Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 23
April 23, 2025
Book Blast: ONLY IN SEPTEMBER by Cynthia Flowers
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions to celebrate the release day of ONLY IN SEPTEMBER by Cynthia Flowers. Cynthia will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
When Jacqueline follows her trusty Labrador Bailey down a hidden path to the beach, she's unaware that her vacation plans on a small island off the New England coast has already taken her life in a new direction. Running into an unassuming local beach comber stirs new thoughts, desires, and a self-determination she never knew she possessed. Jacqueline will need to trust her instincts and make the most of what fate has in store if she wants the future that, until now, she has only dared to dream of.
Read an Excerpt
During their return trip on the trail, they happened upon a series of small cottages. One of them was having exterior repairs done. The sudden screech of a buzz saw gave them a startle. Bailey was off leash and ran over to investigate. Stephen called after her.
The buzz saw suddenly stopped. Then someone from behind the cottage exclaimed, “Hey, I know you.”
The person behind the voice rushed out from behind the cottage and came into view. It was Michael. He looked at Jacqueline. Their eyes locked. She was happy to see him, and he seemed equally pleased to see her. Bailey jumped up on Michael like she had when they first met earlier in the week at the beach.
“Hey, there.” Michael motioned to Jacqueline. His smile was unavoidable.
Jacqueline slowly walked toward him. She didn’t want to seem too eager in front of Stephen.
“Do you two know each other?” Stephen inquired.
“Well, sort of,” Michael said with a chuckle. “We met at the beach the other day. Or, I should say, our dogs met at the beach. We just happened to be tagging along.”
Jacqueline broke her silence and elaborated further about how the pooches got along famously. “I meant to make it to the beach again before setting sail, but the week got away from us.”
“Don’t need to apologize to me. It’s Serendipity you need to square with. But unfortunately, she’s not with me today. Maybe another time,” Michael suggested.
“Considering we’re on the early afternoon ferry tomorrow, I don’t think that’s possible,” Stephen said deliberately and looked at Jacqueline to finish what he started. Instead, she looked down at Bailey to avoid Stephen’s gaze.
“Oh, well, I suspect you’ll be back, “Michael shot back. “It’s seldom that someone visits this island only once.”
As they started off, she lingered behind Stephen for a moment to clip Bailey’s collar to the leash and took the opportunity to mouth at Michael, “See you in the morning.”
He acknowledged her invitation with a wink.
About the Author: Cynthia Flowers, a recently retired advertising professional, now grant writer, resides with her husband and four-year old Labrador named Eddie, at their “sanctuary” in Upstate New York, Although previously published, this is Cynthia's first book of fiction. Early on in grade school, Cynthia looked forward to creative writing class and enjoyed reading her stories aloud to her eager classmates.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Only-September-Cynthia-Flowers-ebook/dp/B0DWT79L6N/ref=sr_1_1
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April 22, 2025
Blog Tour: BUSTING LOOSE by Vanessa M. Knight
BUSTING LOOSE
Vanessa M. Knight
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GENRE: Romantic Suspense
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BLURB:
Ina world of lies and danger, the only thing harder than solving the case... isresisting the chemistry between them
Leticia"Leti" Ramirez has always found comfort in numbers. They're safe andreliable--unlike the disastrous setups her mom finds at the local dry cleaner.With her focus squarely on her career at Busted Detective Agency alongside hertwo best friends, Maggie and Danni, Leti is done with men and their drama.
KevinLane has been stateside way too long to still be working at his sister Maggie'sdetective agency. But the process for the Chicago Police Department is long andhe has to keep at it if he wants to succeed. He doesn't have time fordistractions like the beautiful, brainy Leti, but her long legs and killersmile are impossible to ignore.
WhenLeti and Kevin get wrapped up in a case that involves laundering money fromchildren's charities, they quickly realize they are in over their heads. Withattempted hit-and-runs and ominous threats closing in on them, they need totrust each other if they want to make it out of this alive.
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ExcerptThree:
Heading toward the right side of the decrepit building, Letisaw an archway. The outer door hung from a single hinge on one side, but shemanaged to sneak past. A blanket was shoved in the corner of the space,covering a pile of clothes and probably hiding a person’s entire livelihood.Whoever was squatting there must have gone out to find food.
She avoided the pile of stuff and peeked in through a filthywindow next to a plywood-covered door. Inside, the building was empty. Nofurniture. A beam hung down in the center of the room. The condemned signwasn’t lying.
“Hey!” a woman screeched.
Leti dipped underneath the sagging doorway and stepped awayfrom the building.
A woman stumbled toward her, through the drug paraphernaliawasteland. A tattered coat hung from her body. Fists covered by fingerlessgloves waved in the air. “Get away from my house!” The woman staggered closer.
Leti ran straight for the car. She would not fall. Not inthis lot with the glass and needles. She made it past the rattling diaper.Rattling. Leti was so out of here.
The woman yelled and kept coming.
Leti was faster but somehow the woman was gaining on her. Itwas like being stalked by Pepe Le Pew with all the smell and without the love.She was either going to have to get away or she was going to have to use KravMaga on a homeless woman. That felt wrong.
She threw open the car door and slid inside. She slammed thedoor, and the locks snapped with a click. High-pitched mumbling wafted into thecar through the closed windows. Her heart hammered in her chest.
The woman slapped at the glass. “Get out!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Whois Vanessa M. Knight? Well, I’m anauthor. Wow. After years and years of wanting to use thosewords, that is fun to say. It’s almostas fun as supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Did I spell that right?
Iwrite contemporary romantic suspense.
Ilive in Chicagoland with my family and menagerie of four-legged friends. In my mind, these lovely animals doeverything as they should. I’m thealpha, keeping peace and harmony amongst my humble servants. In real life, they own me. I’m the maid, here for their feedingpleasure. Well, that and to clean uptheir messes.
Whennot catering to the needs of adorably-furry faces, I slug through the nine tofive grind and head home so I can write. Of course, that’s after I make dinner and clean the house and all theother tasks that go into family life. Soreally, I work, cater to animals and my family… and then, if I don’t fall facefirst into bed, I write. I love puttingmy characters into crazy situations and watching how they react. I hope youlove reading about them.
Ilove to hear from fans. I can be foundon Facebook and on my website.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessamknightauthor
AmazonAuthor page LINK: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vanessa-M.-Knight/author/B00JZBJ3EO
Website:http://www.VanessaMKnight.com
BuyLink: https://www.amazon.com/Busting-Loose-Busted-Book-4-ebook/dp/B0DL4SXPGL
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GIVEAWAY
VanessaM. Knight will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawnwinner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 21, 2025
Blog Tour: EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WANTED by Jess Ames
EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WANTED
Jess Ames
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GENRE: Women's Fiction
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BLURB:
JennaMitchell has spent her adult life under the control of her husband, her dreamsof owning her own bakery pushed aside. But at twenty-eight, she's finally readyto reclaim her life and pursue her passion. Well… almost.
Withthe unwavering support of the Sensational Six—her close-knit group offriends—Jenna can finally envision a day where she is in charge of her owndestiny, a big step forward for her. As she works at her friend’s café, Jennabegins to discover the strength and courage she needs to break free from herpast and begin focusing on her future.
Butcan she quiet the echoes that keep finding their way back to her? Will thedoubts they’ve created make it impossible for her to see—and trust—the pathforward before her chance at a better life slips through her flour-dustedfingers?
Fansof Rachel Hanna will enjoy this warm and uplifting story about self-discovery,finding the courage to start anew, and the unbreakable bonds of chosen family.
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ExcerptThree:
Since then, I'd been working hard to plan out the pastriesthat would make up the breakfasts at her writers' retreats. After months ofplanning and prep, they were finally starting up the following weekend. TheSensational Six had jumped into action and helped Paige put the whole thingtogether in a matter of a few months. It was incredible, and I was honored tobe a part of it.
I'd worked hard and had proven myself, and I wouldn't letCraig ruin that for me. I felt safer with him behind bars. Safer than I'd everfelt (outside of weekends with my grandma when I was a child).
I took a lap around the apartment, trying to cool myselfdown a little bit. I took in everything I’d done to make the place mine in thelast few weeks. I had hung white sheers and topped them with sunshine-yellowvalances. The cushion on the white rattan couch that came with the apartmenthad been re-covered with a yellow slipcover and bright white and navy throwpillows lounged along the back. The framed prints I had found in the localthrift stores surrounded it nicely, and complemented the Iceland landscapepainting centered above it that Cat had brought back from her travels and gaveme when I’d moved in. “To remind you of the great big world that’s out therewaiting for you,” she’d said. As I stopped to look at it, vibrant greenmountains complete with a waterfall flowing into an otherwise still pool. I doubted I’d ever be brave enough to travelthat far, and I admired Cat even more because she was.
I smiled at the thought, then sat back down at the table andslid my grandmother’s recipe book onto my lap. Thumbing the edges of pages Iknew by heart, I flipped to one that held a memory that was equal parts fondand painful. Lavender cupcakes. The last thing we ever baked together.
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Review: Jenna was a baker trying to makeit on her own after her disastrous marriage. With the support of her friends,she hopes to find the strength and drive to live independently and freely. Itwould be hard for Jenna though with a jailbird husband constantly calling her,demanding that she bail him out. Right away, you feel and root for our maincharacter, Jenna, here. Her story was well-read and pretty compelling for themost part. The healing process, however, was pretty slow and methodical asJenna goes through therapy, talks with friends, and reminisces about hergrandma. At times, the read felt long and tedious with the play-by-play sceneswe kept getting. I kind of wish this would’ve been faster.
The read was weighty and hugelysentimental, which made it somewhat daunting. I liked the strong women we meetin the story and it was great seeing how Jenna grew into one of them.
Overall, this was a fairly niceread of resilience and independence.
Rating:3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
JessAmes is knocking on the door of fifty, but has the sense of humor of a twelveyear old and the body of a fifty-four-year-old (according to her fitness app).
Sheis “mama” to nine, “mimi” to four, “friend” to all, an adequate wife, andliving the dream of the little girl who wanted to be a writer when she grew up.
Theyare both still waiting for that moment, so she’s writing in the meantime.
EverythingYou’ve Ever Wanted
Ebook(Kindle):
https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Youve-Wanted-Clearwater-Dreams-ebook/dp/B0D9FMKVTQ
Paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Youve-Ever-Wanted-heartwarming/dp/B0DZJ1DTXN
Signedpaperback:
https://jessicaames.com/collections/books/products/everything-youve-ever-wanted-signed-paperback
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GIVEAWAY
JessAmes will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 19, 2025
Review: THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET by Boris Bacic
Emma is a young woman that justmoved from a city apartment to a suburban house. She looks forward to enjoyingthe peace and tranquility of a perfect neighborhood with the perfect neighbors.After all, nothing bad ever happens in neighborhoods like these, right?
Right away, Emma befriends thecouple in the house across the street. I’m naturally drawn to how thesecharacters view the false facades in their circle of people. As you read on,you sense something sinister in Nick and Christine because they seemed to knowa lot more about Emma’s new house. What was with that door in the basement?
Emma’s life gets more complicatedwhen she begins an affair with Nick, her married neighbor. It would seem thatNick and Christine were playing a twisted game with Emma. What happens whenNick actually falls in love with Emma? We get a murderous wife is what we get.But was she really the wife? We get a sick truth in here and it’s quite awhopper. A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: LOVES MUSIC, LOVES TO DANCE by Mary Higgins Clark
A killer was preying on thepersonal ads. One of the victims was Darcy’s best friend, Erin, who only didthe personal ads as a favor. Vowing to catch the killer that did this, Darcygoes undercover by going on dates issued from the personal ads that her friendanswered.
This takes a while, but once youget into it, it’s pretty compelling. We start off with the name of the killeronly to find out later on that he was using someone else’s name. So, inactuality, the killer could be any one of these personal ads. Who was the mancalled “Charles?” It’s always the last person you’d suspect.
A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: THE HAUNTED SCHOOL by R.L Stine
A new school can be tough…and itcan be creepy when it’s empty. One day, Tommy gets lost and stumbles upon aroom full of life-life statues of kids. Weird!
Somehow Tommy finds himself lostin an even weirder situation. He meets the lost kids of 1947—the first to everattend the school. It seemed that they were frozen in time and, evidently now,so was Tommy. Can he escape Gray Land and get back to the world of color?
A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: GOOSEBUMPS: RETURN OF THE MUMMY by R.L. Stine
This one had a bit of a slow startwith the arrival to Egypt and the cot-sleeping. Of course, Gabe got a fewpranks played on him. There was this mystery with the pendant, which wasn’tthat exciting. This was a slow read all around. Definitely not one of Mr.Stine’s greatest, but okay.
Rating:3 stars
April 18, 2025
Blog Tour: THE DELIVERERS by Gregory S. Slomba
Tales of adventure, friendship, self-confidence and teamworkfor all ages.
Sharky and the Jewel
The Deliverers Book 1
by Gregory S. Slomba
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure
WINNER of the GoldenWizard Children's Book Award 2024!
NOMINATED for The Book of the Year Award2024 in the Ages 8+ Category.
A world is in trouble, who can saveit?
Certainly not Eric Scott, a 12 year old boy coming to grips with his ownpersonal tragedy. But that’s exactly what Stig, an owl from another world, askshim to do. Together, they are sent to deliver Calendria, a small fishingvillage, from Sharky, an immortal pirate captain that has enslaved them. Butdefeating Sharky and his band of bloodthirsty pirates will be no easy task.
When they arrive, Eric and Stig meet Kate Endria, who is convinced that theyare the Deliverers—heroes of an ancient prophecy who are destined to defeatSharky and his crew. Eric devises a plan that he hopes will work. Eric’sconfidence rises when they rescue Hallo Tosis, an outcast dwarf who gives themthe key to a powerful weapon. But it’s only after things start to go horriblywrong that Eric and Stig discover the true object of their mission.
THE GOLDEN WIZARD BOOK PRIZE REVIEW2024:
This book is truly a masterpiece, showcasing the author's incredible talent onevery single page. Slomba’s writing style…blurs the boundaries between fictionand reality, immersing readers completely in the story.
The protagonist, Eric, is exceptionally well-crafted. As the plot unfolds, wewitness his remarkable journey of self-discovery, gradually uncovering hisinner strength and determination. This evolution of the character adds depthand relatability to the narrative, allowing readers to form a personalconnection…and reminding us of our own untapped potential.
What else sets this astounding literary piece apart is its ability to resonatewith a wide range of readers. It surpasses age boundaries, entrancing not onlyyounger readers but also adults who will find themselves completely absorbed inits pages. The allure of this book is undeniable, and personally, I found it tobe an absolute delight to read. I am eagerly looking forward to the nextinstallment in the series, excited to continue the journey.
- Louise Jane, CEO The Golden Wizard Book Prize
Amazon * Audible* B&N* Bookbub* Goodreads
Order of the CrystalLion
The Deliverers Book 2
"The Deliverers: Order of the Crystal Lion proved tobe even better than the first book in the series (which I loved) and left mewanting the next book right away! The action was non-stop and the creativeelements made the story come alive. The story was full of surprises and is anadventure you don't want to miss!"~Stephanie Robinson, co-author of TheSecret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow
"The writing in this book is so descriptive...Every page is a fabulousadventure filled with action. Just when you think the conflict is over and youcan finally breathe a sigh of relief - wham! - a new unexpected twistappears."~Karen Pokras Toz, author of the award-winning Nate Rocks series.
Who will fight--for the Order, for freedom? For centuries, the Vynistri havebeen splicing lion DNA to the genes of their servants, the Chazum, using adevice called the Machine. Now an army of Chazum and sympathetic Vynistri arewaging a bloody civil war to overthrow the Vynistri's evil ruler, ChancellorTrelango. In their latest Assignment, the Deliverers--Eric Scott, Stig the owl,Kate Endria and Hallo Tosis the dwarf--are charged with putting an end to thefighting and restoring balance to the world. Aided by a secret society calledthe Order of the Crystal Lion, Eric and the rest of the Deliverers mustovercome tragedy and loss to fight for freedom and equality. Spurring them onis the Order's belief that the long awaited Crystal Lion has arrived to deliverthe world. Is it true, or will Trelango destroy them all?
Amazon * B&N* Bookbub* Goodreads
The Golden Dragon ofAng
The Deliverers Book 3
“From the mouth thou shalt hear
The wisdom of far off lands.
The way to truth is clear
Head, then heart, then hands.
Lastly, tail will point the way
To the world’s end.
Then gold shall have its say
And foretell the doom of men.”
With his dying breath, so spoke the last Dragon’s Voice. Now, with no successorto impart the wisdom of the mythical Golden Dragon of Ang and children betweenthe ages of 12 and 15 mysteriously disappearing, the Dragon Islands have beenturned upside down. It is up to the Deliverers—Eric Scott, Stig the owl, KateEndria and Hallo Tosis the dwarf—to unravel the clues they hope will lead tothe missing children and the new Dragon’s Voice. Meanwhile, the Fang, leader ofthe renegade Denchi Assassins, has harnessed the unearthly powers of thesparkling mist and is attempting to tip the balance of power in the Islands,and perhaps shred the very fabric of the universe itself. Will the new Dragon’sVoice be revealed, or has the Golden Dragon of Ang abandoned the Islands to theFang and the sparkling mist?
Amazon * B&N* Bookbub* Goodreads
Sparkling Mist ofTime
The Deliverers Book 4
You can’t changethe past—can you?
That’s what Eric Scott always thought. But that was back before he learnedabout the Hallway of Worlds and the sparkling mist. Now, after threeAssignments to save other worlds, he’s not so sure. When the Gatekeeper tellshim someone might be using the mist—matter from failed worlds—to change thepast on Eric’s world, possibility becomes probability.
In their fourth and final Assignment, the Deliverers—Eric Scott, Stig the owl,Kate Endria, and Hallo Tosis the dwarf—face a challenge like no other. Theymust prevent the worlds they have helped on their previous Assignments frombeing wiped out. They are sent back in time to the American Revolution to stopan unknown foe from using the sparkling mist to change history. Worlds, theHallway and the universe as we know it, hang in the balance. Will theDeliverers be able to contain the sparkling mist once and for all, or willeverything they have achieved so far be annihilated?
Review of Book 1L What if you woke up and an owlstarted talking to you about going on an adventure? Not an everyday thing.Suddenly, Eric was tasked to battle an evil and powerful pirate. Oh, boy!
Eric and his owl companion enter avillage with vibrant foliage and lush greenery. I liked the scenery. The readwas generally pretty easy, but it felt a tad long for me. This was your typicaladventure that any YA fantasy reader would enjoy.
A fairly nice read and a decentstart to the series.
Rating:3 stars
Gregory S. Slomba is an instructional designer, formereditor, and the author of the award-winning Deliverers Series. He studiedEnglish at the University of Dayton, then worked as a banker for 20 years. Healso spent four years as an editor and writer for a national trade magazine,giving him an opportunity to sharpen his writing and editing skills. Along theway, he was able to visit some fun places such as Bermuda, Spain, China, andover 60% of the U.S. states. He currently designs, writes, and deliverstraining courses for bankers.
Reading fantasy and science fiction has always sparked hisimagination. Inspiring the imaginations of young readers through his writing iswhat drives him.
Greg lives in Connecticut with his wife, Stephanie and histwo grown children, a golden retriever, and four cats.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Enter to win a Signed copy of Sharky and the Jewel (US only)
or a $20 Amazon giftcard (WW)
– 1 winner each!
April 17, 2025
Blog Tour: HALL OF SHADOWS by Mariah Stillbrook
HALL OF SHADOWS
Mariah Stillbrook
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GENRE: Horror
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BLURB:
Inthe quiet life of Tess Moreau lies a remarkable power-her touch revives ashes,defying nature's laws. When she uncovers a mysterious book linked to hergrandmother and a witch's coven, her journey begins. Guided by a cursed deck oforacle cards, Tess delves into The Hall of Shadows, a realm crafted by herancestors. With each dimension traversed, she uncovers her true lineage-adescendant of mythical beings. As Tess's humanity wanes, her destiny beckons.At journey's end, she faces a choice: preserve or destroy the hall. In a taleof magic and identity, Tess's odyssey may end, but her legacy is justbeginning-a testament to the power within us all.
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ExcerptTwo:
The woman didn’t seem to breathe or blink as she faced me,and as I took one hesitant step and then another towards the front of thestage, it became clear that this entity wasn’t going to budge an inch.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“You already know that.” In fact, I did. She held out along, pale hand before her and inspected her nails. “I am the goddess of thewitches, and I would assume that if someone summoned me, they very well mightunderstand who they were calling on.” She lifted her eyes to match my somewhatterrified gaze. “However, this is a unique transaction.”
Transaction?
The goddess’s attention shifted to the part of the stageoccupying the oracle cards. “You’re on a journey.”
My voice cracked as I replied, “I think I am.”
“You are.” She leaned down into a chair, then folded herhands together and sat them over her lap. “I am here to answer your question;in exchange, I have been given permission to take whatever I want from you.”
I inhaled sharply.
The goddess seemed to be speculating over my entireexistence. “You have the eyes of someone kissed by the ghost of a recentlydeceased star.”
What?
She smiled, but not in the way adults usually smile at kidsmy age. This was more of a sneer laced with enough sugar to coax her prey intobelieving she could be trusted.
My spine was rigid—I could tell she was about to pounce, togive me an answer then suck the marrow from my bones as payment. “Wait!” Shetilted her head to the side, and I slowly came down from where I’d beenbalancing over the tips of my toes. “What exactly are you going to require ofme after this?”
“I’m afraid I don’t offer previews.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
MariahStillbrook is the witchy author of In the Pines, Hall of Shadows, and The LostErwain. Originally from Iowa, she lives in Colorado with her white Germanshepherd, husband, and little girl. She spends most of her days writing,reading, and enjoying the occasional hike. In her late twenties she realizedthat her writing was missing something, magic. She now focuses her writing onurban fantasy and horror in both adult and young adult genres.
SocialMedia:
Linktree:https://linktr.ee/mariahstillbrook
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mariahstillbrook/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079061712302
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@mariahstillbrook
Threads:https://www.threads.net/@mariahstillbrook
Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/mariahstillbrook.bsky.social
Twitter:https://x.com/MStillbrook
Website:https://mariahstillbrook.com/
AmazonBuy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hall-Shadows-Mariah-Stillbrook-ebook/dp/B0DFX7S8T7/ref=sr_1_1
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GIVEAWAY
MariahStillbook will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawnwinner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blast: SMOKE AND MIRRORS by Joanie Olson
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joanie Olson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Searching for an answer to a question you haven't asked yet? You are not alone. One small realization and a whole world unravels.
Woven through these pages are a series of my most significant life events relating to narcissistic victim/survivor syndrome. Inside are keys unlocking mysteries of complex PTSD, compounded through various forms of abuse.
A journey of highs, like the Freedom Convoy, and the lows of a failed longtime marriage. With spiritual forces at work behind the scenes, could a Christian home have so many secrets? The smoke will clear to reveal our true mirrored self.
Read an Excerpt
Oh, how I love to fly. One of my four older brothers, Ferg, loved it too. So much so our mother arranged for a private plane ride when we were little kids. He earned his pilot’s license as a young man, flying over our farm every chance he could. With those experiences growing up, everything about planes was fascinating to me and I was determined to enjoy this flight. As I’d told Michael, I could hardly believe I was leaving the country. It felt like an absolute miracle. I thought it was possible I would never see outside Canada again. Enduring over two years of isolation, confinement, ridicule and regulations mandating people like myself not be allowed to do the same as others. But none of that mattered right now. I was on my way to the place I’d dreamed of many nights. God really does answer prayer countless times.
Norway called to me like a long-lost friend, like a father telling me it was time to come home. I’d been there once before and every day since my return I’ve missed it, doing what I could to make my way back.
The thought of my last trip to the homeland four years prior, sent my head in motion, amazed at how much had changed since then. I was wondering how I’d gotten here. From being a financial advisor with three agencies, married, a son in high school, a daughter with a son of her own, a step-daughter and step grandchildren, a bi-level home on forty acres, the Challenger, dirt bikes, hot tub and camper…so blessed. And now? Well, life was unrecognizable.
When the plane’s landing gear securely retracted back into the plane, I could hear the clunk as I was thinking how light I felt. I’d literally left everything behind at this point. My luggage was in the cargo hold and my backpack I’d used while touring the Norwegian mountains years before was tucked safely beneath my seat.
I’d gone from all that four years ago until now? All alone, literally homeless, a few dollars in my bank account and kids that were fully independent. They didn’t seem to be concerned for much other than trying hard to keep up with their own daily struggles.
About the Author: Joanie was raised on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada. Life revolved around chores, school and church. Six older siblings and all the nieces and nephews added up to a large family.
Strong in doctrine and armed with a passion for truth, she's walked the walk of faith, facing challenges to overcome. She was married at 19, became a mother to a stepdaughter, and later birthed two children. Following years of turmoil in her marriage, she hit the inevitable breaking point.
Starting life over, she attended broadcasting college, going on to anchor morning news for the airwaves. Feeling isolated and rejected, her drive to help others who have gone through similar circumstances inspired this book. Through the Refiners fire, she's ready to share tools required to escape the fake and embrace the truth.
Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/1779624719
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54144406.Joanie_Olson
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