Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 215
October 13, 2021
Book Blast: INKED AND SWEET 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 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.
Dante Malachi screwed his life up to epic proportions. His addictions nearly killed him before he hit rock bottom. Getting kicked out of the Malachi family was his motivation to clean up his act, but leaving his old life behind meant leaving her, as well. Rona’s the one he never forgot.
Rona never wanted to see Dante again. She blames him for the bad in her life -- but also most of the good. When he comes back into her orbit, she knows she has to let him in -- or get rid of him for good.
When a bomb threat throws them together, it’s up to Rona and Dante to decide if they want to extinguish the desire between them or reignite their fiery passion.
Read an Excerpt
Copyright ©2021 Megan Slayer
One year later…
Dante pulled into the Brass Pole parking lot for his nightly shift. For the last year, he’d worked his ass off to prove to the owner, Bruce, that he could do more than look menacing at the door. He didn’t mind being a bouncer, but he’d rather work steadily with the books. Bruce allowed him to fix the mistakes in the books twice a week, but Dante preferred his time in the office, rather than at the door. The impulse to steal money never quite left him, but there wasn’t the ready cash like at his family’s clubs. Besides, he needed the job and responsibility.
He left his clunker of a car and walked into the club. Bruce stood behind the bar, rather than in his usual spot with the bouncers.
“Bruce.” Dante clocked in. “Where’s Mick? Out again?” The regular bartender wasn’t always reliable unless he was behind the bar.
“He quit. Met a girl in Sutton and left. Something about the great peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Bruce said. “I have no idea what the hell that means, but it’s got to be code for something. That man always talks in code about sex.” He rinsed glasses, then left them on the towel.
“Could be.” He’d never heard of sex referred to as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but whatever. “Do you have someone lined up as a replacement?”
“Not yet. I’ve got some guys coming in for interviews tomorrow.” Bruce wiped a tall-boy glass. “I’d have you fill in, but I’m sending you upstairs.”
“You are?” He’d graduated to doing the books those two nights, but hadn’t tended bar in six months.
“The books are fine and can wait another night. I’ll be down here at the bar because you’re not supposed to be this close to booze. No, I’m going to have you serve upstairs. Nothing stronger than soft drinks, so it’s not hard. Besides, I trust you up there. Everyone wants to go up there to watch the action, and I know you’ll actually do the job,” Bruce said.
“Oh, you know it?” He’d do exactly what he was told to do because he needed to prove to himself and everyone else that he could handle the job.
“You’ll give me lip, but you’ll do the job.”
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.
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 https://www.amazon.com/Wendi-Zwaduk/e/B003KA589U/
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/wendi-zwaduk
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer
Buy Links:
https://www.changelingpress.com/inked-sweet-malachi-brothers-3-b-3197
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0966WCYNP
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1570054100
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inked-sweet-megan-slayer/1139605136
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/inked-sweet https://books2read.com/u/baGzkP
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 12, 2021
Blurb Blitz: THE JUG AND HARE BATHHOUSE by Graham Williams
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Graham Williams will be awarding $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 book deals with a timeless subject, which is as relevant today as it was at the time of King James – the abduction and sexual abuse of children. It is handled sensitively and a distinction is drawn between same-sex, loving partnerships and the cruel use of children bought and sold for the sexual gratification of often wealthy “clientele”.
The story and plot are exciting and well-balanced, with the right amount of tension to make you want to keep on reading. There is a real sense of being in London in the reign of King James and an atmospheric feeling about the taverns, shops and streets as well as the bathhouse itself, all linked to the river Thames and famous theatres of the time. The characters are great and very believable and the action scenes well-written and full of high adventure. It also comes to an uplifting and optimistic conclusion, with some surprising and joyful twists.
Read a sample from the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PKGYT8Y/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
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/Jug-Hare-Bathhouse-Master-Harry/dp/1912639777/ref=sr_1_1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blur Blitz: THE JUG AND HARE BATHHOUSE by Graham Williams
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Graham Williams will be awarding $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 story and plot are exciting and well-balanced, with the right amount of tension to make you want to keep on reading. There is a real sense of being in London in the reign of King James and an atmospheric feeling about the taverns, shops and streets as well as the bathhouse itself, all linked to the river Thames and famous theatres of the time. The characters are great and very believable and the action scenes well-written and full of high adventure. It also comes to an uplifting and optimistic conclusion, with some surprising and joyful twists.
Read a sample from the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PKGYT8Y/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
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/Jug-Hare-Bathhouse-Master-Harry/dp/1912639777/ref=sr_1_1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 11, 2021
Book Blast: TO ENTICE A SPY by Diane Scott Lewis
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Diane Scott Lewis will be awarding a $20 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 1794, Widowed Countess Eseld Trehearne seeks revenge for the brutal death of her female companion during a Paris riot. On her return to England, Eseld delves into espionage to defeat the French rebels.
Baron Robert Penhale, Eseld’s childhood love, rejoins the Secret Services after his wife’s death. He’s determined to protect England from the revolution terrorizing France.
A ruthless French spy fights for the common man while disguised as an English aristocrat. He’s intent on revenge against those who oppose him.
With the spy stalking them and Robert in fear for Eseld's life, the fate of the couple verges on disaster.
Read an Excerpt
Pierre entered the Blue Anchor tavern. At a table in the far corner, he sat and ordered a small beer. He reached into his greatcoat pocket and pulled out the letter he’d just picked up from the General Post Office. Crackling it open in the dim candlelight, he started to read the coded letter. Men laughed and talked in the low-ceiling taproom, puffing on pipes. The word, “revolution,” popped up now and then. Had their arguments been for or against?
The nerve of the English to care about his country’s events, but the murder of useless royalty across the Channel had made George III fear for his crown. Now Britain, along with Austria, attacked France to demand the status quo.
A pretty wench in apron and cap sauntered up to his table.
“You promised to visit me. I’m that earnest to run my fingers through your hair blacker than coal, an’ gaze into them blue eyes. Handsome devil.”
“Not now, I’ll come back later tonight. I’m busy.”
Pierre was anxious to finish his note and turned from her. Another chit he dallied with. He heard her walk off in a huff.
He hunched down and snickered.
The note confirmed that a woman, a spoiled aristocrat, was in town to interfere with him.
“How delightful,” he muttered under his breath. Could that be the recent arrival, Countess Trehearne?
He crunched the paper in his fingers as if to rip apart anyone who impeded his operation. This woman, the delectable Eseld, would be easy to fool, and dispose of, if necessary.
About the Author:
Diane Parkinson (Diane Scott Lewis) grew up near San Francisco, joined the Navy at nineteen, married in Greece and raised two sons in Puerto Rico, California, and Guam. She's a member of the Historical Novel Society and wrote book reviews for their magazine. She’s always loved travel and history and has had several historical novels published. Her most recent is the Oyster War Novel set in the 1950s: Ghost Point. Her spy novella, To Entice a Spy, set in England during the French Revolution—two former lovers chase a ruthless spy; will love rekindle as murder stalks them?—will be released on October 11, 2021.
Diane lives with her husband and one naughty dog in western Pennsylvania.
For more on her books visit her website.
Website: http://www.dianescottlewis.org
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Scott-Lewis/e/B003NTK2GM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1632593463&sr=1-1
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/diane-scott-lewis-999d8de3-fdae-46d4-8758-665f9362c2ae
FB Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Diane-Scott-Lewis-277223019312535/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3999998.Diane_Scott_Lewis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhparkin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DSLewisHF
Buy Links:
https://www.bookdepository.com/Entice-Spy-Diane-Scott-Lewis/9781509238255
https://www.target.com/p/to-entice-a-spy-by-diane-scott-lewis-paperback/-/A-84316523
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-entice-a-spy-diane-scott-lewis/1140125718
https://www.amazon.com/Entice-Spy-Diane-Scott-Lewis/dp/1509238255/ref=sr_1_2
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 9, 2021
Excerpt: INTO THE VIOLET GARDENS by Isaac Nasri
Prologue
Jaguars of Apollo, December 2023. Mexico.
“N
othing’s happening as of now Ottoman,” Quincy comments to his CEO on his neural interface (NI). His nerves buzz, carrying his thoughts through like a fountain of water channeling in a tunnel.
The cyborg catches a small ball bounce in his direction. He catches it casually in time, handing the ball over to the hands of a smiling boy, who races back to his mother’s direction in a gambol. She gestures to her child in admonition.
The La Bautista motions, and the sunlight slowly descends. Stars gradually begin to illuminate outside the train’s window. The air of sweet benzene lingers inside the car, tickling Quincy Gunn’s nose. Nevertheless, silence lingers, minus his fellow Virtual operatives trudging slowly, armed, and lips tight as solid rock. The logo of a golden leaping jaguar glimmers on each of their breastplates. The same pattern flows uniformly from one of the cars behind. Just another shift and struggle for the PMCs.
“Ahora no es hora para jugar, Carlos,” the woman rebuffs.
“Arrival is expected to be in ETA, 3 hours from now to Texas,” Ottoman reports inside his neural interface. “And remember, kid, passengers. They are your company. Entertain. Farewell.”
I wish it were simpler than that.
The cyborg straightens his sunglasses, observing through his violet lens the number of asylum passengers huddling in their seats. Small golden spikes enamor on his gray prosthetic arms and legs. His moustache was ginger as an Irish terrier’s fur and his fair skin covered whatever human there was left in him.
With the state of Mexico deteriorating, the Jaguars of Apollo witnessed the number of residents fleeing in droves to escape the Mendoza Cartel’s wrath. Worse case is this country wasn’t his only one. It shocked Quincy how one Guatemalan neighbor could stir so much influence untrammeled, greeted with welcome arms by federal police and politicians. They sell their own civilians to keep the Fox drugs flowing. For that, Ottoman, in all his shrewdness, took a bold effort to confront this, and God knew how vast the enemies surrounded his PMC daily in this war. Here stood Quincy and his agents who were taking part in the most foolhardy of all missions.
Quincy faces the row of passengers in front, feeling his cheeks swell. One of the passengers looks away quickly as if unable to grasp the position he’s situated himself in. Ash stains over their cheeks. An aging woman behind him sings magnanimously in her native tongue, placating the discomfort gripping the train’s atmosphere, and a dog barks.
“Got any jokes to crack, Quinn,” he hears his fellow agent remark. The Virtual breaks into a yawn. “Can’t believe I’m feeling sleepy so suddenly.”
“Can’t guarantee,” Quincy replies.
For an agent with a wild imagination, Quincy’s fellow contractors had a boost with the anecdotes he had to share at the end of the day. But tonight didn’t seem like the case. Judging from everyone on the train, the likelihood of that suggestion will be unexpected.
Hax looms, gazing at dawn creeping over the desert from view. Its jaguar-like frame was darkish silver, tantamount to all Prowler prototypes. Its steely tail motions eerily. The dying light reflects against the Prowler’s marble eyes.
“So much…pain,” Hax says deeply. Its voice radiates like a blossom swirling to the breeze, echoing into the Virtual’s neural interface.
“I can feel it.”
Quincy looks over his shoulder, sighing.
“Government left them stranded,” the operative responds. His lips barely move. “We’re all they got left.”
Silence follows once more. Quincy opens his mouth, letting the taste of the train’s air reach inside, moistening his tongue. Soon that changes as he blinks quickly to a barking voice in his neural interface.
“Report to all JOA on the train!” the cyborg alarms in the Virtual Network.
The Virtuals around Quincy stare up as if a strange essence flew over them. Once the Virtual looks over to the car behind him, his expression darkens.
“We’re getting a grave situation,” a private military contractor (PMC) reports in front of the passengers. Her gaze locks to the window. “I repeat…a situation incoming! Stay on guard.”
I don’t understand.
It doesn’t take long for the passengers to pick up on the contractors’ grim expressions and raise their voices steadily to each other. A passenger, removing his straw hat, takes a stand and faces the agents. Meanwhile, the dog barks rapidly.
“Agents!” he cries in his Spanish dialect. “¿Qué pasa? Debe haber algo que no nos están diciendo”
The dog’s barking causes everyone to look over to the car from behind. Gunfire from outside blasts horizontally like incoming traffic, and Quincy’s eyes shake to a grim vibration.
No! NO!! They knew!!
“Get down!” Quincy cries as he and several agents dive from the shattering of the window glass.
Pieces of the hatted passenger's skull scattered on the floor, the bullets having passed through his mouth to destroy the back of his head. Drones swarm inside like locusts, and the cyborg rushes for his pistol. Passengers scream and duck frantically as agents return fire. The screams sizzle into Quincy’s ears and his prosthetic fingers tremor as he crosses them on the trigger.
Available on Amazon
Review: I DON’T WANT TO EAT BUGS by Rachel Branton
Lisbon was hungry, but she didn’t know what to eat. The bird in the tree said she didn’t have to wait. She can eat a bug. But she didn’t eat bugs!
From that moment on, all her animal friends chimed in with suggestions. From mice to hedgehogs.
Loved the wonderful illustrations! So wacky and colorful—like comics!
A great read! What will Lisbon get into next?
Rating: 5 stars
Review: YES, FLUFFY, YES! by Mrs. Ani
This shows how well trained Fluffy is. Fun with cute illustrations! A pleasure for any dog lover.
Rating: 4 stars
Review: NEMO, THE GREATEST DOG IN THE WORLD by Mr. Luna
This is all about Nemo, the dog, and how great he is. Story is filled with cute and simple illustrations. It’s perfect for any dog lover!
Rating: 4 stars
Review: HOW BILLY FOUND A FRIEND by Daniel Chance
This is the story of how Billy finds a friend…literally. It all started when he rescues a dog from a group of kids. Then it becomes about karma. The boy saves the dog and the dog saves Billy.
A lovely story of animal love and friendship with wonderful illustrations.
Rating: 4 stars
Review: BEDTIME LITTLE BEAR by John Lancer
It’s bedtime and Little Bear doesn’t want to go to sleep; he wants to play instead. He plays and plays and plays. But what happens when it gets too dark and Little Bear can’t find his way back home?
A great read about the power and the love of Mama Bear.
Rating: 4 stars
