Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 204

Review: MAYHEM IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell

 

It’s the Christmas festival and there’s lots of glitter, lights….and murder. The dead body of the event’s organizer was found. Could it be that her secret past finally caught up with her? And what’s going on with Mirabel? What secret was she holding on to? There were like 3 different mysteries to solve here. Talk about mayhem.

An interesting read!

 

Rating: 4 stars

Review: POODLE VERSUS THE FAKE SANTA by Anne Shillolo

 

Long and slow. Seriously, when you spend way too much time talking about what you and your dog are wearing, it’s time to move on. Couldn’t get past the first chapter. Very dull.

 

Rating: 1 star

Book Blast: THE MOSCOW AFFAIR by Nancy Boyarsky

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nancy Boyarsky will be awarding a $20 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.

"The Moscow Affair is a thoroughly entertaining and unforgettable thriller punctuated by smart dialog, richly crafted scenes, and a topical plot." –Dave Edlund, USA Today bestselling author of Valiant Savage

In this fast-paced mystery, P.I. Nicole Graves agrees to an unusual, short-term assignment working for MI6 in Russia. It sounds straightforward, even pleasant: a two-week luxury riverboat cruise on the Volga, observing a group of fellow passengers and filing a daily report on their activities. It's simple enough, except for one caveat: No matter what these people do, she’s to tell her handler at MI6—no one else, especially not the Russian police. When one of the riverboat passengers winds up dead, Nicole realizes this assignment was anything but straightforward.

Soon, Nicole is immersed in a high-stakes game of murder and espionage where trusting a stranger can be as deadly as a bullet.

"Nicole Graves is the best fictional sleuth to come down the pike since Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone." –Laura Levine, bestselling author of the Jaine Austen Mysteries

The Nicole Graves Mysteries have been compared to the mysteries of Mary Higgins Clark and praised for contributing to the "women-driven mystery field with panache" (Foreword Reviews) as well as for their "hold-onto-the-bar roller coaster" plots (RT Book Reviews).

Read an Excerpt

When Nicole opened the door, Kolkov was even more abrupt than on his previous visit. No greeting, just, “Get dressed. I take you in for questioning.” He talked fast and fairly vibrated with impatience.

“Why can’t we do it here like before?” Nicole said.

“Get dressed!” He shouted, pointing to the bedroom. “I give five minutes.”

Kolkov was waiting at the door and seemed to be in a tremendous hurry. As she approached, he stepped toward her and firmly gripped her by the arm, as if he expected her to try to escape. She pulled back, pointing to the closet. “I have to get my jacket,” she said, pointing to the hall closet. He let go so she could pull out her zippered hoody and put it on. It was going to be cold out, and longed for her warm coat, but it was in the hamper, stained with Chet’s blood. Before she could finish zipping up the hoody, Kolkov took hold of her arm again and was pulling her out the door.

Other passengers stared as Kolkov led Nicole down to the main deck and across the ramp to the ship next to theirs. Surely they could tell she was being taken from the ship involuntarily; perhaps they recognized Kolkov from the day before. But no one stepped forward to ask what was happening. Nicole wondered what they were thinking.

The pair of them drew an even larger audience as they walked through the four vessels anchored between Queen of the Volga and the dock. Finally, they reached the street, where a boxy black sedan was standing at the curb with a uniformed policeman at the wheel. Kolkov put Nicole in back, not relaxing his hold on her until he was about to close the door. He climbed in the the front seat, and they took off.

About the Author: Nancy Boyarsky is the author of the Nicole Graves Mysteries. Her sixth installment of the series will be released September 2021.

Nancy has been a writer and editor for her entire working career. She coauthored Backroom Politics, a New York Times notable book, with her husband, Bill Boyarsky. She has written textbooks on the justice system and contributed to anthologies, including In the Running about women’s political campaigns and The Challenge of California. She has also written for the Los Angeles Times, West magazine, Forbes, McCalls, Playgirl, Westways, and other publications. She was communications director for political affairs for ARCO.

In addition to writing mysteries, Nancy is producer and director of the “Inside Golden State Politics” podcast.

Website
Touch of Flame Books

Amazon
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-moscow-affair-nancy-boyarsky/1138867170

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: SOFT HEART by Megan Slayer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan Slayer will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Can two broken souls be repaired with a lot of love and a little power from the gods?

Leto, the goddess of motherhood and womanly demure, wants to be anything but bashful. Working in Las Vegas in the music business has proven she can’t be coy if she has desires, but the man she loves isn’t available. What’s a goddess to do?

Help break a curse, that’s what.

Tommy has loved Leto since the day they met, but he never thought she’d want to be with him. He’s also got a girlfriend. When his girlfriend leaves him for his brother and curses him, it’s up to Leto and Tommy to admit their deepest desires—they want to be together.

There’s just the matter of breaking that pesky curse…

Read an Excerpt

©Megan Slayer, 2021, All Rights Reserved

“Ha,” Missy said. “I curse you to stone.” She laughed and walked away with Duncan. “Jerk.”

She’d really done it—she’d left him for his brother. His stomach roiled. How could she be so cruel? She knew he and Duncan didn’t get along. How had his life fallen apart so fast?

He moved to push off the railing, but his limbs refused to cooperate. What? He tried to look at his hand, but he couldn’t lift his arm. “Leto.” He needed help. Was he having a stroke? “Leto.”

Could she hear him? Crap. Where was everyone? In the recording studio, in the sound-proof room…

Leto rushed out to the patio. “Tommy?” She spotted him and her eyes widened. “Oh, no.”

“What…?” His voice faded. No, no, no. Where had his voice gone and why in the hell couldn’t he move?

Leto patted her thigh and nodded. “This is bad. This is very bad.”

No kidding. Why wasn’t she calling someone? How about the ambulance? The guards? He tried to open his mouth, but he seemed frozen.

Leto trembled. “I’ll be right back.”

Call the medics, he wanted to scream. He glanced at his hand. His skin had turned ashen … like stone. Oh, crap. He must be dying. Why couldn’t he move? Missy hadn’t touched him, so she couldn’t have poisoned him. What was going on?

Leto returned a moment later with Hera.

“He’s been cursed. I know curses and this is a problem, but I don’t know how to fix it,” Leto said. “What do we do?”

Hera stroked his arm. He felt her, but also seemed like he was looking at himself without being in his body.

Hera sighed. “This appears to be a curse and he’s screwed.”

About the Author: Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

Website
Newsletter
Blog
Facebook
Amazon Author Page
BookBub
Instagram
Goodreads
Twitter

Amazon
Evernight
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
iBooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: THE ABANDONED by Jake Cavanah

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jake Cavanah will be awarding a $10 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.

Once an uninhabited island off the California coast, the government used Morple to quarantine minorities during the sonoravirus pandemic from 2030 to 2045. At its conclusion, Morple became the country’s fifty-first state. This is where sisters Robin Karros’ and Ariana Jackson’s tragic journey began. As two of the first children officials checked into and raised in a state-run program responsible for inflicting severe abuse on Morple’s youth, they shared hardships that strengthened their bond. After a social revolution put an end to the program and freed them, Robin and Ariana went their separate ways. Now that it is 2089 and each has achieved prosperity, their paths intersect after spending the latter portion of their lives apart. Even though it goes against protocol, Ariana reestablishes a relationship with her older sister and integrates with her family. In doing so, she risks her marriage and husband’s business interests, but it causes her to realize she must make up for her life’s biggest mistake. It soon becomes apparent the fate of Robin, Ariana, and others has been more intertwined than they ever could have imagined.

Read an Excerpt

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: As much as we hate him, the antagonist moves the needle! The beginning demonstrates he was, what appeared to be, a working man, but then it becomes clear he is deranged in the head. I also believe it contains enough intrigue to get readers interested without spoiling too much of the plot, even though this is significant to the story.

When he wasn’t indulging himself in a novel or soaking in his multimillion dollar vantage point, Reginald often reflected on his accomplishments and miscues. To the dismay of many, accolades riddled Reginald’s resume. He negotiated the details of historical mergers with clean energy companies that heavily impacted Morple’s economy, boosting the state’s impact on the US’ role in clean-energy initiatives across the globe. He bullied through legislation allowing the advancement of A.I. in The District to pass. He orchestrated deals involving Morple-based companies selling clean resources to states running out of them. Reginald’s fingerprints were all over Morple’s foundation. The good and the bad.

The years Reginald mentored Robin and Ariana were the most fulfilling of his life. Possessing that much power over two untouched girls was an incredible opportunity he felt extremely fortunate to experience. Regrettably, Reginald let it get away from him prematurely.

The night he let himself into the Sorens’ shitty apartment and found Robin on the couch alone he knew he had stumbled upon someone special. During their first interaction, he could feel their connection begin to take its shape, as she showcased her toys to him and explained what made each one unique. A gesture he would always remember with great fondness is when he rubbed her soft cheeks with his thumb and she smiled up at him with those jaw-dropping eyes, even so early on in her life. Robin was too young to express her thoughts, but Reginald detected their bond right off the bat. From that point on, everything he did was in an effort to earn Robin’s genuine love. Reginald became more enamored with her as she continued to develop throughout the years. Her body and mind began to take shape at quite a young age, and he considered it a privilege he was the first and, what he thought at the time, the only man who will ever have her. As in love as he was with Robin, Reginald was regularly depressed at his inability to mold her into who he wanted her to be. Yes, he punished her periodically by way of sex, but he had the best of intentions. He thought if he demonstrated what followed unacceptable behavior she would no longer act in that manner. This proved to be counterproductive because her disobedience continued, and she associated them becoming one as a punishment, as opposed to immersing herself in their affliction. If it weren’t for Richard, Reginald would have likely committed suicide well before Morvo, when he realized Robin would never truly love him. A few times standing at the ledge of his property, he almost found enough courage to do it, but he was too much of a coward to act on his true intentions. He told himself it was because he didn’t want to leave Richard without any parents, but the truth was he was too craven. Reginald’s disheartened love life took precedence over his only son’s well-being.

About the Author: Jake Cavanah is passionate about writing imaginative stories that include messages he wants readers to apply to their own lives, utilize to better understand others, or both. If after reading his work people find themselves more capable of seeing particular situations they encounter from another perspective, he accomplished his goal.

When Jake is not writing he is reading, golfing, playing tennis, cooking, or enjoying the company of his dogs Murphy and Sophie with his girlfriend Scout. Aside from becoming a full-time author, one of Jake's main aspirations is to move to Oregon and start a family.

Website
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
Goodreads
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: GINGERSNAP SNATCHER by Vicky Weber

 

Join Us for This Tour:  December 7th to December 17th  Book Details:

Book Title:  Gingersnap Snatcher by Vicky Weber
Category:  Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 32 pages
Genre:  Children's 
Publisher:  Trunk Up Books
Release date:   December 2021
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.

Book Description:

Abuela made cookies to eat after school. The gingersnap kind, just the thought made us drool! We rushed home excited. We opened the door…The cookies were missing - just CRUMBS on the floor! Can you help the kids crack the case of the GINGERSNAP SNATCHER?

Buy the Book:
Amazon


Meet the Author:

Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. As a Puerto Rican author of Taíno descent, she strives to create picture books that are fun, engaging, and educational. All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary level education is where her passion lies. It has long been a dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~  goodreads ~ instagram  

Review: Who stole abuela’s cookies? The kids were on the trail for the Gingersnap Snatcher. We watch as they follow each possible clue. Soon they learn that the culprit is not always the most likely suspect.

Filled with cute illustrations, story is a wonderful, little joy!

 

Rating: 4 stars

 ***

 

Author Q&A

If you could have a theme song for a “day in your life” what would it be?

 

Great question. Probably “Get Back Up Again” from the movie Trolls. I’m constantly learning and growing, as a person, teacher, author, and soon-to-be mother and always strive to do it with a smile.

 

What’s your favorite song/instrument/book?

 

To be quite honest, my collection of books for my music classroom is quite large because I strongly believe that music and literacy go hand-in-hand. There are so many that I love! One that I always start the school year with is Giraffe’s Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae. It is a great way to facilitate a conversation about respecting one another as we create, and we discuss how some things will be easier than others but to never give up. Throughout the year, when students get frustrated, I remind them of the end of the book: “We all can dance...when we find the music that we love.”

 

What’s the most fun part of being an author?

 

Probably seeing my stories come to life. The illustrators I have worked with are so talented. It feels like Christmas every time I get a new sketch or completed page!

 

What’s your tip for parents to encourage reading?

 

Oh, there is so much they could do! When my husband was growing up, he didn’t like reading. As a child, all he wanted was to pick out his own books at his school’s library, even if they were above his reading level. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that when children are motivated, they rise to challenges, which is why I think that interest is sometimes more important that a child’s reading level. I highly recommend that parents and teachers help children find reading material that they enjoy.

 

How long did your first book take from when you started writing to release?

 

I had my ideas written out for a long time before I started learning the publishing industry. From the time I started researching, editing, and producing my first book, about a year had passed. Now, I have seven children's picture books, two chapter books under a pen name, and several more books releasing before the end of the year.

Tour Schedule:

Dec 7 – Rockin Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 7 - Kam's Place – book review / author interview
Dec 7 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 7 - Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 8 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Dec 8 - A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Dec 8 - @booking.with.janelle – book review / author interview
Dec 8 - The Momma Spot – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 9 – icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Dec 9 - @jayme_reads – book review / author interview
Dec 9 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 10 – Hall Ways Blog – book review / giveaway
Dec 10 - @twilight_reader – book review / guest post
Dec 10 - Triquetra Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 13 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 13 - Older & Smarter? – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 13 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book review
Dec 14 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 14 - Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Dec 14 - The Page Ladies – book review / giveaway
Dec 14 - Westveil Publishing – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 15 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Dec 15 - Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Dec 15 - Sandra's Book Club – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 15 - Lisa's Reading – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 16 – Captive Dreams Window – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 16 - Reading is My Passion – book review / author interview
Dec 16 - She Just Loves Books – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 17 – Bigreadersite – book review / giveaway
Dec 17 - Chit Chat with Charity – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 17 - Books for Books – book review / guest post

Enter the Giveaway: 

GINGERNAP SNATCHER Book Tour Giveaway

 

Book Blast: BEHIND THE MASK by Thomas Grant Bruso

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Thomas Grant Bruso will be awarding a $10 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.

Seventeen-year-old Jesse has a babysitting gig at the Linderman’s house on Halloween. He loves watching Christie and Dylan and is thrilled to see them dressed up in cute, creative costumes. When he arrives at their house, Jesse knows it will be a fun-filled night of pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating.

But Jesse quickly realizes Halloween is not only about candy, pumpkins, and scary costumes. It’s known for tricks and ghoulish things and can bring out crazies. While trick-or-treating, he notices a strange person wearing a glow-in-the-dark mask watching him from the shadowy street.

The rest of the night turns into a cat-and-mouse game of survival. Strange things start to happen at the Linderman’s residence, setting Jesse on edge, making him apprehensive somebody might be taking the spirit of Halloween too far.

Will Jesse survive the things that go bump in the night, or will he become just another tall tale this Halloween?

Read the Excerpt

I leaned my forehead against the doorframe and closed my eyes, waiting a beat. When I opened my eyes, I watched the vehicle reverse and slowly pull out into the street, braking for children running by. The headlights bounced up and down as the vehicle's wheels rolled downhill along the raised trajectory of the driveway.

As I watched the car drive off, its red taillights blinking as if in warning, my chest tightened like a clenched fist for some indeterminate reason, and an uncomfortable heaviness settled inside me. I let the curtain fall from my slippery fingers back into position, and I leaned against the wall to catch my breath and bearings.

I climbed the stairs and relieved Christie, telling Dylan he had to dry off, dress, and get into bed. He turned on his brotherly charm and debated with me about bedtime. “Your mom and dad were strict about what time you had to be in bed,” I told him.

“Just go to bed, Dylan,” Christie yelled from her bedroom.

Dylan sat on the bathroom floor, pouting and wrapped in a towel, as I drained the tub and put away his toys. “I’ll read you a story before I turn out the light,” I said.

“Batman, please,” he begged.

“Dry off and get into your pajamas.”

He stood and stomped out of the room.

“Stop being a baby!” Christie yelled from down the hall.

“I ain’t a baby!” Dylan shot back.

“I’m not a baby,” his sister corrected him.

I stepped out into the hall to referee their sibling mudslinging. “I can skip story time,” I said to both of them. “Is that what you want?”

A unison of “Nos!” shot out into the hall from their open bedroom doors, the only unanimous decision they’d made as brother and sister that night.

...

I read to Christie, who couldn’t keep her eyes open for more than five minutes. I gave Dylan a glass of water and set it on his night table. I ran my hand through his floppy brown bangs that had been spared from the vomit, and he fell fast asleep from the steady, relaxing raking gestures of my hand in his hair.

As much I enjoyed story time with the kids, I couldn’t wait to delve into my quiet corner of the house with a cup of tea. I wanted to start on my homework, especially after Dylan’s stomach-churning episode.

I pulled the comforter up around his back and reached over to shut the lamp off. I left the Godzilla nightlight lit up across the room and cracked the door open ajar. I checked on Christie one last time before heading downstairs. I poked my head into her room to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. After I’d finished reading Dr. Seuss to her, she told me that she didn’t sleep well when her parents were not home.

I told her that I’d be downstairs, and if she woke up scared to come down, I’d fix her a glass of milk. She felt safer with the door wide open, she told me. I wished her goodnight and crept downstairs to the kitchen.

I microwaved a cup of water and brewed one of Mrs. Linderman’s decaf black tea bags for five minutes while I rummaged in my bookbag for my math homework. Before sitting at the kitchen table, I plated three chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Linderman’s fresh-baked stash.

I blew on the hot tendrils of steam wafting up from the teacup and dunked a cookie. My empty stomach growled at the aromatic chocolaty smell. I looked around the silent kitchen, chewing and dipping. Peace and quiet, finally, I thought, resting my elbows on the tabletop and sitting hunched forward under the yellow globe of light from the stained-glass ceiling lamp hanging overhead, savoring the deliciously sweet dessert.

Without Christie and Dylan talking and nagging and carrying on about something, I felt my thoughts winding down, the wheels in my mind slackening to the speed of a snail. My heightened anxieties dwindled like the setting sun. I worked on the half dozen Algebra questions for class, showing my work on separate pages in my notebook, and struggling with a few questions when a sound from outside jerked me out of my reverie.

I looked up and stared down the hall leading into the living room. Shadows danced beyond the drawn lace curtain on the front door. I thought I heard footsteps on the porch steps, but it was the wind tugging on the screen door, yanking it open, and slamming it against the side of the house.

I thought I had locked it.

About the Author: Thomas Grant Bruso knew at an early age he wanted to be a writer. He has been a voracious reader of genre fiction since he was a kid.

His literary inspirations are Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Ellen Hart, Jim Grimsley, Karin Fossum, Joyce Carol Oates, and John Connolly.

Bruso loves animals, book-reading, writing fiction, prefers Sudoku to crossword puzzles.

In another life, he was a freelance writer and wrote for magazines and newspapers. In college, he was a winner for the Hermon H. Doh Sonnet Competition. Now, he writes and publishes fiction, and reviews books for his hometown newspaper, The Press Republican.

He lives in upstate New York.

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
JMS Books

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: A COLD CHRISTMAS AND THE DARKEST OF WINTERS by Cinnabar Moth

 

A Cold Christmas and the Darkest of Winters

by Cinnabar Moth

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE:   Dark fantasy/horror

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

A Cold Christmas and the Darkest of Winters is a collection of Christmas- and winter-themed short stories from an international group of authors with diverse perspectives. Each of the stories was selected for the incredible world building, character development, and fantastic storytelling. The collection is divided into two groups: stories that include Christmas or have a Christmas theme, and stories that take place in winter. None of the stories are for the faint of heart, and we strongly advise that everyone read the content notes in their entirety.

The Christmas tales are a mixture of profound loss and familiar fantasy with a fresh twist. The fantasy Christmas stories are a mixture, ranging from tales of despair and frustration to those with hope, delight, and an amusing twist.

The darkest of winter begins with a whimsical fantasy tale, followed by some paranormal tales that will leave you feeling haunted. Also included are dark contemporary, dark fantasy, chilling and brutal horror, and postapocalyptic science fiction. The contemporary works include twisted tales of sadness and loss. There are no purely happy endings, but there are many thrills, chills,and surprises.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Excerpt Three:

 

The Sound of Wolves by Gwen Katz. The two of them pull their blankets tighter around themselves and sink lower into the muddy ditch that will one day be a street, not that it would offer any protection if the beasts decided to attack. Their work crew had to claw out this ditch with their bare hands, which was hell on Ulrik’s still-healing arm. If there are any shovels in this worksite, Ulrik hasn’t seen them.There are wolves in Sweden, of course, but Ulrik lives in an apartment in Stockholm and has never even seen a wolf. Or rather, that’s where he lived once. Before the Army. Before the battle. Before he was captured and press-ganged into building a city for his enemies.

 

The wind shrieks through the ditch, which, far from sheltering them, seems to funnel its full force directly onto the cluster of workers. There are no buildings here yet. Just ditches and the foundations of a lone fortress. The serfs haven’t even had a chance to build shelters for themselves. A fat raindrop splatters against Ulrik’s cheek as though God is spitting on him. It’s raining. Of course it is.

 

As the downpour pelts them, Grishka looks up at the sky and shrugs, as if to say that he didn’t expect any better.

 

And the worst part, thinks Ulrik, is that it’s summer. It’s going to get worse. It’s going to get so much worse.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review: An elderly man recalls past Christmases in the wake of a global shut down. A lesbian couple having their first Christmas without the disapproving glares.

Stories were soulful, lovely, and almost poetic as they explored the deep, dark recess of solitude and sorrow. Each illustrated a unique facet—cold and dark— grazing these pages with nostalgia, bitterness, and sadness along with a touch of ambiguity and mystery. Naturally, some were more enjoyable than others. The clarity isn’t always there for some of them, and you may not always see the direction that it’s going, but the writing was rather exceptional. They’re definitely of a literary taste.

Overall, these short tales were rather interesting.  

 

Rating: 3.5 stars

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

This Anthology was written by an international team of renowned short story authors. Each author’s point of view is unique, and their voices are from groups not typically heard from. Every author is either a BIPOC, neurodivergent, part of the LGBTQIA community, or is physically or mentally disabled. This thrilling work contains story that reflect their own voices and lived experiences.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Christmas-Darkest-Winters-ebook/dp/B09DTN9STX/

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GIVEAWAY:

 

Cinnabar Moth 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 FALLS by Colleen McMilan

 

The Falls

by Colleen McMillan

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE:   Supernatural/Thriller

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Every small town has secrets...

...most won't get you killed. Maddie Decker escaped Sterling Falls just after high school and never looked back. She was sure nothing could convince her to return. Until an urgent message from her high school best friend arrives begging
Maddie to come back before he dies changes everything.

Maddie can't refuse.

Once there, tattered relationships and long forgotten memories are pushed aside when a mysterious presence appears, Maddie uses her professional training to help discover who is killing the residents of Sterling Falls, even if no one wants her there.

Can Maddie survive the homecoming she never wanted?

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

Excerpt One:

 

When they reach the paddock, the gate is open, ripped apart. Boards lay shredded on the ground, splinters everywhere. It looks as though a tornado tore through, demolishing the wood. The ground is destroyed as well, mud and grass everywhere.

 

They get out of the truck, and the smell hits Charlie like a hammer. Alpacas are very clean animals, and their manure is not as pungent as other livestock, but the scent of twenty animals all emptying their bowels at once will knock a person flat. There is also a whiff of metal in the air, like copper or iron. Charlie runs through the decimated gate.

 

Flies buzz around the paddock, their wings beating a rhythm in Charlie's head. The insects settle on the bodies, feeding in clusters. They swarm, forming vaguely alpaca-shaped lumps so the animal fur looks black.

 

They are scattered around the paddock, but Charlie isn't sure if all twenty bodies are there. The ground is stained dark red with pools of blood. Limbs are scattered, as if each animal exploded. Some of their necks are twisted completely around, and bowels litter the area. Something tore each of their bellies open and spread the organs; half-digested hay and grass steam in piles near some of the bodies. Charlie has a horrible thought of nightmarish pinatas spilling morbid candy.

 

He walks into the paddock toward the nearest body, pinkish white and brown. He thinks it might have been the pregnant one. Her eyes have been removed, and her tongue dangles from an open mouth. Her body is shredded, and Charlie has a view inside her torso, but there is no baby. He leans closer and touches her leg near the hoof. She is cold. The blood is sticky, and he tries to wipe it on his jeans, but the maroon color spreads.

 

He takes a step back, leans over, and pukes.

 

Jemma runs over to rub his back, and when he's thrown up everything from his stomach, Charlie screams.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Topic: Describe your publication journey and how your 1st book came about

My publication journey has been interesting, not at all uncommon for new writers, but a long and winding road for me. I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and when I was young, I dreamed of writing something a lot of people would read. I didn't realize how much I wanted people to read my work until my first writer's workshop in undergrad. I was hungry for my fellow burgeoning writers to read my work, and I was desperate to learn from them as well. Cut to me working on my first novel, a romantic comedy, which was not at all in my writer wheelhouse. It took my a few years to write it, edit, make it “perfect.” I had gotten one short story published in a literary magazine after numerous rejections, so I was used to the process. I sent query letters to agents, trying to get someone interested in my novel. A few took a look, but they all passed. Done with queries, I decided to self-publish. Men of the Year was finally being read, if mainly by my friends and family.

Years later, after I'd gone through my creative writing masters program, my mom and I decided to go to the Twin Cities Book Festival. While I perused the shops, she started talking to one of the publishers who were presenting at the Festival, spoke lavishly about my novel, then called me over, much to my embarrassment. But, I met my wonderful publisher that day. Sometimes, all it takes is the willingness to keep trying…and a very boisterous mother.

My first novel was inspired by my dismal online dating history. Not only was I struggling to find dates, my friends also had novels worth of stories about atrocious dates. I wasn't that shocked — all sexes can be terrible dates — but the variety of tales made me wonder if I could write about it. A romantic comedy? Me? I usually wrote more macabre fare, but I figured online dating was scarier than most monsters. I took inspiration from my dates, my friends' experiences, as well as some horror stories from family members, and Men of the Year was born. The main character, Cassie, is a bit like me, but the story is really for anyone out there who's had a date that was stranger than fiction.

My second novel, The Falls, is very different from Men of the Year, but I stuck with a strong, intriguing female lead. I've been working on the story since those undergrad writing workshop years, and used the opening chapters for my master's thesis. I hope everyone loves taking a trip to Sterling Falls.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Born and raised in Minnesota, my writing focuses on the Midwestern United States. I've been a writer since I could pick up a crayon, pencil, or pen; there are more than a few stories about my macabre grade school writing interests, to which I just shrug. You can't blame a second grader for wanting to set a scary scene!

 

I attended the University of WI, River Falls for my undergraduate degree and completed my Master's degree in creative writing at the University of Kent, Canterbury, in the UK. For my dissertation research and inspiration, I lived in Canterbury, Paris, and Edinburgh. Paris is my second home and favorite city, so don't be surprised if it turns up in my work.

My two most influential authors are Stephen King and Flannery O'Connor, and my dream is to establish a Midwest Gothic tradition.

I currently live in Minnesota with my jerk of a cat, Duncan. I love living in the most beautiful state in the country, but I always feel Europe's pull...

 

https://www.facebook.com/ColleenMcMillanAuthor

https://twitter.com/ColleenWritesMN

https://www.amazon.com/Colleen-McMillan/e/B07Z55JWP1

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13357673.Colleen_McMillan

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GIVEAWAY:

 

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: THE ROMANCE NOVEL FORMULA by Alicia Leigh

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Alicia Leigh will be awarding a paperback copy of The Romance Novel Formula to 3 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Is there a secret formula for writing a successful romance novel? Backed by research and professional expertise, The Romance Novel Formula provides everything you need to take you from idea to first draft of your breakout romance novel.

Join best-selling romance author and academic researcher, Alicia Leigh, as you discover:

*How to take your love interests on the “lovers’ journey” – inclusive of ALL types of romantic relationships: ménage, alien, LGBTQI, polyamory, etc.
*A unique five-act structure to make your story easy to write and manage.
*The specific story “beats” exclusive to the romance genre (and which other books on writing typically exclude).
*The story and character arcs necessary to classify your book as romance.
*How to avoid stereotypes by focusing on archetypes.
*Popular romance tropes.
*Essential writing techniques.
*Advice on dialogue.
*The most common writing mistakes . . . and how to avoid them.
*Goal, motivation, and conflict.
*Fear, need, and flaw (what are they, and do you need them?).
*Much more!

Complete with checklists and over 30 writing exercises, The Romance Novel Formula is the new essential romance writing guide for aspiring and experienced writers, plotters and pantsers, and professional researchers.

Read an Excerpt

Does The Romance Novel Formula work best for “plotters” or “pantsers?”

Both! If you are a plotter, you can use it to outline your novel. If you are a pantser, you can use it after you’ve finished your first draft to make sure you have everything where it needs to be. Of course, you can also do something in between those two options. The point is to find what works for you. If you are new to writing, you might not have heard of these terms, so I will give you a quick explanation here. For those who already know, feel free to skip ahead. A plotter is a writer who plans every stage of their writing. They plot and outline every important part of their story before they write it. James Patterson is a famous plotter. This approach can stop you from running into trouble as you write because you always have a clear direction to go. On the other hand, it can also stifle your creativity and make it difficult when a character goes off script (which happens). A pantser is a writer who writes by the seat of their pants. In other words, they go wherever their ideas, the story, or the characters take them. Stephen King is a famous pantser. This method can be great for those who revel in the creative side of storytelling. However, with no clear plan, the ideas can dry up and manuscripts can go unfinished. As you can see, there are benefits to both. Though some people will try to convince you one is better than the other, the fact that so many writers are successful using either method tells you they are equally valid options. In case you are curious, I am a plantser (just what you want, another unfamiliar term!). This means I utilize aspects of both plotting and pantsing in my writing. You can feel free to do the same.

About the Author: Alicia Leigh is a bestselling non-fiction author, international-selling romance author, identical triplet, writing coach, and hot chocolate addict.

She uses her postgraduate degrees in counseling from the Australian College of Applied Psychology and editing from Macquarie University to create believable, three-dimensional characters. Her certificates in forensic science and forensic anthropology from the University of Strathclyde add layers to the realistic crime elements in her stories. She has completed her master’s degree in writing at Swinburne University and is currently embarking upon her PhD in Creative Arts (writing) at Central Queensland University.

When not writing, reading, coaching, studying, or enjoying nature, she can be found having fun with her three gorgeous children (plus one laid-back dog and one hypersensitive guinea pig).

She is active on social media and encourages readers and writers to interact with her there. She writes romantic fiction novels under the pseudonyms A.K. Leigh and Leigh Hatchmann.

Website

*Fall in love … with Leigh*

Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page

Buy links

Amazon
Amazon Au
Amazon UK
Amazon CA

a Rafflecopter giveaway