Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 4
November 12, 2025
Blog Tour: SHOOTING AT SHADOWS by Forest McMullin
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
A photograph can tell the truth. It can also get you killed.
Ethan McGuire’s relentless pursuit of explosive stories has cost him his family, his integrity, and now–possibly–his life. While documenting the rise of white supremacist movements in Western New York, Ethan encounters a world of neo-Nazis, heavily armed survivalists, rogue FBI agents, and violent criminals, all with something to hide. But when a crew of ruthless bank robbers starts hunting him for photos he doesn’t even know he has, the stakes turn deadly.
As his enemies close in and his family becomes a target, Ethan must expose the truth–before it buries him. Shooting at Shadows is a relentless thriller and chilling cautionary tale, inspired by the author’s real-life experiences as a photojournalist. It exposes the darkness lurking beneath the surface of American extremism–and the cost of bringing it to light.
"One hopes that McMullin has further adventures planned for his unlikely hero." –Kirkus Reviews
"...a provocative thriller exploring highly pertinent themes in American culture today..." –Fredrick Soukup, author of Blood up North
Read an Excerpt
Someone outside began pounding on the truck in time to the chant and within moments it sounded like everyone who could reach the sides was pounding too:
“BOOM BOOM BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM!
“KKK! GO AWAY! KKK! GO AWAY!”
It was deafening, like being inside a giant bass drum. The thin metal walls of the truck amplified the beating and Ethan could feel the horrible reverberation in his chest. Everyone moved toward the center of the bed as if the walls could come crashing in on them at any second. The two holding the rear gate down were fighting the door as people outside tried to raise it.
Suddenly the pounding stopped and Ethan felt the truck moving. The crowd was so loud he hadn’t heard the engine start. But how could they get through that mob without running anyone over? Maybe if Kevin went slowly enough, they’d let the truck pass. Surely the police would be able to get there and see to their safety. Then he realized it wasn’t forward motion he felt. The truck was swaying side to side. The chanting changed too. “O-VER! O-VER! O-VER!” They were trying to turn the truck on its side. Ethan didn’t think it could be done, but with this many people it was impossible to know for sure.
Everyone inside moved away from the center and put their hands against the sides to steady themselves. It was like trying to stand in a boat on choppy seas. Back and forth, back and forth the truck rocked, gaining momentum every time. Ethan saw the men holding the door down lose their balance and fall. The door rose and blinded them with brilliant sunlight.
About the Author:
Forest McMullin is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Earlier in his career, he was a photojournalist who specialized in photographing fringe social groups. Today he writes both long and short form fiction, Shooting at Shadows is his first novel.
Website: http://forest-mcmullin.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestmcm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forest.mcmullin
Substack: https://substack.com/forestmcmullin
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/forestmcm.bsky.social
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Shadows-Crime-Thriller-McGuire/dp/B0FC2VR1KS/ref=sr_1_1
October 18, 2025
Review: GOOSEBUMPS: WHY I QUIT ZOMBIE SCHOOL by R.L. Stine
Something was off about Matt’snew school. Kids jumping off of balconies without a scratch, the cafeteriaserving raw meat and chicken bones, and kids asking you when you died. Died?That’s because Matt was in Zombie School. The only way to survive was topretend to be a zombie. Can he pull it off…or will he be dead meat? A goodstory!
Rating:4 stars
Review: SPOOKED IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell
The town of Little Leaf Creekwas holding its Halloween festival. With all the fun activities, nobodyexpected for a real dead body to be found in the corn maze. Supposedly the deadguy wasn’t too well-liked in town. Do towns, even a nice one like Little LeadCreek, really hold grudges? It seemed there was a reason to suspect Tessa’s oldfriend, Mark, of the murder. But he would never do that. It was up to Cassieand Tessa to figure it out. I loved the mischievous goats. A good read!
Rating:4 stars
Review: GOOSEBUMPS: THE BLOB THAT ATE EVERYONE by R.L. Stine
Zack, the writer, had found arare treasure: an old typewriter to write his scary stories. Something strangewas happening though: everything he typed on it would come true. With a few keystrokes, the typewriter brings the blob monster to life…and it was hungry. Iremember this story from the old days. It was a fun read for a good scarynight.
Rating:4 stars
Review: INVISIBLE by Christina Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein
The text was too small and lightto read. I liked the art work, but it was kind of hard to figure out what wasgoing on without the words. Just didn’t like this very much.
Rating:2 stars
Review: MAGIC TREEHOUSE: MIDNIGHT ON THE MOON by Mary Pope Osborne
The kids are off to the moonin the future in this next book in the time-travel series. The illustrationswere awesome! It’s just another wild and crazy adventure. Can the Moon Man helpthem find the last piece for “M?” And can they make it back home before theyrun out of air? A good read!
Rating:4 stars
October 17, 2025
Blog Tour: GONZALES THE STREET CAT by Kitty May Gruchelska
Children's BookDate Published: 08-10-2025Publisher: Magnetic Lion Productions
An adventure with claws, courage, and a dash of cat-titude.
Once abandoned, he dreams of stability...and a loving home. However, the trio must navigate a series of challenges, encountering new places and experiences.
Based on a true story and told from a feline perspective, this heart-warming and amusing tale of friendship, feline wisdom and second chances will suit fans of ‘Garfield’ or ‘The Travelling Cat Chronicles.’
Review: Life for a street cat was nevereasy, especially in a place like the Middle East. The first humans to show himany kindness named him Greedy Gonzales.
The narrative was simple and cute.The story takes the reader into the innocent life of a street cat. Findingshelter, hunting for food, running from Animal Control. Everything is alearning experience, especially when his new humans take him in.
For sure, “home is where the MEOWis,” but once a street cat, always a street cat. There definitely was anunspoken bond between the street cats and they often looked out for each other.Towards the end, however, Gonzales had to make a choice: to stay a street cator turn into a house cat?
A sweet tale!
Rating:4 stars
Kitty May Gruchelska loves creating fantastical worlds for her readers, full of diverse and quirky characters. In a past life, she was probably a cat because she likes tuna, dislikes water, and frequently knocks things over, but luckily, she has nine lives. Kitty May teaches in a magical desert kingdom full of sunshine, camels, and rice dishes. She loves travelling, which also inspires her to write.
Contact LinksWebsiteGoodreadsInstagramAmazon Author PagePurchase LinksAmazonBarnes and NobleKoboSmashwordsAuthor Site
Blog Tour: SENSE, SENSIBILITY, AND SHIFTERS Anthology
Jane Austen’stimeless love stories take on a supernatural twist in Sense, Sensibility andShifters, a captivating anthology of paranormal romance.
Sense, Sensibilityand Shifters:
A Paranormal JaneAusten Retellings Collection
Romance Café Collection Book 46
Genre: Paranormal Romance Anthology
with stories by
L Mad Hildebrandt, Bianca White, Roslyn St. Clair,
Ann C. Orlandi, AngelaKady, Gabbi Grey, AK Nevermore
Jane Austen’stimeless love stories take on a supernatural twist in Sense, Sensibility andShifters, a captivating anthology of paranormal romance.
Step into a world where Darcy’s pride hides a dark secret,and Elizabeth’s prejudice may cost her more than her heart. Each story in thisanthology brings an iconic Austen romance to life in a thrilling new way.
From the mysterious moors of Northanger Abbey to the hauntedhalls of Pemberley, Sense & Sensibility and Shifters invites you toexperience classic love stories with an otherworldly edge.
Perfect for readers who adore the elegance of Austen and theallure of the paranormal, this anthology will whisk you away to a world wherelove is ethereal, powerful, and worth every risk.
Including:
The Tables Turned by Angela Kady
Brewing Affection by Ann C. Orlandi
Pride and Possession by Roslyn St. Clair
In the Service of Heaven by Bianca White
Shift of Heart by Ariel Dawn
Emma, the Enchanter by L Mad Hildebrandt
My Beloved Witch by Gabbi Grey
And featuring:
Couching Serendipityby AK Nevermore
Vexed by an offhand comment, jinn Mira Marid sets out toprove that cupids aren’t the only beings capable of selecting soulmates. Butwhen setting up her best friend Kade Eros becomes more than just wishfulthinking, serendipity takes over, and it turns out that wishing for true loveisn’t off the table after all…
Amazon * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads
AK Nevermore enjoys operating heavy machinery, freebases coffee, andgives up sarcasm for Lent every year. A Jane-of-all-trades, she’s a certifiedchef, restores antiques, and dabbles in beekeeping when she’s not readingvoraciously or running down the dream in her beat-up camo Chucks.
Unable to ignore the voices in her head, and unwilling to becomemedicated, she writes Science Fiction and Fantasy full time.
She pays the bills editing, wielding a wicked hot pink pen and writinga column on SFF. She also belongs to the Authors Guild, is a chapter treasurerfor the RWA, teaches creative writing, and on the rare occasion, sleeps.
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special contentand a $20 giveaway!
October 16, 2025
Blog Tour: PLAYING ROUGH by Beth Pellino-Dudzic
PLAYING ROUGH
by Beth Pellino-Dudzic
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GENRE: Romance
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BLURB:
Love.Lies. And the Road to Redemption.
After five months inrehab, Trevor McNaughton is finally sober—and ready to rebuild his life withGina, the woman who never stopped believing in him. A road trip is meant to betheir fresh start, but their plans are quickly derailed when their former publicist,Paul Ryan, emerges with explosive claims: an affair with Gina, dark secretsabout their band Perfection, and vicious speculation about their marriage.
As the couple races tocontain the fallout, the pressure mounts. Trevor must protect his fragilesobriety while defending the truth. Gina, fierce and unshakable, refuses to lettheir love be hijacked by lies. All the while, Gina’s cousin and bandmate Riobegs them to return home and help shape the next album—while wannabe rock starBrian Mayfield looms as another potential threat to the narrow threshold theyalready straddle.
With careers andreputations on the line, Trevor and Gina must confront the ghosts of their pastand the chaos of their present. Can love outlast betrayal, and can anythingsilence a man set on destruction?
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ExcerptThree:
They pulled away from their Montecito home when Gina had arealization. “Trev, we know nothing about camping. The closest I can relate isthe time my family had to stay at the Hyatt because the Ritz was full. Weshould stop at one of those huge camping and hunting stores and buy whatever weneed.” Trevor agreed. They did some research and then drove to the nearestoutdoor supply store.
A salesperson named Jonas recognized them. “What can Iassist you with, McNaughtons?”
Gina stared at Jonas, then threw her hands up. “Everything... We have no idea what is needed for an RV trip.” The knowledgeable employeegave them a checklist of necessities and camping equipment. Trevor and Ginatrusted him to compile what was needed.
Jonas asked, “How long of a trip are you planning ontaking?”
Trevor simply said, “Probably a month, maybe longer.” Jonasalso asked if they had an itinerary and RV locations picked out and reserved.The two rockers looked at each other— who knew they needed to reserve a spot?He told them there was a book on RV parks that should help design their plan.
Trevor didn’t vocalize what the exact plan was.
So, Gina suggested hers. “Trevor, I would enjoy driving upthe coast, California, Oregon, Washington. We can take in beautiful sights onthe way and continue to Vancouver. We can explore a bit of British Columbia andvisit your father … and I would like to drive to Boise.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
BethPellino-Dudzic was born in the Bronx and grew up in Westchester County, NewYork. She earned a BA in Business Administration and worked at IBM. She hasthree adult daughters and a new Granddaughter. She currently lives in Alabamawith her husband and their miniature dachshund, Truffle. Although ThePerfection Saga is fictional, many of the stories hark back to Beth’s time inthe Rock ‘n’ Roll world. Beth’s favorite pastime is football, everythingfootball. She also is an excellent cook and baker.
Links:
Website:https://perfectionsaga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558439816678
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bpellinodudzic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bethandperfection1
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FP9H6LQQ
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GIVEAWAY
Beth Pellino-Dudzic will be awarding one set of thethree books in the series - Playing Hard, Playing High and Playing Rough(international giveaway).
Spotlight: THE RABBI'S KNIGHT by Michael J. Cooper
The Rabbi’s Knight
Prequel to Wages of Empire
by Michael J. Cooper
Genre: Historical Fiction
"The Rabbi'sKnight is instantly compelling and fascinating in its arcane plot andpropulsive pacing. Literally, a page turner!" -Sylvia Boorstein,PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Happiness Isan Inside Job
"A well-writtenhistorical adventure story . . . with unexpected twists and turns that keep youhooked . . . an exciting and historically fascinating read." -AndrewKaplan, New York Times bestselling author of BlueMadagascar and the Homeland novels
The year is 1290. At the twilight of the Crusades, war-wearyKnight Templar Jonathan St. Clair is garrisoned in the port city of Acre in theHoly Land. In possession of an ancient scroll with a cryptic inscription, helearns that it holds the key to unlock the secrets of Jerusalem's Temple Mount.
But time is running out. Acre will soon come under siege,and the one man able to divine the scroll's meaning, Rabbi Samuel of Baghdad,has been targeted for assassination. St. Clair apprentices himself to RabbiSamuel and together they travel to Jerusalem. On their pilgrimage, they arehunted by scheming emirs in the service of a bitter enemy of Rabbi Samuel. Butthey are aided in their quest by others: a brilliant young scholar, Isaac ofAcre; a powerful young Scotsman, William Wallace; a learned Muslim mathematician,physician, and cartographer, al-Hasani; and a beautiful independent-mindedwoman, Zahirah, who avoids serving in an emir's harem by hiding in a lepercolony on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Rabbi Samuel, St. Clair and the others will risk everythingto fulfill their shared and sacred destiny as guardians of the Temple Mount.
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