Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 21
May 3, 2025
Review: KIDNAPPED IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell
The early morning broke with abarking dog that was chasing a wild horse that was let loose by a nearby barn,where a dead body was found. One woman was murdered and her brother waskidnapped. Cassie and Tessa were soon rounding up the suspects on this doublemystery. Right away, you get into it. Money seems to be the motive here, butwho actually did it? The list of suspects went on and kept you interested allthe way. A great mystery!
Rating:5 stars
Review: THE NIGHTMARE ROOM: DEAR DIARY, I'M DEAD by R.L. Stine
A diary that tells the future.Alex seemed to have found a diary that would tell him all about tomorrow. Cool!
This was good news for Alex as hecould win bets with the other kids. But not every piece of news was good. Well,if he knew what was going to happen, he could prevent it, right?
Soon, the diary has a hold of Alexand his life becomes one dangerous situation after another. Everything thediary said would come true? Was the diary causing it? Was the diary evil? Whata series of frightening events! Will they ever stop? Or worse…?
A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: SHAMPOO AND A STIFF by Cindy Bell
It was Bekki’s first day back andshe had a shampoo delivery. Once the truck was open, the dead body of the ownerwas found and her friend, the delivery driver, was accused of the crime. Couldthe brother and business partner have anything to do with it?
A good mystery!
Rating:4 stars
May 1, 2025
Blog Tour: THE GUARDIAN AWAITS: FATA MORGANA by Pamela Ackerson
THE GUARDIAN AWAITS: FATA MORGANA
Pamela Ackerson
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GENRE: Time Travel/Suspense
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BLURB:
Undercoveragent, Colin Chase Rand had seen it all, or thought he’d had.
Cruisingdown the road, rocking to the radio, Colin came across an ethereal phenomenon,the Fata Morgana. It was no mere illusion. The shimmering surreal glowenveloped him, pulling him through a portal, setting his course to a differentera and defying all explanations of reality.
Nothingcould’ve prepared him for the next leg of his journey, a journey that wouldtake him to a deceptively quiet countryside in Genoa City, 1935, where asinister serial killer was lying in wait.
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ExcerptThree:
He headed next door to the restaurant, grabbed a meal to go,and some Danish for his breakfast. The next morning, after he toured the Houseon the Rock, Colin headed southeast. Colin put it in auto-drive, looked at hisitinerary, and played around on the radio. Preferring side roads instead ofbusy highways, he meandered through the countryside lost in his thoughts.
The long road had multiple mirages. The weather had beenwacky lately, most likely causing all the mirages. He always thought they werelike chasing a rainbow. No matter how close a person gets to it, it was alwaysjust beyond their reach. He recalled a long-ago memory with his mother.
She’d taken his hand. “Look. Colin. The end of the rainbowis right in our backyard. Watch what happens as we move closer.”
He’ll never forget that day. It withdrew from them as theymoved toward it, but when they walked back to the house, they turned to lookagain. He expected it to be gone. Colin stood in awe. The rainbow glistened andbeckoned to him.
Passing through Genoa City, a few miles from the Wisconsinand Illinois border, a stunning illusion of a mirage was on the road in frontof him. The lights and colors were bending upward. The air was shimmering,similar to the northern lights. He stared, mesmerized by the sight.
The closer he got, the bigger it appeared. The road liftedupward, reaching skyward, creating an impression that the countryside wasfloating.
There were horses and people hovering in the air. He wantedto reach his hand out and pet the horses.
As he drove closer to the phenomenon, the more it wavered.Within seconds it morphed from within his reach to beyond the horizon and thenback again. It was enchanting.
“Was it King Arthur’s sister, Morgan? Is she the one thathad magical powers and could pull castles into thin air?”
Siri answered him, Morgan le Fay was King Arthur’s sisterwho lured sailors to their deaths by summoning visions in the sky. She createdlarge objects to flow upward confusing the sailors, prompting claims ofsighting the Flying Dutchman. A tale among the sailors, the ghost ship wascursed to sail the seas for eternity.
Colin held the steering wheel, watching as he entered themirage. “Fata Morgana.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Amazon,Barnes and Noble, and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author,Pamela Ackerson is a time traveling adventurer. She was born and raised inNewport, RI where history is a way of life. She lives on the Space Coast ofFlorida where everyone is encouraged to reach for the stars!
Herliterary journey is as diverse and adventurous as the time-traveling escapadesshe writes about. With a rich tapestry of genres at her fingertips, she weavesstories that span from the wild frontiers of the Old West to the intricatecultural tapestries of Native American history. Her work doesn't stop atfiction; she delves into the realms of history, self-help, and even marketing,showcasing a versatility that resonates with a wide audience.
Ackerson'spresence on the Space Coast of Florida reflects her forward-thinking approachto writing, always aiming for the next big leap in her storytelling odyssey.Her prolific output is a testament to her dedication to her craft, invitingreaders to join her in exploring the vast landscapes of human experience andimagination.
Honestreviews of my books are always appreciated.
Absolutelyno AI tools were used to create this story or any story I have written.
Thankyou and have a good moments day.
AmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00QY1ARI4
Twitter:@PamAckerson
Facebooks:Facebook.com/pam.ackerson.7
Website: www.PamelaAckerson.net
Youtube:https://youtu.be/18yWcZv9OS0
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2CNK4N6
Barnesand Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-guardian-awaits-pamela-ackerson/1147184589
Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1735229
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GIVEAWAY
PamelaAckerson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 30, 2025
Blog Tour: THE WHITE DEER OF KILDARE by Christy Matheson
THE WHITE DEER OF KILDARE
Christy Matheson
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GENRE: Time-slip Fantasy
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BLURB:
There'sa deer sorting Christmas decorations in Maura's kitchen...
AllMaura wants is a peaceful winter holidays in her dilapidated Irish castle, buther ex is threatening her with family court, and her second grader has inviteda strange--completely unclothed--friend, to spend the holidays with them. Oh.And the friend’s dog, which is not actually a dog but probably one of the whitedeer of Celtic myth.
Mauradistracts herself from her husband’s threats by trying to discover why a Faedeer is in her kitchen, when the two women accidentally end up in the Irelandof ancient myth. The White Deer was the human queen of this castle, but itappears she has husband trouble too. Perhaps...the deadly sort of trouble.
CanMaura rescue her new friend — or is Maura herself so tangled in the WhiteDeer's fate that she won't make it home to her children alive?
Thisnovella will appeal to readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, ancient history, Irishfolklore, and uplifting stories about motherhood and found family.
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ExcerptThree:
Just think, you shall be at Dún Ailline and see your fathersoon,” Maeve suggests.
“No, I shan’t!” Saba bursts into speech. “That’s what Fionntold me while we were walking. He’s not taking me home after all.”
That’s too bad of Fionn, to disappoint his wife so soonafter returning! And he went on about how he loved her more than the moon andstars.
“Where are we going?” Ailbe asks quietly.
“That’s the other trouble.” Saba squeezes Ailbe’s hand.“Most of you are staying here. Fionn wants to travel quickly, and is onlyallowing me one of my ladies to care for my needs.”
My heart swoops in fear. If Saba leaves me behind, I will besickeningly alone in a strange land. And what about the best druids in thesouth of Ireland—they were going to help me return to my children.
The six ladies in waiting exchange looks, and all turn tome.
“You must take Maura, of course,” Maeve says.
“Of course,” the others murmur, eyes cast down.
Or perhaps I should stay with my own castle, and hope thatone day I just walk through a door into my own rooms?
“There is something about the way she came to us,” Ailbesays. “I believe there might be a reason for her presence just now.”
“Besides”—Maeve drops her voice so only Saba and I canhear—“Maura is a mother herself, and our queen might need the advice of amarried woman.”
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GUEST POST
What have you learned from being a writer that you wish youhad learned earlier?
I’ve been writing, making art, and playing music since I wasvery little, but as I became a teen I turned more and more focus to music. Thatabsorbed my time, energy, and became my social circle as well—in fact, myhusband has his background in jazz guitar.
After working as a piano teacher for a while, raising mychildren took all my energy for another decade or two. But my early training asa classical pianist has been the bedrock for working towards becoming a careernovelist in my 40’s. I guess we’ll have to check back in thirty years from nowto see how writing has changed by trajectory by then!
Here are five lessons that I have learned from my classicalmusic training that have served me well as a writer.
Take criticism & work with it I took private piano lessons for about twenty years, plus lessons on two additional instruments. Beyond the childhood stages, a “private lesson” basically means an hour straight of someone telling you what to do differently. In music, it’s considered an honor to be allowed to take a masterclass, which is the opportunity for someone who doesn’t know anything about you, your struggles, or your artistic vision to lecture an entire audience about what you’re doing wrong.
It was wonderful. I learned to push myself, approach art both logically and creatively, dig deeper, and eventually built confidence in my own artistic vision—which continues to deepen as I work with others.
I hear writers discuss the difficulty of hearing feedback about their “baby,” whether to “kill their darlings,” and defending themselves to editors. I…just don’t get it. If an editor suggests that I cut the dialogue to get to the point, I’m thankful they took the time to work with me, and I go back and I cut dialogue. You’ve never heard of “musician’s block” There were times in college when I fell asleep in the practice room, woke up, and kept practicing. Because that’s how you get better and meet your goals. The same is true for writing. The performance is about the audience We all truly deeply loved music, and we messed around with it together and on our own.
But performers thrive on the audience response. Some writerstalk about “writing to market” like it’s a dirty thing, but the way I see it,if I want you to read my books then I need to write a book that you’ll love. Iabsolutely spend energy figuring out how to write in a way that resonates withpeople, and I believe that is part of the artistic vision.
(For those who are curious, The White Deer of Kildare is about my eighth, depending on how you’re counting. I’m currently on my eleventh—I’m about to release one just for my newsletter subscribers, so be sure to sign up so it comes to your in-box.) Art is a collaboration. We are always better when we work together. My writing is only as good as it is because my critique partner challenges everything in my first draft. Every round with an editing team improves my work. I love collaborating on anthologies, just like I loved playing in a symphony. I have writing friends to discuss problems, share successes, vent about juggling work and kids, and even rent a cabin in the Rockies together. (We didn’t get much writing done, but we sure talked about our writing!)
And finally…creating is being alive. For myself, making art is essential to living. I was thriving back in the days when I went from the practice room to choir rehearsal to the music library (singing while I walked, always), and I’m striving for that in my writing life now.
It isn’t just about the end product. I need the thrill of the vision, the frustration of getting stuck, the exhilaration of working my way out again. I’ve been an artist and creator in many ways, but for me, life is just a shadow without that process.
But…it’s also about the end product. Making something for myself quickly falls flat and isn’t worth the effort. You are an essential part of everything I do. I’m so excited to share my work with you, and I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Together, we make a symphony of story.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
ChristyMatheson writes award-winning fiction about friends, family, and finding one’splace in an ever-changing world.
Sheis the author of "The Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales" novellaseries. Each one sets a traditional Irish fairy tale within a modern blendedfamily, perfect for readers wanting a cozy family adventure.
Christy'sregular historical work (sans fantasy elements) can be found in theaward-winning "Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women," ofwhich she is also an editor. Her Regency novels are represented by KristinaSutton-Lennon and have won pre-publication awards for women’s fiction.
Christyis also an embroidery artist, classically trained pianist, and sews all of herown clothes. She lives in Oregon, on a country property that fondly reminds herof a Regency estate (except with a swing set instead of faux Greek ruins), withher husband, five children, three Shelties, one bunny, and an improbablequantity of art supplies.
Website:https://christymatheson.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/christy_matheson_author/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091887100897
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@christy.matheson.author
Newsletter:https://sendfox.com/ChristyMatheson
Substack:https://unspokenstoriesofwomanhood.substack.com/
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49771827.Christy_Matheson
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222331492-the-white-deer-of-kildare
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/e19858d0-1d3c-4fd0-a2bd-6a83060e16b5
BookBub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christy-matheson
UniversalBuy Link: includes Amazon (different countries), Kobo, Apple Books, GooglePlay, Barnes & Noble:
https://buy.bookfunnel.com/exmh6b6hgx
Amazon.comBuy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DPSGKQ5H
KoboBuy link—book available on Kobo Plus:https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-white-deer-of-kildare
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GIVEAWAY
ChristyMatheson will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winnervia rafflecopter during the tour and a fine writing notebook with personalizedart to a second randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: HEART STRUNG by Rachel Dacus
HEART STRUNG
Rachel Dacus
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
Ajourney across India. A quest for enlightenment. A romance tested by destiny.Songwriter Daniel and his beautiful, free-spirited muse Lara travel to India,following her urge to seek higher consciousness. Daniel’s goal is to make alife in music and to settle down in their new home on the Italian coast. But ofcourse he’d follow her anywhere, and as they wander through sacred temples andbustling streets, he finds purpose in protecting her from the perils and topersuade her to return home. But Lara’s spiritual path beckons her on. When shefinally finds the place she knows will change her life, their differencesbecome impossible to ignore. Will their paths diverge, or will they find loveis the highest truth?
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ExcerptTwo:
After we leave the restaurant, it dawns on me that Danielwould be happy if we can find a concert of Indian music.
As if the universe pick up on my thought, I hear faint notesof a flute rising through the traffic noise. As we walk, the sound growslouder, and when we turn a corner, there they are, three street musicians witha microphone and an amplifier, playing on the street. A guitarist in a blackcap, a woman in red and orange pajama outfit playing flute, and a sweet-voicedman singing. They’re playing for free to a circle of onlookers and anypassersby who want to stop and listen. Buskers, they call them in England.
As soon as he sees them, Daniel’s face brightens. He stopswith me and smiles, shaking his head once. “I didn’t know they did that here!Street music.”
We stand and listen. The honking horns of taxis mingles withmelodies, guitar strumming, and voices. The lead singer’s vocals are tender andsoft, ranging from low baritone notes to high. He vaults up and down the scale.A guy sits down on a tin cannister and starts drumming on another, bringingform into the scribble of vocal tones.
Daniel laughs. “They’re singing Kishore Kumar songs. Youknow, Bollywood.”
Another man joins him at the microphone and the tempoincreases, the drummer pushing it and the guitarists strum faster. The melodysounds familiar.
He pokes my arm. “And now they’ve transitioned into EdSheeran! “Dancing in the Dark”. Go figure.”
I’m delighted with his delight. Finally, something in Indiahe can relate to! The musicians are so cool. They’re our age and of ourculture, which is world, not local. I’m more at home now, too. Knowing thatmusic transcends the boundaries. Even here in India. And that’s why we play it.A universal language.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
RachelDacus is the author of seven novels of women’s fiction, romance, and fantasy.She’s also the author of four poetry collections and has published inBoulevard, Gargoyle, Prairie Schooner, Eclectica and Image: Art, Faith, andMystery. She enjoys the beauty and culture of the San Francisco Bay Area, whereshe walks her Silky Terrier and sometimes follows the trails on nearby Mt.Diablo. Read more of her work, her blog, and sign up for her newsletter at herwebsite.
Website:http://www.racheldacus.net
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RachelDacusAuthor
Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/racheldacusauthor.bsky.social
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/racheldacusauthor/
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GIVEAWAY
RachelDacus will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: FRENCH CRUISES CAN KILL YOU by Constance Meccarello-Gerson
The Hassle High Mystery Series, Book 3
Cozy Mystery
Date Published: 11-14-2020
Cozy Mystery with Death Romance and twists on a French Cruise with the Hassle High group. Complete with occult, kidnapping and French Recipes.
About the Author
Constance Meccarello-Gerson was born in Poughkeepsie N.Y. She is a graduate of Florida Southern College with a BA in Acting. She also attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. HB Studio, Actors Studio, in NYC. She is a member of SAG, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Si Omega. Her MFA in Acting is from Brooklyn College. She has appeared on TV, film, and on stage in NYC. For 20 years she taught as a mentor and teacher of English and Theatre arts for the New York City Department of Education and for the University at Santa Cruz. She also taught for ten years as a Speech Coordinator at Touro College. She was an executive at Bloomingdales. Her writing as appeared in Musings, also in the Best American Poets series. Murder at Hassle High is her first cozy mystery. Summertime Murder at Hassle High is her second and French Cruises Can Kill You is the third. She wrote Armera a sci fi mystery and her Snowball the Sherlock Rabbit series, a group of children books. Currently she lives in NYC with her husband Alain, a parrot named Benji, and lots of fish. She is currently writing Death In a Dorm, another cozy in the Hassle High series.
Contact Links
April 28, 2025
Blog Tour: COWBOY WATCH by Petie McCarty
COWBOY WATCH
Petie McCarty
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GENRE: Romantic Suspense
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BLURB:
heWatchers Series—Fallen angels cast out of heaven by the archangel Michael forcoercing with Satan to gain control. Some of these conspirators—duped late inthe game by Satan’s lies—doubled back to seek redemption for their unwittingbetrayal. Offered parole in exchange for penance, these Watchers are given thetoughest bodyguard missions with little leeway for success.
Onelast chance.
Theseare their stories . . .
CowboyWatch:
Someone—orsomething—wants Kellen out of town . . .
KellenBrand’s inheritance comes as a monumental shock—a rundown farm she doesn’t wantand one paroled Watcher all her own. Kellen’s eccentric mother believedWatchers to be fallen angels seeking penance by guarding individuals who hadlost their way. Seriously? A Watcher? Only her mother . . .
SinceKellen vows no sane woman would choose to live in Riverside, she’s on a missionto dump the old farm fast and to the first buyer who comes along. Unfortunatelyfor her, the only buyer is a resort developer, spurned by a townful ofobjectors and one handsome cowboy—her neighbor, Luke Thornton. Luke must blockKellen’s farm sale or risk exposure of his own family’s secrets. He can illafford his immediate and compelling attraction to his new neighbor.
Someoneis watching Kellen, but not who she thinks. Someone deadly and intent onscaring her out of town. Or worse. Luke has a hellish choice to make—step inand rescue Kellen from her threats, or to protect his family, stand by andwatch . . .
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ExcerptThree:
A familiar aroma wafted up from the river, a combination ofhumus, plant material, microscopic plankton, and a touch of fish. Unable tostop the smile slowly stretching across her face, she untied her sneakers,rolled up her jeans, and slipped into the icy water. She immediately gasped andfelt her smile deepen to a grin. Remaining in the soothing current for a longtime, she absorbed her surroundings as trout darted in and around the submergedrocks to grab their plankton lunch.
A horse suddenly whickered behind her, followed by thetelltale creak of a saddle. Too close for comfort. The back of her neckprickled. Ankle deep in the water, she couldn’t make a decent sprint for thecar, and Kellen regretted her impulse to visit this deserted stretch ofriverbank.
Easing around, she spied the towering silhouette of apowerfully built man astride a huge black stallion no more than ten yards away.The rider’s face lay shadowed beneath a wide-brimmed Stetson. The cowboy madean impressive and, at this moment, intimidating sight—a throwback from thefrontier days of the Wild West.
The horse whickered again and sidestepped away from the edgeof the embankment, forcing the cowboy to twist around to keep her in sight. Shecould feel his dark eyes scanning every inch of her. The intensity in his gazeraised goose bumps on her arms, and a tiny shiver edged up her spine. Trappedhere along the edge of the river, she felt vulnerable yet strangely unafraid.Would he come any closer?
A horn blared up on the highway, and she jumped with a yelp.The big horse reared at the sound of her cry, and Kellen caught a brief glimpseof the cowboy’s dark eyes, eyes that could stare right through to a girl’ssoul. She scrunched her own eyes shut and forced herself to breathe. When sheopened them, the rider was gone. Had she imagined him? Another mild shiverrifled up her spine. No, the fearsome rider was definitely real.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Petie spent a large part of her career working at Walt DisneyWorld—"The Most Magical Place onEarth"—where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day andcreating her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her new series, TheCinderella Romances. She eventually said good-bye to her "day" job towrite her stories full-time.
These days Petie spends her time writing new Cinderella seriestales, her new The Watchers series, sequels to her regency time-travel series,Lords in Time, and more contemporary romance standalones to go along with hertwo previous releases—Any Fin For Love and Ambush in the Everglades.
Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee withher horticulturist husband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy whowill make a cameo appearance in the upcoming Book 2 of The Watchers, ChristmasWatch.
Visit Petie's web site online at http://www.petiemccarty.com orher Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty
BIO Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094579.Petie_McCarty
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/petie-mccarty
http://www.amazon.com/author/petiemccarty
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GIVEAWAY
PetieMcCarty will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: SNOWFALL by Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe
SNOWFALL
Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe
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GENRE: RomCom
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BLURB:
Melodyis a simple woman with simple needs that include good clean books, safe andintelligible television, and a job that she loves. As far as she’s concerned,she has everything she needs, including a beloved gig as the assistantlibrarian of her local public library. When a Winter Reads program turnschaotic and Melody is caught in the crossfires of a massive child-induced foodfight, her dream job becomes a nightmare – a nightmare that continues into asnow-covered, accident-prone next day. After waking up to a sudden massivesnowfall covering her town, she becomes the unwilling victim of a snowballfight between two identical twin brothers. Melody must then decide if she hasmet her very own Mister Right, or if her perfect life can handle an imperfectinterruption. Lighthearted laughs and endearing moments fill this modernromantic comedy by humorist Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe
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ExcerptThree:
“Well… their hunt for me paid off I guess.” Melody smiledand sipped her drink. “I got my necklace back, I got a wonderful new boyfriend,and… well… I don’t think I’ve shared this news with you yet.”
“You’re getting married?” Cocoa asked, throwing out a wildguess.
“Nope.”
“You’re pregnant!”
“Oh, god no!” Melody exclaimed.
“Well then, what is it?” Cocoa put her hands on her hips andMelody could see she was growing impatient.
“I… think… I’m in love.”
“No!” Cocoa shouted. Her voice was pretty loud and shelooked around with a quirky smile as several customers looked her way. Then,she looked at Melody again, not caring who had heard her shout. “Not you,little Miss I’m Happy with My Quiet Little Life?”
“Quiet little life…” Melody rolled her eyes. “You make mesound so boring. But… my life’s not so quiet anymore, and honestly, I’m lovingit more than I ever thought I could.”
Cocoa began to sing softly. “You’re in love! Love, love,love, love, love!”
“Oh, hush,” she said and blushed.
“I expect to be Maid of Honor at the wedding,” Cocoacontinued. “I’m picturing very tacky beige bridesmaid dresses, a small churchservice, and lots of hokey pictures of us doing wacky poses in our outfits!”
“Aren’t you rushing things a little?”
“Well… someone has to. If I know you, the two of you haven’teven had –…”
“Don’t even say it!” Melody cut her off. “Good things cometo those who wait.”
“He’s going to be gray-haired old man by the time you giveup the –…”
“No!” Melody exclaimed and then laughed nervously.“Goodness, Cocoa!”
Cocoa laughed heavily. “Okay, fine. But tell me then whatall you two have planned for your one-month anniversary tonight.”
“All I know is he’s taking me out to a restaurant but won’ttell me what it is,” she explained. “And he has something for me, but he won’ttell me what that is either.”
“I bet it’s a ring,” Cocoa noted. “It’s gonna be a ring.He’s going to pop the question. I know it!”
“After just a month? No way,” Melody discouraged. “Maybe apromise ring?”
“A promise ring? Are you both twelve?” Cocoa huffed andgrabbed a rag to wipe down the counter. “That’s kid stuff.” She then paused andsmiled a little mischievous grin. “By the way…”
“Yes?”
“What did you get him for your one-month anniversary?”
Melody’s smile disappeared and her eyes became concerned.“Is – is that a thing?”
“Yes, girl!” Cocoa exclaimed and put her rag down. “Thisisn’t the nineteen fifties, you know. Present giving is an equal thing now. Hegives you a gift. You give him a gift. It’s called gifting.”
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The Ins and Outs of Character Development
Hey there, gal pals (and guy pals too)! For those of you whodon’t know me, my name is Jennifer and I’m the author of the romantic comedystories ‘My Name is Not Cupid,’ ‘Sent of a Man’ and my latest novel ‘Snowfall,’amongst others.
There is so much to be enjoyed in the writing process, andthere is also much to be dreaded through it. My favorite aspect of writing isboth enjoyable and – at times – dreaded. That aspect is character development.
As I’m known for writing clean, fade-to-black,lacking-foul-language romantic comedies, building my characters is very tactfuland I always do so with caution. First and foremost, no matter what happens atthe start of a story, my protagonist must be a good person at heart. I don’tbelieve in a flawless character; that idea is unrealistic, as everyone isflawed. Figuring out a character’s flaws is the hard part.
In my latest book ‘Snowfall,’ Melody fits my characterrequirements perfectly. She’s happy with her life and her job, she’s contentstaying home and reading books, and she doesn’t need a man to make her happy.She’s also well spoken, polite (for the most part), and uses her vocabularyinstead of just spitting out slurs and insults. She’s not perfect by any means.She’s clumsy, forgetful, and doesn’t really pay attention to her surroundingsas much as she should.
For her best friend and confidant, I needed a somewhat‘different’ personality. While foul language still isn’t present, it’s alludedto with Cocoa, who’s occasional slurs are kept in check and cut off by Melody,who beats her to the punch with an ‘uh uh’ or a ‘don’t even say it.’
I enjoy writing characters who don’t have to cuss to get apoint across or who don’t have to share their ‘moments of intimacy’ with theworld, when a ‘fade-to-black’ gets the point across and leaves so much more tothe imagination.
It’s not always easy though, depending on the story. In myaction thriller ‘Hot Chocolate on a Cold Winter’s Night,’ I followed myprotagonist Hot Chocolate, who is a famous exotic dancer at a strip club. Shewitnesses a violent murder and runs, only to discover her daughter has beenkidnapped in order to lure her in. I had to break my standard rule of cleanlanguage for that story, but only with minor curses. But it was what the storycalled for, and I was happy to give it that umph that it needed.
Hot Chocolate was a tough cookie. She stopped at nothing tosave her daughter, and it showed the ‘mommy tiger’ within her and how someonewill go to any lengths necessary to keep safe the people they love. She had tobe strong, but I believe in realism, so she had to have moments of weakness aswell.
Melody in ‘Snowfall’ is still relatable in this way. Shethinks she has it all together, but in a world of romance and love, she is outof her element. She tries to distance herself from the man she’s obviouslyattracted to, and it’s difficult to make a relationship work when one half ofit is trying to pull away from it or prevent it from happening.
Character development is both the easiest and hardest partof writing, at least in my opinion, but it is the single most important aspectof any work of fiction. If you don’t have a likable or believable protagonist, youcan’t make your readers care about them. Many writers will tell you that wewrite for ourselves, and in a way we do, but when it comes to sharing our bookswith the world, we’re also writing for you. We need you to believe in ourcharacters and to invest yourself in them throughout the book. If we can dothat, then we have done our best.
I hope you enjoy my character Melody, along with the castof side-characters that keep the laughter and romance flowing in my newromantic comedy ‘Snowfall.’ Please also visit my blog, which is filled with mymovie and book reviews, my quirky remembrances of life’s many oops moments, andmore! https://singlegirlsguidetohappiness.blogspot.com/
Much love and many laughs,
Jenn
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe is a humorist fiction author whoseworks include the stories My Name is Not Cupid, The Scent of a Man, and thebeautifully reviewed thriller about a mother who would stop at nothing to saveher child, Hot Chocolate on a Cold Winter’s Night, among others. Known for herquirky romantic comedies that feature realistic women of various ages and racesand the trials and tribulations of adulting and dating, Jennifer’s writingsallow real women to see themselves in her characters. Jennifer is also a proudLGBTQ+ ally and often features gay characters in her stories, including thetale All I Want is to be Happy, which features a wonderful gay protagonist.Jennifer, herself, is a single straight woman, still looking for love, andliving with her cats in an apartment in Nashville, Tennessee.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjpokeeffe
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorjpokeeffe
Blog: https://singlegirlsguidetohappiness.blogspot.com/
NOTE: this book will be on sale for $0.99 for theduration of the tour.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1F2NWF8
Barnes and Noble Link:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snowfall-jennifer-patricia-okeeffe/1147137020
Smashwords Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1728222
Kobo Link:http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9798990303539
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GIVEAWAY
JenniferPatricia O'Keeffe will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomlydrawn winner.
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Blog Tour: CHASING SHADOWS by A.C. Adams
Mystery/Thriller/Commercial Fiction
Date Published: April 25th, 2025
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
When renowned professor Dr. Aidan Ryan vanishes without explanation, he leaves behind a haunting message revealing he has a new life and can never return. His devastated daughter Sofia embarks on a global search to uncover the truth behind her father’s disappearance. What she finds is more shocking than she could have imagined—a web of family secrets and lies that challenges everything she thought she knew.
After clues send her to Italy, Sofia reconnects with her estranged mother Ella who reveals a hidden past of trauma and deceit. When they discover Aidan’s ties to The Brotherhood, an elusive, powerful society that operates in the shadows of world affairs, Sofia and Ella become ensnared in a deadly conspiracy. Trapped in ancient catacombs beneath the Roman countryside, they must face Aidan’s mysterious captors and fight for their lives. But as they edge closer to escape, one question remains: Will Aidan choose his family or The Brotherhood?
About the Author
A.C. Adams is the nom de plume of co-authors Anthony Leigh Adams and Christina Adams, who have written, produced, and developed film and television projects for many studios, including Disney, ABC, and CBS.
Christina is a producer of the Emmy Award-winning series, The Amazing Race and multiple programs for Oprah Winfrey. Anthony composed the music and co-wrote the book and lyrics for their most recent theatrical project, Sideways: The Musical, which is based on the Oscar-winning film and is in development as a Broadway musical.
The Adamses also wrote and produced the original musicals Love-In: A Musical Celebration and Primal Twang: The Legacy of The Guitar. Both shows were filmed and aired nationally on PBS. Primal Twang won Best Documentary Feature at the Rome International Film Festival.
Adams Entertainment, Anthony and Christina’s production company, is based in La Jolla, California, where they work and live with their two calico rescue cats. Chasing Shadows, their debut novel, is inspired by true events. For more information visit: www.adamsentertainment.com.
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