Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 237
March 26, 2021
Blog Tour: TEMPORARILY OUT OF LUCK by Vicki Batman
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Vicki Batman will be awarding a handbag, a $10 Amazon gift card, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and lots of goodies to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Great job. What man? And murder. Newly employed at Wedding Wonderland, Hattie Cooks is learning the industry from a woman she greatly admires. When her former brother-in-law is found dead in his luxury SUV, all fingers point to Hattie’s sister who is planning her own I dos.
Detective Allan Wellborn is caught between a rock and a hard place—Hattie’s family and investigating the murder of a well-connected Sommerville resident, the same loser who was once married to Hattie’s sister. Determining who’s the bad guy—or gal—isn’t going to be easy and sure to piss off someone.
Can Hattie beat the clock to find out who murdered Tracey’s ex before she is charged with the crime and her wedding is ruined?
Read an Excerpt
Sometimes, I felt like a small white mouse housed in a cage with lots of small white mice, whose playground activities involved eating, sleeping, and continually revolving on the exercise wheel. Just like one rodent friend—who I named Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky, having a field day back-flipping from the top of the spinning wheel—something happened. Unexpectedly, I found myself airborne.
Not hurt, a sense of disappointment overcame me, plus a bit of confusion, and a whole lot of colorful adjectives too numerous to list. I, mostly known as Hattie Cooks, shook off the pine shavings and joined the rat race. Sometimes, life sucked.
But wallowing? Not a good solution.
Being positive? A better one.
In most cases, a pitstop was a good idea, and I found comfort in my chocolate stockpile. And in most cases, I found empty shelves, for I had little dough to supply my habit due to the loss of my adored job as an assistant buyer at Sommerville’s top-class department store, Tucker’s, and the subsequent low-paying temporary ones I reluctantly took in the interim. Due to the expenses of rent, food, utilities, budgeting became my new compadré. However, for my recent birthday, Mom suggested friends and family provide me with treats. They were generous—gifting lots and lots of my favorite M&Ms in vast colors and flavors.
Mom’s idea totally rocked as the best birthday gift ever.
From outside my door, I heard Allan Wellborn smack the doorframe.
“You know how to find me.”
I roused from my ruminations and banged my forehead against the wall.
About the Author:
Funny, sweet, and quirky, Vicki Batman’s stories are full of her hallmark humor, romance, and will delight all readers. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.Find Vicki Batman at:
Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html
Blog: http://www.vickibatman.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction-133506590074451/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/
Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/
Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickilbatman/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vicki-batman
Find Temporarily Out of Luck at: https://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Luck-Hattie-Cooks-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08T7YSSRJ
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March 25, 2021
Blog Tour: THE SCENT OF A MAN Anthology
Romantic Comedy
Date Published: February 5, 2021
Publisher: DCL Publications
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?
The Scent of a Man – Anthology
Excerpts
DCL Publications
‘Love Cabin’ by Miriam Newman
EXCERPT:
Blue skidded on the hardwood floors through the cabin, making a beeline for the back door and his pee place. Though Sandy assured her that he sprinkled her place liberally, he had to go at once to his spot in the yard, as if assuring the world he was back. Marjorie followed, .22 cradled in her arms. Nothing was going to eat her pup.
Jack was inspecting his fence line. Alerted by Blue’s furious barks, he glanced up in time to see her carrying armament.
“Hey,” he said, strolling over to the fence. “It isn’t that bad, is it?”
Marjorie smiled. “Coyotes and hawks. He’s still pretty small.”
Jack pushed back his tractor hat. “He looks like he’ll go about eighty pounds, so later you won’t have to worry. But, yeah, they’ll snatch him now.” He gestured to her rifle. “You know how to use that thing?”
“I know how to use this thing.”
“Just checking,” he said. “Those bullets carry a distance.”
“I won’t hit you. Not unless I mean to.”
He grinned. “Well, I’ve been warned. Um, I’ve got an entire freezer full of food from Saturday. Take anything you want; I’ll never eat it all.”
The thought of not cooking was highly appealing, as was the thought of a repeat. “OK. Let me feed the brat and I’ll come over.”
“You can bring him,” Jack said.
‘Exiled to Love’ by Jae El Foster
EXCERPT:
“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!”
‘The Scent of a Man’ by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe
EXCERPT:
“Beth!” Melanie squealed with happiness as she saw her friend up and on her own two feet. Then, her expression went to shock as she noticed her forehead. She gasped, put a hand to her heart, and took a step back. “Oh, my god!”
“Oh, that looks bad,” Dianna added. “Like, really bad.”
“Is… is that permanent?” Melanie looked absolutely horrified.
“I hope not,” Beth said and shrugged. “It’s pretty embarrassing.”
“Yeah it is,” Dianna agreed. “You can’t go to work with that on your face.”
“I can’t go back to work at all for a while,” she told them. “Bed rest for a few days. I have a nice concussion that the doctor seems concerned about.”
At the mention of the doctor, the expressions of both friends transformed and wide smiles took over.
“Speaking of the doctor,” Melanie began. “That’s who you were with when this happened, right?”
“He’s pretty cute,” Dianna noted. “Like, really cute.”
“He’s my doctor,” Beth specified. “He now knows much too much about me to want to date me. I can promise you that.”
“You don’t know that,” Dianna said. “He’s a doctor, but he’s still a man.”
“A deliciousman,” Melanie added. “Have you smelled him? He has on no cologne and his scent is still divine!” She fanned herself as she thought about it.
“Have I… smelled him?” Beth questioned. Then, she wondered what Melanie was doing smelling him.
“How can you miss it?” she continued. “You can’t miss it! Honey, there is no scent greater than the scent of a man.”
Beth laughed out loud. It was absurd. Unless someone was drenched in cologne or perfume, they didn’t really have a scent… did they? Maybe sweat, she thought. Men were often sweaty, and sweat definitely had a scent.
‘The Scent of You’ by Kristi Ahlers
EXCERPT:
Arden smiled at the man beside her. The man who managed to become so very important to her in less than eight hours. A man she was going to have to walk away from. Her throat tightened but she refused to cry.
“So, what’s your favorite color,” Cade asked as he soothed her with his attentions.
“Purple.”
“Favorite food?”
“Depends on the moment. I love sushi. Anything with lobster in it. Hmmm, brie cheese, but it has to be melted and super gooey. I love a good burger but it has to be good, not some chain restaurant’s idea of a burger.”
“Nice.” Cade smiled. “What is your favorite season?”
“I guess I like paprika if it’s not used too much. Does vanilla count as a spice? I really love vanilla. I have to admit I’m not a spicy spice kinda girl.”
The guys all laughed softly.
“No, baby, what season like spring or summer.” Cade brushed a strand of hair off her face.
Arden willed the world to just open up and swallow her. Of course that’s what he meant. Because who talks about spices in a kitchen cabinet as a form of getting to know a person. Unless, of course, they were talking to a chef, which, she wasn’t. Yeah, she was a bright one all right.
“Hey, did we lose you?” Cade asked.
“No, I couldn’t be that lucky after being such a dork.”
“Hey, none of that. Easy mistake. So…what’s your favorite season?”
About the Authors
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.
Contact:
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
Instagram: @JaeElFoster
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.
Contact:
Twitter: @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.
Contact:
Twitter: @KristiAhlers
Purchase Links
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March 23, 2021
Blog Tour: SHE'S THE ONE WHO CARES TOO MUCH by S.R. Cronin
She's the One Who Cares Too Much
(Book Two of the War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters)
by S. R. Cronin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Fantasy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Coral, the second of seven sisters, has been hiding her affair with the perfect man until her older sister can get her life together. But the perfect man is getting impatient and now she’s gotten pregnant. Coral decides it’s time to consider her own happiness.
But what does she want? The perfect husband turns out to be less than ideal. She adores the small children she teaches but the idea of being a mother fills her with joy. Meanwhile, her homeland is gripped by fear of a Mongol invasion and she can’t stop crying about everything now that she’s with child.
Then a friend suggests the ever-caring Coral possesses a power well beyond what she or anyone else imagines. Does she? And why is the idea so appealing?
When Coral’s big sister loses faith in the army and decides to craft a way to use magic to save Ilari from the Mongols, she decides Coral’s formidable talent is what the realm needs. Can Coral raise a baby, placate an absent military husband who thinks he’s stopping the invasion, and help her sister save her homeland?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
Yet, plenty worried me.
He was from Lev, where the vineyards of Ilari thrived in picturesque hills and where the rich liked to spend their leisure time. He had invited me to meet his family as soon as mine learned about him, but the trip made me nervous. He’d called me a simple farm girl. What would his family think of me?
And what would my unpretentious family think of him? Davor was a military man, nothing like my gentle, intellectual dad. Would the two of them have anything to say to each other?
And what of my mother? Over the years, she’d made it clear we weren’t simply to marry. Our father was a respected soil expert in the farming nichna of Vinx and she’d gone to great pains to teach us everything from grooming to fine arts, ensuring enough polish for us to wed the best Ilari had to offer.
“But what about love,” I’d asked her repeatedly.
“It’s just as easy to fall in love with a prince,” she’d answered each time. I’d gotten the point by the time I was eight.
But Davor hadn’t been born to a royal family. Rather, he’d achieved his status when a decree made him a Mozdol after his brave actions in a skirmish with a band of thieves. Being a Mozdol was supposed to be the legal equivalent of a being prince. Would it count with my mother?
The one thing that didn’t concern me was Davor’s affection for me. He liked the way I was. He didn’t think I was too nice and he didn’t mind the bit of plumpness plaguing me. He told me my softness was part of what attracted him. And while I thought my orange hair was too bright, he adored it, running his figures through it every time we were together.
When I’d learned he was eight years my senior, I had been concerned. A man seldom waited so long to wed. He told me his commitment to the Svadlu made it difficult to find a mate. After his proposal, I knew my parents would find his being unattached worrisome, too, so I pushed harder for a better explanation.
He told me he was still single because he’d been waiting for me. I knew that wasn’t true, but it was a charming thing to say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sherrie Cronin is the author of a collection of six speculative fiction novels known as 46. Ascending and is now in the process of publishing a historical fantasy series called The War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters. A quick look at the synopses of her books makes it obvious she is fascinated by people achieving the astonishing by developing abilities they barely knew they had.
She’s made a lot of stops along the way to writing these novels. She’s lived in seven cities, visited forty-six countries, and worked as a waitress, technical writer, and geophysicist. Now she answers a hot-line. Along the way, she’s lost several cats but acquired a husband who still loves her and three kids who’ve grown up just fine, both despite how odd she is.
All her life she has wanted to either tell these kinds of stories or be Chief Science Officer on the Starship Enterprise. She now lives and writes in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she admits to occasionally checking her phone for a message from Captain Picard, just in case.
Author Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cinnabar01
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/46Ascending
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5805814.Sherrie_Cronin
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Sherrie-Cronin/e/B007FRMO9Q
Author Blog: https://sherriecronin.xyz/
Book Series Blog: https://troublesome7sisters.xyz/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
S. R. Cronin will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 19, 2021
Blog Tour: SNOW DUST AND BONESHINE by Grendolyn Peach Soleil
The Chronicles of Granny Witch (Book 1)
Paranormal Romance, Historical Fantasy, Magical Realism, Visionary Fiction
Date Published: December 27, 2020
Once upon a winter’s night, a lost cowboy finds himself in Purgatory Bend. Patrick Doolin is plagued by a wound that won’t heal, but winter is the season of miracles. As Patrick wanders through Wyoming, he meets Fawna Darling, the mysterious granny witch, who channels the folk magic of her ancestors.
With nowhere to go and a secret Patrick doesn’t yet understand, he seeks shelter with Fawna in the snowswept prairie. Forbidden to fall in love, they form an eternal bond in the dreamscape, but when the bluebirds sing of summer and threaten their empire of dreams, they are faced with an impossible decision. Will Patrick stay in the land of the living, or will he cross over the prairie?
Summer is the season of surprises, and Fawna’s childhood sweetheart, Dezi Ketchum, longs to win her heart too. When winter melts across the gold-slick prairie, Fawna searches for answers under the rose moon. Caught between fire and water and flesh and fantasy, she follows her heart and ventures into uncharted territory.
Praise for Snow Dust and Boneshine
"A warm and spellbinding tale...Soleil's writing flows like a stream, relaxing and exotic. Mixed with folk magic, simpler times and beliefs, this is a wonderful escape." ~ Tome Tender
"Soleil's writing is riveting...It's much more than a fantasy - it's a story of love and faith." ~ Literary Titan
"Curl up under your blanket, grab a cup of tea, and let yourself wander between magic and reality in Purgatory Bend...Snow Dust and Boneshine is one of the sweetest, selfless, heartbreaking but also heartwarming love stories I have ever read...The characters, the atmosphere, and the imagery are done so beautifully. Every description made me sink my teeth into the story just a little bit more." ~ Snez at Book Lifey & A Quintillion Reads Book Club
“Snow Dust and Boneshine was incredible…There’s romance, intrigue and lots of magic. It’s very well written, so much so, I could feel the cold and bitter wind as I read about it. The characters are beautifully written, and I could see it playing out as a movie as I read. I highly recommend picking this one up. 5 stars all the way.” ~ Angela Scavone, Author of Celebrity Status
“This story was magical and fascinating with an element of surprise. It was well-researched and beautifully thought out to bring us so many amazing details. If witches and love stories set in a small town with a sprinkle of magic interests you, I would urge you to read this.” ~ Kriti Dalmia at This Reader Girl
Excerpt 1
Prologue: Angel Creek
Wolf Moon, 1854
Patrick Doolin hid behind a sunbaked boulder, his bare ribs sticking to the sagebrush. He grabbed the wet, mushy hole in his belly, his heart pounding, his ears ringing raw. Around the bend, there were howling beasts in the canyon, sniffing his blood trail. Trapped in the crossfire, he closed his eyes and pretended it was all a bad dream. He cloaked himself in a cloud of dust and prayed for invisibility. Patrick didn’t know whether to beg for his life or submit to death’s sting, but instinctively, his body forced him to gasp for air.
From the moment he boarded the ship last summer, he regretted leaving Ireland. He missed the sheep-strewn pastures and the soggy sea cliffs. He missed the rolling fog and the taste of coddle by firelight. By the grace of God, Patrick survived the great hunger, and despite its brutal aftermath, he still yearned for his motherland, for fairy trees and cloud cover. It was better to be hungry at home than stuffed to the gills with strangers.
Patrick’s father suffered the most during the great hunger, so when a fever ravaged him last February, he was too weak to recover. Although Patrick bowed his head and prayed every morning, his father was skin and bones by Easter. Worst of all, his father’s spirit was troubled by Patrick’s black-hearted brother, Liam, so Patrick made a deathbed promise to his father. He vowed to look after Liam come hell or high water.
As soon as their father rattled his last breath, Liam set his sights on California. After the wake, the Doolin brothers boarded a ship to Philadelphia. From there, they made the long trek to Dakota territory. It took them three months to reach their uncle’s homestead, and by the time they arrived, old man winter was already there. The Doolin brothers agreed to work for their uncle until the following summer and then make their way to California, but after Christmas, Liam didn’t want to wait any longer.
Patrick knew they were late to the gold rush. Their uncle showed them the newspapers and implored them to stay in Dakota. He said it was treacherous to travel in the dead of winter, but there was no reasoning with Liam, so the Doolin brothers saddled up and battled the pelting ice and blowing snow. They slept under giant fir trees, their fingers and toes tingling with frostbite. They hadn’t been on the trail for long when Liam started a gunfight with a goliath of a cowboy, then disappeared into thin air.
Now, Patrick was all by himself, stranded somewhere between Dakota and Wyoming. Utterly disoriented, he clutched his belly in agony and stumbled through the wilderness. He meditated on the pine trees as they swirled into a blur of whistling green. Patrick saw trains and ships in the shadows. He saw the sea cliffs of Ireland in his dreams. When he couldn’t take another step, he collapsed on the edge of Angel Creek, his wounded body glinting red with sunburn, his sticky blood mingling with the cold stream.
As he faded in and out of mortality, he saw a young woman with hair as black as a raven. A pack of wolves surrounded her and swaddled her porcelain skin with their ashen fur. Patrick couldn’t get a good look at her face, but he caught a glimpse of her scarlet lips. She was nothing more than a stranger to him, but he took comfort in watching her dance through the shimmering snowfields. As he stood there in the frozen prairie, held captive by the bone-chilling wind, he felt strangely warm as though a hearth was glowing inside him.
The next morning, an old cowboy named Charlie was fishing for salmon when he came across Patrick’s body floating belly-up in the creek. Charlie took Patrick for dead, but as he got closer, he witnessed pulse and breath. Charlie rubbed his eyes in disbelief. He figured there was a reason this poor man was still alive, so he slung Patrick over his shoulder and lugged him for half a mile, dabbing his sweaty face with a red bandana. When he got back to his wagon, he plopped Patrick down next to the salmon and gave him a ride to Purgatory Bend.
Excerpt 2
Wolf Moon, 1854
At daybreak, Fawna drug her stiff body out of bed and wrapped her wolfskin around her. She rekindled the hearth and drank her morning cup of tea. She opened the front door and assessed the weather. The howling wind whipped through the prairie and stung her pale skin. The snow was swirling, thick and wild, with no end in sight. It was the bitterest kind of cold. Her entire body shook, her teeth chattering like a music box, her bones cracking like thin ice. The earth was laced with deadly beauty, and Fawna rubbed her brittle fingers together, worshipping the snow-capped domes in the distance.
It was the season of coughs and fevers, and Fawna knew the prairie folk needed her, so she spent the morning crushing coneflowers and elderberries at Bluebird’s Apothecary. By mid-afternoon, all was wet and bright, and the silver snowdrifts covered the prairie in a shroud of candlelit prayer. Fawna wanted nothing more than to go back to her homestead and curl up by the hearth with a book in her hand, but she promised Roscoe she would stop by the saloon and have an early supper with him. Roscoe had been mighty lonely since his wife and daughter died, and Fawna didn’t want to disappoint him.
As she walked over to the saloon, a strange feeling was brewing inside her. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew something splendiferous was about to happen.
Excerpt 3
Silk Moon, 1840
Yesterday, an unpleasant creature arrived in Purgatory Bend, wrapping the blue skies and dry earth in its flaming wings. A wildfire raged in the woods behind Fawna’s homestead, burning brighter and brighter under the sweltering heat of the silk moon. Fearfully, Fawna watched from the window as thousands of bonfires sizzled and scorched the land all around her, but there seemed to be an invisible force that kept the flames from engulfing her homestead. When she asked her mamaí how it was possible, Isleen said it was a divine mystery, and they should be grateful.
With wildfires, there was only one certainty. No matter how long they burned, they died out eventually. When the dust finally settled under the waning silk moon, there was nothing left but ashen limbs and the putrid smell of char. The beautiful woods that Fawna remembered were gone. Even the towering treetops were bald, and Fawna felt naked without them. She stood at the edge of the woods and cried a river, but Isleen didn’t shed a tear.
“Flames are a force of nature, and we need fire as much as we need water. There’s no need to be sad or afraid, for death is the path to the resurrection,” Isleen explained. “Now, dry those tears, my little Fawna. We have to trust the god of miracles. The woods will come back to us, and they’ll be even more beautiful than they were before,” Isleen promised.
“Mamaí, I think we should call them the cinder woods now,” Fawna said, drying her tears with the sleeve of her dress.
“What a splendid way to honor their pain,” Isleen whispered.
About the Author
Grendolyn Peach Soleil was born in the Appalachian Mountains on a full moon. She is an old soul and a folk magic fiend. Grendolyn loves twisted fairy tales, all things vintage, tales of true love, and creature features. Some of her fancies include pumpkins, black cats, mermaids, tea parties, cowboys, dahlias, and sunsets. She is a member of the Visionary Fiction Alliance and The Independent Author Network. Grendolyn is the author of Limbo Jubilee, The Mermaids Melt at Dawn, and Snow Dust and Boneshine: The Chronicles of Granny Witch (Book 1).
Contact Links
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March 18, 2021
Blog Tour: FULLY INVOLVED by Lindy Bell
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lindy Bell will be awarding a $25 Starbucks gift card (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Katie Garrett is madly in love with her dashing firefighter husband, Andy. When he is diagnosed with cancer, their entire world is turned upside down. Andy clumsily tries to protect Katie from the truth by not telling her, but her fear — and his increasing pain and tumultuous emotions — only feed her deep-seated insecurities, as they fight for Andy’s life and for their marriage.
While the fire station and its camaraderie are Andy’s refuge, station officer Lt. Mike Bentley wages a vendetta against Andy, making Andy more determined to avoid revealing weakness of any kind. In spite of Bentley’s despising Andy, the C shift crew rally to support Andy until events take a downward turn.
As she discovers Andy’s cancer was caused by exposure to lethal chemicals while on duty, Katie navigates the treacherous maze of uncertainty and grief to emerge a stronger, more confident woman who represents her husband and the fire service as an advocate for firefighter safety and protection.
Firefighters face a myriad of dangers, but the invisible dangers – his past, her fears -- can pose the greatest threat of all. Will courage, duty, and love be enough to save Andy from these unseen threats? Will he come to recognize the far-reaching impact his life has on others? If the worst should happen, would his greatest legacy be the love of the fire service or the love for his wife? In the end, the unforeseen might have the greatest significance of all.
Read an Excerpt
Katie slipped her shoes off and swung them from the tips of two fingers as she walked down the hall. She stepped into their bedroom just as Andy came out of the bathroom, fresh from a shower. A towel around his waist but still beaded with water, his broad chest and muscular arms, flexed as he grabbed her in a wet hug. He smelled of soap, his damp skin still warm from the shower.
“Hey, beautiful!”
“You’re soaking wet!” Katie squealed as Andy lifted her up and swung her around. She laughed as she looked into Andy’s electric blue eyes, crinkling with pleasure. He set her gently down but before she could say anything, his warm lips covered hers, tenderly at first and then more intensely as he pulled her close, her body fitting willingly to his. Katie felt her heart race and her breath quicken as Andy’s strong arms held her so tight she could feel his heart beating.
Andy grazed her lips with another lingering kiss before leaning back and grinning into her flushed face.
“That was some welcome home, mister,” she sighed happily before opening her eyes.
Looking into Andy’s face, she could tell something was wrong. The smile on her face turned into a frown and then a look of concern.
“You look pale.”
Andy dropped his arms and walked quickly back to the bathroom. “I’m fine,” he said, an edge in his voice.
“You sure?” Katie ventured, peering into the steamy bathroom.
“I said I’m fine,” Andy said as he snapped a tee shirt over his head. “Why can’t you just take me at my word. I’m tired of being second guessed on everything.” A sudden flush of anger covered his face as he turned on Katie.
Startled, Katie took a quick step back. “No one is second guessing you,” she tried to assure him in a soft voice. “You just don’t look like you feel well.”
“Again, I am fine,” Andy snarled, brushing past her. “Don’t we have an open house to get to?”
About the Author
A project ten years in the making, Fully Involved is Lindy Bell’s debut novel and avidly reflects her admiration and love of the fire service. Thoroughly researched, the quest for accuracy for the book led Lindy to participate in the Plano Citizens Fire Academy, attend classes and accompany firefighters on ride outs. With a retired fire chief and a current paramedic/firefighter in the family, Lindy has witnessed firsthand the dedication and humbleness of first responders which fueled the impetus to convey the importance of the legendary fire service brotherhood and create cancer awareness and its growing effect on the fire service. Lindy’s first book, Jane Austen Celebrates~Holidays and Occasions Regency Style, is a showcase Regency Era holidays and their impact on modern holiday celebration traditions. A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Lindy has spoken to a variety of groups and taught Continuing and Adult Professional Education courses at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
A graduate of Abilene Christian University, Lindy currently lives in Plano, TX and works from home for a governmental executive recruitment and training firm. As hobbies, Lindy enjoys supporting Plano Fire Rescue by volunteering with the Plano Fire Rescue Association, writing, reading an engaging novel and cross stitching.
Website: http://lindybellwrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindyBellWrites
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LindyBellWrites
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/LindyBellWrites
Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3cfvbEs
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March 13, 2021
Review: DEATH VISITS THE HAIR SALON by Amy Andersen
Marion Fox runs a hair salon. When she first opened shop for the day, the stench of death assaulted her—that’s because there was a dead body in one of the chairs. How did the dead woman end up in the salon? Could a rival salon have something to do with this? This mystery was east to read and easy to get through. It started off good, but then it ended rather abruptly and conveniently, if you ask me.
My rating: 3 stars
Review: MASSAGE AND MURDER by Jenn Cowan
[image error] Someone was trying to break into the spa, where Autumn works in the small town of MO.
One of the worst clients of the day was the Queen B and guess who was stuck giving her a massage? The Queen B’s open criticism of the town spa inspires her to open another better spa. Then she’s found dead on the massage table with Autumn having means, motive, and opportunity. But she wasn’t a killer; she was a healer.
Everyone in town had a reason to kill April, but who did it?
Keeping the suspects/characters straight can be a little daunting. Writing was fragmented a lot of the time, but it was an okay mystery.
My rating: 3 stars
Review: GOOD FORTUNES by J.A. Whiting
Claire Rollins works at a chocolate shop. An unexpected tarot reading at the shop reveals things about her, and the mysterious woman advices not to ignore her instincts. All of a sudden, she receives jolts and flashed images of her boss and best friend bloody and still. Oh dear! The next instant, she saves her from a drive-by shooting. How did she know something would happen? It was a strike of good fortune that another pedestrian happened to be saved at that time. Could someone want the girls dead? If Claire gets these feelings, how can she use them to help?
I thought this had an interesting concept, but it was too slow and dragged on with over embellishments. It mostly consisted of Claire understanding and honing her “skill.” The mystery was okay.
My rating: 3 stars
Review: THE BODY ON THE BARSTOOL by Lolli Powell
“You think business was bad, wait ‘til they hear about the dead guy on the barstool.” Ricki just inherited a bar and finds a dead dude, who was her ex-husband, which leads her to be suspect #1. She talks an awful lot—like talking out of her a#$ mostly, and the story kinda repeats the same info on what happened. She was witty and snarky, but also tiring at the same time. God, I feel like nothing really happens in this story. What a dull read.
My rating: 2 stars
Review: A DEADLY COURSE by Diane Weiner
A dead biker on the hiking trailer. Not what you’d expect to find on a run. But, sure enough, Emily sure did.
Writing was okay. Story line was decent enough. I expected to be more into the mystery though. It’s rather slow and unexciting. Guess if you’re looking for a mystery, this one’s decent enough.
My rating: 3 stars
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