Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 200
January 18, 2022
Blog Tour: MAKE ME DREAM by Dillon Bancroft
⭐️Aria⭐️
They say snitches get stitches. Except I got all the stitches before I ever thought about trying to snitch. My abusive ex-boyfriend, one of the most powerful men in the country, is on the hunt for my silence. He’ll stop at nothing to make sure I’m six feet under for ratting him out to the FBI.
To make matters worse, I’m pregnant...with his baby. So why do I want to fall in bed with the sexy veterinarian who lives two doors down from me on the family farm? I can’t resist starting a no-strings attachment with the hot, single dad who doesn’t do forever. But it can’t be more than that. I’m on borrowed time. Forever will get us both killed.
⭐️Derek⭐️
The prodigal daughter returns to Sage Creek, and I want to send her anywhere but here. I don’t need her brand of drama lurking around. Especially when I have a daughter I’m fighting to get sole custody of. But when my brother from another mother becomes her witness protection and brings her to the farm I work at, I’m forced to help.
Review: Aria was trapped in a bad situation until the agents took him away, putting her in witness protection and sending her back home to Sage Creek. She’s trying to adjust to a new life while nightmares invade her mind. The last thing she wanted was to end up with something from him. A baby!
So we have a broken pregnant woman and a playboy with a daughter.
The narrative is nice and slow. The character POV’s and diary style story allows the reader to hear the intense thoughts and feelings. The whole thing progresses very slowly and it’s quite long, too. There’s a lot of drama and a love story somewhere in the midst. It’s a fairly nice read.
Rating: 3 stars
Authors Links
Book Tour Page - https://www.rmwbooks.com/dillonbancroftmmd
Website - https://www.dillonbancroft.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/dillon-bancroft
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21614465.Dillon_Bancroft
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B097LVMXB9
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordillonbancroft/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authordillonbancroft?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063640993138
January 17, 2022
Blog Tour: SIDE EFFECTS by LJ Greene
Side Effects
by LJ Greene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Who can you trust?
Ally Michels is fresh out of her MBA program at Cal and has landed her dream job at hot, up-and-coming video game developer, Jet Stream Studios, all thanks to her uncle, Jet’s largest venture capital investor. She’s feeling pretty good about her future until an inadvertent blurt in a company meeting brings down upon her the dangerous attention of Jet’s co-founder and chief developer, Marcus Abby.
Beautiful, brilliant, and vicious, Marcus is every bit the arrogant, deceitful founder her uncle warned her about. But in the power-fueled world of venture capital investing, things aren’t always what they seem. When Ally finds herself caught up in a play for corporate control, she must work with Marcus to save the company and an ideal she believes in, while navigating perilous family loyalties and fighting to hold onto her own integrity.
For Ally, there’s just one rule: never, ever trust Marcus Abby. Because the one man she needs to stop a high-stakes plot is the one man who has every reason to want her gone.
SIDE EFFECTS is an adult contemporary, twisty, underhanded, certainly unscrupulous . . . romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
When I turned, Marcus was leaning against the white laminate table, resting his weight on the edge. His arms were crossed over his chest, and the rolled-up sleeves of his black shirt revealed the sinuous muscle of his forearms.
He was handsome. It wasn’t the first thing you noticed about him because you were always dealing with a razor-sharp mind. Somehow the physical aspects took a step back.
But having seen him in a real moment when he wasn’t totally in command of everything around him, I found it easier to view him objectively as the young man he was, standing in front of me now, watching warily.
He had perhaps the most flawless facial features I’d ever seen. Almond-shaped eyes that were outlined in naturally graceful brows, and an elegant nose. There was always just the shadow of a mustache over his lip and it made you wonder if shaving had a place in his daily routine. Still, with all of that, his best feature was his hair. It was a plentiful mass of dark waves and disobedient curls that ebbed in a carelessly boyish way off his forehead and behind his ears, showcasing a strong jawline.
It seemed wasteful of the universe to have bestowed those looks on someone whose character was so unpleasant. He was like a golden goose, best viewed out of spitting range. But just for a moment, looking at him standing there, beautiful almost beyond words, I forgot about everything else.
And then he spoke.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: “Nepotism meant only one thing to most people. Privilege. Not skill.”
Ally, a finance clerk, was shunned right off the bat at the up-and-coming gaming company she worked for, especially by the chief developer. His cold animosity toward her made it hard for her to show up at work, thinking any minute she would be fired.
The writing was smart and witty with a charming narrative. It takes a while for the story to get going. Mostly you hear Ally’s depressing whine about how she’s being treated. Then we shift direction and get the POV of her boss. It can be rather long and slow. The ultimate point was: she can either give up or prove to everyone that she belonged there.
The story immerses the reader in the cruel and calculating spectrum of the gaming industry. It’s a relatively easy read, rich in detail, and full of drama, tension…and side effects.
A fairly nice read.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
LJ Greene is a self-professed obsessive multi-tasker who writes boring stuff by day and lets her inner romantic fly by night. This California native is married to the most amazing man and has two beautiful children, now old enough to read her books but still not interested because of the ew, grossfactor. She’s an avid reader of all genres with an embarrassingly large ebook collection, and a weird penchant for reading the acknowledgements at the end of a novel. She’s also a music lover with no apparent musical talent, a travel enthusiast, and a cheese connoisseur.
Website: www.ljgreenebooks.com
Twitter: @authorljgreene
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009405693070
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Side-Effects-L-J-Greene/dp/0998271632/
The book will be $0.99.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY:
LJ Greene will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
January 15, 2022
Review: FROSTED DONUTS AND FATAL FALLS by Cindy Bell
Donuts at the circus. Turns out there was much more excitement off stage than on, resulting in a fatal fall of a trapeze artist. Was it an accident? Or murder? Could the culprit be a clown? All evidence seem to be pointing to it. Of course, the donut ladies don’t seem to think so.
An interesting mystery!
Rating: 4 stars
Review: STRAWBERRY DONUTS AND SCANDAL by Cindy Bell
A chance to get reviewed by a food vlogger!
The next day, the vlogger is found dead. Could it have had to do with her latest vlog post, which showed a video of her being taken? Was it a vendor that didn’t like one of her bad reviews?
An interesting mystery that you can’t wait to get to the bottom of. Definitely one of the best in this donut series.
Rating: 5 stars
Review: DONUT HOLES AND HOMICIDE by Cindy Bell
This had a slow start with the scene of the homeless guy and the pizza date with the detective. Joyce was being too annoying and unreasonable about that homeless. Not even the so-called excitement of the dead pizza guy in chapter 3 was enough to make this interesting. This was certainly a struggle to read. Certainly not the best book.
Rating: 2 stars
Review: MURDER BY PAGE ONE by Olivia Matthews.
I wish there was a murder by page one. It might’ve made this book a lot more interesting. Just like in a small southern town, this story is SO SLOW. Too much detail, too many characters, and not enough interest. Just BORING.
Rating: 1 star
Review: STRANGLED IN THE CINEMA by Penny Brooke
Strangled at the movies. But she wasn’t gone. Instead, she comes back as a ghost and aims to solve her own murder. Talk about far-fetched, huh?
Who killed her and why? Was it the 90-year-old lady that accused her of stealing her social security check? Or the donut guy?
At first, this was a guide to her new life as a ghost. Seriously, how can a ghost eat ice cream?
This really didn’t captivate me as much as I thought it would. Not what I expected.
Rating: 2 stars
January 14, 2022
Blog Tour: SEDUCTION OF A DUKE by J.R. Salisbury
Seduction of a Duke
by J R Salisbury
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Romance (Victorian)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
You never know when cupids arrow is going to strike…
Lady Cora Keats, the only daughter of the Duke of Dover is not only beautiful, she’s confident, self-assured and sometimes a wee bit outspoken. She knows one day she’ll have to marry and settle down – her father constantly reminds her. Cora has other plans - she doesn’t want to marry…at least not now. She’s grown into an independent woman with an occupation few women dare pursue. She cannot…no she will not give up a successful business for a man. Not even if he’s an obscenely handsome duke who shares her interests.
Sebastian Steele, Duke of Hightower was sought after by all the eligible young women. Tall, muscular and stunningly good-looking, the former rake has quietly begun his search for a wife. Drawn by Lady Cora’s uniqueness and confidence he realizes through all their bickering there is something more lying beneath the surface.
Can these two opposites put aside their differences and work together for the greater good or will pride and stubbornness rule?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
"Move your arse! Move your bloody arse!"
Sebastian Steele, Duke of Hightower watched in fascination at the young woman standing at the rail yelling and making a fool of herself. Fascinated because he'd never seen a woman get so animated about a horserace. It was undignified and certainly unbecoming of a lady. Where was her husband?
Though women did attend horse races with their husbands, they never behaved like this. She appeared to be a peer, well dressed and mannered, except for this outburst. Could it be her husband’s horse she was carrying on about?
She continued watching the race, cheering them on. In the sun red hues sparkled off her mahogany hair. She wore dark green dress with charcoal piping along with a peplum jacket and skirt. The collar hugged her chin and was trimmed with black lace. The jacket closed with small black buttons on the front.
He turned his attention from the dark-haired woman to the race, which was winding down. The horses were headed into the homestretch, and his own entry, Apollo's Gold was proving once again to be a disappointment, holding at a good distance behind the winner. The stallion had shown great promise up until the last two races. Something was missing. He needed to send Apollo to someone who could salvage this horse's future before he ruined it.
"Better luck next time," Crispin Allgood, Earl of Yorkshire said, clasping him on the shoulder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest Post Topic: What makes a historical romance successful?
It should take the reader feel like they've traveled back into the past. Details are important, and not just about major events of that period. Knowledge of everyday life is important as well (thus research is a vital friend). Romance novels center around the love story of one couple. Contrary to the lyrics, however, love is not all you need. The characters' relationships should be a web of meaningful connections. No action without a reaction. No choices without consequence.
The tricky balance every romance writer must establish is maintain a breathless, heart-stopping romance while keeping it tied to a compelling broader narrative. Building physical and emotional tension lies at the heart of an irresistible romance. Stolen kisses, a brief touch, salacious daydreams, and almost-but-not-quite encounters all contribute to the lead to juicier things to come and contribute to the readers' investment in the novel's central relationship.
It's okay to use words that might have been used in say 19th century England, but don't overdo it - and don't use a lot of hip modern-day slang words as well.
I could go on, but this is what I find basic for every historical romance novel.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Amazon bestselling author J R Salisbury divides her time between the U.S. and U.K. with her aging Yorkie, Rocco.
When in the U.K. she finds herself shrouded in history, making an author's imagination come alive.
J R writes Victorian era and Scottish historical romance with perfectly imperfect heroes and strong, sassy heroines.
Website: www.jamiesalisbury.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JRSHistoricalRomance/?RFF-Bookmarks
Instagram: AuthorJamieSalisbury
Twitter: @JamieRSalisbury
Seduction of a Duke Amazon Link(offered in KU as well – so Amazon is the only link): https://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Duke-Love-Devotion-Book-ebook/dp/B09LD9NT1W/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY :
J R Salisbury will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 13, 2022
Blog Tour: THE SWEETEST LADYBUG by Isabel Cintra
Children’s Books
Date Published: November 24, 2021
Publisher: Underline Publishing LLC
Imagine if everything happening in your imagination also happens in real life. This is exactly what happens one day in the life of a curious, sweet, and intelligent girl named Johana. Under the colors of a beautiful ladybug, Johana discovers all the mysteries and beauties hiding in her own garden!
Contact Links
Purchase Link
Review: This is the story of little Johana. Her curiosity was her ally, so, one day, she discovers a book of insects. Oh how she marveled at them. Soon afterwards, she finds a cricket with a top hat. Jiminy Cricket, it shrinks her to the size of a bug!
Johana dives into a world of fascinating, small creatures.
A cute story with colorful illustrations, this book is a fun magical adventure!
Rating: 4 stars
January 12, 2022
Blog Tour: OY VEY, MARIA! by Mark Reutlinger
Oy Vey, Maria!
by Mark Reutlinger
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Rose Kaplan and her sidekick Ida are at it again. It’s the holiday of Purim, and almost everyone at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors is in costume for the Purim play. All except one, who will instead have to be fitted for a shroud. Once again, “Mrs. K” and Ida are called upon to solve the puzzle of a mysterious death at the Home. Described by Chanticleer Book Reviews as “at times more Lucy and Ethel than Holmes and Watson, with a soupcon of Miss Jane Marple,” these geriatric amateur sleuths will keep you laughing, guessing, and maybe even learning a bissel Yiddish!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
I was the first to reach the car, which was making a low rumbling sound, I imagined something like a very large lion or tiger makes when getting ready to leap on an unsuspecting gazelle. I gingerly turned the handle of the rear door and pulled. Nothing happened. I pulled harder. Nothing happened. Finally Mrs. K grasped the handle with me and we both pulled. Even a growling tiger was no match for the combined weight of two determined ladies. The door swung open and it was all Mrs. K and I could do to keep from ending up head over tuchis in an undignified heap on the ground.
When we had finally climbed into the back seat, the car took off with a jerk and a roar.
That poor gazelle didn’t have a chance!
The first thing we noticed when the car was moving was that we could not see anyone driving it. Looking over the high back of the front seat, we saw little Sophie peering over the top of the big steering wheel, the seat being pulled as far forward as possible so she could reach the pedals.
“Sophie,” Mrs. K said, loud enough to be heard over the engine roar, “are you sure you can drive this … this vehicle?”
Sophie looked back, meaning she was not looking where the car was going, and said with a smile, “Oh, yes, Rose. Isn’t it fun?”
If you define fun as having a heart attack, I suppose the answer was “yes.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: A bunch of Jewish seniors. But what happens when murder gets mixed in?
The story had a relatively easy narrative with a dose of humor. You don’t always get the Jewish terms, but that charming wit was in there, which pleases the reader.
It started off slow as we get acquainted with all the characters. Somebody’s elderly mother was being taken for granted by someone named Maria. At first, Mrs. K was supposed to prove it. Instead, she gets a murder on her hands. Who killed Maria?
This had all the makings of a nice, cozy mystery. It wasn’t too exciting; just rather slow and mildly amusing.
A fairly nice read overall.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Mark Reutlinger, professor of law emeritus at Seattle University, is the author of the “Mrs. Kaplan” cozy mystery series (of which Oy Vey, Maria! is the third installment) and the caper mystery Murder with Strings Attached, as well as the political thrillers Made in China and Sister-in-Law: Violation, Seduction, and the President of the United States. Mark and his wife, Analee, live in University Place, Washington.
Buy Links for Oy Vey, Maria!
https://www.amazon.com/Maria-Mrs-Kaplan-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09DB55TLW/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/oy-vey-maria-a-mrs-kaplan-mystery-mark-reutlinger/1139888240
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58925214-oy-vey-maria
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/oy-vey-maria-a-mrs-kaplan-mystery
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Oy_Vey_Maria_A_Mrs_Kaplan_Mystery/WPaNzgEACAAJ?hl=en
https://books.apple.com/us/book/oy-vey-maria-a-mrs-kaplan-mystery/id1583067386
https://www.bookbub.com/books/oy-vey-maria-a-mrs-kaplan-mystery-by-mark-reutlinger
https://www.powells.com/searchresults?keyword=Reutlinger+oy+vey+maria
Website: www.MarkReutlinger.com
Twitter: @markreutlinger
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY:
Mark Reutlinger will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
