Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 39
December 14, 2024
Review: HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU’RE SLEEPING by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark
To get into Heaven, a dead man hasone chance to find and help someone on Earth. The only one that could see himwas a sad, little girl. But what was the problem? Well, it takes a while to goover the story to find out what the problem was. It was a pretty long read.There was a lot of useless narrative that you couldn’t help but skip over.Usually, I get really into an MHC book, but this one was pretty boring. Theangel angle was just so different than her usual stuff. That idea must’ve comefrom her daughter. I much prefer the Willy and Alvirah series.
Rating:2 stars
December 13, 2024
Blog Tour: A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS by Bobbi Smith
A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS
Bobbi Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
DanRoland has always gone it alone. And no prissy miss from back East is going toconvince him to do otherwise. Even if she does have the most alluring browneyes he’s ever seen. But when his boss suddenly orders that he help thebrunette beauty find a buried treasure, the rugged ranch foreman doesn’t haveany choice but to offer his protection.
It’snot just the weather leaving Penny Anderson feeling a bit chilly upon herreturn to Texas. First she gets the news that her ailing father has hidden thefamily fortune. Then she learns Dan Roland is the only one he trusts to helpher find it. And yet one teasing, tempting kiss at a time, he starts to thawher out until all she yearns for is A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptTwo:
John couldn’t believe his luck as he tracked Dan and Penny.Things were turning out far better than he’d ever hoped. First, he’d turn theirhorses loose and then he’d get the money from them and take off. His plan wasperfect. This blue norther would take care of everything else for him.
Dan and Penny were so far away from the line shack theywouldn’t last in the freezing cold, and even if they did survive, he’d be longgone by the time anyone rescued them.
Feeling more confident than ever, John moved down to wherethey’d left their horses. He checked the saddlebags and found the metal boxfilled with money that they’d found on their first dig. After running the horses off, he went to findthem.
John reached the drop-off on the side of the road and wassurprised to see Dan and Penny on their way up carrying another box of money.He stepped back to stay out of sight until Dan reached the trail.
Dan got to the top and helped Penny up to find John waitingthere for them. He immediately feared the worst – that he’d come after thembecause Jack had died.
“John, what happened?”
“Nothing’s happened … yet,” John said, his tone serious.
“Then why are you here?” Dan demanded.
John’s expression turned deadly. “I want the money.” He drewhis gun and aimed it at them. “Just toss the box over here, real easy.”
“Don’t do this. You’ll never get away with it.”
“Thieves only get in trouble if they get caught,” Johnsneered, “I’ll be so far gone before anyone finds out what I did, they won’thave a chance. Now, throw that box over here or I’ll shoot the girl.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and brieflyas a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and beganwriting. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982.
Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and 6 novellas. Todate, there are more than five million of her novels in print. She has beenawarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year Award and twoCareer Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on numerous bestsellerlists.
When she's not working on her novels, she is frequently a guestspeaker for writer's groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides in St.Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.
Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year
NY Times Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
Inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta Literary Fraternity
Amazon Buy Link:https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Christmas-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B004EYT522/ref=sr_1_1
Free to read on Kindle Unlimited
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
BobbiSmith will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 12, 2024
Blog Tour: WHAT BEAR SAID ABOUT LIFE, LOVE, AND OTHER STUFF by Jack Wiens
Book Details:
Book Title: What Bear Said about Life, Love, and Other Stuff by Jack Wiens
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 98 pages
Genre: Juvenile fiction/picture book/values & virtues
Publisher: Torchflame Books
Release date: October 15, 2024
Content Rating: G. Specifically for children.Book Description:
The boy has a lot of questions—hard ones about love, honesty, grief and loss, prejudice, forgiveness, why we are here, and more.
Bear's wise answers are always offered with compassion and enthusiasm. The friendship between these two is deep, tender, and sometimes fun. Bear's clear, common-sense philosophy of life is a welcome contrast to the complex world our children face today.
On the beautifully illustrated pages, you will also meet Jay, Raccoon, Badger, Elder Moose, and others who add to the fun and adventure.
Walk with Boy and Bear for a while in the woods and see what you might learn about life, love and other stuff.
This uplifting book will surely become a treasured collection of simple wisdom, inspiring rich, meaningful conversations between adults and children alike.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
B&N ~ Bookshop.org
add to Goodreads
Review: With lovely and colorfulillustrations, story is reflection of the kind wisdom of Bear. Have a question?Just ask Bear and see what he says. His answers were thoughtful, sensitive, andpoetic.
“If you don’t have control oversomething, then all you can do is let it go, focus on the present, breathe inand out, and trust you will be able to handle what comes up. And, remember, youcan ask for help.”
“Life is a messy mixture, and ourhearts are big enough to hold a mix of feelings about it all.”
“Just forgive yourself and moveon.”
“If you are truly sorry, you workon changing your behavior.”
“When I don’t forgive someone, itmakes me grumpy and gives me a tummy ache. Resentment builds up and I might actmean towards the person. The sooner I can forgive, the better. Oh, and when I forgive, it doesn’t mean I’vedecided what they did was okay. It just means I’ve decided to be done beingangry. I’m letting it go so my tummy can feel better.”
Bear has something to say aboutthe following topics: friendship, the present, love, forgiveness, death, and honesty.The advice is useful for anyone, no matter what age. Such great advice aboutlife! What a fun and enjoyable read! Follow Bear and see what he has to say.You can’t help but want Bear as your friend.
Rating:5 stars
Meet the Author:Jack Wiens has illustrated over 40 children’s books and designed many book covers, a family magazine, curriculum materials and greeting cards. He has also exhibited his fine art in galleries and art shows in Colorado, Missouri and Oregon.
Jack earned a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and worked as a counselor for 34 years in private practice as well as in a hospital inpatient addictions program and mental health centers. He led many workshops on communication, relationships and self-care during his career as psychotherapist.
He lives in Ashland, Oregon, where he enjoys the natural beauty of nearby mountains, lakes and rivers, the creative energy of the community and good friendships. Besides hiking, biking and tennis, a favorite activity is exploring the Oregon coast and whale watching in Depoe Bay.
connect with the author: website Enter the Giveaway:WHAT BEAR SAID ABOUT LIFE LOVE AND OTHER STUFF Book Tour Giveaway
December 11, 2024
Blog Tour: GRAMMIE AND PUPA'S HOUSE by Daisy Butterfield
I WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TOURJoin us for this tour from Nov 18 to Dec 13, 2024!Book Details:
Book Title: Grammie And Pupa's House by Daisy Butterfield
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-12), 72 pages
Genre: Children's Fiction
Publisher: Daisy Butterfield Press
Release date: September 30, 2024
Formats Available for Review: print-softback (USA and Canada) and ebook (EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Nov 18 to Dec 13, 2024
Content Rating: G:The story follows Daisy during an afternoon at her grandparents house making snacks, planting the garden, playing cards, and enjoying the warmth and love of her grandparents.Book Description:
Welcome to Grammie and Pupa's House!
The door is always open and everyone is welcome in as the smell of fresh baked pies and cookies lingers in the kitchen air. So, pour a cup of tea and sit down and relax. It is my pleasure to share with you a day in the life of Grammie and Pupa as seen through the eyes of their granddaughter, Daisy.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
add to Goodreads
Review: See what happens when a littlegirl named Daisy spends time with her grandparents. Baking, raising flags,picking raspberries, planting beans, and so on. What fun activities! Theillustrations that were cute and colorful showed a nice story. Inspires you tospend time with your grandparents.
Rating:4 stars
I was born in a small New England town. Growing up I lived just two houses away from my grandparents, and spent countless days hanging out with Grammie and Pupa playing games and gardening. I loved flowers, and still do. I would roam the fields picking wild Lupine, Queen Anne's Lace, and, of course, Daisies. This book is a legacy to my grandparents, a way of saying thank you for the sweet memories. May you make sweet memories with your little ones as you read this book with them.
connect with author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreadsTour Schedule:
Nov 1 - @michellegodardricherauthor * - book mail
Nov 7 - @book_withquotes * - book review
Nov 18 – @this.human.reads * – book review
Nov 18 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Nov 18 – @Leannebookstagram – book review
Nov 18 - Liese's Blog – book spotlight
Nov 19 – @adeela_books * – book review
Nov 20 – @Junebug_reads – book review
Nov 20 - @onceuponafrida * – book review
Nov 20 - @jilljemmett * - book review
Nov 20 - Frugal Freelancer – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 21 – Cheryl's Book Nook – book review / giveaway
Nov 22 – @adriftinfictionalworld – book review
Nov 22 - @michellegodardricherauthor * - book review
Nov 25 – @ira_reads_4 * - book review
Nov 26 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 26 - Library Lady's Kid Lit – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 26 - @bookscape__ * - book review
Nov 27 – Country Mamas With Kids – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 29 - @stars.and.embers * - book review
Nov 29 – @lizzies.reading.recs * – book review
Nov 29 - @thisreadergirl * - book review
Nov 29 - @bearyintobooks * - book review
Nov 29 - @onceuponamaltesereader * - book review
Dec 1 - @Enjoyingbooksagain – book review
Dec 2 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review / giveaway
Dec 3 – My Reading Getaway – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 4 – @nissa_the.bookworm * - book review
Dec 4 - @speedreadstagram * - book review
Dec 5 – @Alyssas_book_obsession * - book review
Dec 5 - @kiv_coffeeandpages * - book review
Dec 6 – @joannasbookshelf * - book review
Dec 6 - From the TBR Pile - book review / giveaway
Dec 9 – @readsandmusic * – book review
Dec 9 - FUONLYKNEW - book review / giveaway
Dec 10 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 10 - @just_another_mother_with_books * – book review
Dec 11 – Sandra's Book Club – book review
Dec 11 - @bookameme * – book review
Dec 12 – Faith And Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 12 - @acourtofspinesnpages * - book review
Dec 13 – Reading is My Passion – book review / giveaway
Dec 13 - Books for Books – book spotlight
Dec 13 - Reading Authors Network - book review / giveaway
December 10, 2024
Blog Tour: PERFECTLY IMPERFECT by Cara Davis
Children’s Books
From a nose that's a tad too big, to a giggle that lights up the room, you are perfect, just the way you are.
Witness the charm of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the whimsy of the Mona Lisa's smile, and the joyous laughter of a girl who's unapologetically herself. Meet a dad whose scar tells a story of bravery, and see how even a heart with a band-aid has its own perfect place in the world.
Discover why the most beautiful thing in the world is to be fearlessly, wonderfully, uniquely you!
Review: A beautiful tale about all theimperfect things in life that are perfectly imperfect! I loved the wackyillustrations and funny lines.
“Everything about you is rare,valuable, and prized. You, my dear, don’t ever need a disguise, you are nevertoo much, you are never too little. You are just right. Hey, that even goes foryour giggle.”
“Perfect things are a bore. It’syour birthmarks and googily parts that I adore.”
This book is great to read to anykid needing a chuckle and self-confidence boost. A nice read!
Rating:4 stars
About the Author
Meet Cara Davis. She lives in East Nashville with her two kids, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, and two chickens. Cara really likes to check out fun places nearby and listen to music when she’s not writing stories like this!
Contact Links
Instagram: @carabakerdavis
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: CRIME AFTER HOURS by Daniela Alibrandi
CRIME AFTER HOURS
Daniela Alibrandi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Noir Multidimension Thriller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Alice,a shrewish and nosy typist stays in the office after duty hours to rummagethrough the personal effects of her hateful colleagues, who've mocked her foryears, in search of compromising material to use against them. At the same timeand in the very same neighborhood, a serial killer with a split personality islurking, intent on carrying out his cruel game, entrusting the choice of hisnext unsuspecting victim to chance. The solitary lives of typist Alice and ColdHands/Warm Hands are destined to fatally intertwine in the dark and unknownunderground of the Prati district of Rome. The investigations into the trail ofsenseless crimes that Cold Hands leaves behind are entrusted to Riccardo Rosco,a commissioner with a rough character and a disastrous private life.
WillAlice uncover the secrets she so desperately seeks, or will she become the nextpawn in Cold Hands' deadly game? Time is running out, and in the shadows ofRome, no one is safe. Don't miss this pulse-pounding thriller where everychoice could be fatal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptThree:
Commissioner Rosco had carefully studied the report providedby the Forensic Police. The investigations carried out at the Abbate crimescene hadn't revealed much more than what he had anticipated. Not that allprocedures weren't meticulously executed in the thorough manner the Forensicteam was accustomed to working, but significant clues hadn't been found at thecrime scene. The recovered fingerprints had been analyzed and compared withthose in the archives, but no match had come of it. Some hair had beendiscovered, but it wasn’t significant evidence. Perhaps the only interestingclue concerned the footprints left by some shoes on the landing and stairs,which, accounting the rainy day, could be considered fairly clear.
He focused particularly on the measurement of a size 11men's shoe with a boot-like sole. The others presumably belonged to women andwere of different sizes. His mind returned to the image of that grate beyondwhich lay the cellar space of the building. The Forensic report only mentionedthe fingerprints found. The space was naturally full of them, with theresidents going up and down to the cellar. Rosco decided he would ask Porzi toverify the layout of the basement with the Land Registry Office and thenconduct an inspection. He now had only one idea in mind. He wanted to summonRoncati and his paramour for a chat; it wouldn't be an interrogation about themurder, more of a warning relating the future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
DanielaAlibrandi is the author of successful thrillers and noirs in Italy and abroad.With her sixteen published novels, five English editions and many short storiesshe is often guest on Italian RAI television and radio broadcasts, she ispresent in the most important national literary Italian book fairs. Some of herItalian editions are present in Harvard and Yale libraries as well as in NewYork Public Library. She has won numerous national literary awards, includingthe Women Arts Week 2022 for her literary career. For years and from varioussources, such as literary critics and reviewers, this author’s style has beendefined as multidimensional, until it was officialized as MultiDimensionCrime(Acronym MDCrime). A reading experience that forges imagination in amulti-dimensional way. In the complex and intertwined plots of her novels,which lead to sudden and unexpected twists, the characteristics of differentstrands are harmoniously blended. The reader follows the investigation to solvea murder and at the same time he amazingly enters the mind of the killer,reasoning alongside him, preparing the crime with him, and even partaking inthe victims’ despair and terror. All in a growing suspense, both during thenarration and in the final pages, when the reader often has to question all thebeliefs he has developed during the reading.
Onlast July 18th, Daniela Alibrandi published her English edition of the book“Crimes After Hours”. And the settings the author chooses are always amazingand palpable. That’s what we find in “Crimes After Hours”, set in the city ofRome and in its underground world, during the late Seventies.
“CrimesAfter Hours”, in its Italian edition, has won two national literary prizes(Mondadori Contest and Grottammare Noir Competition) and is the first of theMDCrime series Rome’s Multi-Dimensional Crimes, set in Rome’s undergroundsbetween the late Seventies and the Eighties, whose plots are not connected andcan be read independently, all standalone.
Author’sEnglish website: https://danielaenglishwebsite.wordpress.com/
Author’sItalian website: https://danielaalibrandi.com/
FacebookAuthor Page:https://www.facebook.com/p/Daniela-Alibrandi-Autore-100056951476831/
Twitter:https://x.com/danielaalibrand
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielaalibrandi/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/danielaalibrandi/
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9MG6K5V
Freeto read on KindleUnlimited
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 9, 2024
Blog Tour: ONE NIGHT STANDS AND LESSON PLANS by M. Jayne LaDow
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Jayne LaDow will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
In the close-knit town of Marchfield, where gossip spreads faster than a teenager’s texts, English teacher Audrey Fremont and Algebra instructor Oz Taylor find themselves at the center of a scandal—and a romance neither saw coming.
A few too many drinks at Happy Hour and a glimpse of his infuriatingly sexy shoulders lead to a one-night stand that should have ended there—but didn’t. Relentlessly organized and a bit of a perfectionist, Audrey is horrified to discover that Oz is one of her new coworkers. Yet, stolen glances in the hallway, moments in the copy room, and snarky banter make keeping it “no strings attached” nearly impossible to maintain.
With meddling friends and nosy colleagues already placing bets on their romance, Audrey and Oz can’t ignore the chemistry simmering between them. But just when Audrey thinks she’s got everything under control, a surprise confession from Oz leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about love.
In a town where everyone’s watching, Audrey and Oz must decide: will they keep playing it safe, or risk their hearts on a love that could change everything?
Read an Excerpt
Val giggled. “Audrey and Oz were trading tongues."
“Stop it!” Audrey jumped off my lap. I missed her soft, warm body immediately.
“Damn,” Keith whistled. “You do know, Audrey, he uses that tongue to teach math."
Bobby high-fived Keith and then bent over laughing. When Bobby stood back up, her face was red. She gasped for breath between chuckles. Mel patted her back.
I stood up, brushing past my not-so-well-meaning friends to stand by Red.
“Audrey likes big axes," Val rapped while the others laughed. Audrey’s lips twitched and then straightened as she seemed to choke down the urge to join in.
“Sir Mix-A-Lot should sue your ass for butchering his song,” I joked.
And of course, Bobby jumped in. “And when Oz walks in with his big hard ax–”
“Are you buffoons drunk?” I interrupted her, crossing my arms over my chest.
Audrey turned away and let out a soft sound beside me. I heard her take a deep, shaky breath. If these idiots made her cry, they would regret it. I hated it when women cried.
I followed her, reaching over to pat her shoulder. What should I say? When she looked up at me, I braced myself for a look of wet humiliation. But Audrey’s green eyes sparkled as she burst out in laughter.
“Big, hard ax,” she gasped between giggles.
My own lips quivered, and I let out a chuckle. “My ax is pretty impressive.”
***
Review: Right away, you’re naturally drawnto the witty commentary in this story. It all began with a lonely teacherhaving a one-night stand with a hunky stranger she met at a bar. It was justsupposed to be wham, bam, done! Who would’ve guessed that they would end upbeing colleagues at the same school? Surprise! These teachers soon became likefire and ice, especially from her side. You can’t help but chuckle at thesmart, snarky, and crude humor by these two. What happens when the two actuallyhave to work together to coach a girls soccer team?
Turns out they actually mirroreach other quite well with both being army brats and both of their dads dyingwhen they were young. Could it be possible that they could maybe be friends?Friends with benefits perhaps? Well, it was definitely complicated. One minute,they’re ready to nail each other during a prep rally, and the next, they’reclose to scratching each other’s eyes out.
This was an entertaining read forsure! Oz and Audrey had quite a connection and they were both a hoot. But whenit all hits the fan with the school district, will their relationship endbefore it even started?
I liked this read. I mean, it wasdefinitely longer than it should’ve been particularly in the long chapters. Theepilogue was definitely more than necessary. But I liked it.
A sweet and loving story!
Rating:4 stars
About the Author:
M. Jayne LaDow is a playwright and author who leapt into writing romance after spending thirty-three years wrangling middle school English students. Her rom-coms are hilariously inspired by her years in education, where she was regularly pied in the face, sang classroom karaoke, and dressed up like characters from novels. She resides with her very patient husband, two brilliant yet snarky children, three cuddly rescue cats, a toe-biting tortoise, and a bearded dragon who judges her life choices from his terrarium.
Website: https://mjladow.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D58S6PHL/allbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/M-Jayne-LaDow/61559414725278/
Substack: https://substack.com/@mjladow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjladow/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-jayne-ladow
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/67d8f1c8-9dbf-4447-a232-b34013a37bfc
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49955411.M_Jayne_LaDo
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December 7, 2024
Review: WITCHES OF BROOKLYN by Sophie Escabasse
The text was too small to read andI couldn’t enlarge it. Some of the pictures were good. I especially liked theexpressions of the characters. The story was about a little girl that goes tolive with 2 old ladies and discovers that she’s a witch. The illustrations werethe best part really, but I couldn’t figure out what was going on.
An okay read.
Rating:3 stars
Review: LO AND BEHOLD by Wenda Mass
A father and daughter were goingon a short-term relocation for a technology project. At the university, Addiemeets a boy named Matteo, who introduces her to “geocaching.” (?) The twoeventually get into virtual reality. The illustrations were fun and cool!
VR gets very addicting for Addiethat she gets lost in it and forgets about the real people outside. I liked themessage of empathy and understanding in the end. This turned out to be a nicestory about friendship and humanity.
Rating:4 stars
Review: WITCHES OF BROOKLYN: WHAT THE HEX by Sophie Escabasse
Again, the text was too small toread. I don’t know who they expect to read this. The pictures were nice though,but, again, I couldn’t tell what was going on. Actually, I realized later onthat the panels could be enlarged, but some of the text was still too small toread. But, at least, I could figure out the story better.
This one was a little better thanthe first book, but it was still no more than okay.
Rating:3 stars
