Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 210

Review: HIS DIRTY SECRET by Mia Black (Book 1)

Jayla is a working girl. With all the craziness of work and having to take care of her younger siblings, she sometimes wishes she had a man to take care of her.

On a night out with the girls, she meets a handsome, rich-looking man, whom she shares a passionate rendezvous. Perhaps this could be more than a one-night thing?

Soon, she gets swept off her feet with his romantic charms. Sounds perfect, right? Or was it?

This was a nice read. Of course, the cliffhanger ending just leaves you wanting more and curious to find out what happens next.

 

Rating: 4 stars

Review: FOR BABY AND ME by Margaret Watson

Sierra just found out her parents were killed in a plane crash. Wracked with grief, she went cold and numb, and she didn’t want to be alone. But that was her reality now. For one night, she wanted to feel, to forget. Well, Nick was good at making women forget.

The night would’ve been all fine and dandy, except Nick was her boss and she ended up pregnant.

This was too much. Of course, Nick’s reaction to the whole thing made it worse. He didn’t want a kid and was willing to do anything to make it go away.

Story has a simple narrative, but it’s rather long and slow. In fact, it was so long that it almost exhausted all the drama in it. It would’ve been more stimulating to hear about their passionate night. It didn’t have to get too explicit on the sex, but a little something would’ve made it more exciting.

An okay read.

 

Rating: 3 stars

Review: DOCTOR’S DUTIES by K.C. Crowne

Rich girl Abby is tired of her overbearing parents. As a med student, she was given the ultimatum of either marrying a rich boy they approved of or being cut off without a dime.

Then came the hot-as-eff stranger, who saves her from a grope fest at the coffee shop. My hero! And, man, can he kiss!

Logan just seemed perfect—a doctor, a writer, and an audio narrator. Of course, this whole thing led to a hot and wild night. It was just supposed to be the one night. The next day, she discovers that her one-night stand was her new college professor. Oh, dear.

Overall, this was a good read even though the diary-style narrative of each character can be quite slow at times. It started off well, but it does take a while to get to the dilemma of the surprise pregnancy, which we don’t find out until almost the end.

An okay read.

 

Rating: 3 stars

Review: FRIENDS TO LOVERS vol 2

A gay man has feelings for his long-time friend.

A woman plays “wingman” for her friend by implementing boyfriend rules. Turns out maybe you don’t need a man to be with someone.

Were they all gay stories? No, there were some traditional romance stories in there. But the stories, overall, weren’t very good.

What happened to this series? It was so much better before with its Enemies to Lovers anthologies. Why did it have to come to this?

What a disappointment.

 

My rating: 2 stars

Review: FRIENDS TO LOVERS vol 1

Stories are not as captivating. In fact, some start off down-right confusing. One of them even had a fantasy monster game called Criptids and Nuggets or some lame, dumb thing like that. Geez, this was such a disappointment.

 

My rating: 1 star

Blog Tour: RED VELVET CRINKLES AND CHRISTMAS SPRINKLES by Maria Imbalzano

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Maria Imbalzano will be awarding a $15 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.

Competitive, work-obsessed Bella Simonetti has just been fired from her high-paying job at a Manhattan law firm. At an all-time low, she returns home and helps her parents at their small-town gift shop, but the business is failing and may not make it past the Christmas holidays.

Successful landscape architect Dean Jackson is like a son to Bella's parents. But he's a persistent annoyance to her—he seems to have forgotten his unforgivable blunder thirteen years earlier.

When Bella transforms her parents' gift shop into a cookie cottage, Dean's generosity and magnetic smile are hard to resist, and those feelings of unrequited adolescent love come rushing back. But can Bella let go of the past and accept Dean for the man he is today?

Read an Excerpt

“I agree with Dean. Barb’s Gift Cottage has been in Princeton for thirty years. You don’t decide one day to revamp the entire business. Get rid of the old, make way for the new. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Bella bit her tongue before responding, reminding herself to stay cool. “Okay. I’m open to anything. Let’s talk about your ideas to stay afloat.” She sat, poised with her pad in front of her, pen in hand.

Silence.

She looked directly at her dad first, eyebrow arched. “I’m listening.” Then she scanned over to Dean.

Her gaze moved up to his eyes—sea green in the harsh kitchen light but beautiful just the same.

His gaze locked with hers and held her hostage— an unwilling prisoner to his warden. All ire morphed into a swirling eddy of primal lust, and she felt herself disappearing into his aura. She needed to save herself as well as her ego. Fighting the pull, she surfaced, blinking to clear her eyes, inhaling to bring her back to the present.

She disconnected and glanced at her parents. Had they noticed she’d been missing?

The smallest smile quirked Dean’s lips—surely acknowledging her lapse into Dean-land. She reached for the annoyance she’d let slip from her grasp and pulled it back into her arsenal. 

***

Review: Bella was unemployed for the holidays, living with her parents again, and helping out at the family gift shop. “Would her flagging self-esteem survive this unintended demotion?”

As she succumbs to her miserable reality, she reacquaints herself with her brother’s best friend, who played a detrimental part to her self-confidence. Now the two were working together in the sinking gift shop that may not make it through the year.

Can Bella come up with a marketing plan to save the store? Can a signature cookie (Red Velvet Sprinkles) be the answer to their problem? And can she do it all while avoiding the handsome and charming blast from the past?

Clever and witty! This was a pretty good read with a strong narrative. It spent a lot of time on the promotional tactics and marketing efforts for the store, which didn’t need to be that involved as it slowed the pace a little. But the characters’ connection shines through brilliantly.

An enjoyable and quick holiday romance!

Rating: 4 stars

About the Author:

Maria Imbalzano is a retired matrimonial lawyer who now writes full time. Instead of drafting motions, legal memoranda, and briefs, although fascinating, she now spends her days creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys through her contemporary romance novels.

Her novel, “Unchained Memories,” won the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers’ Award and the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award. “Sworn to Forget,” the first of the four-book Sworn Sisters Series was a finalist for the illustrious RONE award as well as the Book Buyers Best Award. Her novellas, “The Blueberry Swirl Waltz” and “A Song For Another Day” each came in first in their category in the National Excellence in Story Telling contest.

Website: http://mariaimbalzano.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mariaimbalzano
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Mariaimbalzano_author
Blog: http://www.mariaimbalzano.com/category/blog/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276749.Maria_Imbalzano
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria-imbalzano

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FYVGDWR
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-velvet-crinkles-and-christmas-sprinkles-maria-imbalzano/1140147130
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/red-velvet-crinkles-and-christmas-sprinkles/id1585527197

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Blog Tour: A BETTER FOREVER by Tracey Cramer-Kelly

 

A Better Forever

by Tracey Cramer-Kelly

 

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

 

GENRE: Contemporary romance

 

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

 

BLURB:

 

Tumbling down…

 

Connor Lawson has always been a nerd. A rules follower. The valedictorian who worked his way up to Chief Financial Officer at his company on the Iron Range in Minnesota—and married the girl of his dreams. But his perfect life is crashing down around him. He could lose his job in a company acquisition. And the wife he deeply loves has discovered the shameful secret he’s hidden for most of his life.

 

Shattered dreams…

 

Melina “Mel” Lawson was the opposite of Connor in college, but she fell hard for the man she could talk to for hours. Now, twelve years and two kids into their marriage, life is a blur of hockey practice, drama rehearsals, part-time work and volunteering. Still, she can’t shake the feeling that something is missing. When she discovers what Connor has been struggling with all these years, his betrayal leaves her devastated.

 

Picking up the pieces…

 

They’d once vowed before God to love one another for better or worse—but Mel never imagined anything like this. If Connor is willing to work things out, is Mel ready to salvage this marriage in crisis? Can they recapture true intimacy and find a better forever… together?

 

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

 

 

Excerpt One:

 

Mel turned her face toward the window as he pulled onto Highway 169. He sighed inwardly; this wasn’t how he wanted to part. He reached for her hand. “I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

 

She didn’t pull her hand away. “I miss you, Connor,” she said. “The kids miss you. Even when you’re home, your mind is still a million miles away and you’re so cranky. I get that you’re stressed, but can’t you leave work, at work?”

 

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I’ll try to be better.”

 

“And I miss our intimate time,” she said. “We hardly ever have sex anymore.”

 

The words weren’t an accusation, but he responded defensively anyway. “It’s not just me,” he said. “You’re tired a lot, too.”

 

In the uncomfortable silence that followed, Connor knew that hadn’t been the right thing to say. She didn’t understand the pressure he was under. But how could she? He needed to tell her about the acquisition… and he would—when he had a better idea where he stood with his job.

 

Ten minutes later they arrived at the air strip where Mesabi Fabricators kept their private jet. He dragged his bags out of the car.

 

Mel rounded the front of the car. “I don’t think you’re late,” she said.

 

“It’ll be okay.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll give you a call when I get to Seattle.”

 

Connor walked toward the hangar. He’d started the morning looking forward to making love with his wife, but now all he felt was relief to be given a reprieve from his marital stress.

 

Which, of course, made him feel like a first-class schmuck.

 

 

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

 

Review: A marriage on the rocks, crumbling under the weight of a demanding job and a family. He was always working and she was always too busy raising the kids. Forget about having a conversation let alone any chance for intimacy. But what if he was able to find other outlets for his needs?

Story had a good narrative, but it was often slow at times and a bit repetitive. The story is good about building up all the tension, the resentment, and the emotional strain. But it does take a while before we start seeing the real havoc.

A fairly nice read overall.

 

My rating: 3 stars

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Many experiences influence Tracey's writing, and she has been known to undertake unusual endeavors (such as firefighter training and learning to fly a helicopter) just for the sake of the experience. Being an Army-trained combat medic (and civilian EMT) and a "biker chick" for over 30 years has had significant influence in her books, but even "ordinary" events have struck a chord or inspired a character or plot idea. To support her writing habit, she also works PT at a substance abuse counseling center and manages the family business (Leader Motorcycle). She’s a soccer fanatic who’s blessed with a very understanding husband and two children who put up with the “embarrassment” of a motorcycle-riding, romance-writing mom!

 

BUY LINKS

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09662QZW3

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1570001715

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-better-forever-tracey-cramer-kelly/1139601603

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-better-forever

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Web site: www.TKRomance.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraceyCramerKelly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traceycramerkelly/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cramerkelly

YouTube: https://youtube.com/twiggletproductions

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1242964.Tracey_Cramer_Kelly

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tracey-cramer-kelly

 

 

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

 

GIVEAWAY:

 

Tracey Cramer-Kelly will be awarding autographed copies of the Army Ranger Series (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Blog Tour: WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY SLEEPS by Jason Lee Christopher

 

While My Guitar Gently Sleeps

by Jason Lee Christopher

 

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GENRE: Children's

 

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BLURB:

 

The babies lay quiet;

they won't make a peep,

while my guitar gently sleeps.

 

Inspire your child on the path to music through this soothing nursery rhyme between a boy and his guitar, as he anticipates, dreams, and reflects on the joy they share.

 

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

  

Excerpt One:

 

Time to lay you back down and close up your case

To tuck you away in our special place.

The sun has gone down, the moon lights the street

While my guitar gently sleeps.

 

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

My review: A fun and colorful rhyming story—a sweet lullaby on sleepy time. The kid must tuck away his guitar and go to sleep, but tomorrow he will play again. Definitely a book you can sing to your kids.

My rating: 4 stars

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jason is someone who has always felt music can be a soundtrack that defines different parts of our lives. He also believes being able to express yourself through an instrument can be a lifelong reward. Along with his wife, Paige, they try to make sure there are enough instruments and/or noisemakers around the house for their two children's creativity and imagination to run wild.

 

CONNECT WITH JASON

 

WEBSITE: https://jlcstorybooks.com/

 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jlcstorybooks

 

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jlcstorybooks/

 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jlcstorybooks

 

PURCHASE LINKS   

 

AMAZON.COM

https://amazon.com/dp/0228844002

           

KINDLE

https://amazon.com/dp/B08KYQPBND

           

BOOKSHOP

https://bookshop.org/books/while-my-g...

           

INDIGO CHAPTERS

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...

           

BARNES & NOBLE

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whil...

           

BOOK DEPOSITORY

https://www.bookdepository.com/While-...

 

 

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

Jason Lee Christopher will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Book Blast: ROGUE ROYAL 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.

You are formally invited to the royal ball…to become the husband to the king!

King Charles of Lysianna needs a husband and fast. He’s up against the biggest time crunch of all—a royal decree stating he must marry or lose the crown. It’s already December and he’s running out of time. Throwing a royal ball to find a suitable man for the role of husband seems like the king’s only option…until he meets Nathan. This royal has always done things his own way—and maybe now it’s time to go rogue.

Nathan Pratt doesn’t want much from life except to raise his son and be happy. Dating isn’t on this single father’s radar until he sees Charles in the castle solarium and his heart goes out to the sad-looking man. Once he meets Charles, he starts to think love might be possible. There’s just the small issue of Charles being the king…

Will Nathan be able to handle the glare of the spotlight with Charles beside him, or will the notoriety that comes with dating a royal be too much?

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of gunshots as well as the threat of kidnapping. This book is linked to Runaway Royal.

Read an Excerpt

©2021 Megan Slayer, All Rights Reserved

The man, though, caught Charlie’s attention. The coat covered his frame, but he appeared trim and Charlie liked the way the slight winter breeze caught in his dark hair. He had a thing for dark, brooding and handsome men. Was this one brooding?

“Do you believe you’ll find a husband before the deadline?” Lady Teresa asked. “Are you aware Lender believes he’s next in line to the throne?”

Shoot. He needed to pay attention and not watch the guy outside. “I’m confident I’ll find someone, although I believe this decree to be out of date. A ruler should be permitted to choose a worthy partner on his or her own timeframe.”

“And Lender?” she asked.

“Has no connections to the crown. He’s not in line.” Not if he had anything to say about it.

Spencer nodded behind her. “Is that your last question? The king is very busy and needs to attend to the planning of the Christmas Ball.”

“One more,” she said. “What would you like to tell our readers and your loyal subjects? Any words of wisdom?”

“Yes, I appreciate every one of my subjects and I’m endeavoring to do what’s best for all of them. We are a proud nation and should be proud to be of the kingdom of Lysianna. I am both humble and proud to be your leader and hope to be for many years to come.” God, he needed to work on his speaking skills.

“Thank you.” She stood and shook hands with him. “It’s a pleasure to have interviewed you. So easy.”

“You’re welcome here any time. Thank you for interviewing me.” He stood and watched the team pick up the gear. At least she hadn’t begged him to pose in his crown.

He waited until the crew and interviewer had left, then settled on the chair again. “Spence? Anything else? I need a break.”

Spencer checked the tablet. “You have a meeting with the planning commission for the Christmas festivities. They wish to show you the itinerary for the royal celebrations and will want to incorporate the ball into their plans. They’ve got in mind a rather large bash for the New Year portion of the celebrations.”

“Of course.” He folded his arms and looked out of the window again. “Who is the guy with Emmett? Is he new?”

“Him?” Spencer rubbed his chin. “That’s Nathan Pratt. He works as a tutor and with archives. Seems bright and fair. I’m not sure if he’s gay, but I was told he’d used a surrogate to have his son. The surrogate is one of your subjects, so since the child is half-Lysiannan, Nathan was permitted to live here as he raised the boy.” He eyed Charlie. “Do you wish to meet him?”

“Maybe.” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to make a move. Still, Nathan was handsome in a faraway manner. He must be decent enough with kids if he had one. But would he be dazzled by Charlie’s role as the king and not genuine?

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.

Newsletter: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj
Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

Buy Links:

https://books2read.com/u/boaoqp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FK1VJSZ/
https://www.firstforromance.com/book/rogue-royal

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Book Blast: THE PHOTOGRAPH by L.E. Luttrell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.E. Luttrell will be awarding a $25 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.

In a quiet Sydney suburb, soon-to-be-married Sonny Day sets off on his bike to catch the train to work. He never makes it to the station. After his fiancée Chrys reports him missing, DI India Hargreaves launches a low-key investigation.

Weeks later, a man’s body is found, mutilated and buried, on a nearby building site, but it’s not Sonny, and with no solid leads, both investigations stall…until a letter arrives from Sonny, claiming he’s met someone else.

Chrys insists Sonny wrote it under duress. She convinces India to investigate further, beginning with the photograph that came with the letter and ending in Scotland and the discovery of more mysterious deaths. But two questions remain unanswered. Whose body was buried on the building site? And where is Sonny Day?

Read an Excerpt

A woman India had not seen before answered the door at Chrys Water’s house.

“Good evening, I’m Detective Inspector Hargreaves,” she said. “Is Chrys at home?”

“Chrys!” the woman shouted unnecessarily, as Chrys appeared at that moment, her face full of hope.

“Do you have some news?” she asked.

“We believe we’ve found Sonny’s bike and we’d like you to come and have a look at it to verify if it is his.”

“Where is it?” Chrys cried, pushing past the woman who had answered the door. “Sorry, Roxy,” she said, turning back. “Detective Hargreaves, this is my cousin Roxy. She’s staying with me this week.”

Roxy nodded at her and followed them out to the van.

Jacko was waiting for them with the van doors open and a powerful torch shining in on the bike. Chrys peered closely at it without saying a word, then backed up a few steps.

“Where did you find it?” she asked almost in a whisper. “Have you found Sonny?”

“No Chrys, only the bike. Can you confirm whether this is Sonny’s bike?”

“Yes. It looks like his bike. Where was it?”

“On a bush trail over at Wilberforce?”

“Wilberforce? What would Sonny be doing there?”

“Sonny may not have been there. But someone dumped his bike there.”

“Oh God!” Chrys cried, doubling over as if in pain. “He’s dead, isn’t he?”

About the Author: L.E. Luttrell was born in Sydney, Australia and spent the first 21 years of her life there before moving to the UK. After working in publishing (in the UK) for a few years she went on to study and trained as a teacher. From the 90s she spent many years working in secondary education, although she’s also had numerous other part time jobs. A frustrated architect/builder, L.E. Luttrell has spent much of her adult life moving house and wielding various tools while renovating properties.

L.E. Luttrell currently lives in Merseyside England, but also spends time travelling between Liverpool, Wales (UK) and Australia when there is not a Covid crisis.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leluttrell
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LLuttrellauthor
Website: http://www.lelutrell.com

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1112086
Amazon: http://mybook.to/thephotograph
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1592318242
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165066092
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781786455086
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781786455086&language=0

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