Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 35

Spotlight: HALE by J.K. Noble

Genre: YA Fantasy

Summary: After a desperate escape attempt from his kidnapper, sixteen-year-old Hale is thrust into the brutal world of magic that his sister had tried to protect him from.

Here, in the violent Land of Griffins, Hale learns he is anything but normal. He is in fact a griffin who has pretty amazing talents. As Hale grows close to the Griffin Leader, Bayo, he can't deny their connection. However, Hale is unaware of the dark plans Bayo has in store for him....as well as who they truly are to one another.

In Hale: The Rise of the Griffins, readers discover a diverse fantasy world with four unique nations and cultures. The novel is broken into short stories that follow a different set in the cast bringing the reader into fun adventures in every chapter. This unique magic system is unlike anything in fantasy literature today. Hale: The Rise of the Griffins is an anti-chosen-one story that addresses loss, manipulation, good and bad family relationships, finding one’s path, and dealing with one’s mistakes.

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Author Bio: J.K. Noble is an author, artist, and founder of the J.K. Noble Foundation Inc., which provides free recreational books to public schools. She is best known for her captivating Hale series, where her talent for crafting fantastical worlds and complex characters shines. Noble is also an illustrator, creating the artwork for her books and the associated Hale trading cards. In addition to her literary work, she is dedicated to humanitarian causes through the J.K. Noble Humanity Foundation.

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hale-Rise-Griffins-JK-Noble-ebook/dp/B0977H6WVP/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hale-jk-noble/1143116491

Author's Social Media:

Website: https://www.hale-fantasynovel.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haletheriseofthegriffins/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haleseries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hale.fantasyseries/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@haleseries/videos

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21510789.J_K_Noble

Blog Tour: BULLETS AND DANDELIONS by Gail Koger

 

BULLETS AND DANDELIONS

Gail Koger

 

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GENRE:  Romantic Suspense

 

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BLURB:

 

Myname is Tess Reynolds, and I’ll admit few people would think I’m a badass Armysniper called the Scorpion. Afterall, women snipers were unheard of in 1990.People look at me and see a petite blonde who is cute as a button. My fathercalls it my natural camouflage.

 

Mytime in the Middle East has been full of unforeseen complications. I have arogue CIA agent trying to kill me and I caught the attention of a Force ReconMarine by the name of Alexander Stone. Wowzer! He’s hot but he’s also thebiggest jackass I have ever met. To make things even more interesting, I needthe Jackass’s help to stay alive.

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

“Turn around. You’re moving like a granny, and I need you infighting form.” He pulled a tube of ointment out of his pocket.

 

The last thing I needed was Stone touching me, but he wasright. I couldn’t fight like this. I turned around. I hoped I didn’t dosomething stupid, like kissing him.  

 

“You took a bad fall. You’re damn lucky you didn’t break aleg.”

 

I snorted. “That would have really messed up my father’splans.”

 

“Your father needs killing.” Stone massaged ointment into myneck and back.

 

My knees almost buckled. That felt so damn good. “He was agreat father until my mother was killed. Now all he lives for is vengeance.”Shit! My voice came out all breathy.

 

“What happened?” Stone’s hands slid down my left thigh as he worked the ointment into mycolorful bruises.

 

My pussy pulsed and I fought back a moan. God, I loved thefeel on his hands on my body. “She worked for Doctors Without Borders and waskilled in a roadside bombing.” I balled my hands. Don’t touch him. Don’t touchhim.

 

“That’s tough.” He switched to my other leg.

 

Oh, God. My panties were soaked, my nipples had hardened,and pure arousal thrummed in my veins. I wanted that bastard inside me.

 

“How does that feel?” He gave me a lewd wink.

 

“You know damn well how that feels.”

 

He grinned. “You’ve got the color back in your cheeks.”

 

“Gee, thanks.”

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for theGlendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I meanpeople have no idea what a real emergency is. Take this for example: Ianswered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical womanyelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so Isaid, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! Youdon’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get himdown.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am but we don’t get birds out oftrees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.”See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the headwith my phone I took up writing.

 

 

http://www.gailkoger.com

https://www.facebook.com/Colettiwarlordbooks/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1598719.Gail_Koger

https://twitter.com/Askole

https://www.instagram.com/gkoger58/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gail-koger

http://www.amazon.com/Gail-Koger/e/B001K838BY

http://gailswarlords30.bsky.social

 

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GIVEAWAY 

GailKoger will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt: BURNING SHADOWS by Haven Thorne

Genre: Gothic Romance

Summary: Emma’s peaceful ranch life unravels when she discovers a glowing journal in the charred ruins of her family’s barn. Haunted by dreams of fire and longing, Emma is drawn into a centuries-old mystery where love and tragedy entwine.

As the journal reveals the heartbreaking story of Rose, a woman who perished in the barn fire decades ago, Emma realizes the danger isn’t just in the past. Ghostly figures and sinister forces threaten her present—and her heart.

Luke, the rugged rancher with secrets of his own, might be her only ally. Together, they must unravel the truth before the shadows consume them both.

Excerpt: 

The heat between them ignited instantly, a spark that flared into a roaring blaze as their lips met. Emma melted into him, her hands sliding up his chest as Luke lifted her onto the table, his touch both firm and reverent.

The journal’s glow intensified, casting a golden light that flickered around them. Luke’s hands roamed her body, his lips trailing down her neck with deliberate care. Emma gasped, her body arching as his touch set her nerves alight.

“You’re incredible,” he murmured against her skin, his voice thick with emotion.

Emma smiled faintly, her fingers tangling in his hair. “Then don’t stop.”

Luke growled softly, his hands sliding her skirt higher as his fingers teased her, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through her. Emma moaned, her breath catching as her body responded to his every move.

When his lips replaced his fingers, the sensation was electric. Emma’s cries filled the room, her hands clutching at his shoulders as the tension built to a breaking point. “Luke,” she gasped, her voice breaking.

“You’re mine,” he growled against her skin, his voice rough and possessive.

Emma shattered, her release hitting her like a tidal wave, leaving her trembling in his arms. Luke rose to his feet, his dark eyes blazing as he pulled her into another searing kiss.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSMJTV9F

Blog Tour: NIGHT OF THE HAWK by Lauren Martin

 

NIGHT OF THE HAWK

Lauren Martin

 

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GENRE:  Poetry

 

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BLURB:

 

Ifá.Nature. Illness. Love. Loss. Misogyny. Aging. Africa. Our wounded planet. Inthis sweeping yet intensely personal collection, Lauren Martin tells the untoldstories of the marginalized, the abused, the ill, the disabled—the different.Inspired by her life’s experiences, including the isolation she has suffered asa result both of living with chronic illness and having devoted herself to areligion outside the mainstream, these poems explore with raw vulnerability andunflinching honesty what it is to live apart—even as one yearns for connection.

 

ButNight of the Hawk is no lament; it is powerful, reverential, sometimeshumorous, often defiant—“Oh heat me and fill me / I rise above lines”—and fullof wisdom. Visceral and stirring, the poems in this collection touch on vastlydisparate subjects but are ultimately unified in a singular quest: to inspirethose who read them toward kindness, compassion, and questioning.

 

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ExcerptTwo:

 

PEACHES

 

Dear Peaches,

Please stop killing yourself with shameful behavior.

I saw the ass drums.

I wanted to barf. I thought much more highly of you.

You are the slimy lecherous guy on stage at spring break.

Except, you’re 60. I guess that makes sense.

But What is going on? And you question my rituals?

 

Love,

Muñequita

 

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In your opinion, what makes a published book successful intoday's modern world?

 

True emotion and word of mouth are indeed powerful forces inliterature, capable of resonating deeply with readers and creating lastingimpressions. In the realm of poetry, these elements take on even greatersignificance as poets strive to distill complex feelings and experiences intoconcise, evocative language. The art of writing poetry involves a delicatebalance of crafting words that not only convey the poet's thoughts and emotionsbut also resonate with the reader on a profound level.

When composing poetry, authors often grapple with thechallenge of translating their innermost feelings onto the page, hoping thattheir message and emotional intent will be effectively communicated. Thisprocess requires a keen understanding of language, imagery, and rhythm, as wellas the ability to tap into universal human experiences that can touch readersacross diverse backgrounds.

The publishing world can be a fickle and unpredictableentity, making it challenging for writers to anticipate what might capture theattention of editors and literary gatekeepers. However, despite theever-changing trends in the industry, there remains a constant and unwaveringdesire among readers for emotional truths that resonate on a universal level.This hunger for authenticity drives readers to seek out literature that speaksto the human condition in honest and relatable ways.

In a world often dominated by superficiality and fleetingtrends, readers crave genuine representations of the human experience. Theylong for stories and poems that reflect their own struggles, joys, andcomplexities, allowing them to see themselves mirrored in the words on thepage[5]. This desire for authenticity underscores the enduring power ofliterature to connect people across time, culture, and personal circumstances.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Lauren Martin is a psychotherapist, poet, and adevoted Ìyânífá. Born in Boston and spending many years in New York andParis, she currently lives in Oakland, California. Lauren studied psychology,photography and poetry at Sarah Lawrence College. She spent years writingwithout submitting her work due to a long shamanic journey, which led her toboth Ifá, and to the writing of several books (including this collectionof poems.) The upcoming publication of Night of the Hawk (SheWrites Press, 2024),reflects a deeply personal experience of illness, isolation and true shamanism.

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Hawk-Poems-Lauren-Martin-ebook/dp/B0C9HK2CX7

 

Website: https://www.laurenmartin.net/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lauren.martin.37201

Instagram: http://instagram.com/frankyisastar

 

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GIVEAWAY 

LaurenMartin will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: LINE OF SIGHT by Paul G. Wright

 

LINE OF SIGHT

Paul G. Wright

 

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GENRE:  Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

Itis 1995, and intelligence operative Lora Chandler, a.k.a. Agent Vogel, istasked with investigating the claim that Professor Simon Blackmarr has crackedthe invisibility problem. A mission that leads her back to the half-forgottenbeach town of Lancaster, Florida. Home to estranged love interest, andnewspaper reporter Richard Davis. Her feelings for him have never really died,and matters become even more complicated when Vogel learns that Blackmarr'sbreakthrough is legitimate. A scientific discovery that —in the wrong hands —could alter the balance of global power. The stakes become even higher when theprofessor is abducted from the university, forcing Vogel back into the shadowyrealm of espionage to find out who and why. It will take all the skill andcunning Lora Chandler possesses to stop a threat that could have devastatingconsequences for her personal life — and the world at large.

 

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ExcerptTwo:

 

Professor Simon Blackmarr was a modest man who did not enjoygiving lectures. He never quite knew what to say and needed everything writtendown. His notes frequently got jumbled and he tended to lose his place, oftenleaving him searching through papers in the middle of an important point.

 

Giving speeches was not his strong suit and he preferred theclassroom, where he could dialogue with his students. Or better still, thelaboratory, where he could focus his attention on solving a single problem. Nodistractions, no interruptions, just the work. Time would simply melt away.

 

Unfortunately, the university required these talks. Once asemester, he was expected to give a detailed account of his research and reporthis findings. It was as dull for him as it was for the poor souls who attended.Turnout was usually sparse—just faculty and those students currently taking hisclasses. Occasionally, some of his peers dropped in, and now and then a fewcurious civilians, but not much more.

 

Tonight, promised to be no different.

 

 

He’d made an interesting discovery that could have someunique applications, but it was still in the earliest stages. Further researchand further testing were required before a final analysis could be reached.Which was why he disliked mentioning it.

 

But it was required.

 

Simon sighed as he looked over the handwritten pages andadjusted his spectacles. He could be home watching TV now or taking a walk. Hestood in the wings as Dr. Stewart introduced him. Dr. Stewart spoke in a stiffmonotone and was shaped like a pear. Blackmarr didn’t care for her. She waddledwhen she moved and was never satisfied with any answer you gave her.

 

“And now without further ado,” wheezed Stewart. “ProfessorSimon Blackmarr.”

 

He looked upward and winced. On with the show.

 

 

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Finding New Challenges

BeforeLine of Sight, I’d neverwritten a spy-thriller. Most of my previous work, including my debut novel ACollege Story, was more character-driven and grounded in personalexperience. Shifting gears to write a high-stakes, fast-paced thriller was bothintimidating and exciting. The genre demanded I raise the stakes, tighten thepacing, and make every moment count. All of which pushed me to grow as awriter.

Forexample, I had to figure out how to create satisfying twists while stillleaving enough clues for readers to connect the dots. One scene that stands outin my memory has Agent Vogel, the protagonist, confronting her fear of heights.The setting—a precarious catwalk—was designed to amplify the tension, creatinga moment full of claustrophobia and psychological challenges. Writing it was abalancing act. I wanted to make the action realistic and visceral, but I alsoneeded to highlight Vogel’semotional state. I wanted readers to see her as a real person, facing realfears, rather than a kind of superhero. I rewrote that scene several timesbefore I felt it accurately captured this moment. Looking back, it reminds mehow rewarding it can be to push through challenges in the creative process.

AgentVogel was inspired by one of my closest friends from high school. She’s a tomboyish, no-nonsense type with asharp wit and an unshakable sense of determination. A true force to be reckonedwith. Writing a character who embodied so much of her personality felt like away to celebrate our friendship and the adventures we’veshared over the years.

Ialso drew inspiration from James Bond, classic thrillers, and television serieslike The Equalizer.When I hit a creative roadblock, I would ask myself: how would those writershandle this situation? What would they do to keep the tension high and thereader engaged? This process not only motivated me to push through difficultmoments but also challenged me to stretch further as a storyteller. I wanted tostrike a balance between adrenaline-pumping action and meaningful charactermoments, which gave the book its own unique identity.

Nowthat I’ve started work on a sequel to Lineof Sight, I find myself drawing on the lessons I learned during thatexperience. I want to continue raising the stakes and crafting intricate,tightly woven plots that keep readers hooked. I’malso excited to revisit Agent Vogel. The new book will delve deeper into herbackground, introducing new layers to her character and new challenges thattest her in unexpected ways. It will also bring fresh faces into her world,adding new dynamics to explore.

Perhapsthe biggest takeaway from writing Line of Sight is that stepping out ofyour comfort zone as a writer can lead to some of your most fulfilling work. It’s a lesson I’llcarry with me, not just into my next book, but into everything I write.

—Paul G. Wright

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

PaulG. Wright is a native of Atlanta, GA. He has worked as a newspaper journalist,freelance writer, and screenwriter. He studied acting at the Warehouse ActorsTheater and earned his degree in filmmaking from Columbia College Hollywood, inTarzana, CA. He currently resides in the Atlanta area with his wife and theircat Dusty.

 

Website:https://www.paulgwright.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/paulwrightauthor/

AmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-G.-Wright/author/B08LYG7V88

 

BuyLink: https://www.amazon.com/Line-Sight-Paul-G-Wright/dp/0228633524

 

 

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GIVEAWAY 

PaulG. Wright will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawnwinner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: STONE OF HOPE by Margaret Izard

He’d fight mysticforces to be with her. She sees her future in his love.

Stone of Hope

Stones of IonaBook 4

by Margaret Izard

Genre: TimeTravel, Paranormal Romance 

In a twist offate, Dominic DeVolt is shown archeologist Moira Joanna White’s beauty throughthe Eye of Ra. Trying to save his niece and nephew from evil Fae powers, he’ssucked into the past and dumped in the middle of her Egyptian archaeology dig.

Moira fears the attractive man who appears at her dig is partnering with herarchnemesis. That is until the bold fighter distracts her with a kiss. His dutyas uncle tugs her heart, but is he only after her precious artifacts?

He’d fight mystic forces to be with her. She sees her future in his love.

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

**Don’t missthe other books in the series!**

Stone of Love, book 1, Brielle and Colin’s 18thcentury Scottish story. 

Stone of Fear, Book 2, Marie and John’s13th century Scottish story. 

Stone of Lust, Book 3,Ainslie and Rannick’s Viking tale. 

Thistle in the Mistletoefeaturing a couple in the past from Stone of Love.

Next in theseries:  

Stone of Doubt, book 5 coming 2025, 

Holly andIvy, a Christmas companion book. 

Stone of Faith,book 6. 

Stone of Destiny, book 7. 

EvergreenEvermore, a Christmas companion book.

This series leadsinto another connected series, Dragons of Tantallon, adragon-shapeshifter series revolving around the magic Iona Stones.

Find them on Amazon! 

 

 

 

Margaret Izard isan award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels.She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance,theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for greatstorytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be itmovement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romancenovels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, andfantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always fallsfor a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with herhusband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

 

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Stone of Hope SwagPack (US only),

$30 Amazongiftcard (WW)

- 1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: WHO'S IN THE DRIVE-THRU by Shauna Wuggazer Knott

Children's Book

Date Published: August 28, 2024

Publisher: ‎MindStir Media

 

Join Jane, a friendly barista, for a day in the drive-thru as she serves up yummy treats and warm drinks to different customers. Who is also in these cars? Hop in and meet the cuddly companions who are out for a ride, ready to share a smile.

Review: See a day in the job of a coffeeworker at the drive-thru in this cute, little tale. The illustrations weresimple, static, and kind of blurry. It seemed like they were taken straight outof Google images. The text definitely outweighs the pictures in this book. Withall the info behind the drive-thru, I would’ve definitely like to have seen thestory rather than hear about it. All in all, the day seemed rather mundane.Nothing really exciting happened.

All in all, this was an okay read.I’ve definitely read better.

Rating:3 stars

About the Author

I am a stay-at-home mom to Zoey (15) and Garrett (12).  Wife to Korey, and furmomma to Oreo the Bernedoodle.  I love to read, bake, travel, and be outside, while also cheering on my kids at their sporting events.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Walmart

B&N

Blog Tour: BITROUX: HIGH COUNTRY by Jordan Harcourt-Hughes

 

Bitroux: High Country

Jordan Harcourt-Hughes

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GENRE:  Science Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

IfMerouac ever thought his life’s work would culminate in leading the metalworkshops of the Transcontinental Railroad Project, he was sorelymistaken. 

 

Now,his true challenge lies in navigating the other-worldly abilities he’s onlybeginning to understand—abilities that allow him to tune metal tointerdimensional frequencies.

 

Whiletrying to be a guardian to his niece, Evra, he’s realising she may have more toteach him than he ever expected. At the same time, his decision to help aninterdimensional race find refuge underground puts him at the centre of an evendeeper mystery.

 

Asreality reshapes itself around him, Merouac faces a growing realisation: theworld of Ahm is on the brink of a profound transformation, and everything hethought he knew may soon be shattered.

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

The two men were slow moving, graceful, each with a highmohawk of golden straw-like hair, and heavily decorated with neck jewels. Theneck-ware was gnarled, twisted, fibrous, fragments of plant stems dried andinterwoven with beads and fresh flowers, trussed with other leaves and organicmaterial, and embedded with strange jewels that seemed to glow and fade,changing colours across a spectrum of blues to greens and then back to blues.

 

Tundra inclined his head, made a small gesture and abow.   

 

‘He greets you,’ Kii translated. ‘Tundra does not speak verymuch, and so I’ll translate for him.’  

 

‘How do you know what he wants to say, then?’ Merouacasked.  

 

‘I can see it, or sense it, in the atmosphere,’ Kiiexplained.  

 

Merouac watched in surprise as the Tundra gestured again,imparting information through the aether which Kii seemed to easily recieve anddecipher. 

 

Tundra then eased himself into a crouching position andcleared a patch of grass. He shook his head and determined it would not suit,and looked for a sandy patch. He moved over to another, more suitable, patch ofground and beckoned the other two to join him. He went through the same processof clearing the ground, and then used his fingers to trace lines into the sand.He was silent as he did so, but then looked at Kii expectantly, and Kiinodded.  

 

‘Tundra said you did the right thing with the race that wasescaping their imploding planet. They are safe, and they will rest in the coreof Ahm now. Tundra was just drawing a map for me, to show me where theyare.’  

 

Merouac felt a shock run through him. ‘How does Tundra knowabout the Helara?’ he asked Kii.   

 

‘There are things that can be seen in the energeticenvironment. He is able to perceive the place where the Helara now rest. It isunder the power grid, deep below Suron. There is a cave network, and catacombswith very deep canyons. Below those canyons, this is where you found a placefor the Helara to enter the core of the planet. It was the right thing to do,’Kii said, translating as he watched Tundra’s fingers work in the sand.   

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

JordanHarcourt-Hughes  is an abstract painter,writer and communications professional. She’s passionate about all aspects ofcreativity, life-long learning and personal wellbeing.  Over the last fifteen years she’s led,coached and developed creative professionals across the Asia-Pacificregion. 

 

Jordan’sbooks, studio workshops, courses, coaching and resources are an invitation toexplore the rich landscape of creative experiences open to all.

 

HighCountry is Jordan’s second novel set in the world of Bitroux.

 

Website:https://jordanharcourthughes.com

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jordaninthestudio/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/jordaninthestudio/

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Arandomly drawn winner will be awarded a $25 Amazon/BN gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: DOUBLE TAKEDOWN by Kevin G. Chapman

What happens when a closed case cracks wide open?

Double Takedown

A Mike Stoneman Thriller #6

by Kevin G. Chapman

Genre: Mystery, Thriller 

What if everything you thought you knew was wrong?

The glittering lights of Broadway are just a cover for thedark secrets hidden behind the curtains. NYPD homicide detectives Mike Stonemanand Jason Dickson are about to find out how many layers one story can have intheir latest case. As they prepare to testify in a high-profile murder trial,they begin to question if they got it wrong. The Broadway director claimsevidence was planted to frame him and that Mike and Jason developed tunnelvision. If they did, can they live with themselves, knowing that an innocentman might be convicted . . . and that someone else got away with the perfectcrime?

With orders to stay away from the closed case, Mike andJason are plagued by doubts and can't let it go. When new evidence leads toeven more questions, the detectives race to put the pieces together and uncoverthe whole truth. But their unauthorized investigation could lead tocatastrophic collateral damage, could cost them their badges, and the directormay still be guilty.

For fans of intense crime thrillers and complexcharacters, Double Takedown is a must-read.

 

What readers are saying:

 

“A fantastic story with delicious plotting! A crimethriller that’s more than a cut above the rest." ~Anna Willett, author ofthe Cold Case Mysteries featuring Detective Inspector Veronika Pope.

 

“The sixth installment in the Mike Stoneman Mysteryseries, Double Takedown is a mind-blowing and perfect detective mystery read.”~Feathered Quill Reviews https://featheredquill.com/double-tak...

 

“Mike and Jason are probably my two favourite detectives.Their side stories with their wives and families enhance what is already sureto be a great read. Another page-turner, you won't put this down till the end,I promise!” ~@Roxxisreading

 

“A compelling mixture of mystery, police procedural, andthriller. I couldn’t put it down.” ~ Guy Wheatley author of From the Delta Mud.

 

“As a retired Homicide Investigator after thirty years,trust me when I tell you that Double Takedown reads as real and as gritty asany case that I ever worked. A mystery tour de force for the ages.” ~ FrederickDouglass Reynolds, Award Winning author of Saint Bloodbath, and Black, White,and Gray All Over. 

 

“In this gripping installment to the Mike Stonemandetective series, we dive into the underbelly of the theatrical world wheredrugs are routine and the line between accident and foul play blurs. I couldn’tput it down.” ~Daniel V. Meier Jr., Award winning author of the Sam AdamsInvestigator series.  

 

Amazon* Audible* B&N* BookShop.org* Bookbub* Goodreads

**Don’t miss the rest of the series!** 

Find them on Amazon! 

 

 

Kevin G. Chapman is an attorney specializing in labor andemployment law. In 2021, Kevin finished the first five books in the MikeStoneman Thriller series: Righteous Assassin (Kindle Book Awardsemi-finalist), Deadly Enterprise (Kindle Book Award semi-finalist), LethalVoyage, (Winner of the 2021 Kindle Book Award, CLUE finalist, RONEfinalist), Fatal Infraction (Best Police Procedural of the year –CLUE Award), and Perilous Gambit. In late 2022, Kevin published astand-alone mystery/thriller titled Dead Winner (CLUE Award - BestSuspense/Thriller of the year). Then, in 2024 came The Other Murder,winner of the CLUE Award Grand Prize (best suspense/thriller of theyear) and finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award. Now, in 2025, MikeStoneman is back in book #6, Double Takedown. Kevin is a resident ofCentral New Jersey and is a graduate of Columbia College and Boston UniversitySchool of Law. Readers can contact Kevin via his website at www.KevinGChapman.com.

 

Website * Facebook * FB Group * Twitter * Instagram  

Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Hardcover copy of Double Takedown (US only),

$20 Amazon giftcard – (WW) – 1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: SHOCKTOBER: THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN WORLD SERIES HISTORY by Jonathan Weeks

 

Shocktober: The Biggest Upsets in WorldSeries History

Jonathan Weeks

 

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GENRE:  Sports History

 

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BLURB:

 

Mays’sspectacular catch in 1954, Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off homer in 1960, and KirkGibson’s pinch-hit blast in 1988 are just a few of the memorable moments thathave dominated highlight reels. The outcome of the Series has not always beenterribly surprising—especially during the late 1940s and early 1950s when theYankees captured five consecutive championships, breaking their previous recordof four straight titles from 1936 to 1939. But despite its predictability attimes, the Fall Classic has taken many unexpected turns. The 1906 Cubs lost tothe weak-hitting White Sox after establishing a new regular season record for

wins.The 1955 Dodgers avenged seven prior October failures with an improbablevictory over the seemingly invincible Yankees. And in 1969, the Mets finallyshed their image as “loveable losers,” dethroning the powerful Orioles. In morethan a century of World Series plays, a number of similar scenarios haveemerged; twenty-two of those stories are told in Shocktober.

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

Game 1 was held at Dodger Stadium with 56,000 fans inattendance. Since Hershiser had pitched in Game 7 of the NLCS, he wasunavailable for the Series opener. Lasorda was forced to send rookieright-hander Tim Belcher to the mound while LaRussa had the luxury of startinga well-rested Dave Stewart. Perhaps feeling the pressure of the moment, Stewarthit Sax with the first pitch he threw, balked him to second base, and served upa two-run homer to Mickey Hatcher. Hatcher got the L.A. crowd worked up by roundingthe bases at full speed. This prompted broadcaster Vin Scully to joke: “He’s aSaturday Evening Post character.” Regaining his composure, Stewart yielded justone more run over the next seven innings. Belcher had a rough go of it, stakingthe A’s to a 4-2 lead in the top of the second. The big blow was struck byCanseco—a grand slam to deep center field with two outs. The monster blastreportedly hit an NBC camera, leaving a dent. With the A’s nursing a 4-3 leadin the bottom of the ninth, the legend of Kirk Gibson was born.

 

Eckersley was summoned to close out the game for Oakland. Heretired the first two batters before issuing a walk to pinch-hitter Mike Davis.Gibson, who was suffering from a pulled hamstring and strained knee ligaments,had been in street clothes at the start of the game. After a pair of cortisoneshots, he was still limping, but feeling less pain. With the Dodgers trailingin the late innings, he pulled on his uniform and shuffled to the batting cagebeneath the stadium for some practice swings. Summoned to pinch-hit forAlejandro Pena, he worked the count full. By his own admission, he was hopingat best for a blooper over the head of Oakland shortstop Walt Weiss.Essentially swinging on one leg, the ailing slugger did much better than that,pounding a backdoor slider into the right field bleachers for a walk-off homer.

 

“First of all, it was like almost some kind of foolish thingto go up there and hit because of the shape I was in,” Gibson reminisced yearslater. “...I remember when I was rounding the bases, my parents went through mymind. Throughout my career, there were a lot of doubters, a lot of people whodirected a lot of criticism at me. People would say things to my dad, andinitially, early in my career, they had to defend me. I told them, ‘You guysdon’t have to defend me. I’m going to bust it and I’m going to fail sometimes.But we’ll have a laugh some day [and] it will all be worth it.’ When I [hitthat home run], I thought, ‘This is the moment.’” Gibson’s moment—which came inhis only at-bat of the Series—has appeared in virtually every October highlightanthology ever since. In 2016, Eckersley said he felt honored to be a part ofGibson’s achievement. “I’ve always had a respect for Kirk—the kind of player hewas. And for something like that to happen to me, in that moment in baseball,was incredible...I can step away from that and appreciate it because I lovethis game.” 

 

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What kind of research didyou have to do to write this book?

 

Baseball’s World Seriesattracts millions of fans every year and I knew when I began my research thatthere would be plenty of material available. I was able to find a great numberof books and online sources dealing with the topic. I also sent questionnairesout to a few players in the hope of obtaining some previously unpublishedmaterial. In addition to a brief history of the World Series, itself, the bookprovides a thorough recap of every season in question along with biographicalinformation about the players involved. I tried to add as many quotes andanecdotes as possible, injecting a little humor whenever I could. I also addedan appendix that includes World Series trivia and statistics of individualplayers.

I conducted my research onechapter at a time and took notes the old-fashioned way, writing them down inspiral notebooks. The final manuscript was around 90,000 words and the notestook up space in four separate notebooks (80 pages apiece). Naturally, I didn’tuse all of the notes. The entire project took about seven months to completewith the research accounting for about half of that time.

I hope readers find thematerial as interesting as I did. I’ve been following the World Series since Iwas a kid and this book was a bucket list item for me. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Jonathan Weeks has written several sports biographies and twonovels, one of which was a posthumous collaboration with his late father. Hegrew up in the Capital District region of New York State and currently works inthe mental health field.

 

BLOG: http://www.jonathanweeks.blogspot.com

GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5862273.Jonathan_Weeks

 

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