no one should be defined by their circumstances.

If you're someone who lovesstories of resilience, overcoming adversity, and finding strength in the midstof struggle, then "A Voice Out of Poverty" might just be the perfectread for you. Give it a shot, and let me know what you think. Together, let'schange the narrative surrounding poverty and create a more inclusive world.

Until next time, Jillian Haslman

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jillian Haslamwas born in 1970 and raised primarily in the slums of Calcutta. Despite thesevere devastation of her family’s living circumstances, she completed hereducation and landed her first major employment as a personal assistant to theCEO at Bank of America in India.

 

Jillian rosethrough the ranks, and Bank of America appointed her president of its Charityand Diversity Network in India, where she spearheaded charitable work in fourdifferent cities. This led her to receive three philanthropic awards from Bankof America: the Star Recognition award, the Service Excellence award, and TheIndividual Achievement award.

 

In 2011, shepublished the first version of her memoir, Indian. English, which chroniclesher life growing up amid dreadful poverty, abuse, and tragedy. The book soldover 150,000 copies, mostly while she was on the speaking circuit. Her storyalso incited interest from Hollywood and British film directors and producers,leading to the development of a feature film.

 

Charitablegiving became Jillian’s life work. In 2012, she received the first runner upaward for The Asian Woman of the Year in the “Social and Humanitarian”category. In early 2015, The Telegraph of Calcutta presented Jillian with theTrue Legend award for her exceptional contribution to social and humanitariancauses. In mid-2015, she was recognized as a finalist for the Role Model of theYear award for her work delivering speeches in educational institutes acrossthe UK. In late 2016, she received an award for Excellence in Humanitarianism.And, in 2017, she received her greatest accolade, the Mother Teresa MemorialInternational Award.

 

Jillian becamea speaker in demand and is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). She has deliveredseveral TEDx talks, among other prestigious speaking engagements, on varioustopics that flow from her life story. Jillian speaks on topics that includeentrepreneurialism, the power of the mind, and human resilience.

 

She has alsobeen featured on various TV networks, including Channel 5 and the BBC, and awide range of print media, including The Independent, The Pioneer, The Times,The Telegraph, The Metro, Gulf News, and other major media outlets. Jillian’scharitable work continues under the auspices of the Remedia Trust where she overseesseveral separate charities: Ageing Smiles (for the elderly poor), Happy Hearts(for children), Empowering Girls (for teaching various workable skills),India’s Disabled (for building a mobile medical unit), E3 Growth (focused oneducation, employment, and employability), and the Mother Teresa Project (forwomen and single mothers).

 

Jilliancurrently lives in London with her husband.

 

Connect withher here: 

www.jillianhaslam.com

 

https://books2read.com/u/3JnzxK (allavailable buy links are here)

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/58948875

 

https://www.facebook.com/jillian.haslam

https://www.facebook.com/IndianEnglishTheMovie

https://twitter.com/JillianHaslam

https://www.instagram.com/jillian.haslam/

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GIVEAWAY 

One randomly chosen winner viarafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: MIDNIGHT RAPTURE by Anya Summers

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anya Summers will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Rescued by a hot, kilt-wearing Scot…

Freya’s on the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend. She’s exhausted and terrified, but if she stops, she knows he’ll find her – and their infant daughter – and make her pay. Desperation drives her to do something she shouldn’t, that she knows is fundamentally wrong…

… and sure enough, she gets caught red-handed. All she can do is beg for mercy.

When Jasper catches the gorgeous new maid with her hand in his wallet, his first instinct is to call the police. But Freya’s tearful plea strikes a chord deep within him, and instead he finds himself offering her the protection of his name and family.

Their union is meant to be on paper only but Jasper soon finds himself enthralled by his new bride. He starts a campaign to seduce her into his bed, never expecting her to wiggle her way into his heart.

And when her past threatens her very existence, he will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

Fall headlong into this steamy, fake relationship, stand-alone romance between a fierce Scottish businessman and a single mother as they navigate the road of love with all its pitfalls

Read an Excerpt

Marry him? Was the guy clinically insane?

Who asked someone they’d just met to marry them? She’d tell you who did stuff like that—crazy people.

Holding Maddie close, Freya didn’t know what to think or how to feel about his offer. He was only a few years older than she, by her reckoning, maybe in his early thirties. He could be English, but with a name like Campbell would bet what cash she had left he was Scottish.

His voice was sex personified. His Scottish brogue in that sexy baritone made his words sound like a caress. And when he spoke, the potent vibrations shivered through her body down into her toes. A man like him was dangerous to her sensibilities. A hypothesis proven by that reckless kiss. And what a kiss! Her body still hummed with illicit desire.

But she had sworn long ago that she would never be taken in by a charming, handsome face again. She’d done that once.

Holding Maddie close in case she needed to make a break for it, she asked, “What’s your name?”

He cast an arched stare as he rounded the kitchen island and faced her. “Jasper Campbell, at your service. And who is this little lassie?” He nodded toward her daughter. Maddie stared at him in fascination. Like mother, like daughter. But it could just be she wasn’t used to being around men that much, and definitely not one this enormous.

“This is Maddie.” Freya said her name, and her daughter grinned like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

“I’ve got a highchair in the pantry. Let me grab it, and we can set it by the table. And don’t think of leaving until we’ve finished discussing this matter. You try to leave before we’ve finished our negotiations, and I will call the authorities.”

She sucked in a breath at the threat. Rich people really were different. Only a guy who had never interacted with cops would call them the authorities. But she had no plans to leave just yet. Because she wanted to see if he was serious about his offer.

Did he really want to marry her for a year to gain his inheritance? Would he really buy her a house and give her twenty million dollars if she agreed?

About the Author: Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead of binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

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Maggie Mae Gallagher website

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Review: THE BABYSITTER’S CLUB: BOY-CRAZY STACEY by Gale Galligan

Two weeks away from the club. Whatwill the girls do? Well, Stacey will be at the beach. Even though this wouldstill be a babysitting job, Stacey was determined to enjoy it. After all, therewas so much to see and do at Sea City. Loved the colorful illustrations and thephotogenic scenery. So tranquil and lovely.

Then one glance at the gorgeouslifeguard and Stacey was lovestruck. The exaggerated expressions on thesecharacters were just priceless!

Stacey was just so smitten. It wascute. She obviously had the impression that he was into her too. But what wouldhappen when the truth smacked her dead in the face? Heartbreak!

And what happens when one sitterends up doing more work than the other? Girl fight!

But, in the end, it all boileddown to a great beach vacation. A nice one!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: THE BABYSITTER’S CLUB: KRISTY AND THE SNOBS by Chan Chau

Kristy just moved into theneighborhood and was in a battle with the snobs. To add to it, Kristy had tobabysit some rich, spoiled brats. Get me a soda. Ice. No ice. Grrr! Then youcall my dog a mutt?! Grrr! But, as part of The Babysitter’s Club, you have tobe nice to the clients.

Meanwhile, Kristy’s dog is gettingold and having problems. Poor vision, arthritis, and bladder issues. Oh no!

The illustrations were simplyenjoyable! A nice, heartwarming read about enemies and friends.

 

Rating:4 stars

Blog Tour: THE SCRIPT IS NOT ENOUGH by Jamison LoCascio

 

The Script is Not Enough

by Jamison LoCascio

 

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GENRE: Non-fiction (How-to)

 

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BLURB:

 

The Script is not Enough takes a unique look at the making of fourdifferent independent feature films. The author takes you through every stagein development from writing, to financing, and to distribution and marketing.Find out how you can learn from the hard experiences and challenges that facethe filmmaker along the way.

 

 

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Excerpt One:

 

Life and filmmaking do not often mix well

 

I offer a detailed look at my journey of making fourdifferent feature films for the brand-new filmmaker out there. I am trying towrite the book that I could have used in the very beginning. This is a bookabout what it means to be a filmmaker with little to no industry connections,“ins,” magic tricks, or otherwise.

 

My “rules,” which are in bold throughout the book,are just some things I keep in mind for myself. Based on my own experience readingbooks on making films, I want to try to avoid burying what is of value—theinformation—into a sort of “life story.” That’s boring. 

 

It's very upsetting to see how many people sitaround talking about how they never got a chance to make a film in their life,and now they are married, divorced, single, too old, too young, too poor, toocomfortable…too anything besides “ready.” There are so many excuses not to makea film, so it’s best to just make one before your time’s up.

 

Life and filmmaking do not often mix well; you needto make movies and also live your life. “Life” and “Movies” are two separateand severe challenges. So, make movies and make life, even when everything isagainst you, and it certainly will be. A poignant moment of “The Empire StrikesBack” comes to mind…

 

“Are you afraid?” asks Yoda.

 

“No,” answers Luke Skywalker.

 

“You will be. You will be,” says Yoda, his eyeswidening, in a very creepy way.

 

Your first feature film is simply a difficult butattainable milestone. I now know now why that is. Lack of experience andopportunity to grow is more harmful to new feature film producers and directorsthan anything else. When you can try and fail at something, or succeedmoderately, you can grow, adapt, and overcome. The problem with making featurefilms is that many do not get a chance to ever make one or, even worse, theymake one and never get a chance to try again.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

JamisonLoCascio is an award-winning feature film director. In 2012, Jamison LoCasciobegan to write the screenplay for his first union short, "MidnightCatch," which garnished much acclaim at the New Jersey International FilmFestival and Manhattan Film Festival. LoCascio decided to form his productioncompany, Halcyon Valor Productions Incorporated. Graduated from Montclair StateUniversity with honors winning the “Excellence in Filmmaking” award for hisnumerous successful productions which premiered in film festivals around theworld. LoCasio's short films have since been honored by the Screen Actors Guildand screened at such festivals as the Los Angeles International Short FilmFestival, Montclair Film Festival, and NewFilmmakers New York. LoCascio'sshorts "Track 3," "A Stranger's Confession," and "Powerless"were all official selections of the Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner. Hisfilms have been anthologized in the prestigious Anthology Film Archives inManhattan, distributed worldwide on DVD, picked up for online distribution byFilm Bay. DIRECTV & AT&T distributed 6 of LoCascio's short films ontheir new International short film platform. LoCascio's first feature film,"The Depths," starring Michael Rispoli and Patch Darragh won BestFeature Film at the 2017 Manhattan Film Festival and had a strong criticalreception. The film also won Best Feature Film and Best Director at the 2017Los Angeles Film Awards and received domestic distribution with Sony Picturesand The Orchard releasing on all major platforms including Amazon, Itunes, DVDand more. LoCascio's second feature film "Sunset" starring acclaimedactor Austin Pendleton received rave reviews and won multiple awards includingBest Dramatic Feature Film at the 2018 Manhattan Film Festival, Best Ensembleat the 2018 Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Leading Actor (David Johnson)International Independent Film Awards. "Sunset" also receiveddomestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard. LoCascio and AdamAmbrosio have recently launched their latest initiative by filmmakers forfilmmakers called Film Valor, a youtube channel with over 3,000 worldwidefollowers and over 250,000 views, a behind the scenes look at their filmmakingprocess. "Know Fear," his latest feature film, received criticalacclaim and stars Amy Carlson. The film had a limited theatrical release. Hisnext feature film "How Dark They Prey," a unique horror anthology,has been released on major streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi,Plex, Udu, Mometu and many more with critics hailing the film as "Horrorat its best". His latest feature film release “7x7” is a collection ofmany of LoCascio’s award-winning short films brought together for one viewingexperience on major platforms including Tubi and Amazon Prime.

 

 

JamisonLoCascio’s Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/filmvalor

 

Amazon BuyLink: https://www.amazon.com/Script-not-Enough-Jamison-LoCascio-ebook/dp/B0C3J9GDB2/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Jamison LoCascio will be awarding a $10Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway