Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 123

Blog Tour: DOCTOROO AND THE CASE OF THE PICNIC PIRATES by Dr. Rachel Wellner

  Book Details:

Book Title:  Doctoroo and the Case of the Picnic Pirates by
Rachel B. Wellner
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 43 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Wellner Media
Release Date: January 9, 2023
Content Rating:  G - No profanity, sex or violence

Book Description:

Doctoroo (also known as Dr. Marsha Roo) and her team Kirby Koala, Louie Llama and Terence Toad may live in Australia, but they travel the world solving medical mysteries. In Doctoroo & the Case of the Picnic Pirates, they fly to the United States to find out why bear cubs in the Tumbling Potomac Pirates won't practice their somersaults, cartwheels, or handsprings. Will Doctoroo discover what is wrong? Will she have the answer in time for the cubs to perform on the Fourth of July, America's Independence Day?
Buy the Book
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Review: There was something wrong with thetumbling pirates. The 4th of July celebration was coming up, but theacrobatic cubs were sick. It was a medical mystery. This sounded like a casefor Doctor Marsha Roo. Onward to Bear Foot Park.

Like always, Doctoroo takes thenecessary steps to figure out this medical mystery. Poor bears really weresick. What can the doctor do to make them feel better?

Like any doctor, Doctoroo goesthrough a process of elimination to rule out possible ailments. It’s not theflu or a rash. Could this have something to do with a bear’s hibernationperiod?

The illustrations were so colorfuland vibrant, and the facial expressions were so animated. The text wasabundant. In fact, it was probably too abundant. But it did contain someinteresting facts about bears.

Towards the end, the events were alittle wild and quirky. But, at least, Doctoroo and her teammates found thesource of the cubs’ tummy troubles.

A fun and interesting story with agood moral on eating too much junk food.

Rating:4 stars

Meet the Author:

Dr. Rachel Wellner is a board-certified general surgeon, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Society of Surgical Oncology-trained breast oncology surgeon.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads
Enter the Giveaway:
Doctoroo & the Case of the Picnic Pirates Book Tour Giveaway

Blog Tour: MOTHER KNOWS WORST by Sofia Bella Roma

 
Book Details:

Book Title:  Mother Knows Worst by Sofia Bella Roma
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  280 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction, Novel
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:  December 2022
Content Rating:  PG -13  Pinnacle Award Winner! "Author Sofia Bella Roma tells an absorbing story about two people from very different backgrounds falling in love and struggling to navigate the circumstances and people around them. Infusing romance, humor, and plenty of drama, Roma weaves an engaging narrative that keeps hold of the reader until the last page. Mother Knows Worst is not just a dramatic comedy but also a novel that showcases the challenges people sometimes face in adapting to other cultures, especially in relationships involving in-laws. The characters have their own idiosyncrasies, which make them very intriguing to read. Rose and Anil's dynamic feels genuine, as do their respective struggles and conflicts. Recommended to readers who savor drama novels revolving around relationships." - Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

"A lively, thought-provoking journey into one young woman's marriage, cross-cultural encounters, and life. Mother Knows Worst is recommended not just for novel readers seeking stories of women's experiences, but for reading groups interested in the psychological entanglements between different cultures and generations." - Reviewed by Midwest Book ReviewsBook Description:

After trying her hand at acting, Rose decides to change career paths and enter law school.

She enrolls in law school in a sleepy New England town, only to find that the practice of law is not all she will study. This quirky thirty-something Italian girl falls in love when she lays eyes on Anil, a handsome intellectual from India. The two discover a deep connection and quickly begin a romantic relationship. What could go wrong as their romance blossoms? Their future looks bright. They have each other. They have great friends. They also have Anil’s mother. Inspired by true events, Mother Knows Worst is a humorous and heartfelt novel. Rose is on a path to finding herself, love, and relationships, taking the reader on a delightful and often comedic journey as she explores two cultural worlds colliding.BUY THE BOOK:
Mascot Books
Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads
Meet the Author:

Sofia Bella Roma is a lawyer in North Carolina. She has been practicing law since 2009. She was first licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and then went on to become licensed attorney in North Carolina. Sofia has spent most of her career telling stories. She regularly performs to judges when litigating her cases.  Mother Knows Worst  is Sofia’s debut novel. This book tackles common problems in relationships and takes on mother-in-law drama with a quirky point of view. Sofia knows firsthand about difficult relationships since she has been practicing law as a divorce attorney. She currently lives with her son and their pet lizard. She has a love for the arts and enjoys making people laugh.
Enter the Giveaway:

MOTHER KNOWS WORST Book Tour Giveaway

Blog Tour: UNDERNEATH THE FIREFLIES by Marianne Scott

Book Details:

Book Title:  Underneath the Fireflies by Marianne Scott
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  496 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery / Thriller
Publisher: Crowe Creations
Release date:  January 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 - Colloquial expressions in dialogue.Book Description:

No matter where Grace Walker goes, her extra sensory power goes with her. She's an empath and she sees things -- terrible things. After a tragic accident at the place where she works, she decides to take a mental-health break on a remote West Coast island. But she no sooner gets to Galliano Island when a vision of the murder of an Indigenous woman draws her into a disturbing and threatening dilemma.BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon.ca ~ Amazon.com
add to goodreadsAlso Available for Your Reading Pleasure! Book Details:

Book Title:  Underneath the Fireflies by Marianne Scott
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  224 pages
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Publisher: Crowe Creations
Release date:  October 2022
Content Rating:  PG-13 - mild profanity as in street dialogueBook Description:

He's a Cold War spy hiding from one of his own. His real identity is tied to a treacherous past associated with American intelligence operations closed down after the end of the Cold War, and his enemy is relentless. All he has to do is change his name. Right? Wrong. Very wrong. Felix has eyes and ears everywhere.BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon.ca ~ Amazon.com
add to goodreads
Meet the Author:

Marianne Scott is the Canadian author of four mystery thrillers and is currently working on her fifth novel, a sci-fi/thriller. She has a BA and a Diploma in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. She studied creative writing through Conestoga College and Humber College. She enjoys writing workshops such as those offered by Brian Henry, publisher of blog, Quick Brown Fox and One Lit Place, a writers’ hub by creator/editor Jenna Kalinsky. She has an author’s website and blog. She is a full-time writer who lives in the historic small Canadian village of Hespeler Ontario (now amalgamated with the city of Cambridge).  


connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Enter the Giveaway:UNDERNEATH THE FIREFLIES Book Tour Giveaway

Blog Tour: EDEN by Bobbi Smith

 

Eden

by Bobbi Smith

 

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:

“Just know that, no matter what, I truly do love you.”

 

Thosewords and a Bible were all that remained of Logan when Eden awoke. Theirromance had been born amid the ravages of war. Love had struck Eden and she hadsurrendered to it. She had exchanged wedding vows with the handsome strangerwho had saved her life, but she realized now that their life together had beena lie. Her husband was a Yankee spy, who had used her to infiltrate theConfederate cause. The hardening of her heart should have been as rapid as theloss of it, but one question remained—Had he left her with a final truth?

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Excerpt One:

 

St. Louis, 1863

 

“How did it happen?” Logan Matthews demanded, fury and feargripping him as he stared across the desk at Larry Cotlar, his superior in theUnion’s Secret Service.

 

“Your brother was assigned to guard a shipment of armscoming upriver from New Orleans. Evidently, some Rebels in disguise boarded thesteamer and stole the shipment. From what I’ve been able to learn, you brothertried to stop them, but was shot during the fight.”

 

Logan went still.  “Ishe—?”

 

“No. He was only wounded, but they took him and the otherguard along with them as prisoners.” He quickly explained how the passengersand most of the crew had been abandoned on the riverbank and how the thievessailed the steamer farther upriver before taking the shipment and setting theboat on fire.

 

“I’m going to New Orleans.”

 

“I thought you’d want the assignment.” Larry gave him atight smile. Logan was one of the best operatives. If anybody could find outwho was running the spy ring, he would.

 

“What do we know about them?”

 

“The Army wasn’t able to learn anything. By the time wassteamer was found, there was nothing left but a burned-out hull, and the Rebseither escaped through the bayou or on another boat.”

 

Logan was grim as Larry described the men who might haveplanned the raid.

 

“Adrian Forrester served in the Confederate army, but lost aleg early on. He returned to New Orleans and founded an orphanage for thechildren of dead Confederate soldiers. It’s called the Homeless Haven Orphans’Asylum. He and Nathaniel Talbott, a banker, could be relaying information tospies. That’s where you come in. How soon can you be ready to leave?”

 

“Today.” Logan had no ties to keep him there. The sooner hebegan his investigation, the better. “And I know exactly what disguise I’lluse.” At Larry’s questioning look, he went on. “The Reverend Matthews will betraveling south to save souls.”

 

“Perfect.” Larry had always known that Logan was a brilliantoperative, and he’d just proven it again.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

After workingas a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore,Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her firstbook to Zebra in 1982. Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and severalshort stories. To date, there are more than five million of her novels inprint. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of theYear Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared onnumerous bestseller lists. When she's not working on her novels, she isfrequently a guest speaker for writer’s groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons andresides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.

 

Website: https://bobbismithauthor.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13375.Bobbi_Smith

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Defiant-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B009NXLUKE

 

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Eden-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B00EW40O8I?ref_=ast_author_dp

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Bobbi Smith will be awarding a $10Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: CONNETICUT COP by Ann Omasta and Callie Love

A wedding is a bride’s biggestday. Well, it couldn’t get any bigger with the groom and maid of honor missing.What’s worst was that the bride was the prime suspect in all of it. How couldthat be? Penny would never harm her sister. But the evidence was there.Hopefully a hot cop that used to be one of her students can help…in more waysthan one. Ordinarily being handcuffed to a hunky copy wouldn’t be so bad if thecop wasn’t 100% sure she was innocent. Who would’ve thought, as the two grewcloser, a maniac from the past would be lurking in the shadows waiting topounce?

A sweet and enticing story!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: MOUNTAINS WANTED by Phoebe Alexander

Sarah was a sexless, single mom.But one look has her re-examining the sexless part when she meets G.I. Joe. Thenarrative was nice n’ easy, but the story was really slow. It takes a while forthe characters to meet and talk over coffee. Evidently, they don’t have sexuntil the end of chapter 3. And afterwards it’s still slow.

Eh, an okay read. Definitely notcontinuing the series.

 

Rating:3 stars

Review: DELAWARE DREAMBOAT by Ann Omasta and Callie Love

A woman lost atsea…with amnesia. Fortunately, a dreamboat comes to the rescue. Too bad the manthat rescued her remembered her as the vicious she-devil. But she remembersnone of it. He doesn’t like or trust her, but she takes an instant liking andtrust to him. Still, no matter how much he hates her, he can’t shake off thephysical attraction he feels toward her. And he also feels a need to protecther from the people that did this to her.

The first nightturns out to be hot one. But what will happen when Maya’s memories finallyreturn? Will she go back to her life in Connecticut or stay with Rowan inDelaware?

A sweet andsexy love story!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: MASQUERADE by Chloe Clark and Hazel Kelly

A masked sex party. What could gowrong?

As she’s being dragged to one by abold friend, one woman couldn’t be more nervous.

This was slow at first as shemostly talks about how awed she was about the mansion. There were some “chanceencounters,” but, for the most part, the whole thing was very slow andunamusing.

 

Rating:2 stars

Blog Tour: FLAWLESS WITNESS by Merida Johns

Flawless Witness

by Merida Johns

 

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GENRE:   women's fiction, women's domestic suspensefiction, women's psychological fiction, domestic abuse

 

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BLURB:

 

Suzanna Jordan suppressed the memories ofJonathan’s abuse for thirty-six years, but when a tell-all journal surfacesafter his death, a legacy of cruelty haunts her from beyond the grave. But willJonathan’s darkness, bared for all to see, drag Suzanna into despair, or willthese revelations free her soul to bear witness to his abuse and finally offerher the closure she so desperately seeks?

 

NOTE TO REVIEWERS: This story containselements of sensitive material often associated with narcissistic behaviorssuch as egocentrism, emotional abuse, betrayal, and exploitation.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

Excerpt One:

 

Although Jonathan set the snare and wrote the ledger ofinjuries in indelible ink, I continue to try to erase them. I don’t resent himfor what he did to me. Grudges are abusers’ potent brews, perpetuating endlesssubjection and cruelty on their targets. But I don’t overlook, excuse, orjustify my former husband’s transgressions and the tsunami of terror he spewed.I reread the obituary and want to believe that in death Jonathan’s demons arevanquished, and he is at rest. But I don’t underestimate the strength of hispersistence. I fear Mr. Hyde may reach from

the grave and wield more wicked wrongdoing.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

MeridaJohns writes about the human experience—which often is messy. She shows howordinary people tackle challenges, live through sorrow and betrayal, andstruggle with doubt. But despite this, they gather the strength to act on theiraspirations and achieve flourishing lives.

“Myinsight into the power of fiction came during a conference call in late 2017with fellow life coaches when I asked, ‘What would it be like to help peopleachieve a flourishing life through storytelling instead of another self-helpbook?’

Afterthat phone call, I got started answering that question. Five yearslater, the result is the publication of my debut novel Blackhorse Road and a second novel, Flower Girl. Both works are women’s fiction, and thedriving force of the stories is the protagonist’s journey toward a flourishinglife.

Now,I’m thrilled about the recent release of Flawless Witness—astory of a woman who has suppressed the memories of her ex-husband’s abuse forthree decades. But when a tell-all journal surfaces after his death, a legacyof cruelty haunts her from beyond the grave.

Beforewriting fiction, I was a professor, author of health informatics and leadershiptextbooks, and leadership coach focusing on helping women break the glassceiling and fulfill their leadership and economic potential. 

My husbandand I reside in the beautiful Midwest countryside. This is where Ifind the serenity and space for bringing to life thestories of everyday people who face and overcomeextraordinary challenges by finding and following their North Star.

https://www.MeridaJohnsAuthor.com

Twitter:  @MLJohnsAuthor

FB:  https://facebook.com/MeridaJohnsAuthor

IG: https://www.instagram.com/meridajohns/

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/meridajohns 

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Flawless-Witness-Flower-Novella-Sequel-ebook/dp/B0BV52VGZB/

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GIVEAWAY :

 

Merida Johns will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnesand Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: CANYON OF SHAME by Faye Duncan

The Bungalow Heaven Mystery Series Book 2

Mystery

Date Published: July 21, 2022

Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.

 

In Canyon of Shame, the second part of The Bungalow Heaven Mystery Series, detective Peter McGinnis from the Pasadena homicide unit has to solve the murder of a forty-year-old woman whose body was discovered in Eaton Canyon. What at first appears like a routine investigation, turns into a career and reputation salvaging operation for the detective, who is not only the main witness in a prominent Black Lives Matter case, but who becomes more and more entwined with the case the more facts he uncovers.

 

Chapter One

It was early ona Sunday in September. The sky was as blue as hydrangeas. McGinnis, who kepthis receding salt-and-pepper hair protected from the carcinogenic sunrays undera linen newsboy hat that matched his tweed blazer, steered his 1970s FordFutura down the sleepy residential street of Michigan Avenue, heading towardNell’s Café. He and Nell had decided to spend the night separate since she hadto get up at the crack of dawn. Still, he at least wanted to stop by beforeheading off to the racetracks. They were both busy people, and he had learnedin his fifty-seven years that one way of making a relationship work was bysimply showing up, even if that was all you did.

He pulled hisold Futura to the curb and parked. He stepped out slowly, hoping nobody wouldnotice how he was pulling himself up by using the frame of the door. The 310pounds above his belt made such transitions increasingly difficult for thesix-foot tall homicide detective. Huffing and puffing, he closed the rusty doorcarefully, making sure he didn’t unhinge it. He walked to the café and pushedopen the glass door.

Nell, who wasbehind the counter, looked up as soon as the door opened, and smiled. “Morning,Peter. How did your night go?” She dropped the dough she was kneading, came outfrom behind the counter, and gave him a peck on the cheek.

“Not as good asit would have with you by my side,” he said.

As tough as hecould be while working, he had a soft spot for ginger-haired Nell. He feltfortunate to have found her after all that he had been through with Lauren.

“What are youup to today?” Nell asked, running a hand through her untamed curls.

“Clocker’sCorner. See if I can get a good tip for the races. Might as well risk a littlebit, seeing that my career will most likely be over on Wednesday,” McGinnissaid sarcastically.

“Why?” Nell’sforehead wrinkled.

McGinnis ledher behind the counter so he could speak more quietly. “They asked me totestify. You know, the Tyrone Bastille case.”

“You mean theone who is now paraplegic because your colleague broke his back in the SevenEleven shop on Rosemead?”

“That one.”

“Why would yourcareer be over? You’re doing the right thing!” Nell switched a button on theespresso machine and steamed some milk for a cappuccino. An angry frownreplaced her usually bright expression.

“Just becauseI’m doing the right thing, doesn’t mean I’ll still be working there next month.Chief Bartholdo ordered the video to be destroyed. The only reason I agreed totestify is because Michael is my buddy. Otherwise, I would never do somethingthat could harm another colleague. Michael’s been with the Pasadena police forthirty-nine years. That’s two years more than I’ve been there. He was in thepatrol car with Fred when they took the call. Michael has the whole thing oncamera and refused the chief’s order to destroy it. That’s why he’s without ajob now.”

Nell served thecappuccino to a customer across the counter. “Last I checked, we live in acountry ruled by law and order. If you do the right thing and don’t break anylaws, you will be fine,” she said, then began filling a medium cup with darkcoffee. She searched for a lid.

“That onlyapplies if you don’t work for a guy who has a history of violence himself.Everybody at the Pasadena police knows about the skeletons in Bartholdo’scloset.”

“No wonder he’strying to protect the guy who broke a black man’s back!” Nell said, fiddlingwith the lid. She handed him the lid and the coffee. “Want some hot coffee?Take it before I spill it.”

McGinnis tookthe cup. “Thank you, dear. You read me like a crime novel, don’t you?”

She smiled.McGinnis put the coffee cup on the counter and carefully put the lid on.

Nell tookanother customer’s order, then said to McGinnis quietly, “That leave any timeto see you in between?”

“How abouttonight?” McGinnis asked before taking a sip of the hot coffee.

Nell smiledfrom cheek to cheek. “That a date?”

“A date it is,”McGinnis said, breaking into a smile that could cheer up a serial killer.

Nell almostsang as she addressed the next customer. McGinnis squeezed out from behind thecounter and headed toward the door.

“By the way,nice outfit!” she yelled after him.

“See youlater!” McGinnis turned around and left Nell’s Café. 

About the Author

Faye Duncan is a writer from the San Gabriel Valley, California. She is the author of Murder on Wilson Street, the first part of The Bungalow Heaven Mystery Series. She has published several short stories and volunteers as a script reader for International Film Festivals. Faye has an undying passion for ballroom dancing and lives with her son Max and her two dogs, Sammie and Lamby

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Publisher

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