Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 155

Blog Tour: CALL ME OBIE by Ateret Haselkorn

 

Call Me Obie

by Ateret Haselkorn

 

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GENRE:   YA Science Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

Fifteen-year-old Obie hates the word “artificial.” It has to be the Most Misunderstood Word of the Year 2100. The media puts it in front of anything. They started with artificial intelligence and now it goes with housing, law enforcement, and in Obie’s case, her heart.

Just because Obie’s vital organ was 3D-printed doesn’t mean that she’s fake. She’s simply misunderstood, especially by Humanists. They think that artificial organ recipients like her are an abomination, and that’s why Obie can’t let anyone know the truth about her heart.

But when Humanists injure her best friend Mateo, Obie needs to step up. She decides to get him a 3D-printed replacement spleen in secret. In order to succeed, she becomes a black-market criminal, a high-tech healer, and an authority on love (or maybe not the last one so much). But what else can she do when organs are sold by Jonas, a blue-eyed genius who can’t stand the system any more than her?

Call Me Obie explores the future of discrimination and the timeless power of empathy and forgiveness, with a few comedic mishaps along the way. It is the tale of one young woman’s coming-of-age in a future where nearly anything is medically possible and society must ask: When technology can modify humans, who gets to decide how?

 

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Excerpt One:

 

Now, believe me, bullies can figure out how to get to their targets digitally, but I think that having to go to an in-person school delivers us right into the lion’s den. That’s actually how Mateo and I met, back in the seventh grade. I was gliding along, minding my business in my shiny new hover sneakers—even though I promised my dad that I’d walk for some traditional exercise—when my comm device vibrated with an environmental disturbance alert. It said there was a hazard above me. I looked upwards, scanning the treetops and clouds, and spotted a black, sharp-edged and bird-shaped drone the size of my hand. It flew straight up, reversed direction, and then dove down over and over. As I got closer to it, I heard yelling each time it dropped out of my line of sight. Weird. . . When I got to the school’s quad, I saw a thin, golden-skinned boy about my age running around screaming and waving his hands above his head, doing his best to fend off the attack. The hunting drone kept diving to hit him on the forehead with its beak. Every time the boy was down, as in lying on his stomach and moaning, the drone flew up. And whenever the boy shakily stood, it swooped down and jabbed him again. When I reached him, he was resting face down with his bleeding forehead pressed against his forearms.

 

“Are you okay?” I asked him.

 

 

 

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How is your book different from others in the genre?

 

Call Me Obie could be called young adult science fiction, young adult dystopian, near-future sci-fi, or medical literary fiction.

The strong theme of mentorship is one key reason that Obie’s story is unique. I’ve read many young adult or adult literature books where parents and their children have strained relationships. Many times much of the plot is devoted to navigating those circumstances. But Obie generally has a loving and healthy bond with her folks. It isn’t perfect, and there is definitely room for growth, but Obie’s amazing ability to solve problems comes largely from her mom and dad. Actually, YA literature often shows parents who come to recognize their child as an adult over time but, in this book, Obie is the one to eventually recognize her parents as people and human beings doing their best.

Obie has another mentor who is a 120-year old woman named Mrs. Stein. It was important to me as an author to have more than one place where my main character could turn for advice. In fiction, there is often one role model, the cliché of the man on top of a mountain, or a medicine woman living in a tent. Obie is lucky because she has options, all of them good. Her parents help her navigate problems, and Mrs. Stein provides a “moral compass” based on her family history. She teaches Obie to prioritize health and life, to treat others as she’d like to be treated, and that how important it is to hold onto these principles even when society changes drastically.

Thank you for having me on your site! 

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Ateret Haselkorn writes fiction and poetry. She is the winner of 2014 Annual Palo Alto Weekly Short Story Contest. Her children’s story was published as a finalist in the 2020 “Science Me a Story” contest of the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom. Her work has been published in multiple literary and medical journals and can be accessed at AteretHaselkorn.com. Twitter and Instagram: @AteretHaselkorn

 

Social Media Links:

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AteretHaselkorn

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

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AteretHaselkornAuthor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ateret-haselkorn-5369122/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0BJ17V6CP 

 

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GIVEAWAY :

 

Ateret Haselkorn will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: THE PENINSULA by Amy Craig

 

The Peninsula

by Amy Craig

 

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GENRE: Romantic Suspense

 

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BLURB:

 

Hadley lost her sister to cancer. When an explosion puts her in the middle of a family squabble, Johann asks for a week of discretion to protect his brother. Torn between her research and the loneliness in his gaze, she agrees, but family dynamics upend her understanding of loyalty.

 

 

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Excerpt One:

 

“What did you mean by the good nephew?” Hadley unfurled her napkin and placed the cloth in her lap. “How many nephews do you have?”

 

He swirled the ice in his water and smiled. “Two to be exact.”

 

“And the bad one?”

 

“He won’t trouble you.” His expression tightened. “To succeed with your research, you need Johann’s discipline and his deep pockets. He’s the right choice.”

 

His proclamation unnerved her. Dr. Stefan’s guidance usually came with hints of old-world aftershave, not ultimatums. Uncertainty raised gooseflesh on her skin, and she wondered if a family investor would be too close to home. She refused to start the meeting at a disadvantage. “What happened to peace, love, and horizontal organizational structures?”

 

Rubbing the condensation off his glass, he shook his head. “That’s not how life works in Germany.” He looked up. “Trust me, my dear, the view is much better from the top.”

 

His bittersweet smile struck a chord in her heart, but his hidden vulnerability intrigued her. Adjusting her seat, she acknowledged her impending graduation signaled the end of his guidance but hoped their relationship would mature to friendship. What tradeoffs have you made, Dr. Stefan?

 

The server walked into the courtyard and presented a bottle of cabernet.

 

Turning, Dr. Stefan scanned the label and nodded. “Very good.”

 

Wordlessly, the server filled their glasses and accepted two dishes from a busser. “Smoke-tinged artichokes and roasted eggplant skewers.” He placed the dishes on the table and backed away.

 

She caught his appraising stare, but she looked away and focused on the garlicky yogurt sauce and delicate olives edging the plate. The eggplant glistened with olive oil. Licking her lips, she raised her glass of wine and wondered if she could begin. “Your nephew is late.”

 

“By design, I’m sure,” Dr. Stefan said. “Johann doesn’t make mistakes.”

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Amy Craig lives in Louisiana with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes contemporary romances featuring intelligent heroines. She can't always vouch for the men. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. Before pursuing writing, she worked as an oilfield engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress. For more information and giveaways, visit www.amy-craig.com

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/amycraig

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@authoramycraig

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_amy_craig/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authoramycraig

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmyCraig/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18011214

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-craig

Website: https://www.amy-craig.com/

 

 

Buy Link THE PENINSULA:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Peninsula-Amy-Craig/dp/1509242538/

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

Amy Craig will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: AND THE DEVIL WALKS AWAY by Kevin R. Doyle

 

And the Devil Walks Away

by Kevin R. Doyle

 

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GENRE:   Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

Helen Lipscomb seemingly has nowhere to go but down. Cashiered from the force, ostracized by most of her former acquaintances, and with no real connections left to the community, she's been getting by as a sort of unofficial investigator, doing piecework for various lawyers and bail bondsmen. Her former life as a homicide detective seems far behind her until a notorious serial killer, locked away and facing the death penalty, offers her the challenge of a lifetime. Not to prove his innocence, but to prove him guilty of even more murders than the authorities suspect, murders for which another convicted man, several states away, is taking credit.

 

 

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Excerpt One:

 

She knew the truth now, but had to move closer to see for herself. When she did so, Helen struggled not to look away from the body.

 

She’d been with this woman just a few short hours before, had sat and talked with her, even semi-argued with her. They’d made a deal, practically shook hands on it, but it looked as if the dead woman had tried to renege on that deal.

 

“Did he make you a better offer?” Helen asked the room. “And why did you even for a minute think he’d honor it?”

 

The final work had been done with either hands or some sort of strap, the bulging eyes and distended tongue showed that, but there had been a fight here, for sure. The woman’s waist was a mess of ugly splotches, black, blue and green. Scratches ran across the face and one arm rested at such an angle as to suggest a break. Even now, only a few hours into the process, the eyes, though filmed over, told a story of struggle, fear, and ultimately, surrender to the inevitable.

 

Okay, then. Not the intended person she’d come here to question.

Clearly, Helen’s job had just become a whole lot more complicated.

 

 

 

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Review: Leo Benson, billionaire convicted of murdering 3 women, wanted to hire a former homicide detective not to prove his innocence, but to find him guilty of the murders they haven’t pinned him for. Huh? Evidently, no one will take the credit for his work. Proving somebody guilty of more murders?

Story was easy to read and relatively easy to get into for the most part; however, it was kind of long and slow. The story follows Helen as she navigates through the various case files and questions certain parties, trying to sniff out any clues or leads. The process is rather time-consuming, and I would’ve preferred a much faster pace. I admire the former cop’s tenacity to dig up the truth, but she does a lot of digging. The details can get a little muddled and complex.  I thought the premise was compelling and the story was well-read for the most part. It’s just a faster pace would’ve given it more edge.

A fairly nice read overall.

 

Rating: 3 stars

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

A lifelong Midwestener, Kevin R. Doyle teaches English at a small, rural high school in Missouri. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in communications, both from Wichita State University. While he spent several decades writing short stories, mainly in the horror field, for a variety of small press publications, in the last eight years or so he’s moved into longer works in the genres of crime, horror and rock fiction.

His first published “book” was actually a short novelette, One Helluva Gig, recently re-released by The Wild Rose Press. His first full-length book, a crime novel titled The Group, was followed by two sequels, When You Have to Go There and And the Devil Walks Away, all currently released by The Wild Rose Press.

 

Besides straight crime thrillers, he’s also written four novels in the Sam Quinton private eye series, beginning with Squatter’s Rights, nominated for a Shamus award for Best First Private Eye Novel of 2021.

 

In the horror field, in 2015 Night to Dawn Magazine and Books released his novel, The Litter and in 2022 will release a new mystery novel, The Anchor.

 

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Walks-Away-Kevin-Doyle-ebook/dp/B09CFVTBLF/

             

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

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GIVEAWAY:

Kevin R. Doyle will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: FELLED IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell

A Christmas tree scavenger hunt leads to a dead body on the farm. Could this have something to do with the secret pregnancy she had? Did the father of the baby not want to get the truth out? Or was it a disgruntled employee that just needed the money for Christmas? Or perhaps the mysterious woman claiming to be her daughter was a scam artist…and a murderer?

It’s certainly an interesting mystery for Cassie and Tessa to solve. You will be surprised at who the culprit really was.

A good holiday mystery!

 

Rating: 4 stars

Review: SANTA’S BABY by Chloe Maine

The old Grinch had to stay away from the young girl he helped raise. Now she was in his lighthouse, trapped by a snow storm. Can she finally show him that she was longer a kid? It certainly was a hot and heavy night—very dirty! But what will they do when her parents walk in on them?

A hot, little story!

 

Rating: 4 stars

Review: ORDERING A BILLIONAIRE by Scarlett Woods

Her family’s diner was failing on her reign. If only she could order a billionaire. Well, she orders someone that would soon become a billionaire. Of course, he wants her to love him for him, not for his billions.

A sweet and sexy short!

 

Rating: 4 stars

Review: S.I.L.F SANTA I’D LIKE TO F* by Lana Love

Chrissy has fantasized about her hot-as-sin boss for as long as she could remember, and now she had the opportunity to organize the Christmas party with him.

The narrative was nice but long. It started off well enough, but then it deviates to rather unamusing monologues.

A decent read, but not the best.

 

Rating: 3 stars

Review: SANTA’S DIRTY SECRET by Lana Dash

There are worse things than spending a hot Christmas with your dad’s rich friend. Oh yeah! I just love a man that can wrench off the arm of a smarmy douche. Will their special night get blown by her father? Or will they be Santa’s dirty secret?

This short tale certainly has those unexpected twists that could ruin everything. Tension, drama, and sex. Just loved it!

 

Rating: 5 stars

Review: STEP SANTA by Logan Chance

Your mom gets married…and you get the hots for your new stepbrother?

Winter’s mother does everything to get her to bond with her new stepbrother. She even goes so far as booking them in the same room at the cabins. What could happen there, I wonder? And how complicated would it be now that they were family?

A nice and sweet story!

 

Rating: 4 stars

Review: UNWRAPPING HIS PACKAGE by Fionna Davenport

A college boy that secretly been in love with a girl. His plan was to make her his. So he dons a Santa suit with a fun surprise: her unwrapping his package. What a hot scene!

A sweet and caring love story!

 

Rating: 5 stars