Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 146
February 18, 2023
Review: THE LOVE WORDS by Amy Alves
After a humiliating scene sent Chloe running from town, she was now back to face her demons and one hateful man, Hayden.
“He’s an a$$hole disguised as a hot, scruffy, deviously charming dad.”
Told in the diary format of the two main characters, story descriptively relays their passionate emotions, candid thoughts, and drawn-out history. It’s an easy narrative, but it’s rather slow. The whole thing was rather mild, and I expected a lot more from it.
Eh, an okay read.
Rating: 3 stars
Review: DOUBLE HER FANTASY by Randi Alexander
One girl. A movie star. And his cowboy brother. Oh my!
Hooking up with her movie star crush could only be a fantasy for the shy and reserved Megan. Then she meets the cowboy. Who wouldn’t want to ride a cowboy? That’s a double fantasy!
Very kinky. Definitely only happens in a fantasy dream world. Even though this was a novelette, the read felt a little long at times. There was a lot of useless narrative in the getting-to-know-you segments.
An okay risqué read.
Rating: 3 stars
Review: THE ZOE SCOTT series by Marata Eros
This is just a longer version of the exact same thing that you get in the Dara series. No variety. Just all the same. So boring. Not worth the read.
Rating: 1 star
Review: DESPERATION by Jade Dare
$300,000 was what she would get for her sister’s kidney operation for spending several hot nights with the sexy stranger in the elevator. The proposition was certainly interesting, but this was really slow to read. Sure, it was okay with an easy narrative, but it was slow from the beginning. Even the sexy scenes were unusually slow. Why couldn’t they just get it on already? It just felt like the words were on constant repeat.
Eh, not that great.
Rating: 3 stars
Review: THE DARA NICHOLS CONTINUATION by Marata Eros
Just more of the lame same from this crummy author.
Rating: 1 star
Review: THE DARA NICHOLS series by Marata Eros
In the first story, Dara, the teacher, gets it at once from 4 students. In the second story, Dara gets it by a group of cops. Next, she gets it by a couple of foreign guys. There was absolutely no variety. It was all the same—all group sex. That’s boring.
Rating: 2 stars
February 17, 2023
Book Blast: DEADLY BETRAYAL by Sheila Kell
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sheila Kell will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
When trusting the wrong person can be deadly.
From Romantic Suspense BEST-SELLING and AWARD-WINNING Author • What happens when a former FBI analyst quits her job to become a PI and ends up partnering with the man who left her fourteen years earlier? In Sheila Kell’s riveting novel of secrets, deceit, and romance, two people rush to find a killer while reckoning with their growing attraction.
Cassie McKay was tired of being passed over as a FBI field agent. She quits her job as a FBI analyst, moved back home with her mother, and takes a job as a PI. Only she hadn’t expected her partner to be the one man who’d left her years before.
Jack “JD” Walker had done a lot wrong in his life, but he hadn’t killed the mother of his child as the police believed, nor had he expected the only women he’d ever loved to come to his rescue. The two work diligently to prove JD’s innocence while someone is determined to make JD pay.
Deadly Betrayal is the first book in the Coastal Investigations series. If you enjoy a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read, you’ll love this installment of Sheila Kell’s new romantic suspense series.
Read an Excerpt
“Well, it’s late. I’m going to get some sleep,” Cassie said.
Sleep? What? He planned to seduce her, and here she was kicking him out before he even had the chance. So, he did the only thing he could. He stood and strode toward his room. “Goodnight, my sweet Cassie.” He left the double doors separating their rooms open.
He listened to her shower, wishing he could jump in there with her and soap her body down. Thoughts whizzed through JD’s head as he clenched his eyes shut: 60.2 average passes per game, 328.2 average passing yards, second in the season, twelve weeks in. 52.9 average—he looked down. His erection still hadn’t subsided.
When she climbed into bed, he couldn’t take it anymore. He walked to the door separating their rooms and asked, “Are you coming to my bed, or am I coming to yours?”
Review: Cassie had quit the FBI and was looking for a fresh start back in her hometown, living with her mother again. The story kicked off to a slow start with its narrative practically coming out like maple syrup. A good amount of time was spent on Cassie rolling out of bed, eating breakfast, and stating over and over that she wouldn’t be working for Gus at his P.I. agency. Then it quickly picks up when she runs into HIM again. The man she hasn’t seen in 17 years and the one she’d swore she’d marry someday. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the pleasant reunion since JD’s first reaction was pure hate for Cassie. But why? What could’ve happened to cause JD to hate her so much?
JD was already pretty riled since his ex stole his son from him five years ago.
Some of the Southern Cajun dialogue was a little hard to read and understand. Like Southern living, the storyline was very slow to move. We finally seem to get somewhere when JD gets approached by the police regarding his ex’s murder. Was JD their prime suspect? It would appear so. Now, JD had to work with Cassie to help clear his name, find a killer, and get his son back.
This was an interesting case. There were some dry areas where the legalities were concerned. Also, newbie Cassie trying to get the hang of things slowed things down as well. All this made the investigation mildly amusing. I would’ve liked it better with more excitement and heat.
A fairly nice read, but it was much too tempered for my taste.
Rating: 3 stars
About the Author:
Sheila Kell writes about the romantic men who leave women’s hearts pounding with a happily ever after built on memorable, adrenaline-pumping stories. Or, (since her editor tries to cut down on her long-windedness) simply “Smokin’ Hot Romance & Intrigue.” Her debut novel, His Desire (HIS Series #1), launched as an Amazon #1 romantic suspense bestseller and Top 100 overall, later winning the Readers’ Favorite award for best romantic suspense novel.As a Southern girl who traveled the world with the United States Air Force, she remembers all the embarrassing moments of her fellow veterans to include in her books and laughs every time she does it. Having left behind her days as a College President, she can usually be found nestled in the Mississippi woods, where she lives with her cats and all the strays that magically find her front door. When she isn’t writing, you can find Sheila with her nose in a good book, dealing with the woodland critters who enjoy her back patio, or wishing she had a genie to do her bidding.
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Blog Tour: HALF-BREED'S LADY by Bobbi Smith
HALF-BREED'S LADY
by Bobbi Smith
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GENRE: Historical romance
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BLURB:
To artist Glynna Williams, Texas was a land of wild beauty, carved by God’s hand, untouched as yet by man’s. And the most exciting part of it was the fierce, bare-chested half-breed who saved her from a rampaging longhorn bull. Just as the untamed wilderness called to the painter in her heart, Hunt’s mesmerizing eyes touched the woman in her.
As she spent the days sketching his magnificent body, she dreamed of spending the nights in his strong arms. Glynna knew the paintings she’d done of his Comanche people would guarantee her success as a Western artist, but would she ever succeed in capturing Hunt’s wary heart? He’d been trapped and wounded before by a white woman. Now only the gentle bonds of love could make Glynna the…Half-Breed’s Lady.
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Excerpt One:
Glynna hadn’t meant to forget the stage driver’s warning to stay close, but as she roamed away from the road, sketchbook in hand, she became more and more entranced with the beauty of the wilderness surrounding her. Her creativity was urging her on. This landscape was why she’d come to Texas.
She wasn’t sure how far she’d wandered from the stage when a vista unfolded before her that left her enthralled. Low-growing mesquites and cedars provided the perfect frame for the view of a distant mesa. It rose tall and powerful against the horizon, its colors vivid in the brilliance of the afternoon sun. Sitting down on a rock nearby, she never let her gaze shift from the view.
She worked for some time, trying to capture the essence of the wild, untamed land. Her concentration was such that she didn’t hear the rustling in the brush nearby. She was focused only on her work. It was the man’s shout that jarred her back to awareness of where she was, and it was then that she saw him. A bare-chested warrior, leaning low over his horse’s neck, riding straight for her. The expression on his face was savage, and she was sure his intent was equally frightening. He looked deadly, fierce, and it was then she remembered the stage driver’s warning that renegades might be in the area. Frantic, she looked around, trying to decide where to run. Desperate to escape, she tried to flee. It was then that a strong arm snared her around the waist and hauled her roughly up against him.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
After working as 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 first book to Zebra in 1982. Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and several short stories. To date, there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists. When she's not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writer's groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides 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
https://www.amazon.com/Half-Breeds-Lady-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B001G0OB9Y/ref=sr_1_1
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GIVEAWAY
Bobbi Smith will award a randomly drawn winner a $10 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 16, 2023
Blog Tour: WORLDS OF FIRE: METAMORPHOSIS by Deborah A. Bailey
Worlds of Fire: Metamorphosis
by Deborah A. Bailey
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GENRE: Romantic Fantasy
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BLURB:
On the Floating World when two Alchemists fall in love it can be...complicated.
Asira is a member of a high-ranking family of Alchemists who exert control over the libraries that store magical texts. Jaydon, an unconventional but powerful teacher of transmutation at the university, is from a gargoyle shifter group known as the Gigun.
Asira finds Jaydon frustrating and too fascinating for her own good. But she desperately needs his help when she becomes the target of a classmate's dangerous use of forbidden magic. With Jaydon's assistance, the two of them uncover a conspiracy that threatens the well-ordered world of the Alchemists.
Struggling with his growing attraction to her, Jaydon is called on to use his knowledge of the magical Books of Fire to determine Asira's fate. And depending on what secrets the books reveal, he may be forced to make a life-altering decision that will either bind them together… or permanently force them apart.
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Excerpt One:
Jaydon picked up his stylus and shoved it behind his ear. Continuing to study her, his brows furrowed as though he was having an internal conversation. Thinking things over with himself and not sharing his conclusions with her.
Sure, she was used to intense stares from the magisters. They used them as an intimidation tactic. It was part of their mystery to be imperious and detached, to only associate with others on their level or from a specific Order. You were either in the Court hierarchy or you weren't. Even the most advanced students didn't have that kind of clout, no matter what Aurum family they belonged to.
"Are you sure you don't want to see my papers on the topic?" Sitting there while he watched her was unnerving. Not that he was bad to look at, because he wasn't. His features were finely sculpted, and his wavy shoulder-length black hair framed his face so that his almond-shaped eyes and full lips were accentuated.
He shook his head in response to her question, his gaze still fixed on her.
A noise outside caught her attention. There was chirping coming from the open sliding glass door that led to the balcony. Another perk of magister mentors. Private offices and balconies overlooking the spice gardens.
"Come in."
A small yellow bird flew in and perched on a shelf above one of the desks. It chirped and then turned its head to study her. Another chirp, then a turn of the head to the left and to the right.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"Nice bird."
"No, I was asking her."
"You were what?" She looked at him, then at the bird again, then at him. "Does she talk?"
"Yes."
"What does she say?" She would go along with it for now. She'd be done and then hopefully get picked by a mentor who was more serious and less messy.
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Topic: What advice would you give to new writers today?
Years ago, my cousin introduced me to a friend of hers who was a professional writer. When I asked him for advice he said, write every day. I already had been writing every day while I was in school, so this wasn't new information for me. Though I appreciated it, I wasn't sure how it would help me. What more should I do so that I could be better at my craft?
What I've learned is that yes, writing every day is important. But if you don't, for some reason or another, it doesn't mean you can't be a good writer. So, what do I recommend?
For one thing, you should read books. Read books (and short stories) in your preferred genre and books in other genres. Reading in other genres exposes you to different modes of storytelling. And when you write, you'll bring those other modes into your work.
Read books by other types of authors, whether that means reading different races, cultures, genders, etc. You'll get different perspectives and points of view, which are essential if you want to reach different readers. (And, those different perspectives will help you to grow as well.)
Take writing classes when you can – and I'm not only saying that because I present writing workshops! It's important to learn different techniques. For years I took classes – in person, online and at conferences. Those classes exposed me to different ways to tell a story.
When writers are starting out, they might not realize the difference between an original idea and an idea that has become a cliché (because it's been used and used and used for years). To be honest, there probably aren't any original ideas at this point. But there are different ways to tell a story. Different twists and turns that we can add to the familiar.
Get a writing mentor if you can. Or join a writing group. Or find a way to get your work critiqued. Be willing to take criticism (when it is constructive) and be willing to evolve. As you learn, you'll become a better writer and you'll learn to trust yourself.
And, if you want to be a professional writer, understand that being a professional writer is a business. Whether you want to be traditionally published or indie published, you'll have to find a balance between the business and creative sides.
Always be willing to learn. Never think that you know it all. You can't grow and evolve if you believe you have nothing to learn. Writing can be rewarding whether you do it professionally or as a hobby.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Deborah A Bailey's Romantic Fantasy, Science Fiction and Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat.
Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers' Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.
Visit her site https://AuthorDebBailey.com for more information and subscribe to the newsletter here: https://eepurl.com/bokGdX so you'll be the first to find out about giveaways, book launches and sneak peeks.
Note: This book will be on sale for $1.99 during the tour.
Links
https://www.instagram.com/AuthorDeborahB
https://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeborahAB
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/deborahannbailey
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deborah-a-bailey
Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/bokGdX
Buy links
Available in eBook, Print & Audiobook
Amazon, B&N, Apple, Kobo & others
https://books2read.com/Metamorphosis-Worlds
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GIVEAWAY :
Deborah A. Bailey will be awarding a $40 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayFebruary 15, 2023
Blog Tour: ONE GIANT LEAP by Ben Gartner
One Giant Leap
by Ben Gartner
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GENRE: middle grade hard science fiction action adventure
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BLURB:
"I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half."
Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!
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Excerpt One:
I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.
The frayed end of my tether whips around like a lasso as I flip front over back and sideways.
I see the long blue smear of Earth hurtling past. The silver hull of my ship, the Aether, whizzes by in a blur before I gasp at the once-glorious International Space Station. Now, just wreckage. The ISS spits pieces that twinkle in the sunlight. Sparks sizzle and blink against the black backdrop of the endless universe.
My spin continues until all I can see is the void of deep space, punctured by bright pinpricks of gaseous stars millions of light-years away.
The horizon of Earth again, with its clouds and land and water. Home.
The shiny tube of my ship, the Aether. It’s. So. Close. And yet, it can’t save me.
The ISS, Earth, the Aether, and here we go again on this terrible merry-go-round— You get the picture. It’s not good. I close my eyes.
I’m tumbling, and I think I’m squirting oxygen from my life-support backpack, which isn’t helping my somersaults. My suit is losing pressure. At least that’s what I guess is causing the fuzz in my brain. It’s hard to think. My vision is narrowing, dimming, like I’m about to wink away.
And the thing that I think is actually going to kill me? Water is leaking from somewhere inside my suit. Quickly it builds up and clings to my face like a wet rag. It’s a film over my eyes, it plugs my nose, and it slides into my mouth like alien slime whenever I try to cough. I shake my head violently to jiggle the liquid free, so hard that a nerve cries out in my neck. The head-whip kinda works, and I’m able to suck in a tiny breath. I choke down some water and, though the idea sounds ludicrous, I think, Am I going to drown . . . in space?
At this point, you might be asking, “What is a twelve-year-old doing in space?”
And I’d say, “That’s what you’re worried about? Not that I’m going to die?!”
It’s cool. Let me answer both questions. Why I’m one of the first kids in space, and how I ended up in this mess, adrift from my craft and about to become a permanent orbiting satellite. If I don’t plunge into the atmosphere and burn up first.
I’ll pause my death scene to explain a bit about how I got here. Because that’s a thing, right? Aren’t you curious how I got into this impossible quagmire? It’s a pretty amazing story. And 100 percent true.
The books I tend to enjoy reading are about kids being brave, or learning how to be, and I’d like to tell you this is one of those. But I’m not feeling it right now.
To be fair, in those books the kids are fighting fantasy monsters that disappear into dust when you stab them, or they’re in a simulation, or a video game, or you kind of know everything’s going to be all right, right? It’s fake danger.
This story is different. This one’s real. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to survive this. Adrift in space with my oxygen running low, all alone, spinning uncontrollably, a water leak in my suit threatening to drown me.
It all started innocently enough when a harmless package arrived in the mail . . .
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Topic: What makes your book different from others in the genre?
One Giant Leap adds to a very slim selection of hard science fiction titles available for middle grade readers. First, let me level-set on what “hard scifi” entails: The “hard” part of that classification might be better categorized as “realistic.” So “realistic science fiction” as opposed to aliens and lasers or Star Wars or Star Trek, etc. Those types of science fiction are entertaining, yes, but the category I’m talking about is reality-based, plausible, typically more near-term future. The science in One Giant Leapis real. Sure, the overall plot may require a little suspension of disbelief, and sometimes concepts are compressed to make them more approachable and in line with the fast-paced nature of an action-adventure story, but there shouldn’t be any fundamental or intentional errors as it relates to the science, history, and near-term anticipated future for space travel.
As one fellow middle-grade author, Refe Tuma, put it, “One Giant Leap is a thrilling love letter to the past, present, and future of international space exploration, launching readers on a harrowing adventure beyond the Kármán Line fueled by Gartner’s signature fast-paced storytelling and meticulously researched details. A worthy middle school homage to The Right Stuff and For All Mankind.” That blurb from a Publishers Weekly starred author says it beautifully.
Some other books in this “hard scifi” genre include the Moon Base Alpha series by Stuart Gibbs, a favorite of ours in this house. Or another fantastic stellar adventure is The Countdown Conspiracy by Katie Slivensky, who blurbed One Giant Leap with: “Smart, fast-paced, and an absolute must for anyone who dreams of space. STEM fans, take note! This thrillride is for you!”
I’m not just trying to sneak in accolades here (okay, maybe a little, that’s the point here, right?!), but these quotes seem to speak directly to the question you posed for this post: What makes One Giant Leapdifferent from others in the genre? And I guess the core of my answer is that there aren’t a lot of books in this genre! Maybe there’s a reason for that, and sales will tell, but from what I hear from kids, teachers, librarians, and parents, is that they want MORE realistic science-based space fiction!
If you have other recommendations, I’d love to hear them in the comments, people!
Thank you for having me on your blog. If people want to learn more about my books, they can check out my website at BenGartner.com. I’m also active on Twitter and Instagram at @BGartnerWriting.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of adventure books for middle graders. His stories take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something on the journey. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.
WEBSITE
https://twitter.com/BGartnerWriting
https://www.instagram.com/BGartnerWriting
BUY LINKS
Available in paperback, hardback, and ebook everywhere books are sold. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/One-Giant-Leap-Ben-Gartner/dp/B0BKMNW9CC/
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/one-giant-leap/id6443869873 B&N
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-giant-leap-ben-gartner/1142528397
Local: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=author%3AGartner%2C%20Ben Everywhere Else: https://books2read.com/one-giant-leap-ben-gartner
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GIVEAWAY:
Ben Gartner will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. a Rafflecopter giveaway
