Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 212

Blog Tour: BENEATH BLACKWATER RIVER by Leslie Wolfe

 

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Beneath Blackwater River

Detective Kay Sharp Book 2

by Leslie Wolfe

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

“Have you ever read a book that was so suspenseful and intriguing that you didn’t do anything but read it till you were finished? This is that book. I started it and finished in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down!!… SO thrilling and kept me on the edge of my seat! Loved it!!!” NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

She looked beautiful, her hair drifting freely in the water, a small locket floating by her face, attached to her neck with a silver chain. Her red lips were gently parted, as if to let her final breath escape…

When Detective Kay Sharp first left Mount Chester—population 3,823—in her rear-view mirror, she promised never to look back. The town only contained bad memories and dark secrets. But when a brutal crime surfaces, she finds herself home once more, and this time she’s not going anywhere.

Kay is called to Blackwater River, where the body of a seventeen-year-old girl has been found. Surrounded by snowy peaks and a forest alive with the colors of fall, the victim floats in the water, a hand-carved locket around her neck.

The locket seems strangely familiar. Digging into cold cases, Kay discovers that three-year-old Rose Harrelson was wearing it when she vanished fourteen years ago. In the middle of the night, the little girl’s bedroom—with Mickey Mouse on the wall and a hanging baby mobile—was suddenly empty. The unsolved case still haunts the town.

But the teenager they have found has been dead for only a few hours. If the girl in the river is Rose, where has she been, and who has been hiding her all this time? If she is someone else, why is she wearing the locket, and what happened to the missing child from all those years ago?

Kay knows she must solve the kidnapping in order to untangle the mystery of the dead body. As she unearths a web of lies and deceit spun for decades, the close-knit community will never be the same. And Kay will find herself facing a truly terrifying killer…

A totally gripping page-turner that should come with a health warning! Be warned: you’ll lose sleep and your heart will race like crazy as you read twist after twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Kendra Elliot.

Goodreads* Amazon

Don't miss the first Detective Kay Sharp book, The Girl From Silent Lake!

Goodreads* Amazon

Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.

Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. Since then, she has written many more, continuing to break down barriers of traditional thrillers. Her style of fast-paced suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology, has made Leslie one of the most read authors in the genre and she has created an array of unforgettable, brilliant and strong women heroes along the way.

A recently released standalone and an addictive, heart-stopping psychological thriller, The Girl You Killed will appeal to fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, or Little Fires Everywhere. Reminiscent of the television drama Criminal Minds, her series of books featuring the fierce and relentless FBI Agent Tess Winnett would be of great interest to readers of James Patterson, Melinda Leigh, and David Baldacci crime thrillers. Fans of Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni suspenseful mysteries would love the Las Vegas Crime series, featuring the tension-filled relationship between Baxter and Holt. Finally, her Alex Hoffmann series of political and espionage action adventure will enthrall readers of Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Lee Child.

Leslie has received much acclaim for her work, including inquiries from Hollywood, and her books offer something that is different and tangible, with readers becoming invested in not only the main characters and plot but also with the ruthless minds of the killers she creates.

A complete list of Leslie’s titles is available at LeslieWolfe.com/books.

Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you. Become an insider: gain early access to previews of Leslie’s new novels.

Website* Facebook * Twitter * Instagram* Bookbub* Amazon* Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Book Blast: DIVORCE BUCKET LIST by Jennifer Harris

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jennifer Harris 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.

Divorce Bucket List is a practical and heartfelt guide that effortlessly blends meaningful exercises and reflections with author Jennifer’s personal experiences through the trials and challenges of divorce. Written as a way to empower others to rebuild their lives as they work through the trauma of a divorce, this illuminating guide explores Jennifer’s harrowing journey through divorce, revealing her creation of her Divorce Bucket List – and how it helped her emerge into a happier, healthier, and more emotionally fulfilling chapter of her life.

Perfect for anyone who feels lost, alone, or broken as they struggle through divorce, Divorce Bucket List will help you rediscover yourself and your values, overcome your fear of the future, and learn to love again. With a blend of real-life anecdotes, reflections, and exercises to encourage you to apply a Divorce Bucket List to your unique situation, Jennifer’s story will inspire you to move past your divorce and make the most of this exciting new time in your life.

Read an Excerpt

Don't forget to take some time to appreciate the journey as you go through your divorce or separation. If you're having one of the most challenging days or are experiencing conflict that you think you can't get through, then take a step back and look at it and say, “I am so grateful for this part of my journey, because I'm going to learn something from it.” I want you to look at your entire journey, be grateful for all of it, and know that you can learn something from every single thing you experience through this journey. You are going to come through stronger, and you are going to be even better. You're going to rebuild. You're going to flourish. You're going to thrive.

Don't forget to appreciate the moments. Look at things outside of the moment as you go through it, so that when you are at the point where you feel on top of the world when everything has finally recovered, you've rebuilt again, and you're happy, you will have those memories to know how you got to where you are. You will put your own crown back on as you fall in love with yourself and life again, and maybe, just maybe, you can even help one other person do the same by showing them it can be done.

I want to leave you, the reader—and now my friend—with what I said at the end of that speech in London in hopes that it touches you. No matter where you are in your divorce or separation journey, I want you to know that you are not alone, there is hope, and you can truly thrive in your wildest dreams on the other side. You might be only considering a divorce, you might be in the middle of a messy one, your divorce might be finalized—and you’re ready to move on, or anywhere in between. Wherever your journey currently is, the rest of your book is up to you. It’s up to you to take action, and when you use the tools that I’ve given you and implement your own Divorce Bucket List, I know you will be able to find joy and peace as I, and many others, have.



About the Author: Jennifer Harris is an author, speaker, divorce coach, and the creator of the Divorce Bucket List. After experiencing her own traumatic marriage and divorce, she went on to become a highly trained and certified Confidence & Transformation Divorce Coach. With over ten years of coaching experience, she’s passionate about sharing her story of the grief and trauma she experienced and how she developed the Divorce Bucket List to help her move forward. Jennifer is dedicated to inspiring others to achieve their desired outcomes through divorce and rebuild their lives to emerge from their separations into happier, healthier chapters of their lives. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her two wonderful boys.

http://www.DivorceBucketList.com
For More Resources or To Work with Jenn: http://www.Divideguide.com
http://www.Facebook.com/DivideGuideJenn
http://www.instagram.com/DivideGuideJenn
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC5hAyDVsWpT91lMzDPq69w
https://www.tiktok.com/divideguidejenn

The book is on sale for only $0.99.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Divorce-Bucket-List-Powerful-Self-Discovery-ebook/dp/B09HW7H2M1/
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Book Blast: LADY AND THE TRIBE by Brenda Billings Ridgley

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.Brenda Billings Ridgley 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.

Wives, mothers, and career women—we have all fallen victim to the silent epidemic that is, literally . . . letting ourselves go. Not the makeup free, yoga pants, weight gain routine. Little by little, we have allowed our preferences, interests, and individuality to slip away until we no longer recognize ourselves outside of our role as wives, mothers, or professionals. Who we are has become what we do.

In the process, our friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. We have a gaping hole inside us that longs to be filled. How do we reclaim who we really are and fill this empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere? The answer lies in our Tribe. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, and counselors—always in our corner. They are the branches of our tree of life that lift and support us, so we can flourish. Our Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life . . . with no strings attached.

Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. As you read, you’ll be swept away on a journey of friendship as the author shares her own personal stories and those of other women. In the process, you’ll discover how to find, nurture, and deepen friendships and create a Tribe culture that is unique to you.

We can become whole again through the power of connection.

When three or more gather, we are Tribe.

Read an Excerpt

Loneliness Can Be Lethal

Since we live in this global, socially connected world, how is it possible for anyone to be lonely? Psychologically speaking, loneliness does not necessitate social isolation. Being lonely means feeling detached from others yet having the desire for a connection or a relationship.

Why is loneliness so lethal? As human beings, one of our greatest needs is to be seen, acknowledged, and cared for. We want to belong and be a part of something larger than ourselves. More so than men, women need to maintain close connections. Relationships increase serotonin and oxytocin, the bonding hormone. In times of stress, women don’t just experience the drive toward fight or flight—they also release oxytocin. This hormone surge can compel women to “tend and befriend.”

Research is clear. Close friendships are necessary for optimal health and well-being. A longitudinal study of aging found that strong social networks lengthen survival among older people. Dr. Amir Leving suggests that social connections are the most powerful way for us to regulate our emotional distress and that proximity to someone you are securely attached to is the most effective way to calm yourself.

An article in the New York Times reported that close relationships create positive mental and physical reactions in our body, mind, and heart. We are less likely to experience high levels of loneliness when we feel supported by intimate and close relationships. Strong relationships with close friends or family benefit us greatly and fulfil our social needs.

About the Author: BRENDA RIDGLEY is an author, speaker, and girlfriend guru who loves helping women connect, find success, and discover joy through friendship. Her mission is to start a movement: women coming together to build thousands of new Lady Tribes around the globe. Through her workshops, vlogs, blogs, and book clubs, Brenda helps women connect and communicate with respect, love, and trust. She holds an MA in human resources and has spent decades cultivating her own Tribe. A Colorado girl at heart, Brenda lives in the Carbon Valley area with her husband, Parker, two kids, Parker Jr. and Gillian, and pooch, Perry. She enjoys hiking and has conquered Longs Peak and several other 14’ers.

To connect with Brenda, visit her website at http://www.BrendaRidgley.com
Invite Brenda to speak at your next event: mailto:brenda@brendaridgley.com
Order: Lady and the Tribe - https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Tribe-Empowering-Friendship-Circles/dp/1737289709

Subscribe:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BrendaRidgley
Podcast: https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/the-connection-connoisseur,3341/
Blog: https://www.brendaridgley.com/blog

Follow:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendaridgley/
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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BrendaRidgley

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Blog Tour: SAND, SALT, AND SPIRITS by Kathryn Hills

 

Sand, Salt, and Spirits

by Kathryn Hills

 

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GENRE:   Romance / Halloween / Contemporary

 

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BLURB:

 

Can a weekend visit to Last Chance Beach undo decades of brokenhearted memories? Conjuring up some island magic might just be their trick. Or treat!

Kyle Worthington hasn’t returned to Last Chance Beach in years. He’s worked hard to prove himself to his overbearing father and the rest of the world. Now it’s October, and the vacation island paradise is celebrating the season with an island-wide Fall Festival. Family obligation demands he participate. Everyone will be there, including the ghost that haunts his grandparents’ B&B.

The running joke that Kyle never sticks with anything—not a career or a woman—will continue to plague him. Unless he brings a knockout of a date to the weekend-long event. Cassandra Corwin fits the bill perfectly. Kyle’s had his eye on his brilliant, beautiful coworker since day one. But Cassie is an enigma, a loner. There’s no room in her life for anyone except Odin, her goofball of a Great Dane.

Will this woman of mystery agree to Kyle’s scheme to impress his family? Can two near strangers from opposite worlds survive family gatherings and back-to-back Halloween events while pretending to be a couple? Kyle’s father seems hell-bent on derailing everything before they even shout “Boo!”

Or will the island’s magic prove too powerful for them to resist?

 

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Excerpt One:

 

 

Cassie snatched up her purse from the coffee table and dug through it until she found his business card. Her fingertip slid over the expensive linen-like cardstock, his name and title embossed in slate blue. Kyle S. Worthington, Senior Sales Representative. Even his card screams class and old money. The polar opposite of who she was and where she came from.

 

The other night at the restaurant, Kyle had been the only one wearing a two-hundred-dollar shirt, starched and meticulously ironed. With cufflinks. Okay…so he’d ditched the tie, but no doubt, it too likely cost more than she spent on groceries in a week.

 

Dare I consider his offer to visit Last Chance Beach? Odin whined and tipped his regal-looking head.

 

“What are you suggesting, big guy? You don’t even know the man. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever met. Certainly not like anyone I’ve ever…dated.”

 

Cassie scowled when the dog continued to stare as if judging her.  Was it necessarily a bad thing that Kyle S. Worthington was different from any of her exes?

 

 

 

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Review: A weekend at Last Chance Beach—“a vacation island paradise where dreams go to live again and love is found when it’s least expected.”  Can it put the magic on two co-workers that have had their eye on each other?

For Kyle, the top salesman, work and money were all that mattered. But don’t say that to his country-lovin’, old-fashioned grandma, who thought he needed much more. He never intended to put out the fake girlfriend story on the family, but…he did. Now Cassie and Kyle were playing make-believe.

As the two navigate through the small-town festivities of fall and Halloween, they can’t help but wonder if this may be real instead.

Story has an easy narrative—descriptive and lively—that engages the reader overall; however, it does take a long while to get through all the community events and all the people.

A nice romantic read!

Rating: 3.5 stars 

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

The rich history and many mysteries of New England are the perfect backdrop for many of KATHRYN’s books. Winding roads lined by old stone walls, forgotten cemeteries, grand homes with shadowy pasts...all sparks for her imagination. Whether it’s a quaint seaside town or the vibrant city of Boston, it’s easy for this “hauntingly romantic” author to envision the past mingling with the present. No surprise, some of Kathryn’s favorite stories include ghosts! Sprinkle in some magic, and you’re off on a great adventure.

 

When not writing, this best-selling author is reading, researching, gardening, or cooking up something special in her chaotic kitchen. She shares her colonial home in the north woods with those she loves most – her wonderful husband, daughter, and three crazy dogs.

 

Find Kathryn Hills Online

 

* Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon Author Page* BookBub

 

Website: http://www.kathrynhills.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKathrynH

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Hills/e/B01LBDCVVU

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathryn-hills

 

Buy Link – Sand, Salt, and Spirits – Last Chance Beach Romance by Kathryn Hills

 

https://books2read.com/u/bQJo5Z

 

The book will be $0.99.

 

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GIVEAWAY:

 

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

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Blurb Blitz: GNOME ALONE by Kirsten Weiss

 

Gnome Alone

by Kirsten Weiss

 

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GENRE: Cozy Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

Christmas is coming… and so is murder…

 

It’s holiday season in small-town Doyle, and the town is pivoting from UFO tourism to Bigfoot Days. For Susan Witsend, the owner of a UFO-themed B&B, this presents a conundrum.

 

But when Bigfoot is blamed for a mass garden gnome theft, control-freak Susan is drafted to track down the kidnapped gnomes. And then the holiday season hits another sour note with the murder of a member of her caroling group. Are Susan’s organization skills up to juggling missing gnomes and tracking down a killer in time to ring in the festivities?

 

Because as Susan unwraps motives and alibis, she finds herself adding more names to the naughty list. She may have to face some hard truths about her own limits and about just how far a not-so-jolly killer will go…

 

Gnome Alone is book five in the laugh-out-loud Wits’ End mystery series. A fast-paced and funny cozy mystery, packed with quirky characters, pets, and murder, it’s perfect for fans of Jana DeLeon, Janet Evanovich, and Donna Andrews. Beam up this hilarious cozy mystery and start reading today.

 

Susan’s Bigfoot Investigation Protocol at the back of the book!

 

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Excerpt One:

 

“Bigfoot's been messing with our garden gnomes.” Mr. Gomez’s brows drew down in a glower.

 

I studied the three elderly men, bundled in parkas and fur-lined boots. Bracing one mittened hand on Mr. Gomez’s mudroom wall, I knocked more snow off my boots. “Ah... I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with that.”

 

Mr. Gomez’s frown deepened, his round face crinkling above his red scarf. His snowy hair stuck up in fierce licks, like an incoming mountain blizzard. “You're a detective, Susan, aren't you?”

 

“No, I'm really just nosy.” Okay. I was being modest. I was a crack amateur detective, and I'd helped our local sheriff solve several murders. But I don’t like to brag.

 

Though news about my prowess as an investigator had clearly spread through small-town Doyle. After so many successes, it was bound to happen. And we were going to be late for caroling practice if we didn’t move soon.

 

“Garden gnomes should be no problem for a bright young thing like you,” Mr. Gomez said. “This is serious. What if Bigfoot was the one who broke into that house last month on Sequoia Street? That's only six blocks away.”

 

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Bigfoot. Of course. In a fit of madness, our small town had decided that decorating for the holidays wasn't enough. We had to layer something called Bigfoot Days on top of the season. If I saw another Bigfoot Santa hat, I thought I might scream.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop. Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon -> https://www.amazon.com/Gnome-Alone-Laugh-out-loud-Cozy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B097LTCHV4

 

Apple Books -> https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1583810970

 

Nook -> https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162230137

 

Google Play -> https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kirsten_Weiss_Gnome_Alone?id=8C84EAAAQBAJ

 

Kobo -> https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/gnome-alone

 

 

Other links:

 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kirsten.weiss/

Instagram: @KirstenWeissAuthor

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/kirsten-weiss

Twitter: @kirstenweiss

Website: https://kirstenweiss.com

 

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GIVEAWAY:

 

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

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Book Blast: STARTING OVER by Wendi Zwaduk

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Wendi Zwaduk will be awarding a prize pack with 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.

Music soothes Levon Blackfoot’s soul. He lives for the rush of the crowd and the high of performing, but something’s missing. The music he loves isn’t working. It’s time to make some changes.
br> Good thing it’s almost the New Year, the Haudeshaun. There’s no better a time to evaluate and pursue the woman he loves—Callie.
br> Callie King has loved Levon since the moment they met, but a misunderstanding destroyed their relationship. If she can open her heart, they can have a second chance. She loves and needs him.
br> Maybe Haudeshaun is the perfect time to get what she wants—Levon.
br> Two broken people with a chance to start over at Haudeshaun—if they’re willing to try.

Read an Excerpt
br> ©WendiZwaduk, 2021 All Rights Reserved

“Callie?” Levon tilted his head and half-smiled. “What is it about you that makes me want to forget this life and just be with you?”

“My animal magnetism?”

“Probably,” he murmured. “What did I do that made you hate me?”

“I don’t hate you.” She could be evasive when she wanted to—like right now.

He nodded. “Salina?”

She tensed and pressed her lips together. Salina had a lot to do with why she couldn’t be alone with him. “She’s part of it.”

“Cards on the table,” Levon said. “I never slept with her. Never wanted to. That night in Dallas, she followed me to my room. Said she wanted to meet Haven and I believed her. All she wanted was to bed one of us. Didn’t matter which.”

She’d heard this before.

“She told everyone we slept together because it gave her credibility,” he said. “But we didn’t. She saw your photo in my guitar case and knew there was no chance. She told me to pay her a grand and she’d forget ever being in my room. When I said no, she told everyone we slept together.”

Callie knew most of those details, too—all except the thing about the photo. “I saw you kiss her.” The memory had been imprinted on her mind and tore at her heart.

“You saw a misunderstanding and a woman who wanted to hurt you. She did that just to piss you off and it worked.” Levon held both of her hands. “I don’t know what you’re not telling me, but those are my truths. I love you, Callie Mae King. Have since we met.”
br> About the Author: 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 BDSM 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 the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage 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.

Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Sign up for the newsletter here: 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 Link: Free on Kindle Unlimited or $.99 to buy!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096KX5BZ7/

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Blog Tour: PARTNER PURSUIT by Kathy Strobos

 

Partner Pursuit

by Kathy Strobos

 

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GENRE:   women's fiction with romance/romcom/chicklit

 

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BLURB:

 

When a workaholic lawyer meets a fun-loving music marketing executive for opposites attract, friends-to-lovers adventures, which partnership will she choose?

Workaholic lawyer Audrey Willems is not going to take any chances with her bid to become a partner at her New York law firm—especially with only six months until the decision.

Until she bumps into Jake—her new neighbor.

Jake is a fun-loving music marketing executive who might just be The One.

He’s funny, caring, supportive—and able to kill water bugs in the bathroom.

But Jake will never date a woman married to her job. His father was a workaholic lawyer who never had time for family.

And she’s just got the case of a lifetime—the one she needs to win to make partner.  Working 24/7 at the office may not even be enough hours to pull off a victory.

If only she had not met him now.

Audrey is determined to prove that she can juggle
work and romance—even if managing court cases, candlelit dinners, and bike rides around Manhattan is a lot harder than it looks.  She keeps canceling dates for yet another case crisis.

But when making partner is like a game of musical chairs and the last seat is a business-class alone, which partnership will she choose?

 

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Excerpt One:

 

Jacket on the back of the chair. Check.

 

Desk light on. Check.

 

Now, Ms. Willems, your mission, should you choose to accept it: Get out of the office on the sly. Audrey snorted silently at her own badly-played movie line. She stuffed the Save the Children t-shirt she’d gotten from a Central Park Zoo benefit in her Tory Burch brown leather satchel, added as many legal pads as could fit, and plumped the bag to look like it held at least four case files. She casually leaned the bag against the side of her desk, in view of her open office door.

 

The excited chatter of the exiting assistants filled the hallway. She typed up the Popflicks engagement letter and then entered Popflicks as a new client into the law firm database. Yes. Her pulse quickened.

 

The office was now quiet. She put an uncapped red pen in the middle of a legal pad on her desk. It looked like she’d be right back. The scene called for something more. If only she had a permanently steaming cup of tea. She poured a bottle of water into a glass.

 

She should depart boldly, but leaving early was frowned upon by the partnership powers-that-be. They might even think she needed another assignment. She definitely did not. She had just landed Popflicks. She had stayed until 11 p.m. every night this week. Okay, so I’m not always very good at saying no. But now was not the time to say no to a partner—not when she’d been working so hard for seven years, her life on hold. Now that she was in the homestretch, she could practically see “Audrey Willemson, Partner,” embossed on her law firm’s business card.

 

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Review: Audrey is a typical working girl with an aim to make partner at her law firm by a certain time, hence, the title, “Partner Pursuit.”

Story carried a nice narrative, but it was rather slow for my taste. I found the character admirable and respectable, but not quite as amusing. The story had a pleasant romantic element and some mildly amusing anecdotes, but it just didn’t engage me as much.

It’s a decent read though.

Rating: 3 stars

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Kathy Strobos is a writer living in New York City with her husband and two children, amid a growing collection of books, toys and dollhouses. She grew up in New York City and graduated from Stuyvesant High School and Harvard-Radcliffe University magna cum laude. She previously worked as a lawyer. She left law to pursue her dream of writing fiction full-time and getting in shape. She is still working on getting in shape.

www.kathystrobos.com

Facebook: @kathystrobosrewrites

Instagram: kathystroboswriter

Twitter: @kathystrobos

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Partner-Pursuit-feel-good-fiction-Friendship-ebook/dp/B09GD8V4RS/

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GIVEAWAY :

 

Kathy Strobos will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: CHRISTMAS COOKIES ON A CRUISE SHIP by Parker Fairchild

 

Christmas Cookies on a Cruise Ship

by Parker Fairchild

 

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GENRE:   Contemporary Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Chemist and budding romance writer Olivia Chasen is on a cruise to avoid spending Christmas with her beautiful twin sister and new fiancé—Olivia’s ex. Now, thanks to her lonely, intoxicated ramblings on Santa’s lap, her fellow passengers think she’s in love with a fictional character.

Former Navy SEAL Commander Jace Morse has dealt with plenty of unusual situations in his career, but he’s never had the honor, the pleasure, or the privilege of being a beautiful and intelligent woman’s fantasy hero come to life. While he hasn’t officially met the sexy chemist, he’s sure eager to explore the chemistry that’s sizzling between them.
Bringing the charming SEAL together with the skeptical Olivia is going to take more than just Christmas cookies and a little help from Mrs. Claus; it’s gonna take a heaping dose of Christmas magic.

 

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Excerpt One:

 

“Dr. Olivia Chasen,” Santa’s jolly baritone popped her mental fuzzy bubble.

 

She stopped as she struggled to whirl around. “Me?” She touched her chest with a dramatic flourish she didn’t know she possessed.

           

A powerful spotlight illuminated her; its heat burned her already flushed face. She pressed a clammy palm to her chest. “How do you know my name?” The haze in her mind was paralyzing all cognitive function.

 

“My dear girl,” Santa chuckled, “you should know by now that Santa knows everything and everyone,” he tapped an index finger to his temple.

 

Santa Claus turned to address the waiting line. “Girls, Boys, Moms, Dads, everyone, if you don't mind waiting for a brief moment, I'd like for Olivia,” he pointed a white gloved finger at her, “to please come up here on stage, and tell me what she wants for Christmas.”

 

She stood dumbfounded as the audience and the people in line clapped and chanted her name,

 

“Olivia! Olivia! Olivia!”

 

Oh no! What was she going to do? She couldn’t possibly go up onto that stage. She was far too shy to address a theater full of people. But if she didn’t go that would be so unexciting and so like the old Olivia. But she wasn't unexciting! She was the new Olivia, and she was exciting! And she wanted to have fun! Correction: She was determined to have fun. Besides, she’d never see these people—her fellow passengers—ever again.

 

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Review: Christmas on a cruise. Surrounded by joy and cheer. Sounds perfect…if you had someone. But Olivia just felt empty and alone.

If she could have anything in the world for Christmas, what would it be? That was the question by the cruise-ship Santa on-board. Her wish was for the fictional hero of her romance novel.

I was enjoying the story set-up up until it started taking a strange turn. Seriously what was that whole story from Mrs. Claus and Christmas, Michigan? And how did Jace come into play?

Suddenly things started coming into question with more questions that answers. Some of the things were sounding kind of kooky.

In order for her to get her wish, she needed to believe in the magic of Christmas. But was this the true magic of Christmas or a matchmaking scheme by a cruise-ship employee in a Santa suit?

Overall, the read was nice. The narrative was witty and fairly charming, and, the ultimately, the story brings you into the spirit of Christmas.

 

Rating: 3 stars

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Parker Fairchild is a model, social media copywriter, and freelance writer with multiple writing credits. A Virginia native, she and her husband had their own shipboard romance as they met on a cruise ship tender in Maui, and as her mom is fond of saying, "they haven't stopped talking since." When she's not busy playing with words, she loves spending time with her husband and family in Arizona where she now resides.

BUY LINKS:

 

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1053799

 

Book Funnel:

 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/35n90bm

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cookies-Cruise-Parker-Fairchild-ebook/dp/B08N8P1G1P

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-cookies-on-a-cruise-ship-parker-fairchild/1138219874?ean=2940162822363

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-cookies-on-a-cruise-ship

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Parker_Fairchild_Christmas_Cookies_on_a_Cruise_Shi?id=vUQIEAAAQBAJ

 

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1053799

ITUNES: https://books.apple.com/us/book/christmas-cookies-on-a-cruise-ship/id1539983816

 

AISN: B08N8P1G1P

EAN: 2940162822363

KOBO ID: christmas-cookies-on-a-cruise-ship

Google ID: vUQIEAAAQBAJ

 

 

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GIVEAWAY :

 

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

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Blurb Blitz: THE COMPANY OF STONEMASONS by Graham Williams

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Graham Williams will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN 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 summer of 1545 and there’s murder in the Cathedral of Chichester. An honest family of stonemasons heads to the city to repair the building only to find the massive spire is in danger of collapse and they’re walking into a plot to steal taxes from King Henry VIII.

Stonemason’s teenage sons, Edward and the artistic prodigy, Adam hear stories of the Chichester diamond, buried somewhere in the cathedral and start their own search, not knowing the powerful evil that surrounds them.

A true thriller, filled with danger and humour, stonemasons working at terrifying heights and amongst all the friars and priests, who can they really trust?

Read a sample from the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Company-Stonemasons-Chichester-Diamond-Book-ebook/dp/B08SFWBRZN



About the Author: Being retired, I have the time now to write and tell stories. I am registered as blind, and I am profoundly dyslexic, and I rely on the wonders of technology to bring out my stories, and to live. I spend many hours walking around London, as this is where I find most of my inspiration from. The places; sounds and smells of the city, I have a love for. To know one's history is to know one's self. I hope you enjoy them.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Graham-Williams/e/B088397H17
Website: https://grahamwbooks.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Graham-Williams-Books-101571254541311

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Company-Stonemasons-Chichester-Diamond-Book-ebook/dp/B08SFWBRZN/ref=sr_1_5

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Question of the Day with Leslie Wolfe

 

Q: What do you think is the most difficult scene for authors to write and why?

A: The most successful pieces of fiction come from the confluence of what we know best and what we feel most passionate about. That’s no secret. Take Michael Crichton, for example. He was a medical doctor, passionate about medicine and the many facets of human nature. At the same time, he was a sci-fi enthusiast, and most of his best-selling titles come from the conjunction of these two worlds: medicine and sci-fi.

Consequently, I believe we struggle most with writing things we either don’t know that much about or don’t feel that passionate enough about. Or both. However, in modern penmanship, there’s another area that causes authors some grief: lack of visibility into one’s audiences, demographics, preferences, and, finally, Amazon’s procedures.

To me, personally, that area is writing sex scenes. The reason for it being difficult for me to write is the many questions around it that I have no answers for. As a crime writer, how “hot” can I make my sex scenes without offending my average crime reader? Without tripping Amazon’s artificial intelligence screeners and dooming my book to be restricted as “adult only” material?

I pushed the envelope with Glimpse of Death, a serial killer thriller I released a few years back, and to date, I’m not sure if the adult content didn’t hurt it more than helped. It sold well, has one of the highest star ratings (4.6) from my entire list, but it’s the uncertainty that bothers me.

I believe many authors struggle in this area, and some, myself included but only sometimes, opt out of it, skipping over sex scenes and steamy romance altogether. But the thing is, to become wholesome in the craft of writing, we must learn to command the areas where we struggle, at least to a level of proficiency that is satisfying to our readers. And for that, practice makes perfect.

Happy writing!

 - Leslie Wolfe, author of The Girl You Killed

·        Link to my latest release, The Girl You Killed, https://bit.ly/GYKpsych

·       Leslie Wolfe website:  https://lesliewolfe.com