Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 214
October 16, 2021
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It's Time for Review! Will review ONE randomly drawn book (ANY GENRE) submitted with this form
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Oct 18
Review: A TOUGH CASE TO CRACK by Cindy Bell
Kerri just bought a nut shop and is currently renovating it. After lifting some floor boards, she finds a stack of money. Could this have had anything to do with the previous owner’s break-in and murder? Was this evidence in finding the killer? Should Kerri worry? Her worries become even worse when the dead body of the carpenter is found in Kerri’s shop. Could the two deaths be related? Well, one thing’s for sure: she couldn’t open shop until the murder was solved.
A report, a former spy, and a nut baker were on the case.
This was a cute, cozy mystery. There was a little too much with the squirrel and the nuts. It almost made me think that Kerri was nuts. Not as quirky as I would’ve liked it to be. It was more on serious spy detecting than actual detective work. But it was an okay read overall.
My rating: 3 stars
Review: A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK by Cindy Bell
Kerri just bought a nut shop and is currently renovating it. After lifting some floor boards, she finds a stack of money. Could this have had anything to do with the previous owner’s break-in and murder? Was this evidence in finding the killer? Should Kerri worry? Her worries become even worse when the dead body of the carpenter is found in Kerri’s shop. Could the two deaths be related? Well, one thing’s for sure: she couldn’t open shop until the murder was solved.
A report, a former spy, and a nut baker were on the case.
This was a cute, cozy mystery. There was a little too much with the squirrel and the nuts. It almost made me think that Kerri was nuts. Not as quirky as I would’ve liked it to be. It was more on serious spy detecting than actual detective work. But it was an okay read overall.
My rating: 3 stars
Review: NEVER REPLY ALL by Dan Friedman
“Get rid of her.” Those were the words Emily wasn’t supposed to see in an email. Was she being fired? Or was she being killed?
This had an interesting premise, but it doesn’t dive right into the issue right away. First, we have to hear about the FBI agent’s movie outing and how he met his wife—things that weren’t essential to the story. It has a nice narrative, but it’s not fast enough. Meanwhile, Emily is freaking out about the email with too many what-if questions. Again, it’s not diving right into the mystery.
Okay, but not a thrilling thriller.
Rating: 3 stars
Review: THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR by Steven Ramirez
For years, Sarah Greene kept seeing her dead friend from high school. The spirit told Sarah that she was in danger.
It started off nice, but it gets into some long and useless narrative. It made it hard to keep going. Not as interesting as I thought.
Rating: 2 stars
Review: THE FOG LADIES by Susan McCormick
Too many characters are rattled off right away, which was off-putting right from the start. I hate it when a lot of names are thrown at you and you have to know a little something about everyone. That’s strike one.
So, basically, we have a bunch of old people dying in this story (not enough if you ask me.) But why was there so much useless narrative?
I thought this would be an interesting mystery, but it lags too much and lost me right away.
My rating: 1 star
Review: WHO SHE WAS by Braylee Parkinson
Sylvia Wilcox, a former cop-turned-P.I, takes on the case of a doctor’s murdered wife.
At first, her sleuthing was slow and methodical. She goes over all the possible theories and it all came down to who she really was—the person that no one, not even her husband, knew about.
Story had an interesting premise with a nice narrative, but the whole thing is rather slow.
An okay read.
Rating: 3 stars
October 15, 2021
Blog Tour: THE GIRL IN THE '67 BEETLE by Linda Lenhoff
The Girl in the '67 Beetle
by Linda Lenhoff
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
The art director of Kids Press, Amy Shepherd has been assigned to reinvent the story of Goldilocks, and she finds her own life reflecting a similar tale. Will she fall for a man who’s a little too old (but exciting), a man who’s a little too young (but awfully exciting looking), or a man who’s just right, at least as far as her friends are concerned? Or will she bring Goldilocks’ story—and her own—up to date with a little help from high-technology and the Goldilocks Planet theory? Amy will have to decide how her own tale will end, all the while driving her beloved powder blue convertible through the streets of Santa Monica, where she has become known as the Girl in the ’67 Beetle, the only thing in her life that, so far at least, feels just right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt Two:
Working at Kids Press in Santa Monica, California,
does not mean that I have to wear primary colors
or polka dot jumpers, but it does have its perks,
one of them being that if I did show up in primary colors or
a polka dot jumper, no one would much care. I am the Co-
Director of Artistic Endeavors, according to my boss, a cheerful
entrepreneur named Nelson. My title is even printed on my
business cards, which I always forget to carry, maybe because
they’re shaped like little artist’s palettes. There is of course
another Co-Director of Artistic Endeavors named Chris (short
for Christopher, which he doesn’t much like being called),
who’s about my age. I have heard him use his full title when
he answers his phone, saying “This is Chris, Co-Director of
Artistic Endeavors.” Sometimes, he even adds, “What would
you like to fingerpaint today?” He gets quite a few hang-ups,
but maybe that’s his intent. I usually tell people I’m the co-art
director and leave it at that. I leave most of the phone answering
to Chris, anyway. It’s a thing with him.
“Ugh,” I hear from the front of the office, meaning our
administrative assistant and all-around super helpful person,
Kelly, has arrived. She’s about twenty-two and has blonde
surfer girl looks she cannot stand about herself, which those of
us whose blonde hair isn’t quite so light and shiny anymore just
can’t understand. Kelly lives out in the Valley, and although
it isn’t that far if you’re a bird flying directly—a big strong
bird, say—it can take an age to get here on the cracked, hot
freeway, given that every single other person in L.A. drives a
car, too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: The character’s voice is witty, candid, and a bit OCD. The whole thing is told in a diary- style narrative. It had some amusing quips and scenarios, but there really wasn’t much more to it than that. It was all about the girl in the 67’ beetle. It would seem that this was your typical adult coming-of-age. You have your kooky characters, your crazy job, your jibes, and your enjoyable anecdotes.
A nice read overall.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Linda Lenhoff has worked in publishing as a writer and editor for several years, having edited nearly everything from makeup techniques (apply blush up and over the “apples” of your cheeks) at Seventeen Magazine to migraine studies (cut back on that chocolate) at research institutes. She has earned an MFA in Creative.
Writing, and her next novel, *Your Actual Life May Vary, will be published in 2022. Linda lives in California’s Bay Area with her husband and daughter. Contact Linda at (925) 784-9393, lenhoff@informativity.com,
https://lindalattelessons.wordpress.com. Author photo by Haley Nelson.
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-67-Beetle-novel-Lenhoff-ebook/dp/B0977M7ZNT/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY :
Linda Lenhoff will be awarding one printed copy book or a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 14, 2021
Blog Tour: GOODNIGHT SWOGG THE SILLY FROG by Grump C
Goodnight Swogg the Silly Frog
by Grump C
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Children's
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Goodnight Swogg the Silly Frog was created from a proud grandfather's – Grump C's – dream. This is the first of Grump C's stories about Swogg and his ten friends who all live most happily in a beautiful bog called Skunk Hollow. The cleverness, creativity, and passion Swogg shows for his friends will hopefully delight, amaze, and inspire you and your children. If your child had a tough day, needs a laugh, or occasionally has troubles falling asleep – this is exactly what Swogg the Silly Frog and his ten friends do best!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
Deep in Skunk Hollow, Swogg
the Silly Frog lived most
happily in a Bubbly Bog...
...with his ten best friends:
Lucky Bucky Beaver, Eenie
Meanie Earthworm, Glow
the Rainbow Trout, Speedy
the Snail, Pinchy the Crayfish, Twinkles
the Tadpole, Einstein the Blue Heron, Aunt
Myrtle the Turtle, Crazy Cousin Cricket,
and Mighty Minnow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My review: Meet Swogg, the silly frog, who lives in the pond with the rest of the swamp creatures. One night, Swogg realized how noisy the place was and couldn’t sleep…until an idea came.
A cute, little story with such vibrant, fun, and colorful illustrations!
My rating: 4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Mark Cooley, or Grump C, had a vivid dream that compelled him to write his first story, Goodnight Swogg the Silly Frog, for his three grandchildren, Hadley, Tommy and Ella.
Caring and sharing are truly wonderful traits Grandpa Carl, Grump C and Silly Swogg all consider of utmost importance. The profits from this effort will go to CORAL – Coral Reef Alliance and WWF World Wildlife Foundation.
We sincerely hope that Swogg the Silly Frog and his ten friends can inspire and amuse children across the world.
CONNECT WITH MARK
WEBSITE: https://swoggthefrog.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/swoggthefrog/
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON
https://amazon.com/dp/0228828554
BOOKSHOP
https://bookshop.org/books/goodnight-...
INDIGO CHAPTERS
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
BARNES & NOBLE
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good...
BOOK DEPOSITORY
https://www.bookdepository.com/Goodni...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY:
Grump C will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayBlog Tour: GOODNIGHT SWOGG THE SILLY FRONG by Grump C
Goodnight Swogg the Silly Frog
by Grump C
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Children's
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Goodnight Swogg the Silly Frog was created from a proud grandfather's – Grump C's – dream. This is the first of Grump C's stories about Swogg and his ten friends who all live most happily in a beautiful bog called Skunk Hollow. The cleverness, creativity, and passion Swogg shows for his friends will hopefully delight, amaze, and inspire you and your children. If your child had a tough day, needs a laugh, or occasionally has troubles falling asleep – this is exactly what Swogg the Silly Frog and his ten friends do best!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
Deep in Skunk Hollow, Swogg
the Silly Frog lived most
happily in a Bubbly Bog...
...with his ten best friends:
Lucky Bucky Beaver, Eenie
Meanie Earthworm, Glow
the Rainbow Trout, Speedy
the Snail, Pinchy the Crayfish, Twinkles
the Tadpole, Einstein the Blue Heron, Aunt
Myrtle the Turtle, Crazy Cousin Cricket,
and Mighty Minnow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My review: Meet Swogg, the silly frog, who lives in the pond with the rest of the swamp creatures. One night, Swogg realized how noisy the place was and couldn’t sleep…until an idea came.
A cute, little story with such vibrant, fun, and colorful illustrations!
My rating: 4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Mark Cooley, or Grump C, had a vivid dream that compelled him to write his first story, Goodnight Swogg the Silly Frog, for his three grandchildren, Hadley, Tommy and Ella.
Caring and sharing are truly wonderful traits Grandpa Carl, Grump C and Silly Swogg all consider of utmost importance. The profits from this effort will go to CORAL – Coral Reef Alliance and WWF World Wildlife Foundation.
We sincerely hope that Swogg the Silly Frog and his ten friends can inspire and amuse children across the world.
CONNECT WITH MARK
WEBSITE: https://swoggthefrog.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/swoggthefrog/
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON
https://amazon.com/dp/0228828554
BOOKSHOP
https://bookshop.org/books/goodnight-...
INDIGO CHAPTERS
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
BARNES & NOBLE
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good...
BOOK DEPOSITORY
https://www.bookdepository.com/Goodni...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY:
Grump C will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
