Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 190
April 4, 2022
Blog Tour: GREEN GO, RED STOP! by Tara Hills-Starks
Green GO, Red STOP!
by Tara Hill-Starks
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GENRE: Children's
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BLURB:
JJ and his friend CC venture out into the neighborhood on their bikes. They meet friends and encounter life challenges that make them think about their choices. JJ and CC must make decisions based on kindness, helping others, and honesty. JJ is guided by his fascination of traffic lights and the valuable life lessons his adoring and wise grandmother taught him. Along the way, JJ remembers what he has learned. Will JJ and CC make good choices?
Green GO, Red STOP! is an interactive and fun read for children to learn and understand the concepts of character traits and how important they are in life. The question to the young reader is Green GO, Red STOP! What YOU gonna do off top?
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Excerpt One:
CC and I like riding our bikes through the neighborhood. I pretend my bike is a Jeep. She pretends her bike is a Beetle. CC says it’s cute just like her. I’m just ready to ride and have fun. “Let’s go!”
When CC turns out of her driveway, her bike scratches her mother’s car. She is afraid to tell her mother. CC asks me not to tell anyone. Should I tell someone?
Green GO, Red STOP!
What YOU gonna do off top?
I say to CC she may want to tell her mother. Being honest and admitting your mistakes are good choices. CC goes to her mother and tells the truth. “Awesome!”
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Review: “The traffic light game helps me make good choices.”
Book is a trivia guide book that asks the question of what would you do. Should we tell Mom about the scratch to her car? Should we let the different kid play with us? Should we help our elderly neighbor?
“Green go, Red stop! What YOU gonna do off top?”
Filled with colorful imagery that brightens the pages, this book is a great way to teach good moral values and critical thinking. It inspires you to stop, think, and then go.
A good read and a good lesson for us all!
Rating: 4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tara Hill-Starks is an education professional with a flair for all things business. A North Carolina native, she has a master’s degree in business administration and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Tara shows her grateful and compassionate heart by helping and giving to others. She enjoys living at the beach with her husband and son.
Her first book, Grandma, I Got This! is inspired by teachings she received from her maternal grandmother as a young child. Her second book, Green GO, Red STOP! is enthused by her young son and his love for the outdoors. Both works capture valuable life lessons young children can learn.
Joseph Starks III, the son of the author, is portrayed by the character JJ in Green GO, Red STOP! As an energetic boy, he finds enjoyment in nature and exploring the outdoors by riding his bike through the neighborhood. On the way to and from school each day, JJ shouts “Green GO, Mommy!” when the light is green and “Red STOP, Mommy!” when the light turns red. His joy and enthusiasm are delightful, inspiring the author to create the title and adventures in the book.
CONNECT WITH TARA HILL-STARKS
WEBSITE - Tara Hill-Starks – Author (authortarahillstarks.com)
FACEBOOK - Author Tara Hill-Starks | Facebook
INSTAGRAM - Tara Hill-Starks (@tarahillstarks) • Instagram photos and videos
TWITTER - Tara Hill-Starks (@tarahillstarks) / Twitter
GOODREADS - Tara Hill-Starks (Author of Grandma, I Got This!) | Goodreads
PURCHASE LINKS GREEN GO, RED STOP!
AMAZON.COM - https://amazon.com/dp/0228857643
AMAZON.CA - https://amazon.ca/dp/0228857643
AMAZON KINDLE - https://amazon.com/dp/B09KKJB9ZC
BOOKSHOP - https://bookshop.org/books/green-go-red-stop/9780228857648
BARNES & NOBLE - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/green-go-red-stop-tara-hill-starks/1140450404
BOOK DEPOSITORY - https://www.bookdepository.com/Green-Go-Red-Stop-Tara-Hill-Starks/9780228857648
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GIVEAWAY:
Tara Hill-Starks will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 1, 2022
Review: TWINS MAC AND MADI’S VACATION by Linda Herron
See the twins dispel all the twin myths from people as they vacation on the beach.
Fun and lively with colorful illustrations, this was a nice read.
Rating: 4 stars
Review: TWINS by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright
Twins that couldn’t be more different. One of them is stuck in a cadet program and her sister wants nothing to do with her.
This story had too much text that’s too small to read. It’s an okay story with nice illustrations.
Rating: 3 stars
Review: MY CHOICES by Michael Gordon
The text and illustrations are too chaotic and crowded. The images are colorful though. An okay story.
Rating: 3 stars
March 30, 2022
Blog Tour: FROM GRANDMA WITH LOVE by Bella Neville Cruz
From Grandma with Love
by Bella Neville Cruz
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GENRE: Children’s Fiction
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BLURB:
From Grandma with Love was created by Bella, a five-year-old with a very vivid imagination. Her Mom, Katia, has been her accomplice since the moment Bella said, "Mamá, I would love for my family, my friends and my teachers to read my story. Is that possible, Mamá?"
When I agreed to the possibilities of publishing her book—our book—I knew that it was going to be the biggest and very best project together of our lives. Seeing her big smile of happiness, the proudness of her work in her face, and the sparkle of her eyes brought us even closer by creating and writing.
From Grandma with Love: a story inspired by her own grandma, family situations and lots of love.
Bella is a five-year-old child. Like any other, she could get into mischief sometimes. She does not want Grandma to be upset about her occasional adventures. Bella wonders, "Grandma, will you love me even when I misbehave?"
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Excerpt One:
Bella and her grandmother were sitting on the front porch together. Bella turned to her grandmother and asked, “Will you love me even when I drink all your water?” Grandma turned to Bella and answered, “I might be thirsty, but I will still love you.”
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Review: In this little book, Bella asks her grandma questions about loving her. Will you love me if I drink your water? Will you love me if I read your book?
“I will always love you no matter how you feel or whatever you do!”
The illustrations are cute and colorful. They were simple and straightforward. Story is a lovely ode to a grandma’s endless love. A nice read!
Rating: 4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
From Grandma with Love was created by Bella, a five-year-old with a very vivid imagination. Her Mom, Katia, has been her accomplice since the moment Bella said, "Mamá, I would love for my family, my friends and my teachers to read my story. Is that possible, Mamá?"
When I agreed to the possibilities of publishing her book—our book—I knew that it was going to be the biggest and very best project together of our lives. Seeing her big smile of happiness, the proudness of her work in her face, and the sparkle of her eyes brought us even closer by creating and writing.
From Grandma with Love: a story inspired by her own grandma, family situations and lots of love.
Bella is a five-year-old child. Like any other, she could get into mischief sometimes. She does not want Grandma to be upset about her occasional adventures. Bella wonders, "Grandma, will you love me even when I misbehave?"
CONNECT WITH: Bella Nevile Cruz
WEBSITE: https://bellaandmombooks.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Bella5star
PURCHASE LINKS: From Grandma with Love/ De Abuela con Amor
AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228855616
AMAZON.CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0228855616
BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/books/from-grandma-with-love-9780228855613/9780228855613
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/From-Grandma-with-Love-Bella-Neville-Cruz-Mom-Katia-Quintana-Cruz-Sarah-Fabiny/9780228855613
BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-grandma-with-love-bella-neville-cruz/1139982670
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GIVEAWAY:
Bella Neville Cruz will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 29, 2022
Blog Tour: GONE BEFORE by Terry Korth Fischer
Gone Before
by Terry Korth Fischer
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GENRE: Mystery
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BLURB:
Small-town detective, Rory Naysmith, thought he’d seen it all, but a young woman’s brutal murder is especially hard to stomach. Doubly so, when he recognizes the murder’s MO is identical to that of Tobias Snearl—the killer he put behind bars a decade before. His frustration grows after a series of senseless accidents plague those dearest to him, and a second woman dies—this one too close to home. Searching for answers, Rory races against time, plunging deep into the murder investigations, drawing ever closer to becoming a casualty of the dark, angry deeds himself, until he finds no one is who they pretend to be—and none are beyond evil’s reach.
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Excerpt One:
In the distance, the railroad bridge stretched from Nebraska over the Missouri River and touched the Iowa shore. Someone had mounded boulders farther down. Perhaps they’d been removed from the grounds and left there for a retaining wall. More likely, they were hidden from view, too heavy to move elsewhere. They were an eyesore, starting at the tree line, topping three feet, and spreading down to the water’s edge. Rory scrambled up the stack, intent on gaining the elevated advantage, the moss-covered boulders felt slippery under the smooth leather soles of his shoes.
When he reached the top, he caught a whiff of cigarette smoke—or was it marijuana?
He pivoted quickly and lost purchase. To break the fall, he instinctively put out his hands, and his foot slid into a crevice between two large stones. His forearms smashed against the hard surface. The force of his body slam moved the boulders which then interlocked around his foot.
From behind, he heard someone run off through the trees. He cursed, pushed up, ignored the complaints from his knees, and hand-walked his upper body back to his feet. With one foot captive, and kneeling over the other, he awkwardly righted himself. Then gave a tug. The vise-grip held tight. His palms felt razor-scraped. He reached for the phone, but it wasn’t there.
It took a moment to spot his lifeline, five feet away and out of reach.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Terry Korth Fischer writes mystery and memoir. Her memoir, Omaha to Ogallala, was released in 2019. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies in print and online. Terry is a member of Sisters in Crime, Pennwriters, Inc, and Clear Lake Area Writers. Transplanted from the Midwest, Terry lives in Houston with her husband and their two guard cats. She enjoys a good mystery, heat and humidity, and long summer days. Visit her website at https://terrykorthfischer.com
Social media contacts:
Website: https://terrykorthfischer.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terryiswriting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerryIsWriting
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/terrykorthfischer
Goodreads Author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14349440.Terry_Korth_Fischer
BookBub Author: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/terry-korth-fischer
BookGems Author: https://www.bookgems.com/profile/tkfischer/
BLOG Website: https://www.terryiswriting.com
Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/TerryKorthFischer
Amazon Buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Before-Rory-Naysmith-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09KQVCM6M/ref=sr_1_1?
Barnes & Noble Buy link:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gone-before-terry-korth-fischer/1140489584?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59457770-gone-before
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GIVEAWAY:
Terry Korth Fischer will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: UNLOCK MY HEART by Jennifer Wilck
Unlock My Heart
by Jennifer Wilck
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GENRE: contemporary romance
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BLURB:
Abby Marlow, computer security expert, lands a job at the best IT security firm in the country. Her sole focus is financial independence so she never has to rely on others again, especially a man. But why does her boss make her wires short circuit?
Ted Endicott, CEO and founder of the IT security firm, is hard of hearing. Although an expert in his field, he’s still uncomfortable admitting his difficulty hearing to his clients or employees. So why is he willing to accept Abby’s help?
As Ted and Abby work together, barriers fall away, and soon the lines blur between colleagues and lovers. But a security glitch in a client's system indicates one of his employees is the hacker, and all signs point to Abby. Can they get past the suspicion and find a future together?
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Excerpt One:
“You always run alone?”
She pointed to a nearby jogger. “I’m not alone.”
“But you’re not with anyone.”
Standing this close to him, she wished for things she shouldn’t. “No, I’m not.”
“How far are you going?”
“The end of the trail and back.” Or however long it took to get him out of her mind.
He put his helmet on. “Come on, I’ll keep you company.”
“It’s not necessary.” Clearing her mind would be impossible with him next to her.
“It’s safer this way.” He looked down the trail.
His desire to protect her sent warmth curling up and down her spine. It had been a long time since anyone was concerned about her. All of a sudden, the idea of company appealed to her. Touching his arm— and trying not to squeeze his bicep like you would if you tested the ripeness of a peach—she waited for him to turn. “You’re welcome to join me if you want. If you can keep up.” She winked and raced away, his bark of laughter a brief punch in the silence behind her.
She no longer kept an easy pace, easing into the morning. This time, she sprinted hard. The slight whir of his bike wheels warned her as he reached her a few moments later.
“You’re pretty fast, but I’d suggest you slow down.”
She turned toward him. “Out of pity for you?”
His lips twitched, and his nostrils flared, but he kept his humor reined tight. Instead, he cycled next to her, his head turned slightly toward her. “The only pity I ask for is please don’t make me carry you home when you’re too tired to continue.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after. In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight, and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.
Buy links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/jennifer+wilck?
The Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/search?controller=search&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=jennifer+wilck&submit_search=
She can be reached at:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck
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GIVEAWAY :
Jennifer Wilck will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 28, 2022
Blog Tour: ONE HELLUVA GIG by Kevin R. Doyle
One Helluva Gig
by Kevin R. Doyle
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GENRE: General/romance
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BLURB:
Rob Jeffers has it all: fame, money, and the life of a rock and roll star. Frank Peters is a regular guy, a newspaper reporter who just happens to have a passing acquaintance with the Great Jeffers. As Jeffers's career shoots up, Peters's fortunes follows in his wake.
And when Jeffers passes away at the height of his fame, Peters’s life begins a steady unravelling. Until a chance encounter on a minor story gives him a new outlook on the celebrity lifestyle, and new hope for his own future.
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Excerpt One:
Off to my right, a slight, average-sized guy came running along. He was wearing the pants and vest of a denim leisure suit, a garish, flowered polyester/Hawaiian shirt with the first five buttons opened up and sandals. Skidding to a stop in front of me, he looked about as confused as I felt at the moment.
“’Scuse me,” he said, “is this the place for the concert?”
I looked around at all the people flocking in our direction, listened to the squealing of the collection of cuties on the other side of the door.
“Yeah,” I said, “but good luck getting in. The place is packed.”
“Really? Cool!” He took off his mirrored sunglasses, and for the first time, I saw the eyes that, in years to come, would stare out from a billion or so album covers.
“Hey,” he said, “you a student here?”
“Yeah, but…”
“You think you can show me how to get in? Like there’s a service entrance or something, isn’t there? I’m with the band, and I’m running late.”
I clenched up. One of the oldest con lines in the world is “I’m with the band.” But something in the man’s look told me to take a chance.
“I think I can get you in, but I need something in return.”
“Yeah?” Now the “guy with the band” seemed uneasy. “What’s that?”
“Well, you see,” I said, “I’m with the student paper…”
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Review: A man commiserates over the death of a legendary rock star—“one of the biggest deaths in the world”
At the beginning, Jeffers started out in a garage band, playing for student unions, and our main character was the journalism student covering the story for the school paper. He reminisces on his life, taking on the grunge work, as it correlates to the singer’s rising stardom.
“While he had all that going on, here I stood in a run-down office with actual, honest-to-goodness fly specks on the wall, watching my work get shredded.”
The diary style narrative is clever and witty. I enjoyed the candid and snarky humor.
“Big time rock star begins to feel maudlin and, rather than bore any of his hangers on with his problems, reaches out to a nobody.”
In time, the inquisitive reporter sees something: an unhappy star. And this marked the star’s downfall. Towards the end of his career, he was a celebrity joke,
After his death, “public interest in the man began to wane, and once the fervor tamped down, he assumed a more sedate, if constant, place in a popular culture.”
Well-versed and engaging! Story chronicles the rise and fall of a rock star with “a certain parallel between the trajectory of his career and [the reporter.]”
An interesting, short read with a shocking conclusion!
Rating: 5 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A high-school teacher, former college instructor and fiction writer, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of numerous short horror stories. He’s also written three crime thrillers, The Group, When You Have to Go There, and And the Devil Walks Away and one horror novel, The Litter. Recently, he’s begun working on the Sam Quinton private eye series. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award as Best First PI Novel. The second book, Heel Turn, was released in March of 2021, while the third in the series, Double Frame, is due out March of 2022.
www.facebook/com/kevinrossdoyle
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-helluva-gig-kevin-r-doyle/1113786303?ean=2940160852997
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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
March 25, 2022
Review: SURPRISES IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell
A dead body at Sebastian’s (Cassie’s boyfriend) house and Sebastian is the prime suspect. Surprise! But why would Sebastian kill Cassie’s brother-in-law? And why would he fake his own attack? It really makes you think.
A crafty and inquisitive mystery!
Rating: 4 stars
Review: HAUNTED IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell
What’s Halloween in a small town without the legend of a haunted house?
Cassie and the rest of the town got all dressed up for a Halloween party, where a commotion broke out and a body was discovered. Was the legend of the ghost true? Or was he simply murdered? And, if so, who was the culprit?
A good mystery, but it can get a little complicated with all suspects and the detective duo going over every little detail. It’s quite a long road to the answer that reveals the killer, but still a good read.
Rating: 4 stars
