Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 235
April 27, 2021
Blog Tour: THE TIGER LIKE ME by Kelsey Lee
The Tiger Like Me
by Kelsey Lee
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GENRE: Children's
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BLURB:
The Tiger Like Me is the story of a brave young girl who dares to be different. Following the call of her adventurous spirit, she encounters inspiring creatures of the jungle who remind her to face her fears, recognize the beauty of the present moment, and to walk the path less traveled.
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Excerpt Two:
Day by day we use our voice, not only for noise but for speaking our choice.
Night by night, we move through fear; we know this is how to pioneer. Beyond our worry, the way shines clear, and the thoughts that limit us, soon disappear.
We are all diverse, yet one and the same. No matter the challenge, break the chain. Shine like a star to be who you are.
Raise your voice with vigour, to see your potential grow bigger. This is your gift, so be as you are. If you forget your way, then look to the stars.30
In the darkness of night, shoot for the moon. Always remember, the light returns soon.
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My review: Abhi’s her name and adventure’s her game. But her mom says she needs to slow down and act like a princess with a crown. One day, they dare her to go into the jungle and, of course, she gladly agrees. There, she encounters all kinds of creatures, including a tiger that can talk. Soon, it becomes of day of playing in the jungle and learning that she shares similarities with all the furry creatures.
Vibrant and colorful illustrations with fun rhymes! It shows that girls don’t have to be girly; they can be whatever they want to be. Girls just want to have fun!
“We are all diverse, yet one and the same…Shine like a star to be who you are.”
A wonderful and unique read!
My rating: 5 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kelsey Lee is a writer and adventurer who lives in Calgary, Alberta. With a diverse background from business owner to yoga teacher, most often, you can find her writing, working with children, and exploring all that nature has to offer. Kelsey finds daily inspiration to value child-like curiosity and empathy through her two children, and her work in Equine Therapy. As a free-spirited child herself, Kelsey has always believed that anyone could achieve their wildest dreams, no matter how far-reaching. She passionately encourages self-empowerment and self-esteem, as The Tiger Like Me, aims to support the reader in honouring their individuality to be courageously unique, and playfully curious.
Website: http://kelseyleeauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyleeauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kelsey-Lee-Author-103153121229617/
BUY LINKS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Like-Me-Kelsey-Lee/dp/0228818001
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tiger-like-me-kelsey-lee/1136252102
Indigo/Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-tiger-like-me/9780228818007-item.html
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Kelsey Lee will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 24, 2021
Review: DANCING WITH DANGER by Olivia Jaymes
Noah and Libby had one night to make it count. Can one night change everything?
Two years later, Liz was on her way to a friend’s wedding. Who does Liz (AKA Libby) run into? Noah!
It would seem that this might be their second chance, but something happened to Liz that made her…cautious. But what? Liz was a mess—always scared and nervous about the world. Now Noah had to make her see that life was worth living again…with him.
A compelling read for the most part. All the wedding and bachelor party stuff wasn’t very interesting. There’s no real danger in the story, so I’m not sure what the book was called “Dancing with Danger.” The only “danger” is the emotional stuff that Liz makes up in her head.
Still, it’s a nice romance with some good love scenes.
My rating: 4 stars
Review: Once Upon Series by Kait Nolan
Once Upon a Snow Day
: Isabelle is a successful, workaholic book editor with no time for a man, and then her friend suggests a snow day. It’s then that she meets fellow freelancer on the slopes and encourages her to have a little fun. Story is a good message of taking a break from work once in a while. “Most people work for the paycheck, not because it’s their passion.” (LOC 379). A wonderful short story that’ll melt your heart! 4 stars 
Once Upon a New Year’s Eve
: The last thing Gemma wanted to do on New Year’s Eve was pick up her drunk brother at a honky tonk bar, much less run into an old crush from school. Loved how Aaron protected her from that guy. But will it go beyond the one night? Sweet! 4 stars
Once Upon a Camp Fire
: Sarah must impersonate her twin sister at a camp. She couldn’t do this, not with how untrained she was. This story was more sporty than anything else, but it was still a decent read with an HEA ending. In fact, most of this series seems to follow the same “cute meet” set-up. 3 stars. 
Once Upon a Coffee
: A coffee date leads to an accidental mix-up at a coffee shop and, thus, ends up being the best date ever. Probably one of the best ones I’ve read in this series. Like I said, they’re mostly the same: sweet, cute, darling. But nothing fancy. They’re probably too short, if you ask me. Probably best to have them in a bundle since they’re so short. But still a good read. 4 stars
Review: BAD TEACHER by Clarissa Wild
A reckless one-night stand. The next day, a student realizes she just had sex with her teacher. Yikes! In their own POV’s, the 2 characters are initially horrified by the situation and constantly berate themselves. This actually becomes a recurring theme. On and on and on….The story pretty much goes nowhere.
My rating: 2 stars
Review: Int’l Guy Series by Audrey Carlan
PARIS (Book 1): “I love women. Young. Old. Tall or short. From the nerdy, bookish types to the sultry bombshells.” (LOC 42) His gift is that he understand women better than anyone. Parker Ellis is the founder of International Guy, Inc. His objective is to assist a host of high-profile clienteles with their needs.
In the first book, a French heires to a perfume company needs to spiff up her image and look the part of the CEO. She’s the perfect client: “enough money to choke a horse, true beauty hidden underneath dowdy threads, and a wildly successful business.” (LOC 165)
This was a Pretty Woman make-over. A boring and bland shell of a woman learns confidence, independence, and beauty. Meanwhile, Parker tries to keep his hands off sweet Sophie, but, of course, that’s a test he undoubtedly fails. My favorite part is when Sophie realizes one of her managers has been covering up the sexual harassment suit by one of her female employees. Not cool, man! Bringing out the lion’s roar, she finds the strength, stamina, and confidence to fire that jerk. And to celebrate, Parker treats her to a romantic wooing in Paris and good romp in the sheets.
My rating: 4 stars
NEW YORK (Book 2): The client is Skyler Paige, a celebrity actress that Parker has had a major crush on for years. She’s lost the will to act and calls upon the International Guys. In this story, we sort of get to the subtle root of the actress’ flaccidness that it reaches an almost psychological level. It’s basically tough being a celebrity. Parker must help her find herself so she can enjoy what she used to. He seems genuine at first, but then it quickly gets to fondling and sexual progressions. Of course, it’s going to be hard for Parker to keep his hands off his dream girl.
I think this moved too fast in the bedroom department. It just seemed that all Parker could think about was getting Skyler in the sack. I mean, I would’ve liked to have seen some of New York ya know.
My rating: 3 stars
This series started off okay, but each story seems to be the same, following the basic pattern. Each new book is set in a new city and each city comes with a different girl that Parker just has to have. I mean, each one practically jumps into the sack right away. I started getting bored after the second book. With each one being set in a different place, you’d think that we’d get to visualize some of these exotic destinations. But the reader almost never gets to go outside of the bedroom. Don’t get me wrong, the sexual foreplay is hot, but I kind of need more from a story.
Blog Tour: DANGER IN SHADOW by Tessa Carr
Shadows of Council Creek (Book 2)
Romantic Suspense
Date Published: 03-26-2021
Laurie Lancey has always loved the old picturesque bridge over Council Creek; it's that beauty which gave the town its name.
But then...
A near miss... A chinese fortune cookie with a deadly warning
A murdered co-worker
She knows now the serenity is just a deception. Something sinister is going on here,
And it's all around her.
Investigator Nick Allyn barely manages to save her when the shots are fired.
"This tells me only one thing, young lady," he tells her firmly.
"Those bullets were meant for you.
And only you."
About the Author
It all started with my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. J. Ever the elegant, perfectly coiffured lady, gave us an assignment to write a short story and read it aloud to the class.
Mine was about a group of fifth grade kids who went on a weekend camping trip, and encountered a grizzly bear. When it was my turn, I read.
Poor Mrs. J! I began to notice a twitch around her left eye sometime around the approach of the grizzly bear. By the time the body parts began flying, it had increased to her mouth, and her whole face was as white as a sheet.
But she was a trooper, and stayed upright throughout the whole story.
However, the other kids loved the story, because it was about them. Suddenly, I was hooked! Over the years, my writing changed from gory stories (my term as a kid) to space stories. Then spy stories, and finally romance. But the other thing I found I really loved was mystery and romance. I wasn’t satisfied with just reading it. I wanted to write it!
Contact Links
Purchase Links
April 23, 2021
Blog Tour: LET'S TALK by Lisa Jacovsky
Let's Talk
by Lisa Jacovsky
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GENRE: Picture Book
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BLURB:
Harper, a seven-year-old little girl that is typically developing, loves going to the pool. One day when she gets to the pool, she meets a new friend, a little girl who is also seven years old . She has no idea that this friend is any different than her. All Harper knows is she has a new friend that wants to play in her tube with her. They both love to swim at the pool and want to play together however, Emma has little communication skills. Emma can make sounds and not words and flaps her hands when she is excited. When Harper realizes she cannot communicate with her new friend she becomes determined to find a way to. In talking to her mom, Harper is told that Emma has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Determined to not let this stand in the way of her new friendship she becomes determined to learn how to communicate with Emma. She begins to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder and asks Emma's mom to show her the different ways she can communicate with her new friend. Harper becomes excited to begin to use her new tools to communicate with Emma. The two become inseparable from that day on. Harper introduces Emma to all her friends and teaches them how to communicate with her. Harper and Emma become the center of their circle of friends and begin to have many more adventures together.
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EXCERPTS:
My review: A story about a girl named Harper and her autistic friend, Emma. It’s a great way for kids to learn about the disorder and how to cope. A great story with wonderfully vibrant illustrations!
My rating: 4 stars
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lisa Jacovsky currently is a Doctoral Level student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is excited for the possibilities having her Doctoral degree will bring her. She has been in the field of ABA since 2014 where she began her career working with adults in residential group homes. She moved onto working with children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2018 and is currently working in Early Intervention. It is her experience with children that inspired her to finally fulfill her dream of writing a book. Lisa began writing short stories when she was seven years old. Writing is a passion for her and one of the many things she enjoys. Lisa lives in New Jersey where she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working on the next stories of the Rascal Cat brothers silly shenanigans.
Facebook: Booksbylisajacovsky
Instagram: Booksbylisajcovsky
Twitter: Lisachildbooks
Website: www.lisajayauthor.com
Email: ljayauthor@gmail.co,
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Lisa Jacovsky will be awarding signed copies of both her children's books and four kinds of stickers (two of each book) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayApril 22, 2021
Blog Tour: THE COACH'S WIFE by Barbara Casey
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Barbara Casey will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
The Cinderella Coyotes of State University are in the Final Four, poised to win the NCAA National Championship in basketball—the culmination of March Madness. For Marla Conners, she's proud of her husband Neal, and his achievement of coaching a collegiate team to the pinnacle of his career and the ultimate victory for his team. Yet, Marla's idyllic life is about to be viciously attacked and torn apart by a different madness—her husband's reputation ruined, a university disgraced, and she finds herself on trial accused of first-degree murder.
The Coach’s Wife is rife with spine-tingling suspense, conspiracy, deceit, and murder, sizzling and seductive passion, right down to the last second buzzer-beating heroics. This is also a candid and vivid behind-the-scenes portrait of Division One college basketball, university politics, money and corruption, and all the lives that are blessed and ruined by it all.
Read an Excerpt
Another deafening roar exploded from the coliseum, and when it did Marla threw down her partially smoked cigarette and ground it into the polished tile floor with the toe of her shoe. Quickly she reached for another cigarette from the opened pack in her small red handbag. She lit it, sucked the smoke into her mouth, held her breath, coughed, and then slowly released it. Marla didn’t smoke, but when she paced up and down the hallways of basketball coliseums, puffing on cigarettes seemed appropriate. It gave her something to do with her hands, and it helped keep her sane.
“God, how I hate this.” Gale Simmons, the gray-haired woman pacing in the same direction as Marla, was married to one of the assistant coaches at Piedmont State. She, along with several other women—also wives of coaches, some of them wives of players—were known as the hall walkers. They were the women who met on a regular but unscheduled basis the last two minutes of every game, pacing the halls, smoking, or pretending to in Marla’s case, and trying to give each other encouragement. Unable to watch the most crucial time of the game—that last two minutes—they paced in heart-pounding agony, listening to the fans erupt in cheers or boos, and to the announcer scream out the play-by-play over the public address system.
It didn’t matter which team they supported. The bond they shared went beyond the game and winning or losing. It was after the game that most mattered. If their team won, it meant going through the torture one more time, but at least their husbands would be happy. If their team lost, it meant their husbands would go through weeks of depression and as their wives they would have to put up with an impenetrable wall of silence broken only by an occasional negative outburst—usually directed toward them. Each of the hall walkers had experienced it. And it was that experience more than any other that cemented the friendship between them.
With thirty seconds to go, the score is 76 all. This is a hot one, folks. Let’s see what the Seawolf pack is going to do. Sydney Rob makes an inbound pass into the back court to Jerry March—the clock is moving, folks. Jerry lobs the ball back over to Rob. Rob passes it over to Miller in the right court.
Interception by Darrell Washington! Holy cow, sports fans! The Seawolf’s Sydney Rob loses the ball to the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest has the ball. Washington bringing it down court. Fifteen seconds on the clock.
About the Author:
Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. Her nonfiction book, Assata Shakur: A 20th Century Escaped Slave, is under contract for a major film. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her three cats who adopted her: Homer, a southern bobtail; Reese, a black cat; and Earl Gray, a gray cat and Reese’s best friend.http://www.barbaracaseyauthor.com
http://www.barbaracaseyagency.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Coachs-Wife-Barbara-Casey-ebook/dp/B08YXQHCRR/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 20, 2021
Blog Tour: THE SCENT OF A MAN by Miriam Newman, Jae El Foster, Jennifer Patricia O'Keefe, Kristi Ahlers
The Scent of a Man
by Miriam Newman, Jae El Foster, Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe, Kristi Ahlers
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GENRE: Romantic Comedy, RomCom, ChickLit
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BLURB:
Warm your heart, put a smile on your face, and get ready for a bellyful of laughs with this collection of four original romantic comedies. Featuring laugh-out-loud tales by some of today’s most talented authors, ‘The Scent of a Man’ will pull you into the world of true love and the antics and misadventures that it takes to find it. Your cure for the doldrums and tribulations of the real world awaits in this shining collection of PG-13 short stories of lively, eclectic and humorous proportions. Remember, there is no greater scent than the scent of a man, so settle back, get comfortable, and take a nice, deep whiff of hilarity.
'Love Cabin' by Miriam Newman
He thinks she’s a snob. She thinks he hates women. It’s going to take a lot to work this out.
'Exiled to Love' by Jae El Foster
An exiled witch must learn to live without her powers, but will she risk losing everything to save a mortal’s life?
'The Scent of a Man' by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe
An injured woman must endure homecare with the aid of a handsome man that threatens to win her heart.
'The Scent of You' by Kristi Ahlers
A woman, terrified of flying, boards a plane at her brother’s beckoning. Can a first class surprise shake her from her nervous angst?
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Excerpt Two:
‘Exiled to Love’ by Jae El Foster
“I wonder…” she thought aloud as she started down the stairs to the front door, “what kinds of jobs are open and hiring on a Saturday?”
There were, of course, thousands of possible jobs out there. She considered what it would be like to be the CEO of a large corporation, or to be a successful fashion designer. Maybe, if she played her cards right, she could star in a motion picture or land a recording contract by dinnertime.
Those, she knew, were true possibilities for her – if she was able to use her powers. Without her powers, she felt pretty useless in the workplace. Then, she thought, every employed mortal must have felt useless before getting that first job. This was no different than that. They had found a use, and so would she.
She just wasn’t sure where or how.
“A latte…” she mumbled as she stepped outside her home and walked to the sidewalk. “A latte would definitely help me think right.”
Normally, she would have just teleported to the coffee shop of her choice – no matter where in the world it was. Now, she didn’t have that option, and as she lived in a suburban neighborhood without a public transportation system, she’d have to walk.
“I’m glad I went with sensible shoes,” she noted with a cringe.
As she walked, she noticed several neighbors outside, enjoying the sunny Saturday afternoon. Donna knew none of them. She never ventured on foot anywhere – especially around this neighborhood. The neighbors either waved at her, smiled, or both. With gritted teeth, she returned the gestures. Her eyes scoped the streets, the street signs, the beautiful houses and the well-groomed yards. Nowhere did she see a café.
“Latte?” she called to an old man on his porch. “Where are the lattes?”
The old man, obviously hard of hearing, waved at her and smiled.
Slowly spinning in a circle, she looked at the other random, unknown faces and asked, “Where is coffee? You know… a coffee shop? A café? Lattes? Cappuccino? I need caffeine!”
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My review: A Bewitching tale! A young witch exiled to the mortal world is forced to live as a mortal—with no powers! She must learn to do everything mortals do, starting with getting a job. Perhaps her sexy and charming neighbor could have the answer.
A woman wakes up in the hospital after being saved by a handsome savior.
Fun and flirty tales! Nice Rom-Com stories that you can give you a quick fix.
My rating: 4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Miriam Newman:
Fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I was published in poetry before catching the romance writing bug. I bring that background to my writing along with a lifelong addiction to horses, an 18 year career in various areas of psychiatric social services and many trips to Ireland, where I nurture my muse. My published works range from contemporary fantasy romance to fantasy historical, futuristic, science fiction and historical romance. Currently I live in rural Pennsylvania with a “motley crew” of rescue animals. You can see my books at www.miriamnewman.com.
Website: http://miriamnewman.com
Blog: http://miriamnewman.com/blog
Blog: http://thecelticroseblog.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMiriamNewman
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/miriamnewman
BookBub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/miriam-newman-cf7ca8bf-caab-4b7e-a6f2-7dbtr90d9215
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3146550.Miriam_Newman
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Miriam-Newman/e/B005DBFZUG
Jae El Foster:
When the muses speak, Jae El Foster writes, and he has been doing so for nearly twenty years, tackling some of the most intriguing genres out there. Delivering fresh, incomparable tales of horror, science fiction, and romance - sweet or spicy - he pens with seasoned skill the tales that his muses deliver to him. His bestselling works include such titles as ‘Restless,’ ‘Beauty Within,’ ‘Where the Demon Is,’ and ‘Only at Christmas.’
Social Links:
Twitter: @JaeElBooks (new account – old one got hacked)
Instagram: @JaeElBooks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjaeelfoster
Website: https://creative-convulsions.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Jae-El-Foster/e/B07GZXRVGJ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4540432.Jae_El_Foster
Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe:
Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe is an author of romantic comedy and anything quirky. She resides in Tennessee, just outside of Nashville where she shares a home with her cats. Ms. O'Keeffe loves to make the world laugh and to find humor and love in the least likely of places. Readers may keep up with her and her writings by following @authorjpokeeffe on Twitter.
Twitter: @authorjpokeeffe
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18789630.Jennifer_Patricia_O_Keeffe
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Patricia-OKeeffe/e/B07W3Z32LP
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjpokeeffe
Kristi Ahlers:
Kristi Ahlers is a California girl! She grew up in Northern California in a small city called Yuba City. Since then she's lived in Brussels, Belgium, and England along with a myriad of other locations. A former flight attendant, she was able to continue to feed her love of travel. This has greatly influenced her writing, allowing her to pen stories about places she's managed to visit and things she's experienced.
Website: www.kristiahlers.com
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/71249.Kristi_Ahlers
Twitter: @KristiAhlers
Blog: http://kristiahlers.blogspot.com/
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Miriam Newman, Jae El Foster, Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe, Kristi Ahlers will be awarding a Free Digital Copy of The Scent of a Man via Smashwords Download to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
April 19, 2021
Blog Tour: WAKE THE F**K UP by Barbara Long
Nonfiction / Humor / Satire
Date Published: September 24, 2020
Publisher: MindStir Media
Wake the F**k Up!
Based on humor and satire, Wake the F**K UP is a book for the parents of teenagers, anyone who has been a teenager or just knows one for that matter. The struggle that surrounds teen-life is real and we can all use a little more laughter in our lives.
My review: A fun ode to mothers of modern teens and the struggle for them to wake the f* up. Funny poetry that can make you smile.
Colorful and vibrant illustrations that leap off the page! A quick read and a wonderful gift to the mothers.
My rating: 4 stars
About The Author
Barbara Long is a registered nurse and graduate of University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. She is married to an emergency medicine physician and together they lead hectic lives with their two teenagers, three dogs, two ducks and a rabbit. They now live in Virginia and enjoy all of the love and laughter that life has to offer.
Contact Link
Purchase Links
