Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 205
December 11, 2021
Review: HOLIDAY FUDGE AND HOMICIDE by Cindy Bell
The holidays start off with a dead, old woman in the frozen river. Who would kill a sweet, old lady? Was it one of her kids? A friend? Or the store owner she was suing?
With all the running around, digging for clues and talking to suspects, Ally wasn’t sure if she would get all the holiday orders done, which was why her grandmother suggested hiring extra help.
A nice holiday mystery!
Rating: 4 stars
Review: FATAL FESTIVE DONUTS by Cindy Bell
Time for donuts at the holiday market and time for…murder.
This had a slow start, but when the donut ladies find the dead body of their competitor in their own food truck, now that got interesting. Now the cops have confiscated their food truck and Joyce, the owner, wasn’t too happy about it. She didn’t realize that they may turn into the prime suspects here. Only one way to fix this: they had to solve the murder.
Was this a death by donuts?
An interesting, little mystery!
Rating: 4 stars
Review: YULE LOGS AND MURDER by Cindy Bell
It’s Christmas time and there’s another dead body found at the retirement home. Prior to her death, the victim was seen arguing with her ex-father-in-law over a yule log. Was it the angry ex-husband or a disgruntled dance competitor?
Good little mystery!
My rating: 4 stars
December 10, 2021
Blog Tour: THE LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE by Kristin Sponaugle
Join Us for This Tour from November 26 to December 17
Book Details:
Book Title: The Living Christmas Tree by Kristin Sponaugle
Category: Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Book
Publisher: Mascot
Release date: September 2021
Formats Available for Review: print-hardback USA, e-book (PDF)
Tour dates: November 26 to December 17
Content Rating: G. Suitable for everyone.
***** 2021 Family Choice Award Winner *****
Book Description:
During the day, the Miller family’s Christmas tree stands tall in their living room, sparkling with lights and ornaments. Little does the family know that their Christmas tree is anything but ordinary. Each evening, the magic of Christmas brings their tree to life—much to the delight of Hannah and William Miller. Follow along as Hannah and William experience the magic of Christmas in a whole new way.
Buy the Book:
Mascot
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Target
Meet the Author:
Kristin Sponaugle was born in Butler, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Duquesne University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in health sciences and her master’s degree in physician assistant studies. Kristin had always dreamed of becoming an author, and made that dream a reality with her two published children’s books, The Princess Puppy and The Living Christmas Tree. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cross-stitching, and playing with her Maltese dog, Rosie. Kristin lives with her husband, daughter, and Rosie, and resides wherever the Air Force sends them.
Connect with the Author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram
Review: It’s Christmas and the kids were decorating their tree, not knowing that the tree came alive at night. All the ornaments—angels, santas, snowmen, birds—would be sparkling and joyful as they played around the tree. Once the kids see these living creatures, they jump in and play with them.
The illustrations were bright and colorful. A nice holiday story!
Rating: 4 stars
Tour Schedule:
Nov 26 – Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 26 - The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Nov 29 - Westveil Publishing – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 29 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Nov 29 - My Bookish Bliss - book review / giveaway
Nov 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 30 - Triquetra Reviews – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / author interview / spotlight
Dec 1 - Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 – @twilight_reader – book review
Dec 2 - The Phantom Paragrapher – book review / giveaway
Dec 3 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 3 – Books for Books – book review
Dec 6 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 6 – Kam's Place – book review
Dec 7 - icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Dec 8 – Reading is My Passion – book review
Dec 8 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Dec 9 – All Booked Up Reviews – Instagram – book review
Dec 9 - Older & Smarter? – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 10 – Sandra's Book Club – book review / giveaway
Dec 13 – Bigreadersite – book review / giveaway
Dec 14 – Captive Dreams Window – book review
Dec 14 - She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 15 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Dec 15 - The Adventures of a Travelers Wife – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 16 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Dec 16 - I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 17 – Cover To Cover Café – book review
Enter the Giveaway:
THE LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE Book Tour Giveaway
December 9, 2021
Blog Tour: TEMPTATION by Bailey B
Contemporary Romance
Date Published: 8/17/2021
I’ve sworn off men forever
Okay, not forever but for a few months.
After my last hook up, my vag needs a reset
the last man to touch me broke it in the worst of ways.
Not a problem,
until my new dance partner comes into the picture.
He’s turning into my forbidden fruit,
tempting me in ways I didn’t know possible.
I have three months of celibacy ahead of me
and eight weeks to whip my new dance partner into shape.
Someone save me.
Review: “Moving back to my hometown was the best decision for my family…but the worst decision for my vag.”
Never in her wildest dreams did Avery think the hot guy at the bar would be the same boy she knew from grade school. But their sexcapade was nothing short of…disappointment. “A demon cloaked in a sexy body…I was duped.” Face it: Avery was cursed with bad sex.
The worst part was that the guy she had bad sex with also ended up being her new dance partner. Talk about a bad partner in every sense. But Carter wants a second chance to prove he can satisfy Avery. Can he wait until Avery’s celibacy period was over? Could they both resist the temptation?
Funny and wildly sexy! I enjoyed the witty dialogue and the story was enjoyable overall. A nice read!
Rating: 4 stars
About the Author
Bailey B is an up and coming New Adult author. She lives in Lehigh Acres Florida with her husband, twin girls, and two fur babies. She enjoys (but doesn't get to take part in because of her crazy daughters) the simple things like Disney+ binge watching, Netflix romcoms, reading and sleeping. She reads two to three books a week and thinks if narwhal's are real animals then unicorns might be too.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
Blog Tour: CASSIE'S TEMPTATION by Sophie Stevens
Cassie's Temptation
by Sophie Stevens
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: New Adult Contemporary Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
If there are only three truths in life, they are these. Women will always try to change a man. Men will always say anything to get a girl in bed. Tyler Mason will always have a long line of girls trying to domesticate him, and none will succeed. If one of these ceases to be true, the world will cease to exist.
These are the rules as college student Cassie Faye knows them, so when she gives up on dating in favor of a man who can satisfy her without tempting her heart, her next-door neighbor Tyler tops the list. Tyler isn’t the type of boy Cassie would fall for, but he’s the perfect guy to teach her how to claim her sexual independence without losing her heart in the process. Too late, Cassie finds out that under his womanizing exterior is an attentive, considerate lover who brings out passions in her that she'd barely glimpsed before.
What if she’s wrong about the third truth? What if the world as she knows it is about to cease to exist?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt Two:
“I want you to be my fuck buddy.” I inhale sharply, horrified I’ve let those words loose without explaining. I’m going about this all wrong, and I’m sure of that when I see the shock in Tyler’s eyes. Of all the things I might ask of him, I bet he never expected that. “Let me clarify.”
Tyler stares at me, mouth slightly ajar. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him dumbfounded, and the emotion is unsettling on Mister Cool and Confident. I open my mouth to continue, but he holds up his hand. I can practically see the gears in his brain churning. He’s considering my offer. I know the second he makes his decision because his eyes darken, and his gaze goes from my face to my body. It touches every part of me with an intimacy that feels like a caress. I can’t move. I’m paralyzed by the passion in his stare. Dear God, no wonder girls flock to his bed. That stare alone would entice me onto his big king-size mattress, and I wouldn’t spare a second thought to how many girls he’s taken on the same sheets.
I clear my throat to speak again and to explain that I have rules to go along with my offer, but he rises like a jungle cat, all sinewy grace, and I’m speechless again. I watch him knowing I can have him, maybe even tonight. He strides toward me, eyes darkening even more. The sight of him sends a shuddering thrill down my spine. Is it really this easy?
He stands so close to me the toes of our shoes touch. I stare up into his big blue eyes, wondering if he’s going to kiss me. My breathing’s uneven, and I’m sure my cheeks are flushed.
He wraps his fingers around my upper arm and tugs me toward the door. “Time for you to go, Cassie.”
Wait. What? “Excuse me?”
“My answer’s no. You need to leave.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: Cassie was lonely and heartbroken after being recently dumped. She must survive the last 2 years of college unattached to keep her GPA intact. She will need something more than a Playgirl and her hand, which was why she was considering a fake dildo. No guys. Not until after she graduates.
But with a hot playboy next door and a charming, new English teacher might make her promise waver, especially when her friends try to sell her on a no-strings-sex arrangement. Could it be possible? Will Cassie be able to avoid temptation?
Story grabs you from the start with its engaging narrative and refreshing dialogue. It navigates through the aspects of college life—classes, parties, sororities. Readers enjoy Cassie as she trudges through the confusing pitfalls of romance. Will she ever understand boys?
Simply captivating! Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Rating: 4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sophie Stevens is a southern girl at heart, living in Texas with her husband and three kids. During the day she’s an aviation engineer. At night she moonlights as a naughty romance novelist with a passion for writing steamy love scenes that make her husband blush. When she’s not testing PCB boards, driving children to practice, or writing, she can be found curled up next to her black kitty reading a good book—a romance of course.
Cassie’s Temptation Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Cassies-Temptation-Wimberley-University-Novel-ebook/dp/B09HJF3PTH/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&qid=1633446559&refinements=p_27%3ASophie+Stevens&s=digital-text&sr=1-2&text=Sophie+Stevens
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073453241979
Cassie’s Temptation Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Cassies-Temptation-289597109517587
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/SophieS59013526
Website: https://authorsophiestevens.com/
The book will be on sale for $0.99.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY:
Sophie Stevens will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 8, 2021
Blog Tour: BRUCE THE SPRUCE by A.A. Cristi
Join Us for This Tour from November 22 to December 10Book Details:
Book Title: Bruce the Spruce: A New York City Fairytale About the True Meaning of Christmas Trees by A. A. Cristi
Category: Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 56 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot
Release date: November 2021
Content Rating: G. Suitable for everyone.
Book Description:
Bruce the Spruce has Christmas all wrong.
Thanks to his fancy decorations and adoring admirers, this artificial spruce tree doesn’t just wear a star at Christmas, he IS the star. But when his longtime family gets a new tree, it sends Bruce on a holiday adventure through New York City.
From a party in Brooklyn, to a run-in with rats, to a revelatory visit to Rockefeller Center, Bruce the Spruce takes an unforgettable journey to discover the true meaning of Christmas trees!
Mascot
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble
Meet the Author:A.A. Cristi was born and raised in the world capital of Christmas trees and musicals - New York City. By no small miracle, she has managed to make a living writing about both topics. When she is not dreaming up fantastic adventures for inanimate objects, she is covering the Broadway industry as a journalist and editor at BroadwayWorld.com. Though writing is her calling, her true passion is playing mother to a neurotic wiener dog named Jack and Aunt Rah Rah to two truly remarkable kids.
Connect with the Author: Author's Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Review: Bruce the Spruce was a proud Christmas tree. Every year he looked forward to all the wonderful festivities. Except…this year might be different. Did they really need a new tree?
“He was the star every year. Now he’d been kicked out the door…Bruce wasn’t a Christmas tree anymore.”
We follow Bruce as he gets tossed from one curb to the next as feelings of hurt and anger fester within him. But will he learn that being a Christmas tree isn’t about all the glitz and lights? That really it’s about the joy and happiness that he brings?
A delightful, little holiday story!
Rating: 4 stars
Tour Schedule:
Nov 22 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Nov 22 - Laura's Interests – book review / giveaway
Nov 23 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 23 - Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Nov 24 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 24 – Bigreadersite – book review / giveaway
Nov 24 - The Pen and Muse Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 –A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 - The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Nov 29 – Older & Smarter? – book review / giveaway
Nov 29 - Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 30 – Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 30 - Westveil Publishing – book review / giveaway
Dec 1 – Kam's Place – book review
Dec 1 - icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 2 - Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Dec 3 - @twilight_reader – book review
Dec 6 – I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 6 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Dec 6 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 7 - The Phantom Paragrapher – book review
Dec 8 – Sandra's Book Club – book review
Dec 8 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 9 – Chit Chat with Charity – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 9 - Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 10 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Enter the Giveaway:
BRUCE THE SPRUCE Book Tour Giveaway
Blog Tour: POPPER FINDS A NEW HOME by IL Ritchie
Join Us for This Tour from November 26 to December 17!Book Details:
Book Title: Popper and Friends: Popper Finds a New Home by IL Ritchie
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot
Release date: December 2021
Format available for review: Print- hardback, ebook (pdf)
Will send print books out: USA
Tour dates: November 26 to December 17, 2021
Content Rating: Rated G. Suitable for everyone
Book Description:
Popper is a sweet little woodpecker who is trying to find a new home. Now that he is grown, it’s time for him to leave the nest and find a home of his own. The first book in the Popper and Friends series, follow along as Popper explores different options and gets helpful advice from his friends.
Buy The Book:
Mascot
Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads
Meet the Author:
A California native, IL Ritchie lives in San Francisco, where he is creating new adventures for Popper and his friends.connect with the author: goodreads
Review: Meet Popper, the little woodpecker that was lacking spaced and needed to find a new place to live. With his parents’ good wishes, we follow him as he seeks a new home. We go to the pond, the chicken coop, the windowsill, and the barn. But none seem to fit.
Filled with vibrant and wonderful illustrations, story proves that you don’t need to go very far to find a new home.
Rating: 4 stars
Tour Schedule:
Nov 26 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 - Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 29 – Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 29 - Rockin' Book Tours – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 29 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Nov 30 - Westveil Publishing – book review / giveaway
Dec 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 2 – icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 - Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 3 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Dec 6 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 7 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 7 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 8 – Sandra's Book Club – book review
Dec 8 - @twilight_reader – book review
Dec 9 – Captive Dreams Window – book review / giveaway
Dec 10 – Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Dec 13 – A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Dec 14 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Dec 14 – Kam's Place – book review
Dec 15 – The Page Ladies – book review
Dec 15 - The Phantom Paragrapher – book review
Dec 16 – I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 17 - Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Enter the Giveaway:
Popper and Friends: Popper Finds a New Home Book Tour Giveaway
December 7, 2021
Book Blast: MAFIOSA PRINCESS by Liza Malloy
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Liza Malloy 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.
Two men love her. But only one truly knows her.
College Junior Giada Conti wants nothing more than to pursue a normal life fueled by her own choices. Unfortunately, she doesn’t realize her father’s business isn’t completely lawful, or how that fact will completely dictate her future.
Pre-law student Adrian Patras is certain Giada is the perfect woman for him, until he meets her family and grasps the extent of his girlfriend’s naivete.
As Adrian finds himself unwillingly pulled into the family business, Giada grows frustrated with his insinuations about her father. Meanwhile, Giada’s ex, the notorious Luca Marino, pops back into her life with his own criminal agenda that includes winning her back.
Mafiosa Princess is the captivating first book in the steamy mafia romance series that you won’t want to put down.
Read an Excerpt
I shielded my eyes from the sun peeking in above my calypso blue sunglasses and gazed over at Luca. He was pacing back and forth ten or so yards away, clutching his phone tightly by his ear.
I tried to view him the way the other girls must. It wasn’t hard to see the appeal. He was indisputably good-looking, the quintessential Italian man. Lean muscle comprised his tall frame, long black eyelashes framed his rich chocolate eyes, and his dark brownish-black hair was soft and just long enough to run my fingers through. He carried himself with confidence, and everything about him oozed wealth and power.
I thought about what Luca said, how he’d admitted that losing me was a mistake. Had he actually meant that, or was he just trying to cheer me up? I wasn’t oblivious to the way he flirted with me, or the way he unapologetically checked me out whenever he wanted. But that didn’t necessarily signal anything except for a deep-seated sense of entitlement on his part.
Years ago, I was more susceptible to Luca’s charms. Even at sixteen, he radiated control and dominance. The attention he bestowed on me in high school instantly ratcheted up my popularity and made me more sought after by all of the guys, but thanks to Luca’s smooth lines and ceaseless flattering, I had eyes only for him.
During the time we’d been a couple, my self-esteem had been at an all-time high. If the coveted Luca Marino loved me, I had to be beautiful, smart, and funny. He wouldn’t have wasted his attentions on someone unworthy. Besides, he could’ve had any girl at our school. Yet, he chose me.
Now, years later, my heart still fluttered at the possibility that Luca still wanted me. It was flattering, and it was precisely the ego-boost I needed after watching Adrian leave me for Chicago. But could it be more than that?
About the Author:
Liza Malloy writes contemporary romance, women's fiction, new adult romance, and fantasy. She’s a sucker for alpha males, bad boys, dimples, and muscles, and she can’t resist a man in uniform. Liza loves creating worlds where her heroine discovers her own strength and finds her Happily Ever After. When Liza isn’t reading or writing torrid love stories, she’s a practicing attorney. Her other passions include gummy bears, jelly beans, and the occasional marathon. She lives in the Midwest with her four daughters and her own Prince Charming. Her books are available in both paperback and ebook, and can be found on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and more!Website: http://www.LizaMalloy.com
Email List: http://bit.ly/34FrD71
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorLizaM
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorLizaM
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AuthorLizaM
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorLizaMalloy
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2EY0rps
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wMUVW2
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Mafiosa-Princess-Romance-Liza-Malloy-ebook/dp/B09JGR84XY/ref=sr_1_1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 6, 2021
Blog Tour: WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ME by Danielle Dawn Falk
What It Means to Be Me
by Danielle Dawn Falk
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GENRE: Children's
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
"I am me as can be . . ."
Encouraging and heartfelt, "What It Means to Be Me" takes readers on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and self-worth. Written in rhyme, this engaging read about learning, dreaming and growing is meant for absolutely anyone to connect with the message of this sweet story.
Read along and celebrate everything it means to be your own true self.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
The world is a great, big place, with billions of people here on Earth,
And trillions of stars up in space.
It may not be easy to know right from wrong,
To feel that you fit in, or to know where you belong.
It is OK to feel confused and to be unsure of where you are going,
But here is something that is worthy of knowing:
In our world, it is important to be accepting and inclusive of each other,
While also celebrating and encouraging what makes us unique from one another.
You will learn so much along the way;
Growing up does not happen in just one day.
Remember that getting to know yourself is a very good start.
Your life is full of meaning; find the wonder that sets you apart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: Full of colorful and vibrant illustrations, story is a wonderful testament to being who you are and loving it. To have fingers on your hands and toes on your feet. This is what it means to be me.
“My life has a special purpose. I am on a unique journey.” This is what it means to be me.
Book shows the simple enjoyments of life and to appreciate every, little thing about it.
“Every day I learn and grow, discovering myself more fully as a I go.”
A great and inspirational read!
Rating: 5 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Danielle Dawn Falk has a lifelong passion for writing. Growing up, she often struggled with feelings of being unaccepted, as well as not fitting in with her peers. When she became a mother, some of her goals were to help her son and daughter realize how unique and special they are, while at the same time, teaching them to show acceptance and compassion toward everyone else. She hopes that through her writing, she will inspire her children, as well as many others, to do just that.
Danielle lives with her family on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
CONNECT WITH DANIELLE DAWN FALK
WEBSITE - https://danielledawnfalk.com/
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/Danielle-Falk-Author-101871652226480
INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/daniellefalkauthor/
PURCHASE LINKS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ME
AMAZON.COM - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228851211
AMAZON.CA - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0228851211
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GIVEAWAY :
Danielle Dawn Falk will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
