Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 185

Review: MAN OF THE MONTH CLUB Season 1 by Ann Omasta and Callie Love

Jan=Maggie is all burned from the fire and was left with scars that would never heal. Naturally she didn’t see her own beauty…until Mr. January came along. This was a sweet tale, but it’s very slow. This one is all about emotional scars as well as the physical. Eh, this was okay.

Feb=This one is about a journalist falling for a senator. Not the most interesting premise, but still a fair read overall. Definitely not the greatest though.

Mar=The best one of all! A book reviewer has a stalker, which is putting her on edge. She hopes that a couple of karate lessons will calm her nerves. Instead, her new teacher is a hot copy. Oh boy! Who better to teach her some moves? Things naturally heat up between them, but they take a shocking turn when she starts to suspect her new lover. This one had a level of suspense, making it the best read in this whole volume. It’s not just a love story.

 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: MAN OF THE MONTH CLUB Season 2 by Anna Omasta and Callie Love

April=For once, something turns out right when a mismatch is corrected. Somebody’s cruel idea of a joke for April Fool’s. A comic artist takes out a sheltered woman from the woods on a fun night that includes McDonald’s and ice cream. He naïve wonder and his gentle care make this a sweet and romantic story.

May=Mr. May doesn’t get off to a good start with his match with her stealing his parking space. We had some nice zingers between these two. All the fighting lights up a fire in these two that take them to the bedroom. But are they really a match? Another great story you’ll enjoy!

June=A brute and a hippie chick. Could it be any more of a mismatch? She believes that he is her soulmate, and he just doesn’t see it. She talks auras and junk like that. Can she show him how perfect they really were? How could it work? She’s all about peace and he’s about violence. A nice read!

 

Rating: 5 stars

Review: MAN OF THE MONTH CLUB Season 3 by Ann Omasta and Callie Love

July=Charity lost the only man she ever loved when he decided to marry someone else. Now he’s this month’s bachelor and she is his match. He broke her heart once in high school and he took away their second chance by marrying someone else—the second heartbreak. Will this be the third time he breaks her heart? Or will this be their second second chance? Will third time be the charm? A sweet story!

Aug=A hot, young firefighter and a single mom. At first, she doesn’t want anything to do with him, but one date at a carnival and an orgasm on the ferris wheel seemed to change all that. It was only supposed to be one night. So why did it hurt so much? A nice read!

Sept=A single mother just escaped an abusive relationship and, therefore, is not scouting for another. So she settles for an online crush—the safest route for her. Then she gets matched with this month’s bachelor. Little did she know that her match was a former Enforcer—a member that lived for vigilante justice. A sweet love story!

 

Rating: 4 stars

Review: MAN OF THE MONTH CLUB Season 4 by Ann Omasta and Callie Love

Oct=She loves him, but he’s into her twin sister instead. Uh oh! Will the matchmaking app be able to clear up this love triangle? Can two friends risk their friendship for something more? Always love a good friends-to-lovers romance.

Nov=You can never forget your first love…or your first heartbreak. Could the matchmaking app give these two a second chance? Another sweet story!

Dec=A match for the matchmaker. Could it be possible? No, actually, which was why she lied about being the best match for this month’s bachelor. Oh no! What could go wrong? And what could be so right? Another sweet one!

 

Rating: 4 stars

Blog Tour: THE FINEST LIES by David J. Naiman

 

The Finest Lies

by David J. Naiman

 

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GENRE: Young adult

 

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BLURB:

 

2021 Best Teen Book Award Finalist Indies Today

 

High schooler Nicole Hallett has just about had it with her brother Jay, so when a mysterious man appears with an offer to replace him with a better one, she doesn't hesitate. Nicole has always been impulsive, but this time, she finds herself in a predicament far worse than anything she's experienced. Just like that, an average snow day—usually filled with hot cocoa and snowball fights—is commandeered by the stranger, who forces the siblings into a dangerous game.

 

Confronted by past reflections, tested by present complications, and threatened by future possibilities, Nicole has until the end of the day to disentangle the riddle of her life.

 

This suspenseful, yet winsome novel by award-winning author David J. Naiman explores the power of family and forgiveness. But take heed. The truth can cut like shards of glass, especially for those who'd rather avoid it. Sometimes, only the finest lies will do.

 

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Excerpt One:

 

Maybe I should call, Nicole thought. A brand new brother sounds perfect.

 

“That’s it. New and improved! Call now.”

 

Nicole smiled, sensing a personal connection as though this commercial spoke directly to her. She cradled her phone in her hands. A fingertip flicked across the screen without her even needing to concentrate. Her phone had long ago become an appendage, as integral as a foot or a kidney.

 

After Nicole entered the number, her finger hovered above the dial icon. Something held her back, but she couldn’t imagine what it could be. She might have guessed self-preservation had she any means to gauge the lurking danger. Had she any inkling her impetuous nature would fix her on a chaotic course beyond her control.

 

She did want a new brother. As long as he wasn’t like Jay, who always said things to upset her and never did what she wanted him to do. She thrust aside her unease and tapped the icon. Instead of a ring, Nicole heard more of a choking sound, a gasp as if someone strangled.

 

“Hello, Nicole. Are you ready to change your life?”

 

The voice on her phone was identical to the voice-over in the commercial. Nicole figured this guy must own the company or something. “Maybe,” she said. The man on the TV screen stared at her while she spoke. Nicole leaned to the left and right, and the man’s face tracked her each time. She hesitated. “How much does it cost?”

 

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Review: What if you could order a new brother? For Nicole, that would be a dream come true. So, when she saw a commercial advertising for a new and improved brother, she took it. Naturally!

What could be so wrong with having a nice and considerate brother for a change? Nothing…if you don’t mind your brother being a robot. Oh…

Each time there was a malfunction in the Bro Bot 3000, she contacts the guy for a fix, which he is more than willing to oblige to…at a small cost of course. Just small things like burning lava and moving holes.

The story had an easy narrative that engages the reader quite well, however, at times, it deviates a little too much from the storyline and we get a little more info about something that’s not so important. Part 1 kicks off to a good start, but then it tapers down to a slow and trivial pace. As you go into Part 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, it becomes longer and more complex. It’s like ¼ of the way in, the genre changes on us. At first, it reads like a middle grade fantasy story, but then it kind of morphs into more literary and psychological. The theme is rather ambiguous and hard to figure out, like the cover really, which is not that impressive or a good indicator to the story.

There are a lot of worlds that the reader gets thrown into. I liked how it incorporated the classic “what if” scenarios and twisted them into these arbitrary and abstract outcomes. Like I said, it felt like fantasy, but then it went to talking more about family.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: Was Nicole’s family really that bad?

A fairly nice read. 

Rating: 3 stars

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

David J. Naiman is a best-selling independent author of award-winning books for children, teens, and adults including The Finest Lies and Jake, Lucid Dreamer, first place winner of the Purple Dragonfly Book Award and the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards in pre-teen fiction and Didn’t Get Frazzled, humorous medical fiction written under the pen name David Z Hirsch. He is also a successful physician specializing in internal medicine and an unsuccessful speller specializing in vowels that sound identical to other vowels. He lives with his wife and two children in Maryland.

 

Website: https://davidjnaiman.wordpress.com

 

Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FSB6NJ3

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58967157-the-finest-lies

 

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GIVEAWAY:

 

David J. Naiman will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Blog Tour: FEARLESS AND FRIENDS by Mother Melania Salem

 

Join Us for This Book Series Tour:  May 2 to May 22, 2022
 Book Series Details:

Book Series Title: Fearless and Friends by Mother Melania Salem
Category:  Children's Fictions (ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Holy Assumption Monastery
Release date:   Feb 28, 2022
Content Rating:  G - This is a wholesome children's book.  I just finished reading all four books in this series of heart-warming, lovable characters, who hold your attention throughout their escapades. After the first book, you know the member of the Pond Community behaving badly will redeem her/himself, but how? That is the question and the surprise and the charm of each book. Oh so subtly, young and old alike learn that happiness comes from living graciously, with courtesy, kindness, respect, and compassion for others. My congratulations to the author, Mother Melania, who enables us to learn valuable lessons without lecturing us, and to her illustrator, Cayce-Marie Halsell, who allows us to see the charming animals of the Pond in action. Part of the charm of the illustrations is that they look like they were done with crayons! I loved the effect. The books are perfect for adults to read to younger children and as books for children starting to read on their own. I bought all four for my Godson -- two for Christmas and two for his birthday in March. I can’t wait to read them to him. - 5-Star Review on Amazon
Review One or Two of Any Fearless and Friends Books:  Book Details:

Book Title: Capers and Harry: High Climbing - Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way by Mother Melania Salem
Category:  Children's Fictions (ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Holy Assumption Monastery
Release date:   January 2018
Content Rating:  G - This is a wholesome children's book.    
Click here to download a free copy of this and other great children's books.  Book Description:

Capers the Cat gets stuck in a tree, but is too vain to admit it. Can Fearless the Fire Duck and Harry the Hound rescue their friend? BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
add to goodreads   Book Details:

Book Title: Greedy the Crow: Finders Keepers - Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way by Mother Melania Salem
Category:  Children's Fictions (ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Holy Assumption Monastery
Release date:   October 2021
Content Rating:  G - This is a wholesome children's book. Book Description:

Greedy the Crow's greedy ways are going to get him in trouble! Will anybody help him? BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
add to goodreads 

Book Details:

Book Title: Mimi the Mynah: It's All Mine! - Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way by Mother Melania Salem
Category:  Children's Fictions (ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Holy Assumption Monastery
Release date:   November 2021
Content Rating:  G - This is a wholesome children's book. Book Description:

Mimi knows two words - "me" and "mine." When disaster strikes the Duck Pond, will she finally learn a new word?  BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
add to goodreads  

Review: Mimi, the mynah, only knew two words—“me” and “mine.” This often made her selfish because she would want and want without give. As you can imagine, Mimi was not the most popular animal on Duck Pond. The only one who seemed to care about Mimi was a quiet, little church mouse, who thought there was more to Mimi than meets the eye.

“Every animal had some special purpose.”  

When a fire breaks out, all the animals come together to help put it out…even Mimi, who was rescued by her little mouse friend. She really comes through when it seems the animals have nowhere else to live. Would this put an end to Mimi’s selfish nature?

The images were simple and rudimentary with bright colors. There was a certain Crayola and watercolor combination to the illustrative scenes that were quite captivating.  

A sweet and touching story! I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Rating: 4 stars

 

  Book Details:

Book Title: Bluster Blue Jay: Not My Fault! - Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way by Mother Melania Salem
Category:  Children's Fictions (ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Holy Assumption Monastery
Release date:   November 2021
Content Rating:  G - This is a wholesome children's book. Book Description:

Bluster Blue Jay is not the easiest bird to be around. Nothing ever works for him, but it's never HIS fault! When he joins Fearless and Grateful on their camping trip, can they be patient with him? And will he learn a lesson about accepting blame? Join them and find out! BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon  Meet the Author:

Mother Melania is the Abbess of Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, CA. She grew up in a house that always had tons of children around, her poor parents had to read to her till they were hoarse, and from the moment she learned to read, she always had her nose in a book. So, it was only natural for her to grow up to write children's books. In her books, she strives to teach virtue in a fun, non-preachy way.

connect with the author: Amazon 
 Tour Schedule:

May 2 – Working Mommy Journal – books spotlight / giveaway
May 2 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT! / giveaway
May 3 – Splashes of Joy – book review of CAPERS AND HARRY: HIGH CLIMBING / giveaway
May 4 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of GREEDY THE CROW: FINDERS KEEPERS / giveaway
May 4 - Bound 4 Escape - book review of MIMI THE MYNAH: IT'S ALL MINE! / giveaway
May 5 – Fur Everywhere – book review of CAPERS AND HARRY: HIGH CLIMBING / giveaway
May 6 – Bigreadersite - book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT! / giveaway
May 6 - Literary Flits – books spotlight / giveaway
May 10 - Baroness' Book Trove – books spotlights / giveaway
May 10 – A Mama's Corner of the World - book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT! / giveaway
May 10 - Reading is My Passion - book review of GREEDY THE CROW: FINDERS KEEPERS
May 10 - Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of CAPERS AND HARRY: HIGH CLIMBING / guest post / giveaway
May 11 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of MIMI THE MYNAH: IT'S ALL MINE! / giveaway
May 11 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT! / guest post / giveaway
May 11 - Kam's Place – book review of GREEDY THE CROW: FINDERS KEEPERS
May 12 - Bookworm for Kid – book review of GREEDY THE CROW: FINDERS KEEPERS
May 12 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT! / author interview / giveaway
May 12 - @twilight_reader - book review of MIMI THE MYNAH: IT'S ALL MINE! / giveaway
May 13 – Lisa's Reading - book review of MIMI THE MYNAH: IT'S ALL MINE! / giveaway
May 13 - The Phantom Paragrapher - book review of GREEDY THE CROW: FINDERS KEEPERS
May 16 – fundinmental – books spotlight / giveaway
May 16 - Library Lady's Kid Lit – book review of CAPERS AND HARRY: HIGH CLIMBING / guest post / giveaway
May 17 – Older & Smarter? – book review of CAPERS AND HARRY: HIGH CLIMBING / giveaway
May 17 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of GREEDY THE CROW: FINDERS KEEPERS / giveaway
May 17 - Books for Books - book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT!
May 18 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review of CAPERS AND HARRY: HIGH CLIMBING / giveaway
May 18 - Sandra's Book Club - book review of MIMI THE MYNAH: IT'S ALL MINE! / giveaway
May 19 – Triquetra Reviews – book review of MIMI THE MYNAH: IT'S ALL MINE! / guest post / giveaway
May 19 - Ravenz Reviewz - book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT! / giveaway
May 20 – Library Lady's Kid Lit – book review of BLUSTER BLUE JAY: NOT MY FAULT! / giveaway
May 20 - Sefina Hawke's Books - book review of CAPERS AND HARRY: HIGH CLIMBING

Enter the Giveaway: FEARLESS AND FRIENDS Book Tour Giveaway  
 

Blog Tour: NO PISTOL TASTES THE SAME by Jacob Paul Patchen

 

No Pistol Tastes the Same

by Jacob Paul Patchen

 

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GENRE: Suspense (Military/PTSD)

 

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BLURB:

 

 

JP’s pistol tastes like bourbon.

 

Sergeant JP Grimm didn’t pull the trigger. Now his Marine brothers are dead. All victims of a child in a suicide vest…a child that resembled Sgt. Grimm’s very own. But how are you supposed to take a child’s life? How can you kill someone that looks just like your own son?

 

Those same hazel eyes he saw in his scope continue to haunt him long after he left the desert death lands as he tries to reconnect with his son, Adin. JP battles another war at home against PTSD and the worthless, dejected thoughts that he is the reason his friends are dead. His wife, Lisa, struggles to let her stubborn husband work it out on his own terms. She does all she can to give him space, support, and strength—but her love can only go so far.

 

As the world shows signs of impending doom from a weakening magnetic field and flaring sun, JP, too, shows signs of his own impending doom. After pushing everyone away, JP must face his nightmares to restore his relationship with his son, save his marriage, and save himself before the modern world burns out in a fiery, electromagnetic disaster.

 

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EXCERPTS

 

Looking back, the sorrow in their proud smiles had dug into him the most. A sadness he saw again and again––a sadness of which he was always the cause. And with that anguished thought, the life slowly faded from him as he stared into his son’s fuzzy eyes. Another tear tickled down his nose and splashed on the steel slide of his Grandpa’s M1911.

 

His grip tightened on the .45. I don’t deserve them. I don’t deserve any of them. He bit down until his jaw trembled. Hate and rage flowed through his veins—hate for himself and for his decisions, hate for the Corps, for the war, and for all of those who took away his happiness, one disfiguring explosion at a time. That hate brought a self-harming kind of satisfaction—the kind of pleasure one gets from feeling something, even if it’s the dragging pain of a rusty blade across the skin. But he needed that kind of pain. In his numbness, he needed to feel anything. He glanced at the happy life he held in his left hand, crushed it with his balled-up fist, and tossed the photo at his grandmother’s headstone.

 

“I’m the worst thing to ever happen to this family.” The words stung and clung to his tongue like a canker sore. He took a powerful swig of bourbon to wash them out.

 

As the wind came again, it agitated the paper and envelopes piled on the ground. They buzzed until the top letter slid and lifted into the air. With a crinkled tumble, it disappeared over the edge of the ridge. But he didn’t bother to move. Instead, he just sat there holding his bottle and gun, tormented. His eyes twitched as another piece of him soared away into the clouding sky. He let the bottle slip from his hand back onto the letters without bothering to twist the cap back on.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

Jacob Paul Patchen is an award-winning author and poet of inciting fiction and provocative poetry.

 

Jacob earns his inspiration through experience and believes every book has a purpose. He writes powerful, emotional, and thrilling stories about mental health, war, social stigmas, and other taboo subjects in order to bring awareness, change, and hope to those who need it.

 

Raised in Southeast Ohio, he’s a sucker for fast workouts, long laughter, and power naps. Snacks are his love language, and he thinks he’s a Pisces. Check him out and join his newsletter at Jacobpaulpatchen.com.

 

SOCIAL:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.jacobpaulpatchen

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jacobpaulpatchn

TikTok: @author.jacobpaulpatchen

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14189230.Jacob_Paul_Patchen

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jacob-Paul-Patchen/e/B014MNSZZW?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1649205096&sr=8-1

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

Jacob Paul Patchen will be awarding a free signed copy of NO PISTOL TASTES THE SAME to a randomly drawn winner (Print US only/international winners will receive a digital copy of the book) via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: ROCK MY HEART by Nadia Blair

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nadia Blair 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.

She never meant to end up in a rock star’s bed …

By day, Madelynn Crenshaw is the perfect senator’s daughter. By night, she’s a struggling artist. She doesn’t do scandal or media scrutiny, but when wicked rock god Sloan Elliot asks her to paint him for a charity event, she can’t resist. It’s for a good cause, right? She promises herself she won’t become his latest conquest—or have her love life splashed all over page one. During their studio sessions, Madelynn can’t deny their sizzling attraction, but it’s the man behind the rock god persona she really can’t resist. Sloan tempts her, teases her, and makes her long for things she’s never allowed herself to want…

When their affair hits the tabloids, and all hell breaks loose, Madelynn and Sloan must decide if they can risk love—and heartbreak—with the whole world watching.

Read an Excerpt

“I don’t doubt your training, Miss Crenshaw. I’m just wondering whether you’ll be able to resist the temptation to ravish my naked body.”

She scoffed. “You think I’ve never seen a nude model in a figure drawing class? It’s not like you’ve got anything I haven’t seen.”

“Don’t I?” He took a step closer, and Madelynn found herself backing away, until she felt the wall at her back.

“You are a world-class jackass.” She hated the breathless note in her words. Hated him for mocking her. Taunting her. Making her want something she knew she couldn’t have.

“Fortunately for me,” he murmured, his voice gone low and husky, but still with that damnable mocking edge. “You seem to have a thing for world-class jackasses.”

He loomed over her, only inches away; if he leaned just slightly closer, or she took in a deep breath, they would touch. Madelynn sucked in a shallow breath, fighting a wave of giddiness, the flush of heat shimmering through her veins. Mistake. His scent enveloped her, heat and leather and scotch, and she had a sudden urge to turn her face into the curve of his neck, taste the warm salt of his flesh, and sink her teeth into him until he groaned.

He’s only going to use you and cast you aside. Forget your mad idea. Forget him. Leave now.

But he took that final step, his chest brushing her breasts, setting her skin aflame. He brushed kisses across her mouth, pausing to nibble at the edge of her lips.

About the Author:Nadia Blair writes steamy contemporary romance featuring outrageous bad boys and gutsy girls who give as good as they get. She has a thing for snappy dialog, humorous situations, and swoon-worthy happily-ever-afters.

When she's not having conversations with fictional people, she enjoys summer thunderstorms, top-shelf whiskey, and rockin' out to a classic guitar solo.

Facebook
Twitter
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Amazon Author Page

Buy the book for $0.99 during the tour: Amazon.

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Blog Tour: SPIDER GREEN series by Norm Harris

 

Spider Green Series

by Norm Harris

 

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GENRE: Mystery/Thriller Legal Military

 

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BLURBS:

 

FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE (Book One):

 

A female lawyer must prove a war hero’s innocence. Navy SEALs hijack a Russian warship to stop a North Korean missile crisis.

 

“A great read with a stunning finish.” - Advocate, Narayan. “Picturing Justice,” published by the Faculty of Law, University of San Francisco.

 

Every now and again, a unique story comes our way, a story unlike any we may have read before. Such is “Fruit of the Poisonous Tree,” author Norm Harris’s first critically acclaimed mystery/thriller. The story’s focal point is Faydra “Spider” Green, a dedicated Navy lawyer who has lived her life in the shadows of a great and powerful man: her father, former President of the United States William Green. Green cannot heal the wound in his relationship with his daughter. His former power and influence curse Faydra and cause her to wonder if her accomplishments were her own doing.

 

Faydra is anxious and excited as she undertakes her first homicide investigation: the murder of a Navy SEAL. She reasons a successful investigation will provide her the opportunity to validate her sense of self-worth. Thanks to her remarkable deductive abilities, Faydra soon realizes the accused man, a Special Ops Marine war hero, may be innocent and the Navy is using her as a pawn in a complex cover-up.

 

“A sharp, crackling military thriller..., Norm Harris’s ‘Fruit of the Poisonous Tree’ offers a labyrinth of military cover-ups, surprise twists, and insider techno knowledge. Good, exciting, inventive read.” - Wendell Wellman, actor, producer, and screenwriter for Clint Eastwood’s “Firefox” and Producer of “Top Hat,” “Sail Away”, and “House in the Canyon.”

 

Meanwhile, a seasoned Navy Sea Captain, Egan Fletcher, a single parent, struggles to balance his Navy career with raising a son. When the Navy purposefully pairs him with Faydra in a meeting, the two Navy officers embark on an adrenaline-pumping adventure. It is a top-secret mission-impossible taking them around the world in an attempt to avert a catastrophic act of terrorism in the form of a biological war.

 

“Norm Harris’s book grabs the reader with its first sentence and holds the reader throughout with its fast-paced action. Dialogue is always the hardest to write, but Harris has captured the art and, with his writing, keeps the reader turning pages. His ability to heighten the intrigue keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat throughout the story. Strongly recommend the book…” - CAPT David E. Meadows, US Navy, author of numerous (15) military thrillers, such as “Sixth Fleet,” “Seawolf,” and “Tomcat.”

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Washington State’s Puget Sound and the mystique of East Asia, Fadra’s story revolves around a woman who appears to be as pure as the driven snow—yet, she is driven by an insatiable need to complete any assignment, no matter how dangerous. Along the way, she transforms into a symbol of hope, perseverance, and a woman’s ability to overcome life-threatening events.

 

“This story is complex and well crafted, and you’ll immediately invest your emotions in these vivid characters. The dialogue is some of the freshest I’ve encountered in some time…. As a reader, and as a novelist myself, and now as a fan, my hat goes off to this guy. A wonderful debut.” - Larry Brooks, critically acclaimed author of psychological thrillers (including “Darkness Bound,” “Pressure Points,” “Serpents Dance,” and others), in addition to his work as a freelance writer and writing instructor.

 

The first novel, “Fruit of the Poisonous Tree,” begins the riveting Spider Green Mystery Thriller series. If you enjoy the razor-sharp dialogue, strong-willed people, twists, and high-octane action, then “Spider” Green, the intrepid female sleuth and unpretentious hero in this taut, fast-paced adventure, will appeal to you.

 

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Excerpt Two:

 

Occasionally, the glow cast by the divers’ torches below her would momentarily disappear. She supposed—prayed—it was perhaps Romeo or Juliet passing between her line of sight and the torches, temporarily interrupting the beams of light, rather than a predator.

 

Fay grew fascinated by the many air bubbles emitted by the divers, reflected in the light of their torches’ eerie glow. Like a surreal field of vapor flowers, they appeared and disappeared as they slowly wobbled toward the surface. Fay reached for a bubble but instead found it to be a jellyfish, not a bubble as she had first thought.

 

Fay stopped sinking. Although she could not see it, she assumed they had reached the wreck. She brought her wrist to within inches of her face to check the luminous reading on her depth gauge. Eighty-seven feet.

 

She strained her eyes in a vain attempt to see through the black water. Fay may as well have been swimming in a cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee. All she could see was the light from the torch she held in her hand. She experienced complete disorientation. No up, no down. Someone, Andrew Lawrence perhaps, grasped her wrist. He was dragging her somewhere. She saw a deck rail, then a deck, and finally passed through a hatchway. They were now inside the Carr. There was only one light ahead of her—Andrew’s.

 

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AUTHOR GUEST POST

Topic : Please describe your writing journey

 

The journey began in 2000. I had written a book for my son, K-K. The little fellow had an aversion to reading. Yet, I knew if he did not read, his educational growth would be finished before it started. So I wrote something for him. It was Fruit of the Poisonous Tree. The book was published. Following that, I wrote a second book, Arid Sea. The manuscript sat for fifteen years. This past summer, I found myself with months of free time. It occurred to me to put the time to productive use. I polished Arid Sea and had it edited. I completed a partial manuscript, Deception Pass, and had it also edited. I then began and finished The Girl Who Knew Death. 

 

At the end of the summer, I met the good people at The Wild Rose Press. They liked my books. An offer to publish the books was the result. The journey is not over. I am working on book five—Rain and Wind and Fire. I took the title from the song; They Call the Wind Mariah. Do you know it? Here is a link for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGbzP... Each of my books is based on a song theme. Brandy for Fruit of the Poisonous Tree. Sympathy for the Devil for The Girl Who Knew Death and so on. 

 

And what about little K-K? His story will inspire you to inspire your kids. He became a high school honor student—a double BA at the university. A law school grad who published a law journal that is now cataloged in the US Supreme Court law library and in four top law school libraries. His book is outselling mine!

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Norm Harris' first novel debuted on an Amazon bestseller list in 2002. It was a one-and-done, but now he's back with a plan to publish a couple of sequels to that first mystery/thriller of days gone by. Except for time spent in military service, he is a second-generation Seattleite (that's what they call those who dwell in the shadow of Mt. Rainier), with his legal beagle son, K-K, and five giant tropical fish. His upcoming release, Arid Sea, is the third book in what he hopes to be an award-winning Spider Green Mystery Story series.

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/780557.Norm_Harris

 

https://www.amazon.com/Norman-A.-Harris/e/B002BOH4R0

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09L56XS21/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09N8QWTF5/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q1XVRNR/

 

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GIVEAWAY:

 

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: ALL TOGETHER NOW by Hope Larson

The girls need a drummer for their band. But what happens when the new drummer and her best friend start dating? Oh my!

Things get messy for Bina and Darcy, leaving Bina out of the band—a band that she started. Whoa!

The biggest punch in the gut: when they play her song at a party. Oh double-snap!

With the help of some much-needed advice, Bina must find her own inspiration, her own mind, and a new life.

With wonderful illustrations, this was a great coming- of-age story.

 

Rating: 4 stars